Setting yourself up

Getting set up is necessary and takes some time as in most new countries. After the initial period, you will want to look at the options for housing. For most people, especially singles, the easiest thing to do is to rent a room in a family house, guest house or a small hotel. This can be done easily and the rents are quite reasonable if you pay on a monthly basis. It also gives you more time to sort out some long-term accommodation.

When looking for long-term accommodation, we generally suggest consulting one of the reliable housing agents around town. The most popular arrangements are house-sharing while renting your own flat or room an option. Flats or apartments tend to be more expensive here as it’s not the traditional housing arrangement for the Vietnamese. In addition, deposits are required for houses and flats, usually ranging 1 from 1-2 months rent. It is normally the case that houses and apartments are fully furnished and have air conditioning. The payment of utility bills such as electricity and water are often taken care of by the housing agent or paid directly to the service provider.

Figuring out your transportation to and from school and around the city is the next step. In the first few weeks, it is usually easiest to take motorbike taxis most of the time and regular taxis for special trips. It is best to get to know a few xe om (motorbike) taxi drivers and choose a reliable one to get you to school and back. Otherwise, you can rent your own motorbike, cycle or walk. If you rent a motorbike, the best thing to do is to do to rent one outside of the tourist areas; try asking your landlord or people in the local area.