I write this as an American gent in mid-40s. I have been married to a Vietnamese woman for 19 years. My wife and I are about the same age (she is 1 month older). Vietnam is a wonderful country. I love the country. I love my wife. Vietnamese women are really nice.
Mike should definitely get a UA-cam channel I learned so much from this interview the man is very perceptive and he just calls it like it is thank you to both of you!
I'm single, never married 70 years old.. was in Vietnam for one month prior to Covid ...fabulous country...I'm well settled financially and always wanted to move to Asia... Thailand is on my list.. great video ...
Great choice of countries. Ive visited Thailand twice a year f the past 15 years. I would love to retire there too? If you choose to remain single you can hire live in caregivers for a lot less than US if you ever get the point of needing that.
Look up the word "carmudgeon" and you have found most of the tourist places in Thailand. UA-cam will never include these people but its like having a peanut butter sandwich never mentioning jelly.
Yes I believe you should start a channel for people that are considering to visit/Live in Vietnam. If you do something like what Dan does and keep it real with the cost of living and how the Expats are treated, the channel should be a success!! Take care and good luck.
Congrats mon! Enjoy your life. Great choice and definitely you are a commodity in South East Asia compare to America. Be safe and stay blessed. Thanks Dan for the interview.☮️💜🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was a really good interview. Guy gave a lot of good insights and tips. Talking with guys who have stayed in Southeast Asia about love and dating, things are a bit different. As long as you have money you will have women. But unlike the USA, they are upfront about it.
Good stuff, Dan! I’m a long time follower and lifetime member of your ebook subscription. I’m from the US too and will be in Vietnam in August. Mike, I’ll connect with Dan and give him my contact info so you and I can meet in Saigon over coffee. I know pretty much zero about you but if you’re wondering about starting a UA-cam channel, I say go for it! Take care, Mike, and hope to meet you in person in less than 30 days from now.
Dan, of course Mike should start a UA-cam channel that would be beneficial to those who travel especially to Vietnam (VN). I don't think I would move permanently to VN, but the wife and I are considering a vacation home there. Interesting tidbit about the VN Visa - I was issued a five year visa because my wife holds dual Vietnamese/US citizenship.
Start a channel Mike. I don't see myself living there but visiting is high on the list. Out of the way spots, parks, day trips, local arts & crafts, street food are a few ideas for starters.
Hell yeah he should start a youtube channel. Vietnam is on my list for when I have to do my 3 year exit clearance from the Philippines. I need alot of boots on the ground great information. Plan is Vietnam, Loas, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia & maybe Indonesia on that same run. ❤ Loved this interview. Real talk & Nuff Said!! New york is great, but too expensive and stressful, trust me, late father lived in the Bronx and worked in White Plains for IBM. Know NYC well. All be blessed safe, healthy, happy, prosperous and great!! 🎉❤
Thanks for the wonderful video. Please do start a channel on Vietnam/Saigon experiences. It will be great to hear how taxation is managed for the Vietnam part, since any overseas income may be subject to significant local taxes there once you reside there long term.
VN tax rates are significantly lower than almost all western countries and you are not subject to ‘double’ taxation. If you have paid tax in your home country at (likely) the higher rate, you would pay nothing in VN.
@@darrellthody6125 I mainly referred to retirees. Retiree couples for example, in the US with say 40K income per year, pay only about $1000 in tax currently. That income is about 1016720000.00 dong. To pay difference of tax on that amount after accounting for double taxation, even if it is 20% taxes, it will be about $7000 to be paid in Vietnam. Doesn't work for retirees unfortunately. Important to note, this is not for working people who earn income in Vietnam and are able to get FEIE exemptions.
Hey Mike, I live in Houston, 51 yr old divorced/single guy and plan to retire and come to teach in Vietnam in about 2-3 years. I think it’s a great idea if you started a UA-cam channel!👍
Mike definitely start a youtube channel. Find your niche and just start filming 🎥. Your first videos won't be great but the more you do it the more accustomed to it you get. Then answere the top questions or problems your viewers have. Good luck
I have traveled to 7 countries in SEA this year and this includes visiting Vietnam 3 times. I love Vietnam and my favorite cities: Saigon (the heart of Vietnam), Da Lat (beautiful mountains - cool climate), Nha Trang (great beach - perfect size town), Hoi An (Old French Section, great restaurants - walking by river - bicycles). I would suggest slow traveling for at least a month in each one of these cities to appreciate Vietnam. I'm not really a fan of Da Nang or cities in the north except for Ha Long Bay.
Hello again Dan. Like I said before I lived there 15 years and Mike is spot on about many things in HCMC. Now that I live in Pattaya Thailand I am not in the bars or eat out in Western restaurants only in mostly Thai restaurants I find it’s cheaper here then Vietnam. I love the Thai food more it’s cleaner people are not throwing garbage on the ground here no rats running on the streets people in cars are more polite no cutting in line. All foreigners. In Vietnam are seen as ATM machines and yes they do charge the western more. I haven’t had that happen to me in the outside markets here because the prices are on the stand. Anyway I wish Mike all the best 100% and remember every time he goes out with Vietnamese they expect him to pay. 😂 I can go on but all the best to my Texas friend.
@@charlesscinta7377 really? How do they charge westerners more in VN? I’ve been here almost 5 years (HCMC) and have never been charged a ‘western’ tax. We pay the same in grocery stores, supermarkets, movies etc as VN citizens. Your perception is only your perception and not reality. You believe in pattaya you are not considered a walking ATM? That made me laugh. 😆
@@darrellthody6125 well I lived there 15 years don’t tell me that everyone is charged the same thing? Only in certain places yes the same. So please stop kissing ass it doesn’t work on me I know better. Yes is you go with girls your going to pay same in Thailand or Asia. You have your opinion I have mine so live with it.
I just stay away from the drama. That is also why I left the USA. It cracks me up when people get in verbal fights in comments. I don't have the time or desire in my life to do drama.
If he works in VN, he'll realize he'll make 20 percent of what he makes in the US. Some VN Americans start coffee shops or something to make a little money.
I tried this. Living in VN is tough. I missed a lot of multicultural aspects of living in the US. I found Malaysia to be the better option. You don't sacrifice as much of the modern convenience. I met many other Vietnamese Americans in various stages of their careers. @Mike, being a Viet que like you, I'd be very interested to see how these other Viet Americans found or didn't find their retirement or change of life.
@@mike.t868 better medical care for sure, more multicultural - think Singapore. Vietnam is several years behind Malaysia. I am not saying Vietnam isn't catching up. Malaysia is much more multicultural like US than Vietnam. This is my opinion or bias.
Very good interview, hit the important points. I found apartments more expensive in expat-favored areas tho. I agree on the trash. At night, sweepers appear and clean up the bags and stuff left on the sidewalks and gutters, but then it starts again next morning. I am getting burned out by the trash and overall shabbiness of Vietnam. Must be no housepainters here. Just went to Cambodia for a week, our poor Western neighbor, blown away by how it is improved. Zero trash in cities. Nice wide boulevards, light traffic, modern malls, golden temples in Phnom Penh. Small restaurants with Cambodian _and_ Western food (sandwiches, spaghetti, etc), $3-$5.50. At the hip Hong Kong restaurant, $6.00 Whereas in Vietnam, foreign food is only found in foreign restaurants (Japanese, Italian, American, Korean) at much higher prices.
would also like to know the cultural dating differences..how are the Vietnamese women? what are the differences between Vietnamese and american women and would you have more of a difficult time fitting in if you have zero Vietnamese blood ?
*Mike don't do youtube channel I can't afford the competition 😂 I'm kidding go for it. The trash problem got me down about Thailand and Vietnam. What i can't figure out is these countries depend on tourists you would think there powers that be would do more to solve the trash issue. Yes I stand in awe watching traffic in Vietnam and wonder why I've never seen a traffic accident. We've been to Vietnam 4 it off the 5 times that I have traveled to Thailand. Going back to my wife's home in Chiang Rai the 1st week in Dec. I'm sure we will be in Vietnam probably January. Thanks Dan and good luck Mike. Be well.*
The war zone on Vietnam was over 50 years ago. The only people that know were alive and experienced it. However, the demographics of Vietnam indicat a significantly lower age range than 50 which is why nothing resembles a war zone. Germany and japan were war zones 80 years ago but they don't resemble war zones as well.
Retire in your 50’s? I’m all for it if you can afford it. I retired at 55 with no regrets. Enjoy life while you are young(ish). I’ve heard that Vietnam is not so great for age gap relationships. What’s the story on that? I’ve also heard that Vietnam doesn’t have a retirement visa. 90 days is great for tourists but for long term stay I am personally not a fan of visa runs.
No retirement visa. Age gap relationships happen and not shunned. I don't know about online dating. Few western expats here vs Philippines, Thailand, no 'adult' zones to attract that type of culture, so you see fewer mixed marriages.
@@formica. Thanks. I’m married and settled in Thailand. Vietnam is often talked about exuberantly as a living destination but unless you have a job it seems like long term stay is iffy. I do want to visit for vacation travel though.
Not Vietnam... but the Philippines (my experience). I don't think it's 'cutting in line'. I believe it is a complete difference of personal space. When I stand in line, I generally leave 2-3 feet between me and the person in front. The Filipinos seem to see that as a completely open line, with no perspective if 'midwestern' (in my case) personal space which almost _requires_ 3 feet in every direction to feel comfortable.
In Vietnam, it is cutting in line. Sneaky about it too. At supermarket, I am three people back at checkout, guy walks up front, casually puts his basket on the ground. Planning to come back in one minute and stand next to his basket. "Nope" sez me!
ahhhh great point about personal space..I also see that with driving in mexico. hard to find polite drivers. I left space in front yesterday for cross traffic in a parking lot and some old man cut in front blocking the cross traffic and pretended like I didn't exist. they never look at you also when you try to voice your opinion to them cutting you off..sneaky cowards
His girlfriend looks extremely like the type of VN woman you do NOT want to date. Looks like an old bar woman/pool hustler/bui vien veteran. Stay strong men.
@@VagabondAwake I never said she was or wasn't beautiful. Tell me I'm wrong and that she never worked Bui Vien and I'll apologize. I'm real not fake like your hair colour which has been changed to try and "stay young" whilst you date a girl half your age because, well, we know why. Stay strong men.
If your green behind the ears as far as asian women go then you'd better get educated on the long term relationship scams. Basically keep your money and assets separate or you're likely going to get fleeced! UA-cam Thai talk with dan.
I write this as an American gent in mid-40s. I have been married to a Vietnamese woman for 19 years. My wife and I are about the same age (she is 1 month older).
Vietnam is a wonderful country. I love the country. I love my wife. Vietnamese women are really nice.
And why I dont love you.
I will be going there now with a 90 day visa. Fantastic.
Mike should definitely get a UA-cam channel I learned so much from this interview the man is very perceptive and he just calls it like it is thank you to both of you!
I'm single, never married 70 years old.. was in Vietnam for one month prior to Covid ...fabulous country...I'm well settled financially and always wanted to move to Asia... Thailand is on my list.. great video ...
What are you waiting for???
Book that flight!
Great choice of countries. Ive visited Thailand twice a year f the past 15 years. I would love to retire there too? If you choose to remain single you can hire live in caregivers for a lot less than US if you ever get the point of needing that.
@@DiscoDrew I have a flight booked for three weeks to Thailand in November as a more exploratory trip ... was in Thailand november 2022 also.
Look up the word "carmudgeon" and you have found most of the tourist places in Thailand. UA-cam will never include these people but its like having a peanut butter sandwich never mentioning jelly.
@@rickmccann4016 That makes no sense. And you mispelled the word.
Go for it Mike ! Nothing ventured nothing gained !
Show the world the benefits and beauty of your birthplace!! 👍
Yes I believe you should start a channel for people that are considering to visit/Live in Vietnam. If you do something like what Dan does and keep it real with the cost of living and how the Expats are treated, the channel should be a success!! Take care and good luck.
Congrats mon! Enjoy your life. Great choice and definitely you are a commodity in South East Asia compare to America. Be safe and stay blessed. Thanks Dan for the interview.☮️💜🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thanks Dan, and thanks Mike! Yes to doing a channel, I will sign up. Do it!
Yes. A great idea for Mike to give a different perspective of life in Vietnam.
This was a really good interview. Guy gave a lot of good insights and tips. Talking with guys who have stayed in Southeast Asia about love and dating, things are a bit different. As long as you have money you will have women. But unlike the USA, they are upfront about it.
Good stuff, Dan! I’m a long time follower and lifetime member of your ebook subscription. I’m from the US too and will be in Vietnam in August. Mike, I’ll connect with Dan and give him my contact info so you and I can meet in Saigon over coffee. I know pretty much zero about you but if you’re wondering about starting a UA-cam channel, I say go for it! Take care, Mike, and hope to meet you in person in less than 30 days from now.
Dan, of course Mike should start a UA-cam channel that would be beneficial to those who travel especially to Vietnam (VN). I don't think I would move permanently to VN, but the wife and I are considering a vacation home there. Interesting tidbit about the VN Visa - I was issued a five year visa because my wife holds dual Vietnamese/US citizenship.
Start a channel Mike. I don't see myself living there but visiting is high on the list. Out of the way spots, parks, day trips, local arts & crafts, street food are a few ideas for starters.
Hell yeah he should start a youtube channel. Vietnam is on my list for when I have to do my 3 year exit clearance from the Philippines. I need alot of boots on the ground great information. Plan is Vietnam, Loas, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia & maybe Indonesia on that same run. ❤ Loved this interview. Real talk & Nuff Said!! New york is great, but too expensive and stressful, trust me, late father lived in the Bronx and worked in White Plains for IBM. Know NYC well. All be blessed safe, healthy, happy, prosperous and great!! 🎉❤
Thanks for the wonderful video. Please do start a channel on Vietnam/Saigon experiences. It will be great to hear how taxation is managed for the Vietnam part, since any overseas income may be subject to significant local taxes there once you reside there long term.
VN tax rates are significantly lower than almost all western countries and you are not subject to ‘double’ taxation. If you have paid tax in your home country at (likely) the higher rate, you would pay nothing in VN.
@@darrellthody6125 I mainly referred to retirees. Retiree couples for example, in the US with say 40K income per year, pay only about $1000 in tax currently. That income is about 1016720000.00 dong. To pay difference of tax on that amount after accounting for double taxation, even if it is 20% taxes, it will be about $7000 to be paid in Vietnam. Doesn't work for retirees unfortunately. Important to note, this is not for working people who earn income in Vietnam and are able to get FEIE exemptions.
Mike, id love to watch your channel
Hey Mike, I live in Houston, 51 yr old divorced/single guy and plan to retire and come to teach in Vietnam in about 2-3 years. I think it’s a great idea if you started a UA-cam channel!👍
Go for it. I will subscribe.
It’s up to you about starting a YT channel. I will watch and continue to watch depending upon my interests.
Mike definitely start a youtube channel. Find your niche and just start filming 🎥. Your first videos won't be great but the more you do it the more accustomed to it you get. Then answere the top questions or problems your viewers have. Good luck
💯 %❤ liked!!
I would be interested in watching Mikes channel. I recently retired in Canada and am considering moving to Kuala Lumpur or somewhere similar.
Spot on.
Early 50s? Wow! You look great
Great video,I think Mike should differently start a Utube channel and I wish him luck.
I have traveled to 7 countries in SEA this year and this includes visiting Vietnam 3 times. I love Vietnam and my favorite cities: Saigon (the heart of Vietnam), Da Lat (beautiful mountains - cool climate), Nha Trang (great beach - perfect size town), Hoi An (Old French Section, great restaurants - walking by river - bicycles). I would suggest slow traveling for at least a month in each one of these cities to appreciate Vietnam. I'm not really a fan of Da Nang or cities in the north except for Ha Long Bay.
Thanks for sharing!
Yes start a UA-cam channel Mike
Hello again Dan. Like I said before I lived there 15 years and Mike is spot on about many things in HCMC. Now that I live in Pattaya Thailand I am not in the bars or eat out in Western restaurants only in mostly Thai restaurants I find it’s cheaper here then Vietnam. I love the Thai food more it’s cleaner people are not throwing garbage on the ground here no rats running on the streets people in cars are more polite no cutting in line. All foreigners. In Vietnam are seen as ATM machines and yes they do charge the western more. I haven’t had that happen to me in the outside markets here because the prices are on the stand. Anyway I wish Mike all the best 100% and remember every time he goes out with Vietnamese they expect him to pay. 😂 I can go on but all the best to my Texas friend.
yesssss..I call that the gringo menu..it's alive and well
@@charlesscinta7377 really? How do they charge westerners more in VN? I’ve been here almost 5 years (HCMC) and have never been charged a ‘western’ tax. We pay the same in grocery stores, supermarkets, movies etc as VN citizens. Your perception is only your perception and not reality. You believe in pattaya you are not considered a walking ATM? That made me laugh. 😆
@@darrellthody6125 well I lived there 15 years don’t tell me that everyone is charged the same thing? Only in certain places yes the same. So please stop kissing ass it doesn’t work on me I know better. Yes is you go with girls your going to pay same in Thailand or Asia. You have your opinion I have mine so live with it.
Hope more expats would retire in Vietnam than in the Philippines so there would be less drama in the PI.
I just stay away from the drama. That is also why I left the USA. It cracks me up when people get in verbal fights in comments. I don't have the time or desire in my life to do drama.
My thai gf just made me Vietnam pizza-cool video!
and yes , you should start a u tube channel!!!
Nice interview. Just wondering how Mike can retire in his early 50s? Hope he's got the cash flow to support his new lifestyle.
If he works in VN, he'll realize he'll make 20 percent of what he makes in the US. Some VN Americans start coffee shops or something to make a little money.
@@jesuisrobert808 If so, starting a coffee shop in your 50s isn't retirement.
@@jonb3189 some people enjoy the interaction. There are easier and less risky ways to make money IMO
Same as Malaysia that require pristene 100 dollar bills.
The cash all feeds into Singapore and they are fussy
@@celtosaxon I know as my Malaysian wife who lives in Malaysia was born there and have relatives there.
I tried this. Living in VN is tough. I missed a lot of multicultural aspects of living in the US.
I found Malaysia to be the better option. You don't sacrifice as much of the modern convenience.
I met many other Vietnamese Americans in various stages of their careers. @Mike, being a Viet que like you, I'd be very interested to see how these other Viet Americans found or didn't find their retirement or change of life.
What modern conveniences are you referring to? Saigon has almost everything!
@@mike.t868 better medical care for sure, more multicultural - think Singapore. Vietnam is several years behind Malaysia. I am not saying Vietnam isn't catching up.
Malaysia is much more multicultural like US than Vietnam. This is my opinion or bias.
Very good interview, hit the important points. I found apartments more expensive in expat-favored areas tho. I agree on the trash. At night, sweepers appear and clean up the bags and stuff left on the sidewalks and gutters, but then it starts again next morning. I am getting burned out by the trash and overall shabbiness of Vietnam. Must be no housepainters here.
Just went to Cambodia for a week, our poor Western neighbor, blown away by how it is improved. Zero trash in cities. Nice wide boulevards, light traffic, modern malls, golden temples in Phnom Penh. Small restaurants with Cambodian _and_ Western food (sandwiches, spaghetti, etc), $3-$5.50. At the hip Hong Kong restaurant, $6.00 Whereas in Vietnam, foreign food is only found in foreign restaurants (Japanese, Italian, American, Korean) at much higher prices.
would also like to know the cultural dating differences..how are the Vietnamese women? what are the differences between Vietnamese and american women and would you have more of a difficult time fitting in if you have zero Vietnamese blood ?
Viet women love foreigners. Especially white guys! LoL
*Mike don't do youtube channel I can't afford the competition 😂 I'm kidding go for it. The trash problem got me down about Thailand and Vietnam. What i can't figure out is these countries depend on tourists you would think there powers that be would do more to solve the trash issue. Yes I stand in awe watching traffic in Vietnam and wonder why I've never seen a traffic accident. We've been to Vietnam 4 it off the 5 times that I have traveled to Thailand. Going back to my wife's home in Chiang Rai the 1st week in Dec. I'm sure we will be in Vietnam probably January.
Thanks Dan and good luck Mike. Be well.*
trash problem in Mexico too
No snatching of things i see in Malaysia.
Great
What is the best city to retire to in Vietnam if one loves to Scuba dive ?
Philippines? Thailand? Indonesia? (sorry maybe Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, but I don't think it's like those places with crystal clear water)
@@formica. if they pollute the land, best bet they pollute the water even more
If you catalogue your life, you may not experience it as well with the constant camera angle juggling and hours editing later.
The war zone on Vietnam was over 50 years ago. The only people that know were alive and experienced it. However, the demographics of Vietnam indicat a significantly lower age range than 50 which is why nothing resembles a war zone. Germany and japan were war zones 80 years ago but they don't resemble war zones as well.
Retire in your 50’s? I’m all for it if you can afford it. I retired at 55 with no regrets. Enjoy life while you are young(ish).
I’ve heard that Vietnam is not so great for age gap relationships. What’s the story on that?
I’ve also heard that Vietnam doesn’t have a retirement visa. 90 days is great for tourists but for long term stay I am personally not a fan of visa runs.
"You shouldn't just listen to what others say; it's best to come to Vietnam to experience it yourself, and you will believe in what you see."
No retirement visa. Age gap relationships happen and not shunned. I don't know about online dating. Few western expats here vs Philippines, Thailand, no 'adult' zones to attract that type of culture, so you see fewer mixed marriages.
@@formica. Thanks. I’m married and settled in Thailand. Vietnam is often talked about exuberantly as a living destination but unless you have a job it seems like long term stay is iffy. I do want to visit for vacation travel though.
@@martypoll Job or - - - Vietnamese wife! We lived in Bangkok for her graduate school, loved it, we'll live in Thailand in the future. It's the best.
👍👍👍
Not Vietnam... but the Philippines (my experience). I don't think it's 'cutting in line'. I believe it is a complete difference of personal space. When I stand in line, I generally leave 2-3 feet between me and the person in front. The Filipinos seem to see that as a completely open line, with no perspective if 'midwestern' (in my case) personal space which almost _requires_ 3 feet in every direction to feel comfortable.
In Vietnam, it is cutting in line. Sneaky about it too. At supermarket, I am three people back at checkout, guy walks up front, casually puts his basket on the ground. Planning to come back in one minute and stand next to his basket. "Nope" sez me!
ahhhh great point about personal space..I also see that with driving in mexico. hard to find polite drivers. I left space in front yesterday for cross traffic in a parking lot and some old man cut in front blocking the cross traffic and pretended like I didn't exist. they never look at you also when you try to voice your opinion to them cutting you off..sneaky cowards
His girlfriend looks extremely like the type of VN woman you do NOT want to date. Looks like an old bar woman/pool hustler/bui vien veteran. Stay strong men.
I think she is beautiful. Luckily we all don't have the exact same taste.
@@VagabondAwake I never said she was or wasn't beautiful. Tell me I'm wrong and that she never worked Bui Vien and I'll apologize. I'm real not fake like your hair colour which has been changed to try and "stay young" whilst you date a girl half your age because, well, we know why. Stay strong men.
It proves, America so bad that American living in America have to come to 3rd word country to find women. All that glitters is not a gold.🤔
And yet people will risk their lives to get away from their countries to go to the US...can't be so bad.
I think the answer is to travel and deicide for yourself where you enjoy life most.
I have driven all over Asia. NO part of Asia is as dangerous to drive/ride as Vietnam. The drivers have little regard for their lives or yours
We spent 3 months all over Vietnam and I never saw a cars or sooters in a wreck. Chaos indeed, but no wrecks? Odd.
If your green behind the ears as far as asian women go then you'd better get educated on the long term relationship scams. Basically keep your money and assets separate or you're likely going to get fleeced!
UA-cam Thai talk with dan.
Until he runs out of cash.
$2k usd per month is doable until SS
@@TheMrsJonasBrothers So is fake love for $.
@@rickmccann4016well aren’t you just a ray of sunshine today. SMH.
@@nala3038 Sorry I dont have my rose colored glasses on nala (sounds female correct?).
alsome cheap living.
Typical Yankee ignorance .. HCMC is not !! The Capital of Vietnam, try Hanoi !
Thank you for shaking us out of our ignorant bliss with that life altering revelation 😮
@@celtosaxonnice!