Vietnam is a place that gets under your skin. It’s chaotic and calm, beautiful and brutal, spiritual and cutthroat all at the same time. Living there felt like walking a tightrope between magic and madness—every single day.
When I think back to 2011, when I first landed in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), I had no idea how much the country would change me. I wasn’t just traveling; I was chasing a new life. I had spent my twenties running a marketing business in the beauty industry, working only a few months a year, then traveling and living the kind of lifestyle that was more about freedom than career climbing. But by thirty, I craved something bigger, something lasting.
That’s when I heard the whispers: a massive Asian MLM company was about to open in Vietnam, one of its last untouched markets. The opportunity was huge—if you could get in early, build connections, and survive the rollercoaster of being a foreigner in a country that wasn’t exactly set up to make things easy for outsiders.
So I jumped.
Saigon: The Wild Beginning
I moved into Saigon Pearl, a sleek high-rise just outside District 1, surrounded by the hum of motorbikes and the sticky scent of street food curling up from the alleys. From my window, I could see the river bend and the city glowing neon at night.
Life in Saigon was electric. The city never sleeps—markets start at dawn, bars close at sunrise, and scooters fill every inch of road in between. Crossing the street was a full-body sport. You didn’t wait for traffic to stop (it never does); you just walked slowly, confidently, and let the sea of bikes part around you like water flowing around a stone.
I learned to eat on the sidewalks, perched on tiny red plastic chairs, slurping bowls of steaming pho with construction workers, students, and families who welcomed me without hesitation. For a dollar, I could eat like a queen—fragrant noodle soups, banh mi sandwiches with crispy baguettes, or piles of fresh herbs and grilled meats.
At first, it was intoxicating. I met expats from every corner of the globe—engineers, teachers, entrepreneurs, dreamers—all of us tangled together in this chaotic, hopeful city. Everyone had a story, and everyone was chasing something: love, money, adventure, reinvention.
The Best of Times…
My first year in Vietnam was pure magic. Every day was an adventure. I’d hop on the back of a xe ôm (motorbike taxi) and weave through the dizzying streets to meet new contacts, pitch ideas, or just grab coffee with strangers who would quickly become friends. Coffee in Vietnam isn’t just a drink—it’s an art form. Strong, syrupy espresso dripped through metal filters, sweetened with condensed milk, sipped slowly while watching the madness of the streets unfold.
I fell in love with the energy, the warmth of the people, and the sense that anything was possible. The city was alive, and I felt alive with it.
…And the Worst of Times
But the longer I stayed, the more I began to see the cracks.
Vietnam is a place of duality. For every moment of generosity, there was a moment of exploitation. I learned quickly that being a foreigner made me both a guest and a target. Prices for me were sometimes ten times higher than for locals. Deals that seemed sealed would suddenly shift. People I trusted and even employed turned on me, stealing money or connections.
It wasn’t personal—it was survival. Vietnam was still emerging, still raw, and people were hungry. The same hustle that made it thrilling also made it ruthless.
I hardened. I had to. Business there wasn’t for the soft-hearted. And that was one of my biggest lessons: how to stand firm, when to trust, when to walk away. It wasn’t always easy for me—I’m naturally open, giving. But Vietnam taught me the sharp edges of resilience.
Lessons from the Streets
Every day in Saigon was a sensory overload. The smells—both mouthwatering and stomach-turning—hit you in waves: grilled pork sizzling over charcoal, durian fruit splitting open with its infamous stench, exhaust fumes heavy in the heat. The sounds—honking horns, street vendors calling out, roosters crowing even in the middle of the city. And the people—so many people. Vietnam has nearly 100 million souls crammed into a space smaller than California. The density is overwhelming and intoxicating all at once.
But in the chaos, there was always beauty. I watched families share meals, elders tend to altars glowing with incense, and children laughing in school uniforms that hung a little too big on their tiny frames. I was welcomed into homes, offered tea, and given far more kindness than I sometimes deserved.
That’s Vietnam—it gives and it takes, often in the same breath.
The Goodbye
After two years, I left Vietnam. Not because I didn’t love it, but because I had given what I could, and taken what I could, and it was time. Living there was the best and worst of times, and I knew I couldn’t do another year of that intensity.
Vietnam shaped me in ways I never expected. It taught me to be sharp without losing my softness, to adapt without losing myself. It was both teacher and test.
When people ask me what it was like, I usually just smile. Because how do you explain a place that can break your heart and fill it in the same moment?
Vietnam is not for everyone. But for me, it was everything I didn’t know I needed.Once upon a time, I lived in Vietnam
Traveling Vietnam
My Travel Tips for Vietnam: If you’re heading to Vietnam, here are my must-sees and must-dos from living there:
- Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City):
- Walk through Ben Thanh Market (get ready to bargain hard).
- Grab a motorbike taxi (xe ôm) at least once—it’s chaotic but unforgettable.
- Try street food: pho, banh mi, fresh spring rolls.
- Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels out side the city. Really puts the war into perspective and why Vietnam was successful
- Hanoi:
- Explore the Old Quarter—it feels like stepping back in time.
- Visit Hoan Kiem Lake and the Ngoc Son Temple.
- Don’t skip egg coffee—it sounds weird, but trust me.
- Ha Long Bay:
- Take an overnight boat cruise through the limestone cliffs. It’s unreal.
- Hoi An:
- Probably the most charming town in Vietnam. Lanterns everywhere at night, custom-tailored clothes in just 24 hours, and a mix of history and beach vibes.
- Da Nang:
- Chill at My Khe Beach or check out the Golden Bridge (the one held up by giant stone hands).
- Sapa:
- Trek through rice terraces, meet local hill tribes, and breathe in mountain air.
- Mekong Delta:
- Take a riverboat ride through floating markets and tiny canals.
