Are you calling me, a cowardly anonymous commenter, a coward? Not to worry. I will soon dox myself, as I am genuinely that stupid, not to say cowardly. My dear wife, who is a liberal, tolerates me, and I have spoken to her about you and quoted you a few times, so she is tolerant of you too. A minor miracle. Her friends are all liberal, of course, and academics. In a rare outing with a group of them at Christmas time, I was asked how I pass the time. I blurted out, "I spend all day these days on Substack, reading posts by an assortment of dissidents, badasses and misfits." Why did I say this? I must have a death wish. He asked me if I could give an example. After a suspiciously long time while I searched for the most anodyne "badass" I could think of, I alighted on Paul Kingsnorth. He didn't know who that is. The truth is that all the people I read are not badasses, but kind, thoughtful and sane, but I can't tell anyone about them or I will wreck my wife's career.
I was thinking about the types who jerk off regularly at Unz. They think they're defending white interest by calling people niggers, gooks, chinks and ragheads, and by lashing out at refugees from Jewish instigated wars. Jews love nothing more than to see such barbaric yet impotent behavior from whites. These morons are performing their Jewish assigned role perfectly. Ron Unz himself is laughing his ass off.
Linh, the white nationalists are also obsessed with hating boomers and hoping they die sooner rather than later. Some write about the day of the pillow when they kill their parents and grandparents by smothering them with pillows. Of course Jews love that type of generational divide among whites but the most bizarre aspect of their dream of a boomer free world is the whites will be a minority heavily populated by Jewish brainwashed good whites who are racially self loathing
Ha ha! I like Kingsnorth, but if he's the baddest ass you could come up with, you need to spend some time arming yourself with a name for the next time you're asked... :-)
Thanks Linh, when I stayed in Vung Tau I stayed on the other side from the port. 2019 They were all Vietnamese and I only ran into one other white guy - He was from Ukraine and I was wearing a Russian T shirt, so I surprised him when I spoke English after greeting him in Russian - lol
I had this sneaking suspicion that I was living with x NVA guys from the North and they all could see my age and military type tattoo on my arm but very nice and open to me. Of course I lived with the Vietnamese when I was in country - 70-71 so I knew how easy going they are when you are not in the middle of the War zone. I was headed back but they locked the country down like crazy people. How come they won't give you a pass port ? Do they still hold a grudge on the South Vietnamese after all these years? Uncle Ho was a nationalist , he would have wanted all his people to be equal and happy.
I can get Vietnamese citizenship, but it is a process. Ho was a founding member of the French Communist Party and was trained in Moscow. Only a watered down Communist can even pretend to be a nationalist, and Ho, as a firm Communist, destroyed the Vietnamese way of life during his reign. Only in the 1990's did the Vietnamese Communist Party start to let go of their Jewish madness. They're now only Communists in name. Their children are educated in the US and UK, and they were the first to be Jewjabbed. Ordinary Vietnamese have reverted to just being Vietnamese.
Farcically, Communists leaders have all been egomaniacs.
P.S. Jewish higher education in the West has rehabilitated all Communist leaders, so Mao, Ho, Castro, Lenin and even Stalin have been whitewashed. Pol Pot also has Western defenders. The Jewish Trotsky, though, has been turned into a saint among Western radicals, especially those who have never read one history book from cover to cover.
Ya , I could see the Jew money in Saigon - who else could build all those low and high risers. I always thought Ho was a Nationalist but he had to play along with the Commies in order to get weapons, and in the end the Commies offed him, in order keep Vietnam Kommunistic. Well, my interpretation sounds good . Vietnam changed me like nothing else in my life. But I prefer the old time in the Delta than the newer times - War or no war. There is just something about old bamboo and "grass" hootches, old ways, lamps on at night, mosquito nets, brown Mekong water, and girls { women} in a sampan selling Hua How sp { water mellons} and they always had that that smile when you talked their French Vietnamese dialect. Com ohn Linh.
One of the more depressing aspects of the genocide in Palestine (besides Jews getting carte Blanche from most of the world to slaughter children and bomb hospitals) is how nearly all of these brave journalists and commenters, who at least highlight the atrocities and lies, are still too afraid to use the words Jew and Jewish. Find any random article or post and search for those two words and you will likely not find them unless somehow part of a comment about anti semetism. Everyone is well aware that the Jews at any moment can demonetized you and end that nice, brave career.
So now we have Jews running 3 wars simultaneously against the Jews' traditional (perceived) enemies: Russians, Palestinians and Jew worshipping conservative Christians. However none dare point this out and stay in the mainstream or near mainstream.
So many interesting comments today. Enjoyed the lovely pictures. How about a picture of the barista? Liked the picture of you reading in the Friendly Library.
I live in the US, but am not offended by your accurate words of our demise, as was one of the commenters. Thanks Linh. Curious, I thought you quit drinking alcohol?
I've mostly quit beer, but have sneaked in a can or mug here and there. I also had a few glasses of red wine with friends the other day. I should really be more disciplined about this...
You know if you sit or lie on that front beach wall in the evening it is lovely at the stone is still warm from the sun during the day. Plus you normally get a sea breeze blowing nice and cool. I've spent many hours there chatting with friends. About a nice of spot as you can imagine.
"When this man was about to marry his cousin, to bring her to Germany, each worker contributed 50 Euros. It was the owner’s idea. With a staff of 15, it wasn’t too small a sum."
Nothing against Afghan workers per se, but this person and/or his cousin shouldn't be in Europe. Most of those immigrants have nothing to relate to in that continent and just cause further alienation -- of themselves and of the native populations. But anyway -- that's the Global World our elites want, with Afghan married cousins and "transgender" decadent Eurotrash walking side by side, and nothing will stop them.
If the US with your tax money didn't destroy Afghanistan, this man wouldn't have had to leave his homeland. America is the biggest generator of refugees, by far, and it has been doing so with your money and in your name.
P.S. the US didn't just kill Afghans and wreck their country, it also stole their money to "compensate," supposedly, victims of 9/11, which Afghanistan had nothing to do with! You may not notice any of this or care, but the world increasingly does.
Most of what might go to Ukraine will end up with Black Rock and other crooked outfits to "reconstruct" Ukraine. Since there won't likely be much of a Ukraine left, most of those billions will simply be divided among shameless thieves, with the damage to American credibility a laughed off collateral damage. It's not as if they care.
Linh, I'm not American. We agree on most things. Yes, the whole 911 story was/is preposterous. And most of those people migrating might have stayed where they are if their country wasn't in one way or another in a conflict caused by the same people who support forced multiculturalization. I don't really have anything against the migrants themselves, they are just pawns and they are usually ok people (there is a certain excessive demonization of them, especially in the right wing). That said, I'd rather have the world of old, where each nation was more or less one main ethnicity (I thought that was what countries were for).
Yes, this is also true, but it's usually both things together -- they destroy one country with bombs, then use the refugees to help destroy another country too. Who knows how all this will turn out in the end, but I see nothing good coming out of this new global Techno-Babel.
P.S. I guess we can expect a few thousands of Gazans in the future? Apparently, Canada already agreed with Israel for the transfer of a few hundred thousands of new refugees. Or so I've heard.
The Jews are behind this, Tom. Since most Americans are too terrified to even think this, they blame other victims of Jews. If only American were merely cowards. Worse, they have contributed their money and even blood to Jewish crimes.
You got me. Well, I did occasionally, but true, mostly indirectly. But I assume most people can read between the lines. Well, the few who read my blog.
As I recall, I was an early subscriber to your column and dropped it because of your pussy-footing ways. You were not the only and certainly not the worst wuss. I reserve that epithet for John Carter.
Terming people "refugees" implies that someday when they are able, they will return to their country of origin. I guess we all know that this will never happen with these Palestinians once they leave (=are evicted from) Gaza.
Why should Palestinians leave Palestine, while American politicians and your money support genocidal Jews? Why are Americans paying to mass murder Palestinians?
P.S. If someone bombs your neighborhood and you must run for life, aren't you a refugee? Americans generate refugees most mercilessly yet are resentful of these people whom they've deprived of a home. Many have even lost family members to American bullets or bombs. Without the evil USA, there wouldn't be so many displaced Ukrainians, Syrians and Libyans, etc.
P.P.S. Again, all this chaos is by design. Jews get the West to fight or support their wars, then absorb refugees from these wars to weaken the identity and cohesion of nearly every Western country.
Exactly my point. I'm sure that all the governments lining up to receive these people understand that they are really "migrants" and not "refugees." Agreeing to receive them under these conditions thus makes them complicit in ethnic cleansing, a war crime.
If we want to persist in our belief in the myth that they will return home someday, what world would we envision they would be returning to?
The ordinary citizen's impulse to relieve Palestinian suffering is commendable, but there is another way. Does anyone truly believe that the US does not have ample levers at its its disposal to put an instant stop to this?
What levers, Bill? There are no levers for the ordinary citizen. Even a maverick national politician would be at a complete loss to effect any change in foreign policy. You're talking about the conversion of an entire political class: dugout level, mezzanine and bleacher seats. The ballpark is sold out to Jewish interests. They own the team players as well. Not to mention the press coverage. Levers? We got no stinkin' levers.
comrade linh, i was enjoying this description of life in your native land until the denunciation of my native land - i am well aware of america's negative aspects - i am not surprised or offended to hear about them - but i feel sad that you feel drawn to write about them now, when you are somewhere else
all one's earthly troubles will be over soon enough - in the meantime, there are reasons to accentuate the positive - no doubt you have heard the phrase "life's rich pageant" - used ironically to refer to unpleasant aspects of what happens - but truly, as has been said, it's one thing after another - until it isn't
or possibly a buddhist soteriology is more valid - in which case, may all sentient beings reach enlightenment, however many there are, however long it takes
I'm just catching up on your travels, Linh. I think maybe I was napping the last couple of weeks. When I woke up, I looked up and saw the geoengineering "entrails" in the sky, so I knew that I hadn't missed anything while I was "off duty." I have an impression that Vietnam may be spared this latest aerial onslaught? We should be so lucky over here. Do the Vietnamese realize that their tormentors here in the US are in the process of committing suicide with all of their misbehavior? Small recompense perhaps for the environmental carnage we brought to them a few years ago.
Hi Linh. Just finishing 4 days in Nha Trang. It's a great city. Only 100k more people than Vung Tau but it feels so much bigger. The tourist trade is very international. Still lots of Russian, central Asian, Korean and Chinese tourists. Lots of good restaurants and so many hotels. Vung Tau is tranquil by comparison.
I'm glad to hear the Russians are still there. You can certainly get pretty good Russian food in Nha Trang. What's available in Vung Tau is barely passable. Four years ago in Nha Trang, I had damn good Swiss and Uzbek food, but a Greek moussaka I ordered was lame. Oh, well.
We tried Mexican when we were there. Very tasty and on par or better than anything I tried in Saigon. Still the best meal was Vietnamese food - a great cơm tấm sườn place.
Your writing about changing names of streets,destroying monuments etc.,made me think of around 10 years ago,there apparently was a chicken joint named Hitler Chicken in Bangkok.There was no need to wait for long to have jewish groups intervene,but they wisely didnt make them call it Alan Greenspan Chicken.
Hi Linh, which city or town in Vietnam would you recommend for a first-timer in the country? I was born in the Eastern block (Bulgaria) during the old Cold war and am currently living in Australia, but really want to explore Asia and specifically Vietnam next year.
I've chosen Vung Tau, so would recommend it above all. Saigon is much more exciting and cosmopolitan, with some very nice neighborhoods. Much of it is an aggravating mess, however. Hanoi is more historical and less congested. Hoi An is very beautiful but too touristy. If you live just outside its center, you won't have to deal with the mob.
I've heard Da Nang is very nice, but I have no experience of it.
To start with, you should fly into Saigon, then take a boat to Vung Tau. There are Russians and Australians in Vung Tau, but fewer than before Covid. The Russians are nearly invisible. Many are here to work in the petroleum industry.
Nha Trang used to be filled with Russians, but they started to stay or move away with the arrival of too many Chinese tourists.
Da Lat is a cool city at a higher elevation. It's cleaner and more elegant than most Vietnamese cities. Coming in from overseas, you'll have to switch planes in Saigon. With Vung Tau, you can take a minibus for less than $9 from Saigon's airport! From downtown Saigon, you can take a boat to Vung Tau with splendid views along the way.
P.S. The area around Bui Vien in Saigon is very popular among foreigners, but it is seedy, with whores, pimps and too many asshole tourists. Many Westerners can't help but gravitate here, however, not just for the boom boom but to hang out with other Westerners. Though this tiny section is the least representative of Saigon, many foreigners come away knowing nothing else of the city.
Just check the pollution measures before you plan to go. Hanoi is gorgeous and atmospheric and probably what pops up in your head when you imagine Vietnam, but for six months of the year it has some of the worst air pollution in the world.
Saigon is a glorified economic zone, not much of interest. AQI hovers around 150 most of the year. Great food though (but the food is excellent everywhere in Vietnam).
Lots of first time tourists like Hoi An: a type of fake-town Disneyland in Vietnam. Lots of tourists.
I think Da Nang is a pretty livable beach town with better weather (less hot) than the South.
Vung Tau is still probably the best small town in Vietnam, and it is 'walkable' which is rare for SEA....
I meant to put this but forgot, so I will insert this into the article itself, "I'm paying six million dongs [$246.20] a month, plus electricity. Twice a week, a cleaning lady comes in."
Rub it in, Linh, just keep rubbing it in.
Seriously, I'm glad you are finding tranquility in the home you once had to flee.
Are you calling me, a cowardly anonymous commenter, a coward? Not to worry. I will soon dox myself, as I am genuinely that stupid, not to say cowardly. My dear wife, who is a liberal, tolerates me, and I have spoken to her about you and quoted you a few times, so she is tolerant of you too. A minor miracle. Her friends are all liberal, of course, and academics. In a rare outing with a group of them at Christmas time, I was asked how I pass the time. I blurted out, "I spend all day these days on Substack, reading posts by an assortment of dissidents, badasses and misfits." Why did I say this? I must have a death wish. He asked me if I could give an example. After a suspiciously long time while I searched for the most anodyne "badass" I could think of, I alighted on Paul Kingsnorth. He didn't know who that is. The truth is that all the people I read are not badasses, but kind, thoughtful and sane, but I can't tell anyone about them or I will wreck my wife's career.
Hi R.K. Naryan,
I was thinking about the types who jerk off regularly at Unz. They think they're defending white interest by calling people niggers, gooks, chinks and ragheads, and by lashing out at refugees from Jewish instigated wars. Jews love nothing more than to see such barbaric yet impotent behavior from whites. These morons are performing their Jewish assigned role perfectly. Ron Unz himself is laughing his ass off.
Linh
Linh, the white nationalists are also obsessed with hating boomers and hoping they die sooner rather than later. Some write about the day of the pillow when they kill their parents and grandparents by smothering them with pillows. Of course Jews love that type of generational divide among whites but the most bizarre aspect of their dream of a boomer free world is the whites will be a minority heavily populated by Jewish brainwashed good whites who are racially self loathing
You supplied a link to one of your Unz articles the other day, inviting your readers to have a look at the comments. I did read them.
Ha ha! I like Kingsnorth, but if he's the baddest ass you could come up with, you need to spend some time arming yourself with a name for the next time you're asked... :-)
All suggestions welcome.
Dark Futura by Simplicius the thinker has been worth reading.
You'll learn more from Sage Hana than anyone else.
Thanks Linh, when I stayed in Vung Tau I stayed on the other side from the port. 2019 They were all Vietnamese and I only ran into one other white guy - He was from Ukraine and I was wearing a Russian T shirt, so I surprised him when I spoke English after greeting him in Russian - lol
I had this sneaking suspicion that I was living with x NVA guys from the North and they all could see my age and military type tattoo on my arm but very nice and open to me. Of course I lived with the Vietnamese when I was in country - 70-71 so I knew how easy going they are when you are not in the middle of the War zone. I was headed back but they locked the country down like crazy people. How come they won't give you a pass port ? Do they still hold a grudge on the South Vietnamese after all these years? Uncle Ho was a nationalist , he would have wanted all his people to be equal and happy.
Hi gmc,
I can get Vietnamese citizenship, but it is a process. Ho was a founding member of the French Communist Party and was trained in Moscow. Only a watered down Communist can even pretend to be a nationalist, and Ho, as a firm Communist, destroyed the Vietnamese way of life during his reign. Only in the 1990's did the Vietnamese Communist Party start to let go of their Jewish madness. They're now only Communists in name. Their children are educated in the US and UK, and they were the first to be Jewjabbed. Ordinary Vietnamese have reverted to just being Vietnamese.
Farcically, Communists leaders have all been egomaniacs.
Linh
P.S. Jewish higher education in the West has rehabilitated all Communist leaders, so Mao, Ho, Castro, Lenin and even Stalin have been whitewashed. Pol Pot also has Western defenders. The Jewish Trotsky, though, has been turned into a saint among Western radicals, especially those who have never read one history book from cover to cover.
Ya , I could see the Jew money in Saigon - who else could build all those low and high risers. I always thought Ho was a Nationalist but he had to play along with the Commies in order to get weapons, and in the end the Commies offed him, in order keep Vietnam Kommunistic. Well, my interpretation sounds good . Vietnam changed me like nothing else in my life. But I prefer the old time in the Delta than the newer times - War or no war. There is just something about old bamboo and "grass" hootches, old ways, lamps on at night, mosquito nets, brown Mekong water, and girls { women} in a sampan selling Hua How sp { water mellons} and they always had that that smile when you talked their French Vietnamese dialect. Com ohn Linh.
One of the more depressing aspects of the genocide in Palestine (besides Jews getting carte Blanche from most of the world to slaughter children and bomb hospitals) is how nearly all of these brave journalists and commenters, who at least highlight the atrocities and lies, are still too afraid to use the words Jew and Jewish. Find any random article or post and search for those two words and you will likely not find them unless somehow part of a comment about anti semetism. Everyone is well aware that the Jews at any moment can demonetized you and end that nice, brave career.
So now we have Jews running 3 wars simultaneously against the Jews' traditional (perceived) enemies: Russians, Palestinians and Jew worshipping conservative Christians. However none dare point this out and stay in the mainstream or near mainstream.
So many interesting comments today. Enjoyed the lovely pictures. How about a picture of the barista? Liked the picture of you reading in the Friendly Library.
I live in the US, but am not offended by your accurate words of our demise, as was one of the commenters. Thanks Linh. Curious, I thought you quit drinking alcohol?
Hi Peggy Bean,
I've mostly quit beer, but have sneaked in a can or mug here and there. I also had a few glasses of red wine with friends the other day. I should really be more disciplined about this...
Linh
I made a resolution to stop drinking alcohol. So far, so good. Everytime I drink I feel awful. Good luck to your efforts!
You know if you sit or lie on that front beach wall in the evening it is lovely at the stone is still warm from the sun during the day. Plus you normally get a sea breeze blowing nice and cool. I've spent many hours there chatting with friends. About a nice of spot as you can imagine.
"When this man was about to marry his cousin, to bring her to Germany, each worker contributed 50 Euros. It was the owner’s idea. With a staff of 15, it wasn’t too small a sum."
Nothing against Afghan workers per se, but this person and/or his cousin shouldn't be in Europe. Most of those immigrants have nothing to relate to in that continent and just cause further alienation -- of themselves and of the native populations. But anyway -- that's the Global World our elites want, with Afghan married cousins and "transgender" decadent Eurotrash walking side by side, and nothing will stop them.
Hi Tom,
If the US with your tax money didn't destroy Afghanistan, this man wouldn't have had to leave his homeland. America is the biggest generator of refugees, by far, and it has been doing so with your money and in your name.
Linh
P.S. the US didn't just kill Afghans and wreck their country, it also stole their money to "compensate," supposedly, victims of 9/11, which Afghanistan had nothing to do with! You may not notice any of this or care, but the world increasingly does.
The Afghani money will be sofa cushion change compared to the Russian money they are getting ready to take.
Hi JustPlainBill,
Most of what might go to Ukraine will end up with Black Rock and other crooked outfits to "reconstruct" Ukraine. Since there won't likely be much of a Ukraine left, most of those billions will simply be divided among shameless thieves, with the damage to American credibility a laughed off collateral damage. It's not as if they care.
Linh
Linh, I'm not American. We agree on most things. Yes, the whole 911 story was/is preposterous. And most of those people migrating might have stayed where they are if their country wasn't in one way or another in a conflict caused by the same people who support forced multiculturalization. I don't really have anything against the migrants themselves, they are just pawns and they are usually ok people (there is a certain excessive demonization of them, especially in the right wing). That said, I'd rather have the world of old, where each nation was more or less one main ethnicity (I thought that was what countries were for).
Yes, this is also true, but it's usually both things together -- they destroy one country with bombs, then use the refugees to help destroy another country too. Who knows how all this will turn out in the end, but I see nothing good coming out of this new global Techno-Babel.
P.S. I guess we can expect a few thousands of Gazans in the future? Apparently, Canada already agreed with Israel for the transfer of a few hundred thousands of new refugees. Or so I've heard.
The Jews are behind this, Tom. Since most Americans are too terrified to even think this, they blame other victims of Jews. If only American were merely cowards. Worse, they have contributed their money and even blood to Jewish crimes.
Hi Tom,
At your blog, have you said anything about the Jewish role behind what's upsetting you so much? Have you even used the word Jew in any context?
Linh
You got me. Well, I did occasionally, but true, mostly indirectly. But I assume most people can read between the lines. Well, the few who read my blog.
Hi Tom,
I've gotten after Kevin Barrett for using "Zionists" instead of just "Jews." As the translator of Laurent Guyenot, Barrett should know better.
Linh
As I recall, I was an early subscriber to your column and dropped it because of your pussy-footing ways. You were not the only and certainly not the worst wuss. I reserve that epithet for John Carter.
Terming people "refugees" implies that someday when they are able, they will return to their country of origin. I guess we all know that this will never happen with these Palestinians once they leave (=are evicted from) Gaza.
Hi JustPlainBill,
Why should Palestinians leave Palestine, while American politicians and your money support genocidal Jews? Why are Americans paying to mass murder Palestinians?
Linh
P.S. If someone bombs your neighborhood and you must run for life, aren't you a refugee? Americans generate refugees most mercilessly yet are resentful of these people whom they've deprived of a home. Many have even lost family members to American bullets or bombs. Without the evil USA, there wouldn't be so many displaced Ukrainians, Syrians and Libyans, etc.
P.P.S. Again, all this chaos is by design. Jews get the West to fight or support their wars, then absorb refugees from these wars to weaken the identity and cohesion of nearly every Western country.
Exactly my point. I'm sure that all the governments lining up to receive these people understand that they are really "migrants" and not "refugees." Agreeing to receive them under these conditions thus makes them complicit in ethnic cleansing, a war crime.
If we want to persist in our belief in the myth that they will return home someday, what world would we envision they would be returning to?
The ordinary citizen's impulse to relieve Palestinian suffering is commendable, but there is another way. Does anyone truly believe that the US does not have ample levers at its its disposal to put an instant stop to this?
What levers, Bill? There are no levers for the ordinary citizen. Even a maverick national politician would be at a complete loss to effect any change in foreign policy. You're talking about the conversion of an entire political class: dugout level, mezzanine and bleacher seats. The ballpark is sold out to Jewish interests. They own the team players as well. Not to mention the press coverage. Levers? We got no stinkin' levers.
comrade linh, i was enjoying this description of life in your native land until the denunciation of my native land - i am well aware of america's negative aspects - i am not surprised or offended to hear about them - but i feel sad that you feel drawn to write about them now, when you are somewhere else
all one's earthly troubles will be over soon enough - in the meantime, there are reasons to accentuate the positive - no doubt you have heard the phrase "life's rich pageant" - used ironically to refer to unpleasant aspects of what happens - but truly, as has been said, it's one thing after another - until it isn't
or possibly a buddhist soteriology is more valid - in which case, may all sentient beings reach enlightenment, however many there are, however long it takes
A burst of lovely on being ''home'' for a bit; appreciation appreciates and one levels above. Good for you.
I'm just catching up on your travels, Linh. I think maybe I was napping the last couple of weeks. When I woke up, I looked up and saw the geoengineering "entrails" in the sky, so I knew that I hadn't missed anything while I was "off duty." I have an impression that Vietnam may be spared this latest aerial onslaught? We should be so lucky over here. Do the Vietnamese realize that their tormentors here in the US are in the process of committing suicide with all of their misbehavior? Small recompense perhaps for the environmental carnage we brought to them a few years ago.
Hi Linh. Just finishing 4 days in Nha Trang. It's a great city. Only 100k more people than Vung Tau but it feels so much bigger. The tourist trade is very international. Still lots of Russian, central Asian, Korean and Chinese tourists. Lots of good restaurants and so many hotels. Vung Tau is tranquil by comparison.
Hi Matthew,
I'm glad to hear the Russians are still there. You can certainly get pretty good Russian food in Nha Trang. What's available in Vung Tau is barely passable. Four years ago in Nha Trang, I had damn good Swiss and Uzbek food, but a Greek moussaka I ordered was lame. Oh, well.
Linh
We tried Mexican when we were there. Very tasty and on par or better than anything I tried in Saigon. Still the best meal was Vietnamese food - a great cơm tấm sườn place.
Your writing about changing names of streets,destroying monuments etc.,made me think of around 10 years ago,there apparently was a chicken joint named Hitler Chicken in Bangkok.There was no need to wait for long to have jewish groups intervene,but they wisely didnt make them call it Alan Greenspan Chicken.
Hi Linh, which city or town in Vietnam would you recommend for a first-timer in the country? I was born in the Eastern block (Bulgaria) during the old Cold war and am currently living in Australia, but really want to explore Asia and specifically Vietnam next year.
Hi Stefan,
I've chosen Vung Tau, so would recommend it above all. Saigon is much more exciting and cosmopolitan, with some very nice neighborhoods. Much of it is an aggravating mess, however. Hanoi is more historical and less congested. Hoi An is very beautiful but too touristy. If you live just outside its center, you won't have to deal with the mob.
I've heard Da Nang is very nice, but I have no experience of it.
To start with, you should fly into Saigon, then take a boat to Vung Tau. There are Russians and Australians in Vung Tau, but fewer than before Covid. The Russians are nearly invisible. Many are here to work in the petroleum industry.
Nha Trang used to be filled with Russians, but they started to stay or move away with the arrival of too many Chinese tourists.
Da Lat is a cool city at a higher elevation. It's cleaner and more elegant than most Vietnamese cities. Coming in from overseas, you'll have to switch planes in Saigon. With Vung Tau, you can take a minibus for less than $9 from Saigon's airport! From downtown Saigon, you can take a boat to Vung Tau with splendid views along the way.
Linh
P.S. The area around Bui Vien in Saigon is very popular among foreigners, but it is seedy, with whores, pimps and too many asshole tourists. Many Westerners can't help but gravitate here, however, not just for the boom boom but to hang out with other Westerners. Though this tiny section is the least representative of Saigon, many foreigners come away knowing nothing else of the city.
Thank you, Linh! This is very helpful!
Just check the pollution measures before you plan to go. Hanoi is gorgeous and atmospheric and probably what pops up in your head when you imagine Vietnam, but for six months of the year it has some of the worst air pollution in the world.
Saigon is a glorified economic zone, not much of interest. AQI hovers around 150 most of the year. Great food though (but the food is excellent everywhere in Vietnam).
Lots of first time tourists like Hoi An: a type of fake-town Disneyland in Vietnam. Lots of tourists.
I think Da Nang is a pretty livable beach town with better weather (less hot) than the South.
Vung Tau is still probably the best small town in Vietnam, and it is 'walkable' which is rare for SEA....
Thank You! ;-)
What's the co$t of the room?
Hi Smacko9,
I meant to put this but forgot, so I will insert this into the article itself, "I'm paying six million dongs [$246.20] a month, plus electricity. Twice a week, a cleaning lady comes in."
Linh