snorkelmom
3/7/2016 04:39 EST
Hello We are thinking of retiring in Vietnam but we are just not sure where. Can you live in Hanoi without a car or motorbike? I don't think we would survive driving in Vietnam from what we have heard. Just wondering if you are able to get by without a car? Thank you for any help.
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swiss57
3/7/2016 07:31 EST
I was only in Hanoi for a little while ,but I don't think it's a problem having a bicycle or walking... there are some other beautiful places for retirement and the weather is not so cold... and the food is fresher in the central part of Vietnam.... I'm from California been here two years....... I'd be more than willing to give you more information..... it's probably a good idea you don't talk about money here.....I have a website too http://its-consulting.wix.com/vietnam.....I'm planning my retirement here as well... feel free to send me a message. Kind regards
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swiss57
3/7/2016 08:03 EST
You should have no problem getting around on a bicycle or walking. But there are some really beautiful places in Vietnam to retire .... with a better living environment to your research well..... if you have any questions send me a message I've been here a couple years and living in central Vietnam..... kind regards
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ralphnhatrang
3/7/2016 14:52 EST
It is very easy to survive in VN without a car. Indeed, owning a car is LESS convenient than owning a bicycle or motorbike, because city roads are too busy.
I suggest you come to VN and travel around to find a location that suits you. Most people like either Hanoi or Saigon, but not both. For myself I think Hanoi is a charming city to visit, but too busy to live there. There are many other cities you could consider as well. Such as Hue, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, Can Tho, Dalat.
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snorkelmom
3/9/2016 01:13 EST
Hello- Well trying to find a climate there that my husband can put up with. He does not like heat and humidity so I thought Hanoi might be better than HCMC. We are looking at spending maybe 3 years traveling but spending a good part of that in Vietnam if we can find an area that is not so hot and we are trying to stay on a budget so we can save money and have something to come back to. We are in Western Wa right now so if you have been here you know that if it hits 80 degrees that feels really hot to us. I am curious you said the fruit and produce is fresher in central Vietnam? We really want to eat healthy and my husband needs to lose weight so nutrition is important but mainly worried about the heat. I am trying to make some contacts before we get there. We also want to be in an area where we can meet other English speaking people with the language so difficult to learn. I know maybe just a few words but that is it. Any help would be great. Thank you and yes I have heard about not letting people how much money you have. We have to stay on a budget so just trying to navigate and have done hours of researching for the HCMC area but now expanding that area. Thank you. Could we echange email addresses? I can send you mine in a private message.
thank you
Wendy
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snorkelmom
3/9/2016 02:16 EST
Thank you. Some of those places I have heard about but need to research. A big issue is the humidity over there and trying to find a place that is the most tolerable as well as the other things that would make it easier such as areas of other English speaking people. Thank you for your advice.
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mgstone2020
3/9/2016 06:49 EST
I just moved to Hanoi from the Seattle area three weeks ago. My research tells me that you should look at Da Lat if climate is your main driver. The temps year round are similar to a nice Seattle summer day. I chose Hanoi because I want to work and my prospects here are supposed to be better. Summer will be too hot for me, But the past three weeks of late winter have been very pleasant - just a bit warmer than W. Washington and a lot less wet!
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mgstone2020
3/9/2016 06:56 EST
I only know Hanoi and only three weeks. I think it's hard to get around in a car. Taxi is cheap and can fill in when you need a car. There is also Uber and a service like Uber called GrabTaxi. I rented a motorbike about ten days ago. It's a harrowing experience. Not for the faint of heart. There are many bicycles on the road. A combo of a bicycle and taxi and walking might work best for you. BTW, there is significant liability re: driving without a license. I suggest that you get an international driver license. It must be acquired from the Washington DOL (I think) before you leave. This will allow you to drive a motorbike or a car when and if you want to.
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daimai123
3/9/2016 09:56 EST
My email is mai.trannmt@gmail.com. If you decide to stay in Hanoi, contact me so that I can help you plan before coming.
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Enigma101
3/9/2016 10:40 EST
Having lived many years in the NW, PDX to be exact I can tell you that the weather in HCMC and Hanoi will be unbearable to both of you. Sure, the winter in Hanoi is similar to WA in the fall, but it is much hotter in the summer. The rains in Vietnam are atrocious. They are not the drizzle, slow and steady kind like those in the Pacific NW. The rains come and go in spurts or downpours. You should visit for a few months and then decide for yourself whether it is the place where you want to settle down long term. With regard to the food, keep in mind you don't get the same quality and standard as those in the U.S. This means the chicken or the vegetables sold at the local market may be highly adulterated or chemically enhanced. There are no checks and balances for anything in Vietnam and you have to be here a while to figure things out and not get swindled. Lastly, walking in Vietnam is a game of cat and mouse. You have to be on your toes the whole time whenever venturing out into the open or crowded road. People don't show the same courtesy to pedestrians as they do in the NW.
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snorkelmom
3/9/2016 20:01 EST
Thank you Yes I Have looked a Da Lat a little bit but am not clear if we can get by without a bike and rely on public transportation or to hire someone. I will try and look into it more. Thank you. We are lucky in SEattle as far as the weather except this RAIN is getting old ha ha!
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snorkelmom
3/9/2016 20:01 EST
Thank you Yes I Have looked a Da Lat a little bit but am not clear if we can get by without a bike and rely on public transportation or to hire someone. I will try and look into it more. Thank you. We are lucky in SEattle as far as the weather except this RAIN is getting old ha ha!
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daimai123
3/9/2016 20:19 EST
If your husband does not like humidity, then Dalat should be crossed out. This city is humid around the year, but it is cool, the temperature is just around 15-20 degree. Hanoi is humid too, but only from March to April - Spring season (drizzling rain day and night). The best weather is from September to November (Autumn). The summer starts from May to July, its quite hot with temperature is around 35-37 degree. Because Vietnam belongs to tropical climate so all regions have some months hot or humid (unavoidable). Living in Hanoi you can choose to live in Hanoi green area such as Eco Park, Times City, I think its okie. Many foreigners live here. Anw, I love Hanoi <3
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Sweetpants
3/10/2016 23:50 EST
Hi, no matter what, try to buy a car, even a small one. Or, do you want to be cursed by the drivers of cars everyday! And if you acquire the ways that they handle a motorbike, - all are heading for an early death. Although time seem flexible here, they all RUSh, RUSH and waiting and want to be killed!
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joneyquest
3/15/2016 23:00 EST
If you have trouble with home for rent or hotel please contact me.
We support you.
viettrahousing.com/category/serviced-apartment-for-rent-in-hanoi/
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Dominguezgilbert
4/16/2016 00:26 EST
I lived all around Vietnam from 1994 thru 1998. Although it seems chaotic to the eye driving the small motor scooters here can actually be quite same and fun. You just have to adjust to the rythum of the traffic. For the most part traffic in Vietnam moves at very moderate speeds unlike the traffic in the USA where everyone is a race driver. You just have to stay on your toes because every inch of space is used here and that can include sidewalks where there is sidewalk that is. They have introduced traffic laws here but mostly unenforced so it's up to drivers whether they cooperate or not, mostly there is always one or two drivers you will encounter on a daily basis that think they do not need any stinking traffic laws. Choosing to do your own car driving will prove more challenging than driving a motor scooter because the roads here are not just for vehicles but for bicycles, pedestrians and animals as well. Controlling traffic in Vietnam in like trying to control the flight of individual bees in a swarm of bees yet again it's all in adapting to the flow and getting down the timing. in all the years I spent living and traveling throughout Vietnam I have yet to see a consistent enforcement of traffic law. I would agree that for year round moderate weather Da Lat is your best bet but there really is no place in Vietnam without humidity or warm days are 37 C. However lots of cheap hotels to hop around to during those uncomfortable days. That's what I did in my younger years.
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