Teaching in Vietnam

If you really want to experience Vietnam, the best way is to make friends. The best candidates are university students who are eager to improve their English and to show you their home country. I went to famous places and did the tourist things but my favorite memories of my time there were centered around just being with the locals, living the life they live for a few days. If your lucky you can get them to take you on a tour of the city on back of their motorbikes, an ever present site in Ho Chi Minh, mingled amongst bicycles.

Quick Tips:

This is a note for Americans travelling in this country: As Americans we have a lot of history and past in this place. Be prepared to be hit face to face with the reality of war and its affects caused by our country, whether right or wrong, reality and pain are still there. You will see and encounter many beggars who have been deformed and will play on feeling of guilt to illicit money. There is a weight you will carry as an American in this place, be prepared for it so it doesn't take you off guard.Don't change money at the airport, it's not as good of a rate as you can get in the backpacker areas near the market.Once you start ingesting the local food try to get your hands on the popular yogurt, it will help your stomach adjust to the new things you'll put into it.

Best Way To Get Around:

If your alone, motorcycle taxis are best, if a group, there are small and large taxi's accommodating up to eight people. But you can also choose to rent a motorcycle, but a caution, unless you aren't scared of dying I wouldn't try it in these country, traffic is backwards.If you are staying near the central market, a lot of places to go and things to see are within walking distance, but depending upon the time of year it can be quite hot.

I recommend staying local, Vietnamese food is quite the experience. Try Pho Bo, theory beef noodle soup. Try the spring rolls. Also they have a meal that consists of rice paper, leafs of many kinds, sauces, white noodles, and then some, you make your own rolls, quite tasty. And my favorite, the ever addicting Vietnamese coffee, it's not good unless it's dark and sweet.In the backpacker areas, of course, there are wide varieties to choose from, they will cost more, but we found some excellent Mexican and Italian food if you look around.

This was one of my favorite experiences in the city, doing Karaoke with my new Vietnamese friends. It's cheap, they have some fun old English songs, and you get to experience some good singing from the Vietnamese

This was one heavy place to visit as an American. When we were there they had a room with pictures drawn by children depicting the war, they have many graphic pictures and stories. There is also a particular man who wanders around the ground begging for money, it plays on your emotions so be aware.