Shopping in Vietnam is “awesome” on so many levels. 

And while it may sound obvious -  knowing some phrases or a few words in Vietnamese can really make the experience even more fun.

In this episode ( part 3) Ms Ha and I expand on the ‘game” of shopping or bartering, as Ha gives us some keys words to use to help you get the item you want, at the best price.

Because lets face it. That's what we want, right? 

A Video here of Ms Ha as she takes us around the markets - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_qRIQSkydc
My thanks to www.hoiannow.com for their ongoing support of this podcast.

This is the last in the 3 part series on language as we have covered “Greetings” in part 1, “Dietary requirements” in part 2, and in this one we finish it off where you will learn some of the artistic language skills to use when “Shopping”.
Simple phrases like - What is the “best price”?.  “Too much” !

If you'd like to dig a little deeper to an expanded version of "Shopping in Vietnam" check out the episode https://www.whataboutvietnam.com/series-2/episode-2/shopping-in-vietnam-tailoring-designer-and-sustainable
This is one of the most popular in the series.

Shopping is such a fun and rewarding thing to do in Vietnam as while it has all your major brands in the big cities, you will be pleasantly surprised to see many artisans and designer boutiques offering up all kinds of goods, including homewares, jewellery, and leather made products you  won’t find anywhere else for the price. 

High fashion sits along side the quintessential markets, where there's always a bargain to be had.

Even if you don’t like shopping, the markets is a must to visit as this is where the heart and soul of the people lives. See locals bargain, share gossip, laugh and enjoy the whole experience. It makes shopping in a supermarket look very boring.

You will love this final episode with Ms Ha, as it is a nice quick one and easy to follow.

My thanks to Ms Ha again for her patience and wonderful skills in making the learning of Vietnamese so easy.

The transcript provided here on the website – www.whataboutvietnam.com will provide you the words covered in each episode; the actual Vietnamese spelling, meaning and phonetic pronunciation as I have interpreted it to be. 

It might prove handy to print off before you go.

I apologise in advance if I don’t cover off the all the words you would like to learn, but hopefully these will be enough to get you by during your trip. 

I hope you have some fun learning as I did

Follow on your favourite pod channel, email directly to [email protected]
Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTok

Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

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What do you really need to know how to say in Vietnamese? 
That's a hard one to guess ahead of your visit I know, but  if you have special dietary requirements you might like to save, download this one and print transcript.

In Episode 1 of this 3 part series, we start with greetings, because that’s where all polite conversations start. But, what’s the right word to politely summons a waiter?

What About if you don’t eat or like spicy food?  Do you have gluten free? Vegetarian?

These are just some of the  words we take for granted back home, but try saying them in Vietnamese when you really need to? 

This is part 2 – of my 3 part series with Ha Dam, the girl helping us both speak Vietnamese when it is most needed.

While Ha lives in France at the moment with her partner, and works as an English to Vietnamese interpreter for a UK firm, she is no stranger to teaching us the best words and phrases to help interact with locals. Check out this video she did with Hoiannow.com a few years ago - https://youtu.be/zJaounZwfhw

In todays’ episode we cover the restaurant setting where you or your travelling companion is wanting to summons a waiter or needs to make some special food requests to safeguard themselves for health reasons. This is particularly important for children and those that experience allergic reactions.

The episode has purposely been kept short to enable you to focus and not get overwhelmed by too much going on. Learning Vietnamese is difficult, so we cover mainly those words hardest to explain pointing to a picture, waving hands or shaking of your head… phrases like “gluten free”, of which there are many options in Vietnam. You might like to explore article which lists some restaurants in Saigon which offer vegan and vegetarian - https://thesmartlocal-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/thesmartlocal.com/vietnam/vegan-vegetarian-restaurants-ho-chi-minh/amp/

 For some additional basic phrases not covered in this podcast, check here –

https://hoiannow.com/hoi-an-guide/tips-essentials/basic-vietnamese/

The transcript provided here on the website – www.whataboutvietnam.com will provide you the words covered in each episode; the actual Vietnamese spelling, meaning and phonetic pronunciation as I have interpreted it to be. 

It might prove handy to print off before you go.

I apologise in advance if I don’t cover off the all the words you would like to learn, but hopefully these will be enough to get you by during your trip. 

I hope you have some fun learning as I

Follow on your favourite pod channel, email directly to [email protected]
Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTok

Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

Do you need a #Dental Procedure? Why not find out what’s possible through our Dental and #Cosmetic Medical partner Worldwide Beauty Hospital. Mention #whataboutvietnam to receive 5% discount at Worldwide Beauty Hospital

Learning Vietnamese is not easy, but I have always thought it to be handy to know a few words in certain circumstances. 

English is widely spoken in the main cities, but in the North and in the more remote regions, not so much.

You will soon find that the Vietnamese staff in retail and hotels have learned a few key words in English, so I’ve always thought it only fair I learn a few words of theirs.
This episode is 1 of a 3 part mini-series I am running over the next 3 weeks;-

1.     What About Vietnam – S3-19 – Learn “greetings” in Vietnamese 

Each week will be a new episode focusing on a particular setting or scenario you may find yourself in when travelling, as the title will indicate.

In each situation I have tried to pick only a few words that I hear are the most difficult to explain to a Vietnamese person.
In most circumstances, “pointing” at a picture, “hand signals” and “facial expressions” usually do the bulk of communication more than adequately. Take it from me!

For some additional basic phrases not covered in this podcast, check here –

https://hoiannow.com/hoi-an-guide/tips-essentials/basic-vietnamese/

Through the help of Hoiannow.com I managed to track down my Expert Guest, Ha Dam, a girl who did a fabulous video explaining how to use pronunciation to say  Vietnamese words commonly used. See here here : https://youtu.be/LI50t5iNz2w

Ha now lives in Avignon, France and is a Vietnamese to English interpreter for a UK company helping Vietnamese settle into their new country.  I am sure you will love her style and the ease in which she teaches us.
This is a great episode to download and listen anytime. FF to the words you want.

Vietnamese is one of the hardest languages in the world to learn. so don't be too hard on yourself. I state from the outset my pronunciation is poor, so I use myself as the guinea pig in the show.

Please note_ This show is not to be used for educational purposes nor should it be used for any academic training in speaking Vietnamese. It has been produced purely for conversational purposes as a traveller. You could liken it to someone locally who is giving you some tips on how to say certain words.

The transcript provided here and, on the website – www.whataboutvietnam.com will provide you the words covered in each episode; the actual Vietnamese spelling, meaning and phonetic pronunciation as I have interpreted it to be. 

WHATABOUTVIETNAM - check out more podcasts to help you trip plan

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Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTok

Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

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We all deserve a few laughs after the years just passed.  So to discover there is a “happening” Comedy Scene in Saigon, I thought this has got to go on the MUST DO things during your stay in this vibrant city.

That’s the amazing thing about Vietnam. Despite everything it gets thrown from Covid to typhoons…it always finds ways to astound you!

So, let's kick off the year with a podcast that talks about entertainment, and more to the point - fun and laughter in the bustling city of Saigon.

Let me introduce you to my guest -  Niall Mackay.

Niall is no stranger to the comedy scene in Saigon having lived in Saigon since 2016. A well known Stand Up Comedian, and Podcaster of his own Vietnam podcast “Seven Million bikes”, and “Did that really happen?”, he is ideally placed to talk about the evolution of comedy in Saigon. He tells us how he and his wife fell in love with Vietnam however, in the early days, they struggled to find good live comedy entertainment. So he set about to fix that.

Niall takes us through some great stories of how the comedy scene has matured with some surprising talent and venues.  As an organiser, promoter, and comedian himself he shares with us the bevy of talent coming through. From local Vietnamese doing English speaking comedy, to the many Expats who also relish the chance to jump on stage and bring the house down.

Niall, as he will attest to, is still weathering the Covid storm of openings and lockdowns, but hopes to be back on stage next week. If nothing else this podcast will help you truly appreciate the background and effort that goes into the shows. It will certainly give you a personal insight, and a good reason to cheer him on and say hello when you possibly meet him! 

Don’t forget - Night out entertainment - COMEDY  show - Saigon

Check out http://www.sevenmillionbikes.com/ to find tickets to shows and everything about his podcasts.
If you are in Saigon. - Niall's first show for the year is  - 26th Jan. Ticket details below:- -  https://sevenmillionbikes.com/event/comedy-show-is-back/

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The best way to connect with me is not via text, it is through the website www.whataboutvietnam.com website and email.

Follow on your favourite pod channel, email directly to [email protected]
Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTok

Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

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Mui Ne - A sun kissed piece of paradise that offers an amazing contrast of experiences. 

This idyllic location will blow you away literally as the winds bring thousands each year to kitesurf. This, alongside adventure lovers on dune buggies on white and red sand dunes will have you believing for an instant you are in the Sahara desert. But only for a milli second. Its more recent badge is for being one of the  worlds top 10 beach locations.

Find out all you need to know to enjoy this beautiful destination only 4 hours from HCMC.

I am joined in this episode with Nikki Cornish from the Sailing Club Resort Mui Ne. A gorgeous resort set right on the beach. A sneak peak of the resort  and the hero image is featured on the show's website page here  www.whataboutVietnam.com

Nikki comes to show in her original capacity as GM of the Mui Ne Sailing Club property, and as an expat living there since 2018; born and raised in Zimbabwe, Africa. Nikki is a talented Swiss Hotel trained hospitality professional who began her career in the industry at a very young age. From running upmarket game lodges in Southern Africa, to working on private charter boats in the Caribbean. Nikki went on to opening her own eventing company in Zimbabwe where she did large scale events for many large international brands such as Coca-Cola, Heineken and Toyota to mention a few.

Nikki is a delightful guest and you will love hearing her talk about this place that she has obviously come to love. Her insights and knowledge of the town, climate and experiences there will help you decide if its the place for you. 

While Mui Ne doesn't feature all the typical tourist attractions of other cities in Vietnam, it does offer a charm and cool atmosphere with great seafood and affordable accommodations. And let’s not forget those white and red sand dunes and the famous “fairy” stream. A “must do” during your stay.

Nikki has recently moved up to Halong Bay as the F&B Director for 3 brand new Sailing Club restaurants that will open in early 2022.  You can find out more about Nikki and the gorgeous Sailing Club locations through the links below:-

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-cornish/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/sailing-club-leisure-group/

 https://

The best way to connect with me is not via text, it is through the website www.whataboutvietnam.com website and email.

Follow on your favourite pod channel, email directly to [email protected]
Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTok

Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

Do you need a #Dental Procedure? Why not find out what’s possible through our Dental and #Cosmetic Medical partner Worldwide Beauty Hospital. Mention #whataboutvietnam to receive 5% discount at Worldwide Beauty Hospital

The final episode in this series.

A short episode to close out the series, I am again joined by Miquel Angel as we discuss the broader challenges of trip planning.

“While time is in your hands” says my knowledgeable guest Miquel, it does take astute planning to get the best out of the regions within a restrictive 14 day trip, which was the basis of this series. This is a 3 -part series, so may I suggest you start with Part 1 to get the full benefit of my guest’s insights.

Miquel further shares his take on places like Dalat, Phong Nha, Hanoi, Northern Highlands, Phu Quoc and Dalat.

You will discover things you may not have thought possible to see in Vietnam, as they are not featured in your average program, like Tulips in Dalat and Bee farms in Phu Quoc. Because as he says “You cannot fit everything into one visit to Vietnam”.

Miquel is a Catalan citizen, originally from 100 km north of Barcelona and resides in Ho Chi Minh City. His knowledge of Vietnam during his 22 years of living and working here is wide, and as much as possible, is always linked to sustainability, tourism training and development of the hospitality industry. He is highly regarded in the circle of government and it is his expressed interest in growing tourism in Vietnam in a healthy and sustainable way.

Disclaimer: Please note this podcast is not to be taken in any way as a formal news release or announcement from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam. The information shared in this Podcast by the Guest and Host, are related to publicly released documents and are the private opinions of both people.


You may reach out to Miquel Directly through his Linkedin profile here

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Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

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In this Episode we explore the value of time on a holiday in Vietnam. 
This is part 2 - with Miquel Angel.

While we discussed in Part 1, the aspects of travel opening up to 5 provinces from November 2021. In this Part 2, we expand the travel opening conversation and unpack the normal trip duration of 14 days to see the main destinations. From there we discover the highlights and lowlights impacted by how much time you have in each place. Time becomes a BIG factor in your trip planning.

Commonly this kind of trip known as the “top to bottom”, or “bottom to top” trip tends to leave the traveller pretty exhausted( especially the long haul travellers) : and while many will attribute the trip to being magnificent, they don’t decide to come back and see more. So, unlike many other SEA countries which welcome back tourists over and over again, Vietnam, statistically in the main, doesn’t get the repeat tourist. It’s the “reasons why”  that takes Miquel and I on a funny anecdotal  journey of experiences that could contribute to this outcome.

During the episodes (Part 2 &3) we flesh out the typical experiences of this 14 day trip and how they could be better managed if the focus was on particular regions ie The South, Central, Highlands and Northern regions

Miquel and I will unwrap the very typical tour and hopefully give you some advice and feedback from being involved with these tours so you can choose wisely and possibly make better choices for yourself. Oh, but that’s on the proviso you come back, as we are pretty sure, you would be crazy if you didn't.

Please stay tuned for Episode 3 in this series as Miquel and I continue to unwrap the travel landscape of Vietnam and guide travellers to their best stay in the country.

Disclaimer: Please note this podcast is not to be taken in any way as a formal news release or announcement from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam. The information shared in this Podcast by the Guest and Host, are related to publicly released documents and are the private opinions of both people.

You may reach out to Miquel Directly through his Linkedin profile here

WHATABOUTVIETNAM - check out more podcasts to help you trip plan

If you are liking what I am doing with the show, I’d love it if you would please consider giving me a short review on Apple Podcasts/ITunes.

Sign up for Kerry's WAV newsletter -  https://www.whataboutvietnam.com/newslet

The best way to connect with me is not via text, it is through the website www.whataboutvietnam.com website and email.

Follow on your favourite pod channel, email directly to [email protected]
Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTok

Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

Do you need a #Dental Procedure? Why not find out what’s possible through our Dental and #Cosmetic Medical partner Worldwide Beauty Hospital. Mention #whataboutvietnam to receive 5% discount at Worldwide Beauty Hospital

As the doors to Vietnam begin to open to travel after months of being closed, our eyes and ears are keenly focused on what the entry conditions will be. Most importantly for international travellers, as the doors to us have been closed since March 2020.

In this Episode which is Part 1 - of a 3 part series, I am fortunate to have Miquel Angel on the program as Head of the Human Resources & Quality working group inside the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board, a private entity advising the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam.

Miquel joins the podcast as my guest shortly after meeting with the Ministry which announced that they would open 5 provinces being:- Phu Quoc Island, Danang, Khanh Hoa Province the home to Nha Trang city, Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province, and Hoi An in Quang Nam Province ; under very strict conditions.  

What these conditions of entry are, and how they roll is what this Episode is focused on.

We discuss the background to Visas, quarantine, conditions of stay, and travel Insurance. All relevant to visiting these locations.

Miquel, a Catalan citizen, originally from 100 km north of Barcelona resides in Ho Chi Minh City. His knowledge of Vietnam during his 22 years of living and working here is wide, and as much as possible, is always linked to sustainability, tourism training and development of the hospitality industry. He is highly regarded in the circle of government and I think it is with good fortune I was able to have him on the show willing to help us understand the protocols of the opening.

Please stay tuned for Episode 2 in this series as Miquel and I continue to unwrap the travel landscape of Vietnam and guide travellers to their best stay in the country.

Disclaimer: Please note this podcast is not to be taken in any way as a formal news release or announcement from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam. The information shared in this Podcast by the Guest and Host, are related to publicly released documents and are the private opinions of both people.

You may reach out to Miquel Directly through his Linkedin profile here

WHATABOUTVIETNAM - check out more podcasts to help you trip plan

If you are liking what I am doing with the show, I’d love it if you would please consider giving me a short review on Apple Podcasts/ITunes.

Sign up for Kerry's WAV newsletter -  https://www.whataboutvietnam.com/newsletter

Instagram;

Follow on your favourite pod channel, email directly to [email protected]
Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTok

Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

Do you need a #Dental Procedure? Why not find out what’s possible through our Dental and #Cosmetic Medical partner Worldwide Beauty Hospital. Mention #whataboutvietnam to receive 5% discount at Worldwide Beauty Hospital

When we think about noodles, we probably don’t pay too much attention to their origin. For most of us, they have usually come out of a box, all cut exactly to the same length and shape.

In Vietnam you will experience many dishes including the quintessential favourite, Pho, that includes noodles. However in Vietnam not all noodles are the same, and they don’t come out of a box. They are made fresh. And this is where the history of noodles and the traditional way of making noodles becomes our feature story. 

Noodles are still made as they were hundreds of years ago and while you go about enjoying new and flavoursome dishes in Vietnam, this episode will give you some of the takeaway background to the noodle dishes you are trying. In the best fun way possible.

Neal Bermas is my guest and is the founder and Board chairperson of an innovative and sustainable social enterprise that provides hospitality training programs for street kids, orphans and disadvantaged youth in Vietnam, called STREETS International. 
An integral part of the program is a restaurant in Hoi An  called “Oodles of Noodles”.

Through this restaurant the STREETS international team have trained over 300 students and with this training Neal has become a leader in the development of the restaurant. Over the course of a decade Neal has taken it upon himself to learn as much as he can about the Vietnamese traditions of food making and in particular the nuances of noodle making. So he comes to the program with a wealth of knowledge and is a brilliant guest.

You may be interested to know In 2018, Neal Bermas was inducted as an Honorary Member in Vietnam to La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs the world’s oldest and most prestigious gastronomic association (founded in 1248 by King Louis IX of France). Amongst other prestigious awards; in 2015, and again in 2018, STREETS was recognized by Hyatt Hotels with a Global Community Grant Award. In 2017, Bermas received a Leadership Award from Consular Affairs of the US Department of State. In 2018, and  he was honored to be selected as CNN Hero of the Year. 

This has been a particularly  trying time for the organisation as due to Covid it has had to suspend operations so donations are welcome and purchases of the STREETS book will be most appreciated. Details below:-

Streets link: www.streetsinternational.org

Here's donation link: www.streetsinternational.org/donate

STREETS Cookbook (www.amazon.com/STREETS-3rd-Cookbook-International/dp/6047779395)

NOTE: In response to the pandemic crisis in Vietnam, government trav

The best way to connect with me is not via text, it is through the website www.whataboutvietnam.com website and email.

Follow on your favourite pod channel, email directly to [email protected]
Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTok

Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

Do you need a #Dental Procedure? Why not find out what’s possible through our Dental and #Cosmetic Medical partner Worldwide Beauty Hospital. Mention #whataboutvietnam to receive 5% discount at Worldwide Beauty Hospital

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a foreign country? Especially a country as beautiful as Vietnam. 
Have you ever visited a place, and thought,  I wish we could go back and live there.
With everything going on in the world over the past couple of years, I think many of us are asking ourselves big life questions, like  - "Is this as good as it gets?", "Retirement doesn't look that much fun at home, but it may look a lot more exciting somewhere - like Vietnam?

Maybe you just want to mix things up and live in a place part of the year, and come back home for the other part. A lot of people do that in Vietnam.

Meg Le, her last name in Vietnamese is pronounced "Lay" as she is married to a Vietnamese, is my guest in this "insider tips" episode. Meg shares with us what it's like to be 40 something and give up a corporate lifestyle in Seattle to go travelling the world. She details for us the journey she and her husband took in 2 years of traveling, and how a series of events led them to move to Hoi An, Vietnam.

Meg and I take a deep dive into what the process is of setting yourself up as a resident, and what the pros and cons are of going from a tourist to becoming a resident. Including some fun stories along the way.  
If you have ever considered this as an option and are looking for some real honest-to-goodness advice this is definitely the episode for you.

A little bit about Meg.  
Meg Le has been in a corporate working environment for most of her adult life working as a business consultant and FTE consultant for some big-names, like - WHO in Geneva on a vaccine database, in Myanmar with the Department of Health, Global Good with Bill Gates, and Starbucks to name a few.
She definitely has a wellness bent, as she did teacher training in Yoga in India and now prefers to coach in Pilates and yoga coach (Flow with Meg).
Having really settled now into Hoi An after nearly 18 months, during the middle of Covid, Meg is ready for her next entrepreneurial adventure and will soon join a VC start-up accelerator program, where she will explore ways to leverage her technology, business, and wellness coaching background to build a new business. She is going to be a busy girl in the days to come as she continues to support her husband’s restaurant (Veranda Food and Drink in An Bang). This is where the humble bagel will lead them.

Connect with Meg:

LinkedIn | Management Consultant

Flow with Meg | Pilates & Yoga Coach

Journey into Travel | Personal Travel Blog

The best way to connect with me is not via text, it is through the website www.whataboutvietnam.com website and email.

Follow on your favourite pod channel, email directly to [email protected]
Keep abreast of news on our social pages on FB, IG,LinkedIn and TikTok

Let me design your #customised #private tour of Vietnam - See our Travel Services

Do you need a #Dental Procedure? Why not find out what’s possible through our Dental and #Cosmetic Medical partner Worldwide Beauty Hospital. Mention #whataboutvietnam to receive 5% discount at Worldwide Beauty Hospital