What NOBODY Tells You About Living in Vietnam! (SERIOUSLY?!)

About this video

• Video Title: What NOBODY Tells You About Living in Vietnam! (SERIOUSLY?!)
• Channel: Duong Global Business Consulting Group
• Speakers: Ken Jung
• Duration: 00:13:53

Overview

This video, presented by Ken Jung, offers a candid perspective on the challenges and frustrations of living in Vietnam after over 12 years. While acknowledging positive aspects, the speaker focuses on aspects that drive him "absolutely nuts," including trust issues, a pervasive scam culture, a lack of basic manners, neighborly inconsideration, issues with fire safety, fake products, and a culture of plagiarism. The video aims to provide a realistic, balanced view for tourists and expats.

Key takeaways

• Trust Issues: While business requires trust, gaining entry into established groups can take a long time due to initial distrust of outsiders. Once trust is established within an "inner circle," opportunities open up.
• Scam Culture: Scams are prevalent and often integrated into business models, affecting both foreigners and locals. Examples include inflated taxi fares, tourist menus with higher prices, shortchanging, and rental scams.
• Lack of Manners: Public courtesy is often absent, with examples like not holding doors, loud phone conversations in elevators, and a general disregard for personal space and quiet.
• Neighborly Issues: Inconsiderate neighbors, such as those who produce excessive cooking fumes that trigger alarms, contribute to daily frustrations.
• Safety Concerns: Fire safety is a significant concern, with blocked or locked escape routes in highrises and a desensitization to alarms leading to potential danger. Blackouts are also a recurring issue, exacerbated by poor building insulation.
• Fake Products: The prevalence of counterfeit goods, from coffee to alcohol, poses risks and contributes to a sense of distrust.
• Plagiarism Culture: A lack of innovation and a tendency to copy existing businesses is a significant issue, hindering originality and long-term growth.
• Neglectful Parenting: Unsupervised children in public spaces, with parents engrossed in their phones, create disruptive environments and a lack of accountability.