joey: VIetnamese Ask Expats Not Other Vietnamese???

Daniel Smith They ask because they can. They may also ask in Vietnamese only groups as well. It is better to ask questions than to assume. We learn from each other. Asking a question in English allows more people to answer since more people know English in the world than they do VN.
.
Expats have a different perspective, generally, than those born here. Curiosity killed the cat. We are curious. Some people may post questions in many groups..... and expats are sometimes smarter and more resourceful and sometimes know more things or certain things or different things or better things because of the IQ, their DNA, education, maybe, more than maybe other people, and so why not ask and Vietnamese can practice English and make friends as they ask questions here

Thuy Khanhthi I'm so sorry for your very bad experience today.
We, young people, have to changing it starting from small thing not bribe them, step by step I believe we would be better as we're now better then us 10years ago.

Like · Reply · 3 hrs

Glauber Da Silva I been pulled 3 times and never had to give a coin to police. Always stayed on my bike. Removed the key from the ignition, otherwise they will take it and just asked what was the problem, what I did wrong. After few minutes they let me go.

Like · Reply · 3 · 3 hrs

Biboi Biboi Vina they r not humane at all...

Like · Reply · 1 · 3 hrs

La Kha Du welcome to HCMC not Saigon, get used to it, feel sorry...

Like · Reply · 3 hrs

Trần Ngọc Lam Điền So sorry for you.

Like · Reply · 2 hrs

Bart Hamilton Sound like fake cops to me. Even the real ones aren't that bad!

Like · Reply · 4 · 2 hrs

Cỏ Dại 4 time they pulled me to ask some thing and the last time is the location near Ben Thanh market.When i stoped in front of trafic light they pulled me and some person also waiting green light turn on to said that this law have just changed.mortobike n...See More

Like · Reply · 1 · 2 hrs

Leszek Mitraszewski who let the dogs out???

Like · Reply · 2 hrs

1 Reply

Vincent Gene Always keep an extra wallet with your papers and 40k VND only in the truck, whenever I got pulled over I just gave them that wallet and told them that was all I got. Just make sure your actual money is hidden well.

Like · Reply · 1 · 2 hrs

Write a comment...

Tèo Sai Gon

7 hrs

I am Vietnamese but i wonder why there are some other Vietnamese people always ask Expats in this groups about buying something here in Saigon even they live whole life here. Why don't you ask your local friends ( searching for it in Vietnamese) better than ask foreigners.

Comment

5959

Comments

Anh Le why don't you ask them? How the hell do we know why they ask stupid questions

Like · Reply · 4 · 7 hrs

Lola Jensen To make it even more ironic than the OP did - that's where you still get more answers. Relax

Like · Reply · 36 mins

Write a reply...

Duong Thuy Chi A person with a Vietnamese name doesn't mean that person is a local. They might be a fresh arrival from another country. They might have spent their entire life surrounded by non-locals, even if they had spent some time living here. How could you assume a person's background just by their name? Sure, we stereotype because it's faster, but there's always exceptions.

Like · Reply · 17 · 6 hrs

Lola Jensen Oh yeah they are total strangers and have no family or facility friends here? 😅

Like · Reply · 35 mins

Write a reply...

Willis Wong To be fair, I have met locals who are born & bred in hcmc not being familiar with the other districts in hcmc.

Like · Reply · 7 · 6 hrs

Tèo Sai Gon i meant that if you are real vietnamese , why dont we ask something in vietnamese. Someone here, tried to post where can i rent a house, how can i treat my dog in district ....or buy something...that you can find all things through searching google in vietnamese... normally if i want to buy or help here i use vietnamese only and ask vietnamese people instead of asking foreigners. I post it because want to know foreigner's thinking

Like · Reply · 4 · 6 hrs

Duong Thuy Chi How do you spot a 'real' Vietnamese then? I was not born nor bred in this city. I have finally managed to build a network that have Vietnamese people in it, but it took me ages. And my frame of reference is very different from a true local. Say, I hardly met a local that understand what a Vulcan is.

Like · Reply · 5 · 6 hrs

Anh Le You get recommendations from real users of the services you ask for here, with real advices, and the quality if services are virtually guaranteed to meet expats' standards. Google does not do that.

Like · Reply · 4 · 6 hrs

Simon T. Hoang All posts must be in English, it's the rule.

Like · Reply · 4 hrs

Cao Lê Diệu Phúc I'm the one asked for a good vet, cuz I'm not born here, cuz I know exparts know good vet that gives western treatments after I did a research about my dog's case and found out treatments are very different from country to country (dont want to say contradict). And I did a lot of googling, asking aroung,....(honestly it took a day for that) I decided to go with the Western treatments, so why not ask the experienced?
They did help me a lottttt, they're very supportive and kind smile emoticon

Like · Reply · 2 hrs

Kyaw Tay Zar 1.) Renting a house - Could be because the poster asked for his/her expat friend, or want to know an agent that has served expats since they are more or less more service-oriented. I'd dealt with local agents serving local market only, and they suck. Word.

Like · Reply · 1 hr

Kyaw Tay Zar 2.) Vet for dog - Sure, could search in Vietnamese forums, but us expats are more well known for caring our furry friends. We also tend to want the best for them, since they are not pets for us, but rather a family member or friend. And what Anh Le said here.

Like · Reply · 1 hr

Kyaw Tay Zar Sure, I could Google (I'm no Vietnamese by the way) where to buy ... say, an Audio Technica ATH-M50 here. BUT, that won't show tell me reliable places. Here, real people who had bought headphones from places could recommend me and share their experiences.

Like · Reply · 1 hr

Kyaw Tay Zar And if a Vietnamese ask such questions, when I have a similar need in future and search for it here, I would find their threads.

Like · Reply · 1 hr

Write a reply...

Tèo Sai Gon Thousands of websites gave us useful information with some clicks. Or your purpose here wants to interact in English. Yes, i want to admit that i am here for learning english and helping Foreigners information. Not asking them about local things

Like · Reply · 2 · 6 hrs

Duong Thuy Chi I spent my first 6 months in Saigon just trying to understand the spoken Vietnamese dialect in general. It would have been quicker for me to grab someone who speaks English and just bloody ask away, rather than spend ages trying to make locals understa...See More

Like · Reply · 6 hrs · Edited

Susiny Duong Duong Thuy Chi i think he meant the 'real' local vietnamese who born and grew up here like him and me. Take it easy girl. Cheerx smile emoticon

Like · Reply · 5 hrs

View more replies

Write a reply...

Mai Hoang I am interested in stuff most local folks aren't. Does that explain?

Like · Reply · 13 · 6 hrs

Nguyệt Quang For higher level of service? I always try the services which got high rating from expat for my family 😊

Like · Reply · 3 · 6 hrs

Henry Edward Unique New York, Unique New York. Oww now brown cow.
- regarding the original post, ask a bilingual buddy. Saves 50% on generic most things.

Like · Reply · 1 · 6 hrs

Vicky Hà Yến haha yeah i wonder too, we are living in our country, speak our mother language but need to ask exparts things that we can easily ask a local person, how weird, lol

Like · Reply · 3 · 6 hrs

Troy Sincock I find it strange too. Most expats that come here can't speak vietnamese at first so we find it hard to buy things. If the vietnamese people that could quite easily go down the street and buy what they want are buying the stuff advertised in this group then that means less stuff for expats to buy

Like · Reply · 3 · 6 hrs

Mai Hoang In this group of over 40k members, expats and Vietnamese natives included, there are more than 1 benefit to posting a question here.
- The group doesn't allow spams and scams, therefore I don't have to deal with that.
- I am interested in many services, products and activities that mainly interest foreigners.
- When having lived abroad, this is one of the ways to stay connected to people who, quite likely, share the same attitude or mindset, or both.
- If one is Vietnamese and has a spouse or partner who is a foreigner, the chance of needing recommendations from expats is a lot higher.
- Last but not least, it is only respectful to communicate in English in a group of various nationalities, so that any other member can read, and maybe find the information they need too.

Like · Reply · 7 · 6 hrs

Philip Veinott Yeah but real active number is way less than 40k and prob at least half are locals.

Like · Reply · 6 hrs

Mai Hoang Philip Veinott I don't know anywhere else that I could possibly receive valid recommendations from even one tenth of that number of 40k people. Fine, not all members are active. But even if there were only 200 members active, that would still be a pretty good crowd.

Like · Reply · 4 · 5 hrs

Larry Bernier I can find stuff here my Vinese wide cannot, no idiot either, she is a doctor.

Like · Reply · 5 hrs

Ngoc Chi Le Nope, its the law to communicate in English, haha. Other languages are banned here tongue emoticon

Like · Reply · 5 hrs

Write a reply...

Andrey Ogibenin Maybe they thinks that foreigners know better where to buy cheaper or better goods?! The same way as Vietnamese people truly believes that everything imported (except Chinese made products) is better than local made! But most likely, the reason is they just want to make friends with you, guys!

Like · Reply · 3 · 5 hrs

Troy Sincock Oops I read the post wrong. I guess they want to know where the best stuff is, however they should be prepared to pay the higher costs as expats do

Like · Reply · 1 · 5 hrs

Kattie Rivera I also wonder the same thing! but expats or locals, it's always nice to help others wink emoticon

Like · Reply · 5 · 5 hrs

Harry Hodge Shouldn't your question be in Vietnamese?

Like · Reply · 5 · 5 hrs

Hope Rey Wu Would never ask a foreigner where to get something in my own country

Like · Reply · 3 · 5 hrs

Réminiscense Bien Bao You should and you will be suprised of the result. As foreigner in new town. We are hunger to discover and try new things and they might have been to places that you might know it exists.

Like · Reply · 3 · 5 hrs · Edited

Write a reply...

Ngoc Chi Le 1. Why do you wanna ask foreigners about what they think of Vietnamese?
2. In your question, clearly the ones you are asking are Vietnamese, and you seem to ignore when some people give you the answer. Then you imply your own assumptions to them, and keep asking foreigners.
3. So, what the hell you wanna say here?

Like · Reply · 5 · 5 hrs

Simon T. Hoang Yes, I'm confused AF too, clearly he wants to get expats opinions on the matter of Vietnamese member's posting behavior, and of course how the heck do they know while the targeted audience is the Vietnamese. This post is pointless.

Like · Reply · 4 hrs

Kyaw Tay Zar Amen. Confused AF.

Like · Reply · 3 hrs

Write a reply...

Mai Hoang What's with this segregation and mockery bs though?

Expats post questions they think both locals and other expats can help them with. Locals posts questions they think both expats and other locals can help them with.

Some of my expat friends have lived in the city for 10+ years, do they count as "locals" too? Hell for sure they do. And since I came back to Vietnam, every single nifty divey bar, cool event and new eatery I've got to know about, I learnt through the expats, not intentionally.

You say why, I say why not?

Like · Reply · 6 · 5 hrs · Edited

Le Thuy Linh Why dont you ask this question in Vietnamese?

Like · Reply · 2 · 5 hrs

Tèo Sai Gon Rule is English

Like · Reply · 5 hrs

Write a reply...

Stu Miller Exactly.

Why are people so concerned with what others are asking (and their reasons/motives)? Is it really disrupting your life or making you lose sleep?Tèo Sai Gon - What problem could you possibly have with this?

Like · Reply · 3 · 5 hrs

Le Thuy Linh He just curious... its ok

Like · Reply · 5 hrs

Stu Miller Curiosity is fine - but it seems like he doesn't agree with this practice or he thinks it's strange. It's just people asking for the opinions of other people - it shouldn't matter if they are Vietnamese or expats, I think.

Like · Reply · 1 · 5 hrs

Write a reply...

Trọng Nguyễn Tường possibly Expat is rich they have money to spend and shop more frequently so when it comes to shopping they are good source of consultation

Like · Reply · 4 hrs

Nathan Nate Weyers Because they can

Like · Reply · 4 hrs

Alexandre Le Guyader AMEN !!! Today a VN girl (or viet Q) asked where she can buy a fridge in saigon ! Come on !!! Sometimes this group looks like a big google page for lazy people who can go on google themselves. So i gave her a link containing the keywords in google (an...See More

Like · Reply · 5 · 4 hrs

Troy Sincock Where can I buy a helmet? tongue emoticon

Like · Reply · 4 hrs · Edited

Write a reply...

Dara Nguyen Just place yourself in their position. When you live abroad, you feel safe and friendly to your mother tounge people living there more than native peole of that country. That's one of reasons why they have Vietnamese people area, Chinese people area in a different country.

Like · Reply · 4 hrs

Linh Chi 1. I'm not God, I can't know everything.
2. Im Vietnamese, but I were not born in this city. I even can't know all things in the city that I were born.
3. This group has 40,676 VIETNAMESE and foreigners members. If my friends don't know, don't know the right name/descriptive keywords to search on Google, no result for it on Google, someone here might know. It also makes this group become useful.
This group also has so much Vietnamese, not only foreigners. Foreigners and VIETNAMESE HELP VIETNAMESE and foreigners.
Only crazy people think foreigners can ask, but Vietnamese can't/don't.
4. I see this group also for sell, advertise, buy, find too.
5. If u are Vietnamese but don't want to help Vietnamese, it's ok. No one force u to answer.

Like · Reply · 1 · 2 hrs · Edited

Kyaw Tay Zar Confused AF. Are you asking expats about why Vietnamese post questions? Or are you asking Vietnamese people about it, in this expat group?

Regardless, I don't see much issue. As a matter of fact, those questions tend to help other expats too when they need to ask similar questions. On average, a thread is seen by around 4.2+k members, and on average around 1.6k members would read/actively-see a thread. Yes, there are tons of silent members just reading.

Like · Reply · 4 · 3 hrs

Kyaw Tay Zar And hey, I know Saigon better than some Vietnamese here. Just because they are locals doesn't mean they are expert in everything Saigon. And tons of members here are Viet Kieus too.

Like · Reply · 6 · 3 hrs

Linh Chi and other Vietnamese people in this group might know and answer too

Like · Reply · 2 hrs · Edited

Linh Duong Not everyone who is Vietnamese has lived their whole life in Vietnam mate.

Like · Reply · 2 hrs · Edited

Ryan Neilan You'd be surprised how little some people know about their own city, Vietnamese or otherwise. I've spoken to doctors and medical students who had no idea there's a medicine museum in HCMC.

Also many people feel a twenty minute drive away from their home is too far to go for anything, so often won't know a lot outside of their own district. The foreigners tend to drive all over the city looking for different stuff.

Like · Reply · 1 hr