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Having lived in Thailand and Cambodia, I now find myself in Viet Nam. Put another way, I've moved from giant city (Bangkok), to smaller city (Phnom Penh) to big town in the Mekong Delta. Seems perverse but I like it here in Chau Doc town, An Giang province. Of course, it helps to have a GF here, the best one so far in eight years of travelling and living in Southeast Asia.
The summer of 2012 will mark two years of "retirement." Let me note to retiree candidates, you'll want something to do. You don't want to end up on the bar stool every day, in a worst case scenario. Not a good lifestyle choice, if you ask me. In fact, my drinking habits have almost faded away, despite now owning the only western style bar-restaurant here. New to the bar business, new to business of any kind. Always been an "employee."
To all travellers, enjoy Southeast Asia -- in moderation.
The summer of 2012 will mark two years of "retirement." Let me note to retiree candidates, you'll want something to do. You don't want to end up on the bar stool every day, in a worst case scenario. Not a good lifestyle choice, if you ask me. In fact, my drinking habits have almost faded away, despite now owning the only western style bar-restaurant here. New to the bar business, new to business of any kind. Always been an "employee."
To all travellers, enjoy Southeast Asia -- in moderation.
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- Active Posts 179
- Profile Views 3,528
- Member Title Senior Member
- Age 59 years old
- Birthday April 19, 1953
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Gender
Male
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Location
Chau Doc, An Giang, Viet Nam
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Interests
Motorcycles, and getting to know Viet Nam's Mekong Delta by launching a new business interest, namely Welcome Bar in Chau Doc, An Giang province, Viet Nam. Half-hour from Cambodian border, 2 hours from Phnom Penh and six from Saigon.
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In Topic: Vietnam Work Visa Versus Thai
2012-05-08 20:35:48
The US embassy in Viet Nam has a very helpful website. Go here for complete visa list. It's a start to your search.
In Topic: Vietnam Visa Info
2012-05-08 20:31:07
This goes back to mid-March, 2012. I motored to most expats' fave agency Lucky Lucky in Phnom Penh (where I had been living) and got a one-month VN visa for $32. It was issued by the Sihanouk consulate. A couple of weeks later, I applied for a six-month visa. My multi-entry Business class visa came from the PP VN embassy. LL fee was $153. I hadn't specified Business but maybe that's the only way they come. Anyway it was legitimate, considering my GF and I started a business.
In Topic: Restaurants Charging 10 Percent Service Charge And Not Giving It To Their Staff
2012-02-12 12:03:01
As others say, the service charge is deceitful. Dynasty Inn on soi 4 BKK puts 10% SC on the bill but not one baht goes to staff. I seem to remember a "pasta" shop under the Nana BTS station, north side, charges 15%, with nothing to staff. Bei Otto on soi 20 Sukhumvit charges 10% but every baht goes to staff. Many visiting westerners, especially first timers, interpret the SC as money going to staff. So I'm betting nearly every tourist district eatery that applies an SC directs that money right into the owner's pocket as opposed to defraying labour costs. He/she knows they can get away with it. And SC's are never highlighted, they're just another barely readable line before the grand total. Just because the SC is on the menu doesn't excuse the deceitful nature of it. (Why do we need, as one poster said, to know we're being charged for labour. BS! Even worse practitioners of this SC business practice are the banks. )
I can understand adding an SC for big groups, say 6 or more, which is done in Canada and the U.S. There's always one or two in the group who try to escape or under-report their part of the bill so I find the SC a better way to just get the darned bill paid. And it's fairer to the restaurant staff, who most definitely rely on tips to make any money.
I can understand adding an SC for big groups, say 6 or more, which is done in Canada and the U.S. There's always one or two in the group who try to escape or under-report their part of the bill so I find the SC a better way to just get the darned bill paid. And it's fairer to the restaurant staff, who most definitely rely on tips to make any money.
In Topic: How Best To Pay For Day To Day Expenses While In Vietnam ?
2011-11-29 13:21:02
Thanks for the update! Will be travelling in VN sometime in the winter.
What day to day rate were you getting, how many dong to US dollar?
What day to day rate were you getting, how many dong to US dollar?
In Topic: Thai/Khmer New Year (April 15) - Will Buses Run From Poipet To Pp?
2011-11-18 11:04:26
First, Khmer New Year means lots of regular folk go back to their home provinces. Phnom Penh does not become a ghost town, but lots of shops, a few (famous and infamous) bars and roadside sellers close up. Traffic is noticeably reduced. Important, all banks will be CLOSED for five days and a lot of government services will be severely curtailed. So wherever you go in Cambodia, do not expect normal levels of service.
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