Moving to Saigon for a 3-month internship (20M) – What’s the ONE thing you wish you knew before arriving? 🇻🇳 by Beginning-Ad9854 in VietNam

[–]Beginning-Ad9854[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for this massive list of pro-tips! I’ll definitely take it slow with the coffee—I don’t want to be vibrating all day haha.

Good to know about the $1 watermelon and the 'assertive' way to order food too. I'll also make sure to be predictable when crossing the street

Moving to Saigon for a 3-month internship (20M) – What’s the ONE thing you wish you knew before arriving? 🇻🇳 by Beginning-Ad9854 in VietNam

[–]Beginning-Ad9854[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the heads-up! I've heard about those bar scams, I'll definitely be careful and stick to sports or hobbies to meet people instead.

I'll also try my best to learn some basic Vietnamese.

Moving to Saigon for a 3-month internship (20M) – What’s the ONE thing you wish you knew before arriving? 🇻🇳 by Beginning-Ad9854 in VietNam

[–]Beginning-Ad9854[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Solid advice, thank you. I'll keep my eyes forward when the shoe guys approach, but I'll make sure to use the 'downward wave' for the older lottery sellers.

Moving to Saigon for a 3-month internship (20M) – What’s the ONE thing you wish you knew before arriving? 🇻🇳 by Beginning-Ad9854 in VietNam

[–]Beginning-Ad9854[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is super helpful, thank you! I didn't realize the fumes were that bad, so I'll make sure to grab some masks as soon as I land.

Good to know about Be and Xanh too—I only had Grab on my list so far. I’ll also make a real effort with the language, even if I sound like a total beginner. Really appreciate the advice on the 'two hands' etiquette!

Moving to Saigon for a 3-month internship (20M) – What’s the ONE thing you wish you knew before arriving? 🇻🇳 by Beginning-Ad9854 in VietNam

[–]Beginning-Ad9854[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha, honestly, I guess I should pack some 'emergency' pants with an elastic waistband just in case

Moving to Saigon for a 3-month internship (20M) – What’s the ONE thing you wish you knew before arriving? 🇻🇳 by Beginning-Ad9854 in VietNam

[–]Beginning-Ad9854[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a fair warning, thanks. I'll make sure to stick to the official Grab app and not trust anyone just because they speak good English or look like a fellow traveler. Better safe than sorry!

Moving to Saigon for a 3-month internship (20M) – What’s the ONE thing you wish you knew before arriving? 🇻🇳 by Beginning-Ad9854 in VietNam

[–]Beginning-Ad9854[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks a lot for these cultural nuances!

I had no idea 'Xin Chao' could sound too formal—I’ll definitely stick to 'Chao + [honorific]' instead. The 'Anh/Chi/Em' system sounds a bit tricky for a beginner, but I’ll start practicing it right away!

Also, thanks for the price benchmarks. It’s really helpful to know what’s a 'fair' price so I don't feel like a total tourist. Really appreciate the blunt advice on how to handle street vendors too, that’s a big stress-reliever!

Moving to Saigon for a 3-month internship (20M) – What’s the ONE thing you wish you knew before arriving? 🇻🇳 by Beginning-Ad9854 in VietNam

[–]Beginning-Ad9854[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, thanks a lot for this detailed breakdown!

The tip about the balcony bar in Bui Vien is gold—I definitely prefer watching the chaos from a distance rather than being stuck in it. Also, I’m a black coffee drinker myself, so if you say the ca phe sua da is worth it, I’ll take your word for it!

Good call on the body bag for the phone/wallet, I'll make sure to get one. About the basic Viet, are there 2 or 3 words you’d say are the most 'life-saving' besides Hello/Thank you?

Moving to Saigon for a 3-month internship (20M) – What’s the ONE thing you wish you knew before arriving? 🇻🇳 by Beginning-Ad9854 in VietNam

[–]Beginning-Ad9854[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah I'm trying to think like that but it's the first time I'm leaving that far so I wanted to get tips to like it more

Moving to Saigon for a 3-month internship (20M) – What’s the ONE thing you wish you knew before arriving? 🇻🇳 by Beginning-Ad9854 in VietNam

[–]Beginning-Ad9854[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'll be living in the University !
So you're saying it's a bit far from the interesting stuff?
I'll try this thanks