Korea expats sometimes use Korea as a launching pad to living in other countries. One such country that has seen a fair share of former Korea expat English teachers is Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City, in particular, has many veteran expats who once called Korea their home. Rooftop on the Hanok recently interview Rob Gee, an American who’s lived in Vietnam for over ten years. Gee shared about his experiences in Vietnam in a short interview.
Rooftop on the Hanok: How did you end up in Vietnam? What were you doing before
that?
Rob Gee: I lived in San Francisco for over ten years. It was a glorious and
magical place for quite a while. Then the tech industry ruined it
so I needed to get out. Was thinking Berlin but a friend
mentioned Hanoi. I visited and fell in love with the craziness.
Always loved Viet traditional music so that was a plus also.
RH: What were your first impressions of Vietnam? How long did it
take to get acclimated?
RG: I liked how easy things were. I first lived in Hoi An in a village
right next to a secluded beach so it was very easy to acclimate.
RH: Did you stay in one place for awhile or move about?
RG: Three years in Hoi An. Two years in Haiphong. And six months in Lang Son and the
rest in Hanoi.
RH: What was the most exciting place you lived in?
RG: Hoi An was magical when I first lived there. Had a gang of Viet
friends and we’d karaoke in town or go dancing in Da Nang. Lots
of beach parties. Had my own school and was also a motorbike
tour guide for awhile.
RH: Do you have any stories from your early years?
RG: Of course. So many! Too many. Briefly dated a beautiful village shaman.
RH: What’s your relationship with the
motorbike? Have you seen a lot of accidents?
RG: I’ve probably ridden every type of bike here. From the Minsk to
the Honda Win. The number one cause of death for expats is traffic accidents.
Sadly, most expats still drive like they are in the West.
RH: What was the expat scene like back then and how has it
changed?
RG: It was a much smaller scene. Everyone knew each other. Most
of the expats were creative types and a bit more adventurous
then the wave lately. Westerners seem to come only for work
now. Some even don’t like Vietnam, and now they all live in a
bubble called Tay Ho.
RH: What has kept you in Vietnam all this time?
RG: The easy life. Hourly wages used to be very high! Love all the Viet culture here in Hanoi.
RH: What was Hanoi like years back? What’s different about it now?
RG: Hanoi was an amazing city when I first arrived. No personal
cars and traffic was kind of fun. Better air quality. It now seems
too crowded and the new cars have ruined traffic. Also, the
corporate gentrification has really ruined the nightlife and music
scene. Rents have tripled with unfettered greed, and English
centers take most of the money now so wages are very low.
RH: What advice would you give expats new to the Vietnam scene?
RG: Live outside the bubble. Hang out with Vietnamese people. See
some traditional culture. I’m always at some amazing event and
there are never any Westerners. Go to a museum. Create your
own scene and support other people’s scenes. Avoid the lame
tourist bubbles created for you such as the Old Quarter and Tay Ho.
Photo Credits
1. Gee wears a mask. Photo by Rob Gee.
2. Gee dines in a restaurant in Vietnam. Photo by Rooftop on the Hanok.
David Kute has an appreciation for Seoul’s distinct neighborhoods. From Dongdaemun’s market stalls to Hongdae’s rock music venues, the city continues to fascinate him. After spending many years living and working in Seoul and South Korea, he started the blog Rooftop on the Hanok. The blog is a place to share information as well as explore facets of life on the Korean peninsula. He enjoys writing fiction and playing basketball when he’s not researching or writing Rooftop on the Hanok posts.