Expat Life: How I ended up in Vietnam

In another solo episode, I share my experience of how I ended up living in Vietnam. Many people ask me why I chose to stay here, and I always say, “It’s complicated.” What was supposed to be a brief six-week stay has turned into nearly a decade of incredible experiences. 

Here’s how it happened.

Meeting My Wife Adrie – From Melbourne to New Zealand

The story begins in Melbourne, Australia, where I met Adrie, who was visiting her sister and exploring the country. We connected and not long after fell madly in love. Unfortunately, visa issues and job challenges forced us to leave Australia. Luckily, we were still young enough to get working holiday visas for New Zealand, and so our next adventure began.

New Zealand quickly became a second home to us. The country’s breathtaking landscapes and welcoming people made it easy to fall in love with. Fortunately, we obtained permanent residency, and during that period, we decided to take a trip to Vietnam in 2015. Adrie’s sister had relocated there for a job with a university, which provided us with a perfect reason to visit.

We spent two weeks exploring Vietnam’s culture and beauty. Our journey began in Ho Chi Minh City, where we also explored the Mekong Delta. We continued to Hoi An and Da Nang, then ventured up to Hanoi and further to Sapa. In Sapa, we hiked through the scenic mountains, though we didn’t climb the highest peaks.

Back in New Zealand, we immediately started eating Vietnamese food and drinking Vietnamese coffee. I was surprised to discover how much Asian and Vietnamese food there actually was near us. We found a Vietnamese restaurant that had 333 beer, which we loved in Vietnam for it’s inexpensive price (13,000 VND if I remember correctly!). We got really excited, but then we saw the price—it was eight or nine New Zealand dollars, compared to the one dollar we paid in Vietnam. We decided not to buy the beer, but we still enjoyed a lot of delicious Vietnamese dishes. 

After talking we decided we would travel next year to as many countries in SE Asia as we could afford. So, for the next year in New Zealand, we lived frugally, going out only for happy hours and cutting back on other activities. We stuck to a strict budget and saved as much as possible. During this time, we also decided to get our ESL teaching certification, the CELTA. Although it was available in New Zealand, it was much more expensive there, so we opted to do it in Vietnam instead.

In April 2016 we left our home behind and set off for an adventure of a lifetime, safe in the knowledge we’d be back in NZ in a year.

The Trip To Asia and Return to Vietnam

Our journey began in Thailand. We arrived in Bangkok, greeted by the sweltering humidity and the sight of 7-Elevens on every corner. The city had a unique smell, but we quickly fell in love with it, especially after tasting the best Thai green curry we had ever had, paired with cheap beer. We spent a few days in Bangkok, soaking in the vibrant culture, before heading south.

From Thailand, we crossed the border into Malaysia, beginning our exploration in the north. We visited Langkawi and the Perhentian Islands before making our way south. One of the most memorable parts of our trip was visiting Slim River, a small, off-the-beaten-path town where my grandfather had once served as a policeman. Calling him from Slim River was a proud moment for me, as it connected our journey to my family’s history.

After our adventures in Thailand and Malaysia, we made our way to Vietnam. We had signed up for an ESL teaching certification course, the CELTA, which is known as the gold standard for English teaching certifications. 

When Adrie and I decided to pursue our ESL teaching certification, we knew it wouldn’t be easy. The CELTA course required our full dedication for four weeks. I remember that I could hardly hangout with friends, socialize and of course, no other job at that time. However, I had a chance to meet new people, who are still my friends now. 

As we were doing the course, we also reconnected with the culture and vibrancy of Vietnam. Choosing to take the CELTA course in Vietnam was driven by both the lower cost compared to New Zealand and our growing affection for the country.

Sliding Door Moments – What Made Me Stay In Vietnam

One of the pivotal moments in our lives happened when Adrie and I completed our CELTA course. It was what I like to call a “sliding doors” moment. At the time, after finishing the course, there was an enticing offer from ILA. If we took a job with them, we could get back 50% of the course fee. There was also a signing bonus, a mid-contract bonus, and a completion bonus. 

We had been traveling for over three months without a paycheck for about four months, so our savings had dwindled significantly. The offer on the table seemed too good to pass up, especially considering it doubled when you consider both of us, amounting to thousands of dollars. 

Money was a big factor, but there was more to it. Adrie, who has often pointed this out, was right: we didn’t feel finished with Saigon or Vietnam. The city was bustling and rapidly growing, with a unique vibrancy that we had only begun to tap into. The craft beer scene, which we loved, was just starting to explode. Before we came, I had no idea that Vietnam had such a passion for craft brewing. It was exciting to witness this scene in its early stages, knowing it would only continue to grow and innovate. And I was right, craft beer in Vietnam has developed significantly. Check out my episode about my 7 favorite craft beer spots!

Saigon was changing rapidly, with new buildings and revitalized neighborhoods everywhere. The city was full of charming cafes and vibrant street food vendors. We often wandered the streets, finding new favorite spots for pho or banh mi. There was so much more to explore, and we didn’t feel ready to leave. Some of our friends from the course were also planning to stay, adding to our inclination to remain.

One evening, we found ourselves at the Bitexco Tower, a place we haven’t frequented much since. Some friends had decided to stay and work for ILA, while others were set on leaving Vietnam. Adrie and I had to make our decision that night. 

We weighed the pros and cons, thought about the financial benefits, and considered the experience we would gain. Finally, we decided to stay and teach at ILA. We opted for a part-time contract initially, knowing that if we signed a full-time contract within two months, we would be eligible for all the bonuses.

Working for ILA – Teaching Experience

We signed a part-time contract and started teaching in District 7, where we lived. 

The first time was hard for both Adrie and me. 

I remember spending hours planning my first class. I liked kids and had worked with them before, but this was different. The students knew the routine better than I did, and I felt lost. During the break, I sat in the bathroom, thinking about quitting. But I decided to go back and finish the class, and it went better. 

Adrie’s first day was hard too. She worked with very young kids and came home in tears after one of the first weekends. We were both overwhelmed, but we kept going. Eventually, we started to enjoy it. Before the deadline, we signed a full-time contract.

Life at that time was so different. We finished work late in the evening and went out for after work drinks a lot. We ate unhealthy food, went to the gym less frequently, and slept late on days off. We felt like we were back in our college days and it was a great experience.

At first, me and Adrie didn’t plan to stay in Vietnam for longer. We continued to look for other opportunities and I knew that The Middle East usually paid higher for English teaching jobs. We were interested in Oman, which was more relaxed compared to places like Dubai or Saudi Arabia, especially for women. Oman seemed like a great place with its beaches and mountains, offering lots of outdoor activities. 

However, to teach in the Middle East, you typically needed two years of experience, and we only had one. So, we decided to stay in Vietnam for another year to get the extra experience. We were enjoying our time, even though working weekends meant missing out on fun events. We made good friends, traveled around Vietnam, and visited nearby countries like Korea. 

Get on New Job – Another Sliding Doors

When another year was ending, we planned to leave. We were getting ready to leave Vietnam, and the preparations were in full swing. We planned to spend a couple of months in Thailand before applying for jobs in the Middle East, since they hired in January or February. Adrie sold her bike, and we started clearing out our apartment, selling off things we no longer needed. We had even informed our friends that we were planning to move. Everyone was expecting us to leave, and we had planned a farewell dinner to say goodbye.

Then another sliding door moment happened. But firstly, let me tell you a little bit about my working background. I started out as a backpacker in Australia and ended up working in street fundraising for four years, eventually becoming a manager and one of the top fundraisers in the country. After that, I moved to New Zealand, where I worked with a local rescue helicopter charity and a cancer research institute, focusing on community and corporate fundraising. It was my passion, and I even spoke at conferences and was featured in magazines. 

The Community Network was ILA’s charity arm, helping disadvantaged kids through education, volunteering, and fundraising for various charities like Blue Dragon in Hanoi and Saigon Children’s Charity. I’d helped out with this network in the past, giving advice and supporting events. I knew that this was my dream job, and it happened at the right moment when Rob – the Manager of the Community Network, resigned.

Rob encouraged me to take the position, but I just rejected it outright as I was leaving. However, it was Adrie again, who took me out of my comfort zone. She motivated me to pursue my dream job regardless that we were about to leave. 

We had already arranged dinner to say goodbye to our friends. At the dinner, I stood up to make a speech. I thanked everyone for coming and then shared the surprising news that we weren’t leaving after all. Everyone was shocked, and it took a moment for them to believe us.

Adrie also applied for a new role and got promoted to Teaching Coordinator, a position at the head office, where I would be working. Instead of heading to Thailand and Oman as planned, we took a month off to travel around Taiwan and another destination before starting our new roles.

Conclusion

The right thing just happened at the right time and I believe everything happens for a reason. But after two years, things changed. We both had full-time jobs, and although Adrie worked on Saturdays and had Sundays off, our lives had become more settled. This shift led to the creation of Seven Million Bikes, which started as a Saigon podcast and eventually evolved into what you’re listening to now. I’ll share more about that transformation in the next episode. 

Thank you so much for listening to A Vietnam Podcast. It’s incredible to see how many people are tuning in. We’re about to hit 75,000 downloads and aim for 100,000 by the end of the year. The YouTube channel is also growing. Creating this podcast has truly changed my life, and I’ll explain more about that in future episodes. 

Follow for more sharing about journeys in Podcasting and Vietnam!