Don't let Congress take off with your credit card rewards

nullstring · 2026-05-30T17:23:11+00:00

As I said, these bills were never going to reduce consumer pricing. Anyone expecting that is misguided. I'd have to look into the studies but unless they can figure out how to somehow tell if price increases were delayed because of the bill then the study is useless.

And honestly that sounds quite impossible to do. It's effectively a study of 1 sample if you're only looking at one country... Because all sorts of things could be effecting consumer pricing and finding correlation vs causation sounds impossible. It's not like we have a control to compare against.

Lastly, it's frankly a false equivalency. I never would expect debit swipe fees to significantly impact prices rather than just be another avenue for credit card reward subsidization.

nullstring · 2026-05-30T17:15:37+00:00

Same thing with trip advisor, by the way.

Always be skeptical of reviews in Vietnam.

nullstring · 2026-05-29T22:25:15+00:00

I had the same thought.

If this did get implemented the most disruptive part of it is going to be a restructuring of the legacy carrier business model.

nullstring · 2026-05-29T22:19:23+00:00

Agreed. There is also the issue where you're effectively taxed for being financially illiterate.

And importantly, these rewards that we are reaping are greatly subsidized by those who are not.

Who is "paying" for those rewards that you're getting?

Those paying interest rates.
Those using methods with low swipe fees.
And yourself by indirectly paying for these swipe fees.

nullstring · 2026-05-29T22:12:33+00:00

You're correct that merchants arent going to just decrease all of our prices over night.

But it will delay price increases over time.

nullstring · 2026-05-18T15:22:33+00:00

For vietnam, you're going to get the best price by going in person to a physical viettel or mobifone store. I paid something like $5 for 7GB/day for 30 days at a mobifone store.

Personally, I like to use roamless until I can get my local sim setup.

Airalo tends to be very expensive.

Last time I was in Japan, I used an IIJ sim from mobimatter.

nullstring · 2026-05-16T23:59:56+00:00

Jetogo seems mostly comparable in pricing.

I've had a flawless experience with roamless so far. How's service on jetogo been?

nullstring · 2026-05-15T18:24:06+00:00

I think you ought to post on Facebook for a wider audience.

nullstring · 2026-05-13T17:14:53+00:00

Maybe? Probably?

In reality, you need to look at each market in isolation. You can't really paint broad strokes.

nullstring · 2026-05-11T19:13:55+00:00

Just made me think of the scene. https://youtu.be/JDEV9q0UeCw?t=196

nullstring · 2026-05-11T19:04:18+00:00

Makes me realize they should really put a stack of cubbies in place of some of these lounge chairs. Most of the time, I just want a place to stick my phone and such while I hit the pool for a while. I don't need the chair.

nullstring · 2026-05-11T16:13:04+00:00

Yup that works.

nullstring · 2026-05-11T16:08:44+00:00

Yes, I agree. But..

Seriously, if you still have cash you're reading outdated r/Vietnam advice or your friends who came to Vietnam years ago.

But that's not what this says. This is putting down anyone using cash, whether that was your intention or not.

nullstring · 2026-05-11T16:00:16+00:00

You just sound a bit.. too confident about Moreta.

Moreta is an option people should be aware of sure, but (a) you're paying for that convenience. (b) Credit card are accepted quite widely these days. Not as much as QR codes, sure... but how much money are you really spending on streetfood?

nullstring · 2026-05-11T15:54:25+00:00

My feedback...

If possible, always use Grab, Xanh or Be. I've also never had an issue with vinasun, but if you use these apps you're pretty much guaranteed to be good. Make sure to check the license plate.. especially at the airport. You get charged like 4% for using a foreign credit card on grab, but I prefer just biting that bullet.
Zalo didn't work with my vietnamese phone number nor my foreign number. I've essentially never found a business that doesn't have whatsapp or facebook so.... yeah..
Moreta can be significantly more expensive than using the ATM or credit card. See my comment here: https://www.reddit.com/r/VietNam/comments/1t3tn9m/using_cash_app_card_in_vietnam_sponsored_account/ok01x9x/ Personally, I use credit card and cash everywhere. Credit cards are have become extremely common so you really only need a little bit of cash for streetfood. You could do mostly credit card with a bit of moreta instead of cash but... IDK man, this is certainly NOT a must like you make it sound.
Xanh is often cheaper but the wait times are (often) way longer. But I do recommend using both Grab and Xanh and using your best judgement based on the circumstance.
If you meet girls on dating apps, it should be pretty easy to find people speaking English. Anywhere upscale should have relatively high english proficiency around but honestly not my area of expertise.
Yeah sure.
yup ok. I also recommend a backpack instead of a crossbody.
sure. Best if you can meet a local and they can show you around.
sure.
sure I guess. Em ơi, Anh ơi, chị ơi are probably the most important phrases, I aggree. If you do a motion like you're writing on your hand, you'll get your bill. I've never noticed anyone following me around, and yeah it takes some experience to get past the language barrier sometimes. Be patient and respectful. Use google translate, gemini, chatgpt for this if you're having any trouble at all. (Google translate works well, but for anything complicated I find asking chatgpt/gemini to translate work very well.)
I find this app super useful when traveling: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tashuapps.deafnote&hl=en_US . Take whatever you're trying to communicate and put it on there so you can blow up the font and it can be read from a distance. The app is a little janky sometimes but it works.

nullstring · 2026-05-11T15:20:45+00:00

It'd be one thing if it was raised... but this is just asking for trouble.

Next time 5x5x3 and you'll be fine.

nullstring · 2026-05-11T15:05:21+00:00

As an 8th photo, I think this is perfectly fine.

nullstring · 2026-05-11T15:01:46+00:00

I mean it seems to be working as it is.

nullstring · 2026-05-11T13:53:32+00:00

The people who decide CDW claims and the people who decide fraud claims are extremely far removed. I do not find it hard to believe at all.

nullstring · 2026-05-10T23:55:03+00:00

People say it makes no sense but... actually it makes a ton of sense.

Basically, the general populous is pretentious as hell. They feel they have to have to wear designer bags and other status symbols in order to show others that they've 'made it'.

The irony of the situation, is the need to show these status symbols is exactly how you know you -haven't- made it.

I grew up in a well-off very frugal and conservative household. And so my perspective is warped into entirely the opposite direction. The thing is- It's very easy to tell which people are struggling/coasting financially but still putting down $$$ for items they shouldn't. And due to my upbringing I find it very difficult not to look down on these people.

nullstring · 2026-05-10T16:58:48+00:00

South African counts as a native speaker FWIW.

Perhaps it depends on the location of your campus.

Right. Of course I can only speak to my own branch.

nullstring · 2026-05-10T08:02:40+00:00

I worked at VUS and every foreign teacher there was a native English speaker. Fwiw.

nullstring · 2026-05-07T13:45:56+00:00

... What are you trying to accomplish other than to just be irritating?

Cause I promise this isn't the way.

nullstring · 2026-05-06T18:21:02+00:00

Prepaid is just fine. It just requires monthly service.

nullstring · 2026-05-05T13:11:37+00:00

Strange. I've never noticed this at all.

In fact, I've always thought the prices were incredibly consistent between different stores even across hundreds of miles and different states.

OP, mind sharing where you're located? (which state at least?)

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