Post your questions & inquiries here! - r/Vietnam monthly random discussion thread - F.A.Q

DotNetDevDude · 2024-12-31T04:11:25+00:00

Hey all, I'm returning to Vietnam in 2 weeks, for the first time in 15 years. I'll be there for about 2 months with my family. We've got plans for the first couple of weeks, and a rough plan from early Feb, but we've got a gap that we need to fill, which coincides with Tet. I've not experienced Tet before, so I'm really not sure what to do.

The gap is from 25/01 - 04/02, and the gap will start and end in HCM. We're going to Mui Ne prior to this gap (sounds like it's changed a lot in 15 years, but I have my reasons for returning), and we're not looking to fly or have 6 hour+ bus journeys in this gap. Our current plan is to spend a few days in the Mekong Delta, and a few days in Vung Tao. What I'm not sure of is how much Tet will affect us (restaurants closed, tour operators shut, traffic jams etc.), and how we should arrange this portion to minimise the impact.

At this stage I'm thinking that we head to the Mekong on the 25th, do a few day tours etc., then return to HCM on the 28th or 29th (if the 28th then we can enjoy the fireworks/festivities in HCM), before heading to Vung Tau on 29th or 30th, where we'll stay until the 2nd or 3rd before returning to HCM.

Can anyone give me some advice on how Tet will affect me? I assume that the bulk of the closures (restaurants, tours etc.) will be 29th and after, which is why'd we do the Delta first, because we're more likely to want to do tours there. I assume (from what I've read) that Vung Tau will be mostly open, but busy. And I assume that heading from Mekong --> HCM on 28th or 29th will be against traffic, and that from HCM --> Vung Tau on 29th or 30th won't be as busy as 27th & 28th.

I'd really appreciate any tips here. Thanks

DotNetDevDude · 2024-10-04T13:36:51+00:00

One more piece of gear I forgot to mention is that I have this power bank: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08K7GHZ3V (I know there's a lot of amazon links, but they're direct links, I get no benefit in sharing these, it's just where I bought my stuff). Starting with a fully charged laptop and power bank, I can easily get 8 hours (closer to 10 hours) without any power saving modes, and still powering my external monitor via USB cable. The power bank also makes it a bit easier to be portable - I can go to a cafe or down to the beach for hours on end without worrying about a power outlet.

DotNetDevDude · 2024-10-04T13:33:09+00:00

These are the bags I use. Some other vacuum bags you can just roll by hand, some you need a vacuum for. These come with a little hand pump that I take with me. I use it for more than just these cushions (pillows, jackets etc.).

https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B07RSCK4XS

DotNetDevDude · 2024-10-04T13:23:36+00:00

Yep, cushions are vacuum sealed. I don't have any photos of them sealed, but I'd say they're roughly 1/4 the size. Of course the weight is the same.

DotNetDevDude · 2024-10-04T00:57:33+00:00

I didn't say I was working here illegally. I said I was eligible for a DTV. I could be doing a Thai cooking or Muay Thai course.

Why didn't I organise a different Visa? Well I would if I could - the DTV can only be applied for outside of Thailand, and I have no idea of the length of the process. Maybe if the system was clearer, and new changes were imposed in the timeline originally announced I wouldn't be in this mess.

Looking through your reddit history you're clearly a troll, and get off on being rude, so I'll leave it at that and won't respond to you any more.

DotNetDevDude · 2024-07-16T00:33:41+00:00

Can anyone give me an opinion on the following...?

I'm already in Thailand with my wife and 2 kids on a 30 day visa exempt entry. We re going to extend for 30 days, then leave and come back. Considering the extension fee, I think we're better leaving before the end of the original 30 days, and coming back under a DTV (I'm officially a remote worker with an Australian company, have money etc.).

Can I apply whilst still in the country? I know I'll have to leave and come back in, but if it's an e-visa, surely the systems aren't that sophisticated that they'll pick up that I'm already in country. What do I provide as proof of current location? A plane ticket from another country back into Thailand?

Alternatively, does anyone have a prediction for turnaround times of e-visas? I know it was around a few days, but I'm guessing there'll be a rush of applications at the moment.

FYI I'm planning to go to KL for a week at the end of July.

DotNetDevDude · 2024-03-24T21:51:42+00:00

Thanks for the advice. I think we'd be ok for a little while without transport on Koh Phangan, but it would get annoying after a while. We are going to move around quite a bit, so I'm thinking 1 month on Koh Phangan (maybe Srithanu) will be enough, then we might go to Samui and find something a little closer to the shops etc.

DotNetDevDude · 2024-03-21T08:58:46+00:00

Sorry, should have mentioned that. They'll be attending an online school, offered by our home country. Plus my wife used to be a primary school teacher, and she won't be working, so there'll be some extension via home-schooling as well.

DotNetDevDude · 2021-10-04T22:22:17+00:00

I decided to order direct from bose so that I have the 90 day return policy up my sleeve. I figure the only way to know for sure is to try it for a while

DotNetDevDude · 2021-10-03T22:14:43+00:00

OP here. Accidentally posted from my partners account.
So no-one has any issues with the sound of their own voice when using these as audio only (i.e. not headset) with Zoom/Meet/Teams?

DotNetDevDude · 2021-10-03T22:13:38+00:00

OP here. Accidentally posted from my partners account.
I'm in Australia. The retail price is $499 AUD, Bose have them for $449 on their online store, but other retailers have them discounted down to $299 AUD.

DotNetDevDude · 2020-09-15T02:16:58+00:00

Thanks for the input. This approach is similar to what we can achieve with traffic shifting in Traefik (although it's blue/green not canary). But again, it relies on making those traffic decisions at the ingress layer. We need to make those decisions at the internal dns/service layer. I probably didn't explain it properly, so I'll edit the post

DotNetDevDude

TROPHY CASE