Hey, anyone up do date on availability of visas in Vietnam?

In Thailand now and 3 months left on ED visa - an extend here - but pondering about making a move to Ho Chi Minh.

Anyone who could advise me on the longterm visas?

From what I've seen there's only 1 month tourist visas. Curious as well and will be asking around when I'm there next week.

Are there any poker pros still grinding out a life here in HCMC? If so, shoot me a message. I'm a semi serious poker player that grinds online. Would love to hit up some people here to talk hands or to grab a beer.

Hey,

I am looking for some people to join me in a poker house at some point post June 2024 for about 3 months.

I am 22 but will be 23 by then and would have just finished university at McGill in Montreal, although I am originally from London in the UK. I have been playing poker for years now which included taking a year between school and university to play and develop my game. The main focus for this trip for me is to fully commit to poker and get closer to being able to play professionally. I am currently playing 50NL reg tables on stars.

I am pretty social and love music and sport. I watch lots of football and am a big Fulham FC fan. Would love to go somewhere where I could play football casually as well. I usually love a night out but that isn’t what I want for this trip as I want to be fully committed to poker. That being said I’m not opposed to a pint after a long day.

I’m thinking Vietnam would be a really cool place to go, specifically Da Nang. Very cheap, good food, nice beaches. Open to anywhere though if anyone has recommendations.

Let me know if anyone’s interested in joining or has any advice. I will set up a discord for people who want to join so we can start planning and arranging everything.

Cheers
Ben

Discord: EliasXAX#2898

Da Nang is nice but probably not the best place in Vietnam if you early twenties. According to locals there when they want to party or go full shopping mode, they all go to Saigon. Also girls there are giga traditional, can't spend all night in your condo/house if not married. I shortly dated a 26yo girl there who was still living with her parents and it was impossible to have her stay with me all night. All girls told me the same. Cheat code would be to relocate with her in Saigon and she would tell her family that she's moving there for work and there she could live with you, in Saigon nobody cares if married or not and living together, not in Da Nang.

If I was relocating to Vietnam and wanted to live in a coastal city, I would go to Vung Tau, no hesitation:

- same as Da Nang or Nha Trang, cost of living wise maybe a little bit cheaper overall
- 1h30 bus or boat to Saigon (300k VND) so perfect when you want to take a few days off and do some shopping or have a little bit fun
- no Western tourists there but giga popular for locals from Saigon. So you could easily meet girls from Saigon during the weekend and they won't have a problem staying with you all night if they like you.
- no Western tourists so you more likely to have the rockstar treatment there compared to Da Nang or Nha Trang
- during the week, the streets near the beach are pretty quiet, no crazy traffic during the evening

Solid advice. I enjoyed Da Nang but found it a bit dull.

When I went to Vung Tau it was full of Russian tourists. Given current politics there might be even more now. I recommend traveling to Vietnam and seeing a few places.

I went there during 2019, spent 2 days with the ex girlfriend during the week. Barely saw any Western people during the 48 hours there, if I remember well I saw a young couple and an old dude hanging out with a bunch of young Vietnamese so probably an English teacher. Nha Trang is well know for their Russian expat community, mind blown if they are invading Vung Tau now, lul.

Just curious when have you been there? For sure it might have changed now since the war in Ukraine and the sanctions, it makes sense.

I biked through there a few months ago. I wasn't there long enough to get a good feel on how much tourism from Russia has increased, but they were definitely present.

I've been trying to deposit using my Vietcombank account, but they block everything, even Neteller. Has anyone found a way to deposit using Vietcombank?
If not, what's the best way to get funds on a site? Last time I opened an account I spent half a day in their office filling out forms. I'd rather avoid that if possible. Do any sites take Western Union?

Ok thanks for the advice. I will consider all this and discuss when I have people who are keen to join. Any ideas of how to find people who are interested in the same thing I'm looking for?

There's a thread for looking for a poker house in this subforum I believe but those things rarely work out in my experience, not the easiest to find people to move with people you've met online to a foreign country that also wanna move to the same place as you, during the same time, etc.

Getting settled in a SEA is so easy (and cheap in most cases too) that you don't really need other people, better to move there on your own and find "friends" there.

Yeh but part of the reason I want to do this is to surround myself with other poker players to get better. Other players would motivate me and provide a social element that is necessary for me to be able to play poker all day.

I posted in that thread but haven't gotten anything back.

I am here in Saigon till August 27th. IF someone want to grab a drink sent me a pm.

Can someone explain to me the tax on MTTs in Vietnam? I know Triton events somehow have a pass, but I'm thinking of playing the upcoming USOP Hanoi (https://useriespoker.com/2023-usop-hanoi/) and want to clarify what's likely to happen at the payouts desk should I cash tourneys..

Be there any long-term visa options out there for Vietnam, akin to Thai Elite Visa?

What are all the grinders doing?

Marry a Viet girl. Otherwise visa situation not that great atm

Hey guys just seen it's a 30 day visa for Vietnam. I shouldn't be to worried about staying at like a craigslist apartment for at least a few months right? Planning ahead so just making sure. Really appreciate your help. Thanks

Just seen posts above mine... That's what I'm worried about to but I'm thinking of you rent an apartment maybe not through like official but an apartment from a landlord on craigslist or a room in the city main part would that be better? Yeah right? Thanks again

They have released 3 month visa for tourists now a couple months ago. Vietnam starting to open back up. I'm in Da Nang now and absolutely love it.

Any questions about Vietnam hmu I've been here quite a few times now.

Anyone in Thailand? I'll be going Chiang Mai in a couple weeks.

Interesting thoughts on Vietnam. Saigon is def the place for girls but its polluted and humid. I love Da Nang but I'm a beach guy tbh. Hanoi has incredible food. Vietnamese girls everywhere are pretty traditional. 99% live with their parents through their 20's but don't let that dissuade you. They all have a motorbike and ability to travel.

Yeah, I'm here on the 3 month visa in Rach Gia in southern Vietnam, doubt there are any other grinders here though?

Hahah even I put on the mask after like walking around in Saigon for 2h searching for a busstation that did'nt exist. It was worth it tho cool bus experience, think its called sleeper bus.

How easy was for you to set up there? do locals speak some kind of english? ie can you ask for directions on the street or arrange a rental easily? never heard of that city but I'm mostly curious about Vietnam smaller cities in general and how easy is to live there

Its been quite easy but I know a girl here so gotta admit that played a huge part. Played some football with the locals, quite suprised how organized it was.

I booked a hotel for like 3 days before I came here, but ended up making some deal w them for staying 1month (315$) or 3month. My area is very near the port that can take you to the islands like Phu Quoc. I went to the island Lai Son for 2 nights stay. We bought fresh seafoods for 5.5kg for around 25$.

Then this city is 1.5-2h ride from Cambodian border town Hai Tien which can be quite strategic I hope.

Regarding english speaking, from my 3.5 week sample size I would say its not so good, but usually if a group of Viets there is someone who atleast know some english for important information. But this is not bothering me so far, I wanted this atleast in my SEA starting experience or what to say. I only saw 3-4 foreigners here during my stay that live here and a few around my hotel area since there are some just staying overnight before travel to Phu Quoc from the port.

Where are all of the online pros now in vietnam?

Link

Does anyone know if the new change on pokerstars removing .eu will affect playing from Vietnam? I'm still able to log in and play from the .eu client but can't reach support.

what is BA mean?