Challenges of Living in Vietnamese Neighborhoods

Living in local neighborhoods in Vietnam poses unexpected challenges for foreigners, including pests, noise, security risks, sanitation, and infrastructure issues.

### 7 Critical Challenges of Living in Vietnamese Local Residential Areas as a Korean
* Cockroaches and lizards freely move along the rivers and pipelines where sewage, including toilet waste, is **directly discharged into nearby rivers** in local residential areas.
* 🍻 Vietnamese neighbors often have late-night drinking parties, making it **impossible to sleep properly** due to **loud music and noises** throughout the night.
* 🦐 Vietnamese people enjoy using various types of fish sauce and unfamiliar spices in their food, leading to **strong and persistent smells** that can be **difficult for Koreans to tolerate**.
* 🚪 Koreans living in local residential areas with tightly closed doors are easily identified by local residents, **attracting attention and becoming targets for theft and robbery**.
* 🔥 Old and densely packed buildings in local residential areas pose a constant risk of fire, with **outdated infrastructure** and a **lack of fire prevention equipment**.
* 💧 The water supply and sewage systems in local residential areas are much more underdeveloped than in Korea, with **poor water quality** and **potential health risks**.
* 💡 Electricity consumption exceeding the capacity of power generation leads to **frequent blackouts** in local residential areas, especially during the **high electricity consumption summer months**.

Hello, this is the Blue Forecast of a Wise Vietnamese Life. Many people who have visited Vietnam and liked it more than they thought may be considering living in Vietnam for a long time for tourism or business purposes. In most cases, if it is not through a company, there are language barriers at first, and since they are not familiar, many people start their Vietnamese life by looking for housing in Korean towns where they can feel psychologically comfortable. However, when they actually look into a few places where many Koreans live, they are often surprised to find that the rent is not much different from Korea, contrary to their expectation of it being much cheaper in Vietnam. Naturally, the thought arises, Instead of paying this amount, why not just live in Korea? Let's try to save fixed expenses and move on to the next step.

When locals look for local houses or apartments where locals live, it is very difficult to realize that the moment they have been planning and looking forward to for a long time is the biggest crisis that comes with living in Vietnam. Living in a studio apartment may seem like something you can handle easily because you have lived in Korea without any difficulties. However, behind the low rent, there are many inconveniences and dangers that you cannot even imagine without actually living in Vietnam. You must be aware in advance that in addition to the amount saved on monthly rent, there are many unexpected costs that you have to bear. Instead of saving a considerable amount, the price you have to pay for what you dislike will soon come harshly. Living in a local residence is the number one factor that makes many people give up on their Vietnam life within a few months, overflowing with hardships, which started with high expectations. Today, why do Koreans choose to live in cheap local neighborhoods?

I will now inform you of the seven deadly reasons why living is difficult. Please refer to them carefully to save time and money in Vietnam. So, let's trust and follow along. Let's begin. Do you know the small river commonly known as Daltongne in the 1980s in Korea? In Vietnam, even in major cities, the local residents often live in areas where the sewage system is very vulnerable compared to Korea. If you visit places where many locals live, you can still see that sewage, including toilet waste, is directly discharged into nearby rivers. The problem is that numerous cockroaches, and even lizards rarely seen in Korea, freely move along the rivers and pipelines. Each household has sewage pipes resembling spider webs, and cockroaches frequently appear in the neighborhood in the evenings. It seems like the older neighborhoods maintain these kinds of environments.

The size is no joke. Cockroaches are as small as a small phone, and mice are as common as Nutria. Here, people are so busy eating and living that there seems to be no solution, or perhaps because there is no solution, the awareness of serious pests is slim. Perhaps because they are so common in everyday life, only Koreans are surprised, while locals are not particularly surprised. In a typical local neighborhood, not to mention the apartments where locals mainly live, it is not much different to see cockroaches during broad daylight. In addition, even in old apartments, small lizards can be seen sticking to the walls without any problem, even if you tightly close all the doors. If you live in a local apartment, please be prepared to see them someday.

Vietnamese people especially enjoy gathering on the streets, drinking together while enjoying various street foods. The issue is that the neighbors often invite friends over and start a drinking party late at night. It's common to see them leaving the doors wide open, laughing, and chatting loudly as if they are the only ones around. Once alcohol kicks in, it doesn't take long for someone to grab a microphone and start singing along with the amplified music, even past midnight. Throughout the night, both men and women clap and play, making it impossible for others to sleep properly, and you may even feel the urge to commit murder when you see the sun rising after a sleepless night. In most cases, even if you strongly complain alone, with more than six people on the other side, who have probably had a drink or two, it could easily escalate into a big fight.

It's easy. The Vietnamese people around me often do it themselves, so they don't feel stressed or think it's a big problem. Even if you live in the Hyunjin neighborhood with a firm determination, you cannot sleep well at night. As a result, before long, you face a situation where your landlord asks you to leave. In Vietnam, they enjoy putting various types of fish sauce, including anchovies, in their food, which can have a strong smell even just by opening the lid. Many people also boil these foods before eating them. Furthermore, when cooking with unfamiliar spices and ingredients like perilla leaves for Koreans, a strong smell that cannot be tolerated often arises. This unfamiliar smell persists day and night, no matter how much you try to block it, entering your nostrils from all directions. This is fundamentally an issue that cannot be resolved unless you live in a different place. Personally, the smell of this food is the most prominent in the local residents' area.

The main reason for the sharp curve was, if you are considering moving to a local resident area, please think seriously about how to overcome this odor issue. If a Korean moves to a local apartment or residential area, what kind of situation will unfold? Unlike locals who leave their front doors open, Koreans prefer to keep their doors tightly closed to protect their privacy. Even if you live with your doors tightly closed, the fact that a Korean lives here is known to all nearby local residents. Whether they like it or not, they will soon become the center of attention in the neighborhood. However, it's not just about letting the neighbors know that a Korean lives here; it also naturally attracts opportunities for local thieves to come in. Even if there isn't much to steal, Koreans are perceived by the Vietnamese as

Hyunjin is widely known to have a lot of cash, the latest mobile phone, fascinating and expensive electronic products at home. Moreover, in terms of security, not every door is equipped with a door lock like in Korea, and even in apartments, the doors are not made of iron but just wooden doors opened with keys. Just by seeing this, you can immediately feel how lax the security is here. I used to live in a small one-room apartment in Hyunjin's neighborhood before. When I came back after work, I could sense at a glance that the windows and the front door were wide open, and could tell that a thief had entered. From the only entertainment in Vietnam, a laptop, to my passport, everything was stolen. I had a really tough time and suffered a lot. Even in hardships, as a foreigner, it was difficult to report the damage to the police. Local thieves are better at their job than anyone else.

Because they know better, Koreans in local neighborhoods are easy targets for crimes such as theft and robbery. Therefore, even if the rent goes up a little, it is recommended to choose an apartment with a security guard on the first floor to ensure a minimum level of safety. In Vietnam, many young people from rural areas have recently come to cities in search of jobs, leading to a population density higher than in Korea. Consequently, in outskirts where rent is cheaper, numerous households are densely packed together. To maximize rental income, landlords often exaggerate the size of the room compared to the market price, making these houses more like Korean goshiwons. Most of these houses are located in alleyways resembling spider webs, with very narrow entrances where only small cars can pass through. In July last year, a big issue arose in a local residential area in downtown Hanoi, where old apartments commonly seen in the area became a hot topic.

As people deeply fell asleep, a major fire started due to a short circuit caused by the recent increase in electric motorcycle charging in the early morning. In the end, nearly 56 precious lives were sacrificed. The damage was greatly exacerbated by this, but the biggest issue was that the entrance road was so narrow that fire trucks had difficulty accessing, leading to the failure to contain the fire in time, which eventually escalated into a large-scale fire. This was not just a problem unique to this place, but a problem that is prevalent in most local communities. Buildings and apartments are already seriously aging, and with the recent economic development, the electricity usage is increasing, posing a constant risk of fire due to electricity. Furthermore, even in downtown one-room apartments, many use petroleum stoves for cooking since cheap places share communal bathrooms and lack a kitchen, so the risk of a major fire breaking out at any time doesn't seem strange at all.

It's to the point where even if you go to Hyunjin's house, it's hard to see even one fire extinguisher. You must know that if a fire breaks out, you will be helpless. Have you ever visited Vietnam and used a Xiaogi filter brought from Korea at a local hotel? Vietnam's water supply and sewage infrastructure are much more underdeveloped than Korea's. Most apartments where many Koreans live are newly built, less than 5 years old. On the other hand, buildings where locals live mostly appear to be 20 to 30 years old and outdated. The water supply and sewage systems are also very old. In high-rise buildings, the water pressure is weak, toilets may not flush properly, and when you turn on the tap, sometimes animals come out, or even lime comes out. The water quality is so bad that it's unimaginable. When you look at Vietnamese people of the same age, they may appear smaller than Koreans.

Being perceived as about ten years older than one's actual age is often referred to as water aging. There are many cases where water smells like sewage, making it doubtful whether it is safe to wash rice with it. It is unsettling to the point of suspicion. In the summer, despite washing thoroughly, it is common to feel itchy all over and develop hives for no apparent reason. Above all, remember that water is an essential element for health. In Vietnam, electricity consumption exceeds the capacity of power generation, leading to occasional forced shutdowns even in factories due to electricity issues. Private facilities are pushed back in priority for power usage due to factories being affected by electricity, and newly built apartments also occasionally experience blackouts. Residential areas are even worse, especially during the high electricity consumption summer months, where power outages are concentrated. Living in local residential areas as a Korean.

I have talked about seven difficult and critical reasons. If you have to find a place to live in a neighborhood where many locals live, please keep in mind the conditions I mentioned today in your mind. I hope you choose a house carefully with great care. It will be very helpful for those who are just starting their life in Vietnam. If you have any experiences, uncomfortable situations, or precautions to share when living in a local residential area, please leave a comment. I will continue to share helpful information about living and traveling in Vietnam on YouTube. Your likes, subscriptions, and notifications are the strength that keeps the channel going, so I sincerely ask for your support. Thank you very much for watching the video today.

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블루에버  | 슬기로운 베트남 생활 

Challenges of Living in Local Vietnamese Neighborhoods

Many people considering long-term living in Vietnam are surprised to find housing costs in Korean towns similar to those in Korea.

Living in local Vietnamese neighborhoods may seem cost-effective, but it often comes with unexpected expenses and hardships, leading many to give up on their Vietnam life.

The vulnerable sewage system and presence of pests like cockroaches and lizards are significant challenges in these areas, quite different from the living environment in Korea.

Pest Problems and Noisy Nights: A Day in the Life of a Local Neighborhood in Vietnam

Cockroaches, mice, and lizards are common in local Vietnamese neighborhoods, with residents unfazed by their presence.

Late-night drinking parties with loud music and singing often make it impossible for neighbors to sleep properly, leading to potential conflicts.

The strong smell of fish sauce and other traditional ingredients permeates the air, causing discomfort for those unfamiliar with the local cuisine.

Challenges Faced by Koreans in Local Vietnamese Residential Areas

Koreans living in local Vietnamese residential areas face privacy issues due to differences in door-closing preferences.

Their presence often attracts the attention of neighbors and increases the risk of theft due to perceived wealth.

The lax security measures, high population density, and exaggerated rental spaces in the outskirts also contribute to the challenges, making it crucial for Koreans to prioritize safety when choosing accommodation.

The Risk of Fire in Vietnamese Communities

The increase in electric motorcycle charging has led to a major fire, causing loss of 56 lives due to narrow entrance roads hindering fire truck access.

The prevalence of old buildings, high electricity usage, and lack of fire safety equipment pose a constant fire risk in Vietnamese communities.

The underdeveloped water supply and sewage infrastructure in local apartments also present significant challenges for residents.

Challenges of Water Quality and Electricity in Vietnamese Residential Areas

Perceiving water as older, with a sewage-like smell, raises doubts about its safety for washing rice.

Poor water quality can lead to itching, hives, and suspicion.

Electricity issues in Vietnam, with excessive consumption and forced shutdowns, particularly affect residential areas and local facilities, requiring careful consideration when choosing a place to live.