just wondering

[Teacher Mark 53]

I have just looked into it, and HSBC wants 30% down with a minimum 900 million dong loan, and you must make at least 10 million a month, this would be combined income yours and hers. It is actually kinda simple and painless. Hope this helps! Jerome

I've heard they're the best bank here.

O/P, here's a link to their site. Click on the tab located on the right that says Home Loan Calculator. They're asking 13%.

http://www.hsbc.com.vn/1/PA_1_2_S5/content/vietnam/personal/loans/calculator/calculator_pay.html

[vietazn 1]

No way the "real" unemployment numbers is 6.5% in VN.

Of course it doesn't include those not actively looking for work

because they are either discouraged or it pays too little. It also

doesn't include all the underemployed people like cyclo drivers and

people who drive the xe om. Many don't work because they have

Viet Kieu helping them out. It looks like at least 30% are unemployed

because everyone in VN looks like they just hanging out.

A lot of people do well in VN by lending money to others.

Edited November 2, 2010 by vietazn

[wreath 4]

Are you sure you want to live in Vietnam? Usually, people want to move to the U.S--not the other way around. With this say, it is not easy to make a living in Vietnam without a foundation--you need connection and plenty of cash.

i may not have a choice.but if i can get some thing up and running before i get there then i can come over when im ready. I just know theres nothing to do where my wife lives and im really worried what to do if she cant get her visa.

[Tuanv 2]

i may not have a choice.but if i can get some thing up and running before i get there then i can come over when im ready. I just know theres nothing to do where my wife lives and im really worried what to do if she cant get her visa.

So, you are planning to live in Vietnam because you are worry that she may not get a visa? If so, you are thinking too far ahead. Do you have any reason why you think you would not get her visa? Adjustment of Support?

[Tuanv 2]

No way the "real" unemployment numbers is 6.5% in VN.

Of course it doesn't include those not actively looking for work

because they are either discouraged or it pays too little. It also

doesn't include all the underemployed people like cyclo drivers and

people who drive the xe om. Many don't work because they have

Viet Kieu helping them out. It looks like at least 30% are unemployed

because everyone in VN looks like they just hanging out.

A lot of people do well in VN by lending money to others.

I believe so too. There are way too many coffee drinkers throughout the day to have such low employment.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Were you denied a visa and the wife permanently banned?

[What's next 1]

I was also thinking about ways to generate income for the family in VN. Here was my pitch. People in VN love to play the lottery. Cost of a ticket in VN is about 10k. I'm not sure how the numbers are played over there, it seems more complex than just picking a couple of numbers. I'm also don't know what the jackpot is over there. Anyway. I wanted to sell lottery tix that were linked to an American lottery system, like Powerball.

Powerball tix are 1 USD, I would sell them for 25k VND or 1.50 USD, for a profit of 5k VND per tix.

I would advertise the jackpot to be 1 mil USD for every drawing.

My logic is that why not play the powerball when the ratio of ticket price and jackpot is way much better than the ratio of the VN lottery tix.

Let's assume the VN jackpot is 100k USD (i doubt that it's even close to it). Ratio would be 10k VND or .50 USD to 100K USD.

While the powerball ratio would be 25K VND or 1.50 USD to 1 mil USD.

No brainer, right?

Basically someone in VN would choose their numbers, buy the tix and get some sort of receipt.

My connection in VN would give me the numbers, and i in turn would buy the actual lottery tix here in the US.

This would all be "underground" of course. I know there are huge logistacal issues if someone actually wins, and i know ppl in VN would be skeptical to play in the first place.

I'm not going to do this, but i was thinking about it.

Edited November 4, 2010 by What's next

[What's next 1]

I was also thinking about ways to generate income for the family in VN. Here was my pitch. People in VN love to play the lottery. Cost of a ticket in VN is about 10k. I'm not sure how the numbers are played over there, it seems more complex than just picking a couple of numbers. I'm also don't know what the jackpot is over there. Anyway. I wanted to sell lottery tix that were linked to an American lottery system, like Powerball.

Powerball tix are 1 USD, I would sell them for 25k VND or 1.50 USD, for a profit of 5k VND per tix.

I would advertise the jackpot to be 1 mil USD for every drawing.

My logic is that why not play the powerball when the ratio of ticket price and jackpot is way much better than the ratio of the VN lottery tix.

Let's assume the VN jackpot is 100k USD (i doubt that it's even close to it). Ratio would be 10k VND or .50 USD to 100K USD.

While the powerball ratio would be 25K VND or 1.50 USD to 1 mil USD.

No brainer, right?

Basically someone in VN would choose their numbers, buy the tix and get some sort of receipt.

My connection in VN would give me the numbers, and i in turn would buy the actual lottery tix here in the US.

This would all be "underground" of course. I know there are huge logistacal issues if someone actually wins, and i know ppl in VN would be skeptical to play in the first place.

I'm not going to do this, but i was thinking about it.

sorry, 25k vnd would be about 1.25 usd

Edited November 4, 2010 by What's next

[Tuanv 2]

sorry, 25k vnd would be about 1.25 usd

And how do you plan to move money between the United States and Vietnam? Or do you plan to give all the profit to your family in Vietnam? I would suggest that you get one of those powerball machines that sell ticket.

[What's next 1]

And how do you plan to move money between the United States and Vietnam? Or do you plan to give all the profit to your family in Vietnam? I would suggest that you get one of those powerball machines that sell ticket.

I would just keep all the money in VN. profits go to the family, I get reimburst for the cost of the tix. I would leave my portion in vn and use it as spending money for my next visit. Or instead of sending money to the family, they can just access those funds. I was thinking of a scan-tron type of machine to generate the tix in VN. I would even broadcast the live drawings via Slingbox.

[What's next 1]

Another idea i had was starting an airport pick up service. We have all heard of tourist getting ripped off by taxis. And getting a transfer service though the hotel cost at least 20 USD. So for those who are afraid of getting scammed by the taxis and ripped off by the hotel, I would provide a airport pick up service for 10-15 usd. Fare fron Dist 1 to SGN and vice versa is about 5 bucks. My charge would be in between. I will wait for at SGN with your name on a sign, we will hop into a cab together, take you to your hotel. I will pay the taxi fare and pocket the rest. the customer will actually prepay for the service online before arriving, so they don't have to worry about local currancy and exchange rates etc. All the person in Vn needs is a piece of paper and a marker and makes sure they don't get scammed by the taxi driver themself. but a taxi driver would be less likely to try to scam a local. easy money right?

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I was also thinking about ways to generate income for the family in VN. Here was my pitch. People in VN love to play the lottery. Cost of a ticket in VN is about 10k. I'm not sure how the numbers are played over there, it seems more complex than just picking a couple of numbers. I'm also don't know what the jackpot is over there. Anyway. I wanted to sell lottery tix that were linked to an American lottery system, like Powerball.

Powerball tix are 1 USD, I would sell them for 25k VND or 1.50 USD, for a profit of 5k VND per tix.

I would advertise the jackpot to be 1 mil USD for every drawing.

My logic is that why not play the powerball when the ratio of ticket price and jackpot is way much better than the ratio of the VN lottery tix.

Let's assume the VN jackpot is 100k USD (i doubt that it's even close to it). Ratio would be 10k VND or .50 USD to 100K USD.

While the powerball ratio would be 25K VND or 1.50 USD to 1 mil USD.

No brainer, right?

Basically someone in VN would choose their numbers, buy the tix and get some sort of receipt.

My connection in VN would give me the numbers, and i in turn would buy the actual lottery tix here in the US.

This would all be "underground" of course. I know there are huge logistacal issues if someone actually wins, and i know ppl in VN would be skeptical to play in the first place.

I'm not going to do this, but i was thinking about it.

There are also legal issues. It is illegal to sell Powerball (or any other multi-state or state operated lottery) tickets outside the US, or to even sell shares in those tickets, which is essentially what you would be doing. You would effectively be running your own unlicensed international lottery based on being a proxy to an officially sanctioned lottery system.

Don't even think about stuff like this. It will only get you into trouble.

[BinhJerome 14]

If you can speak english you can teach english. You are smart enough to do that. As Mr. Saigon said you dont need much money to start out. I came with quite a bit since I sold everything before I moved here. I did plan on moving here later in life, our denial just made it sooner rather than later.

looking for a job for me was easy. I waited until after I finished my TESOL, and then I started to apply, within 1 week I landed a good full time Job. I had no formal teaching experience, I have a B. A. in business management, and i am currently 1.5 years into a 4 year certified Teaching degree through Ashford University doing online classes. 2 months back i got a guy from England hired on and all he had was a TESOL, and no degree, he is 22 years old. So even if you do not have any degree, if you take a TESOL course ($1400) you can find work. There are also still places that hire people with no degree at all. But if you do think you need to move here, the only thing I would say is get your degrees if you have them authenticated BEFORE you come. I had to spend $800 to get my degrees authenticated since I was not there. The process is not easy when you are over a thousand miles away.

What ever you decide, dont worry about the little things, the best jobs here are teaching, and if you really dont want to teach, you might be able to make money off of ebay, or open a shop in your wifes name and sell food like Ralph and Hanh did at the Big Grill (which for all of those that dont know is no longer open) They seemed to like it, but it took alot of time, and I think that is the hardest part about running such a business. But seriously teaching is easy, the hardest thing is how to tell them what you want them to know where they can understand it, but if you are at a learning center they will be placed properly and this becomes less difficult. But seriously, you teach from a book, it is not that hard, and you find games or other activities that are about the lesson and incorperate them. My 3rd and 4th grade class absolutely love me, and when my class is over they all run and give me hugs, it is hard to get out of the class, no better reward than teaching in my view.

Good luck with what ever you decide to do

Jerome and Binh

If you can speak english you can teach english. You are smart enough to do that. As Mr. Saigon said you dont need much money to start out. I came with quite a bit since I sold everything before I moved here. I did plan on moving here later in life, our denial just made it sooner rather than later.

looking for a job for me was easy. I waited until after I finished my TESOL, and then I started to apply, within 1 week I landed a good full time Job. I had no formal teaching experience, I have a B. A. in business management, and i am currently 1.5 years into a 4 year certified Teaching degree through Ashford University doing online classes. 2 months back i got a guy from England hired on and all he had was a TESOL, and no degree, he is 22 years old. So even if you do not have any degree, if you take a TESOL course ($1400) you can find work. There are also still places that hire people with no degree at all. But if you do think you need to move here, the only thing I would say is get your degrees if you have them authenticated BEFORE you come. I had to spend $800 to get my degrees authenticated since I was not there. The process is not easy when you are over a thousand miles away.

What ever you decide, dont worry about the little things, the best jobs here are teaching, and if you really dont want to teach, you might be able to make money off of ebay, or open a shop in your wifes name and sell food like Ralph and Hanh did at the Big Grill (which for all of those that dont know is no longer open) They seemed to like it, but it took alot of time, and I think that is the hardest part about running such a business. But seriously teaching is easy, the hardest thing is how to tell them what you want them to know where they can understand it, but if you are at a learning center they will be placed properly and this becomes less difficult. But seriously, you teach from a book, it is not that hard, and you find games or other activities that are about the lesson and incorperate them. My 3rd and 4th grade class absolutely love me, and when my class is over they all run and give me hugs, it is hard to get out of the class, no better reward than teaching in my view.

Good luck with what ever you decide to do

Jerome and Binh

[Tuanv 2]

Jerome,

Do you own any property in Vietnam? If so, do you have to pay more tax than the local?

Wreath,

Are you White? If so, you can probably find a good job teaching in Vietnam. If you are Vietnamese--forget about it!

Edited November 5, 2010 by Tuanv

[BinhJerome 14]

Jerome,

Do you own any property in Vietnam? If so, do you have to pay more tax than the local?

Wreath,

Are you White? If so, you can probably find a good job teaching in Vietnam. If you are Vietnamese--forget about it!

We were approved to buy the house we wanted, it was a brand new house, the down side is that if we bought it I would not have any savings left, we thought long and hard, and decided to wait a while to buy simply because we would want to get new things for the house, new beds, and sofa and other things since the house we wanted is new there was nothing there, and I mean NOTHING. We have the money for the downpayment and to furnish the house, we just dont want to spend all of our savings incase something happens back home where I have to go back because of my mother or something for a bit. So we never got down to all the paperwork, and the Vietnamese government does allow foreigners to own one apartment/house in APPROVED areas, I think the tax is standard white or Vietnamese.

To answer your question if he is white he can get a good job, and if he is Vietnamese forget about it. That is not entirely true. I know a guy that was making $16 per hour and getting 30 hours per week who is of Vietnamese ancestory, granted, they offered me the same job starting out at $18, but there are oppertunities even for Viet Kieu coming back to teach. I mean they hire philipinos every day of the week, and they are not native born english speakers either. There is one at V Star where i work that is not any better at verb tenses than my 4th graders, and i actually think a few of them are better!!

So basically, if you have to move here it is possible, you might look into getting a degree now while you are in the US, the government will give you loans for college if you want to be a teacher, then you can go to either the University of Phonex or Ashford University and do an online teaching degree program, you will have to pay for books out of pocket, and I think the way they figured out my tuition when my degree is finished I will owe 45k in loans and the total bill while still in the US was about 47k including books, of course now that I am here the shipping is quite a bit more for the books, but still not that bad