4 ms·

thinking of going to vietnam for boostrapping burposes, just wondering how you chose it and what city? what kind of rent are u paying per month?

jawngee 12y ago
I came here about 3 years ago to train some iPhone devs for a friend's company. Ended up making a lot of friends out here in the process. Even though it's mostly an illusion, there is a certain sense of freedom here. It's also the safest of the SE Asian countries, imho. I live in a more upscale part of Saigon, so my rent isn't typical. But compared to what I was paying in NYC, it's not a lot. I pay $700 for a 2 bedroom in a high rise, about $100 for electricity. I have fiber internet, 40mbps, which is about $75 a month. 3G on my phone is about $5-10 a month. The sum of all of that is almost a quarter of what I was paying in NYC every month.
- ndomin 12y ago
  how is the language barrier? do you speak decent vietnamese or can you get by with mostly english?
  - AYBABTME 12y ago
    In Saigon you can get around with only english. In other cities, it varies and I'd recommend learning some vietnamese or having local friends.
santoriv 12y ago
I'm living in Vietnam as well. Dalat is up in the mountains, has cool weather all year round, and is much cheaper than Saigon. A room for rent is about $100 per month, a Banh Mi roll is about 10 cents. The main disadvantage of living up there is that there is no programmer community. But, if you just need to sit in a room and code and save money, it's perfect! Also, the people are super friendly. :-) Best experience of my life.
- jawngee 12y ago
  My wife is from Dalat. Tied with Da Nang for my favorite city in Vietnam. If you ever come down to Saigon or I head up to Dalat, let's grab a beer!
  - santoriv 12y ago
    Sent an email to your interfacelab email address. :-)
  - homakov 12y ago
    I spent a while in Mui Ne near Phantiet. And a little bit in Dalat. From my experience Dalat is incredibly nice place

jawngee 12y ago

I came here about 3 years ago to train some iPhone devs for a friend's company. Ended up making a lot of friends out here in the process. Even though it's mostly an illusion, there is a certain sense of freedom here. It's also the safest of the SE Asian countries, imho. I live in a more upscale part of Saigon, so my rent isn't typical. But compared to what I was paying in NYC, it's not a lot. I pay $700 for a 2 bedroom in a high rise, about $100 for electricity. I have fiber internet, 40mbps, which is about $75 a month. 3G on my phone is about $5-10 a month. The sum of all of that is almost a quarter of what I was paying in NYC every month.

ndomin 12y ago
how is the language barrier? do you speak decent vietnamese or can you get by with mostly english?
- AYBABTME 12y ago
  In Saigon you can get around with only english. In other cities, it varies and I'd recommend learning some vietnamese or having local friends.

santoriv 12y ago

I'm living in Vietnam as well. Dalat is up in the mountains, has cool weather all year round, and is much cheaper than Saigon. A room for rent is about $100 per month, a Banh Mi roll is about 10 cents. The main disadvantage of living up there is that there is no programmer community. But, if you just need to sit in a room and code and save money, it's perfect! Also, the people are super friendly. :-) Best experience of my life.

jawngee 12y ago
My wife is from Dalat. Tied with Da Nang for my favorite city in Vietnam. If you ever come down to Saigon or I head up to Dalat, let's grab a beer!
- santoriv 12y ago
  Sent an email to your interfacelab email address. :-)
- homakov 12y ago
  I spent a while in Mui Ne near Phantiet. And a little bit in Dalat. From my experience Dalat is incredibly nice place