1.) Does the State control internet service? I am wanting to provide in home internet access for my fiancee'. Who does she contact? What is the average cost?

2.) Is there insurance available in Viet Nam (for a Citizen)? Would I be able to provide health insurance through a company there?

3.) This one is purely subjective and will probably cause a lively debate. How much money (U.S.) would it take for a single person to live "comfortably" in HCMC?

That's it for now!

1. Thi lives in Saigon and thinks she is using FBT. The local number is 9301280.

2. She doesn't have health insurance and doesn't know if it's available.

3. She lives with her mother and brother so she's not sure what would be comfortable for others but thinks $150-250 a month would be a safe range.


Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26
I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11
I-129F RFE(s) :
RFE Reply(s) :
I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26
Touched: 2007-11-02
NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16
Consulate recieved ??????
Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11
Packet 3 received 2007-12-24
Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28

1. The State does NOT control internet service. Mai Anh just switched to Vinafone because the other company she was with (VietTel, I think) provided very slow repair service, which is needed often in Hanoi. Of course, maybe that doesn't help you down South, but there is a choice.

2. I've never heard of anyone having health insurance in VN. I will ask Mai Anh about that in about an hour. She won't understand the point of it, though, I predict (one of many adjustments to be made in the U.S., another would be going to the dentist twice a year, need it or not).

3. I have it on good authority that you can actually live in Hanoi (well, not in the center, nice part) for about $80 a month. This is what most workers make in northern VN. However, you won't be eating any meat for that salary, and you will be living in a not-so-nice place. I think that $200 a month figure would get you comfortable by Vietnamese standards (not by Western standards). Again, I will ask here shortly and post if I here any different.

Am I the only one with a Northern gal here? Y'all talk funny down there.

OK, now I just talked with my fiancee, and I asked about your questions.

1) I was correct about her continuing saga with internet in her home. She said the cost of that was the equivalent of $15 per month (for high speed internet). These are Hanoi prices, of course.

2) My first answer to this question was just completely wrong. Amazing. After 1 1/2 years, I am still finding out about the small details. My fiancee has health insurance through her work. She says there are private plans available for purchase out there. But she couldn't give too many details because she doesn't need to worry about that.

3) She agreed with me about my figure of $200 per month would be comfortable for a Vietnamese. But, this is living with family, and that is totally by Vietnamese standards. If you want to know more, please expand on your question. Are you thinking of moving to HCMC for a while?

O.K. I don't want to clog up cyberspace so I will respond to everybody w/o the quotes. I have provided her with support for the past few months and I was just wanting to make sure that it was enough. I have researched prices there and felt that $300.00 p/m should be enough to remain comfortable. Just wanting an independent opinion (or opinions). At the same time I scoured craigslist there ( craigslist.org / 5th column over and down ) and found some things to be comparable in price. I think that some people will try to get western prices for whatever they are selling/renting though.

Yes, I'm thinking about moving there. Basically it is a contingency plan if there are problems. My hair brain scheme goes something like this. Go there February 20th, get married March 2nd, come back, work hard, save money, go back there for the interview (which should be around November 2008) and leaving when, and only when, Thuy has the visa secured.

What about you guys? Ever think of saying the hell with it and jumping on the next flight out?

Anyway. For some reason this company will only pay me if I do my job, so I go drive now. I hear Kansas is lovely this time of year. About to find out.

Later.

I think about it all the time. In fact, I wish it were possible. Only my 8 year old son and my refusal to skip out on my financial obligations keep me from getting on the next plane. Well, that, and the fact that it takes several days to get a visa!

Yeah. I could sell my house, cash in my retirements, sell my car, ect.

Cool, take me with you. I have my bags packed already!

Thi and I have talked about something similar to that. If she doesn't get her K1 visa, she wants me to move to Vietnam, get married and live there. While it does have it's appeal, there's a lot of details to work out.

1. Vietnam has a lot of rules for marrying an Vietnamese citizen. http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/consular...y_a_vietnamese/ I found it interesting that they want a mental exam to see you are crazy......
2. What job would I do in Vietnam? On the way over in September I talked to a French Canadian doctor that was interesting. Also I can't be self employed, I have to either work for someone or be a partner with a Vietnamese in a business. Then there's the business visa issues.
3. I have lots of bills like most Americans so I don't have the finances to move there, I am buying my house but I have little equity to cash out now. I do like my house......
4. An American or other foreigner can't own property in Vietnam, not directly at least for now. There's no such thing as mortgage in Vietnam. So where would we live?
5. I don't know if I'd adjust to that humdity.
6. I haven't won the lottery yet.......

There's probably some other details as well but I think she will get her visa so I'm not concerned about it. If she doesn't her K1 visa and we can't get a K3 visa and moving is the only answer, then we'll deal with it.

I have a question for you, why file K3? If you want to marry her in Vietnam, have you filed with the Vietnamese government? Until you do, you won't be legally married in Vietnam. Granted everyone is different, but I think going for a K1 visa makes more sense. Besides, I don't want a shrink tellling me I'm crazy...... Some of my friends already think that......

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26
I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11
I-129F RFE(s) :
RFE Reply(s) :
I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26
Touched: 2007-11-02
NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16
Consulate recieved ??????
Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11
Packet 3 received 2007-12-24
Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28

My wife had rented a house alone and had cable tv and internet service in hcmc and could still manage to save a little money on the 250 dollars a month i sent her for about 2 years before she left ho chi minh and came to usa .

About K3. Not sure if it applies for you "American". For Vietnamese, it's very simple.

1. You will have at least 25 days in Vietnam
2. Get to US Consulate in Saigon 'HCMC' and request for Affidavit of Single Status 'around 30 - 50 bucks'
3. Talk to Agent Service 'Dich Vu'. It cost about 200 -300 usd, if your wife live in Saigon.
3. Wait for 21 days, you will have a Marriage's license