Ask A New Hanoian
... is The New Hanoian's Q&A forum. If you've got a question about life in Hanoi that you think you should pose to someone in the know, here is the place to do it.
posted about 2 weeks ago by travelgoddess to Etiquette
Rent USD-VND exchange rate
My rent contract is in USD but I pay in VND, I think this is pretty standard and wasnt a problem at all until last month.
At that time my landlord requested that I use an exchange rate that was 16,500 when the bank rate was 16,100. I gave him the money with the bank rate and he has been extremely rude to me since.
I can live with that I suppose but this month he flipped out when I showed him the 16,600 bank rate and presented my rent money to him. He is now demanding 18,500 exchange rate (the black market rate).
I have a few plans in progress on how to deal with this, so not posting this to ask for advice so much as just curious as to what other folks are doing re this.
I have a friend who made sure his rent contract is in VND, so am working on moving towards this.
Look forward to hearing your feedback.
Steph
Viewed 419 times, answered 17 times. View / Post Answers
color copies
Hi everyone. I need to make some good quality color copies. Any idea of a place that does this in or near the old quarter?
Thanks!
Viewed 55 times, answered twice. View / Post Answers
Monetary crisis
Hello. I was wondering how people are dealing with the current dollar crisis here in Viet Nam. My situation is that I basically have student loans back home in the States that need paying. I can't pay them in dong (obviously) and I really can't afford to lose 20% of my salary to black market conversion rates.
Is anyone else in a similar position? Where you basically have dong coming out of your eyeballs but can't pay off any of your very serious debts with it? And am I just royally screwed here or is there some kind of way around this?
Thanks a lot, everyone.
Viewed 161 times, answered 6 times. View / Post Answers
Place to buy quality bed sheets?
Can anyone recommend a place to buy luxurious quality, pure cotton bed sheets - that are vaguely reasonably priced?
Also, pillows?
Thanks
Viewed 300 times, answered 14 times. View / Post Answers
4th of July
I know we are all suppose to hate the Americans, even if we are American. But I was wondering if there are any 4th of July celebrations going on. There is one on Sunday at the American Club, but is there one that is happening on July 4th? I need fireworks!
Viewed 75 times, answered twice. View / Post Answers
tatoo
anyone knows a good tatooer with high standards of cleaningness? did anyone made a tatoo here?
thx
Viewed 62 times, answered 3 times. View / Post Answers
Where to eat nice steaks
Where might a fella go to eat the best steak in the city?
Viewed 186 times, answered 9 times. View / Post Answers
Ripped off by taxis
I've noticed two "strategies" used by taxi drivers:
The fairly obvious one is when they take a long, roundabout route to inflate the meter.
The one that happened to me recently shocked me with its blatantness. The bill was about 80k, I gave him 100. He showed me his wallet - wow, no change! My gf and I looked for smaller bills, but no deal. It was late and nothing was open to get change, so after awhile we just got frustrated and said "Ok, whatever, keep it," and left.
So I know the preventive tip of making sure you call a reputable company - though they've ripped us off too. So, what can you do, basically, once you've been ripped off?
Viewed 1026 times, answered 20 times. View / Post Answers
posted about 2 days ago by letsgoeverywhere to Help!
Contact info for Cat Ba National Park
I've been searching without success for some time now for a telephone number for Cat Ba National Park's front office.
Anyone have their contact info?
Cheers!
Viewed 75 times, answered 5 times. View / Post Answers
Pickpocket
Was VERY skillfully pick-pocketed of my iPod in the Church Street area about a week or so ago? Any other had similar experiences? Am wondering if this is just a one-off or a common occurence?
Viewed 352 times, answered 11 times. View / Post Answers
protein shake
does anyone know if it's possible to get protein powder in hanoi for use after a gym session?
Viewed 89 times, answered 4 times. View / Post Answers
Research project -- eager participants???
I a currently working on a research project looking at highland minority textiles from Sa Pa and the tourism industry. I will be interviewing shop owners and NGOs like Craftlink, but also wanted to get the opposite view of the consumer of these textile products. Just thought I would throw that out there -- in case anyone has bought any of these goods in the past, and maybe would be interested in answering a few questions that I have!
(Usual research project rules apply -- confidentiality and the right to decline having quotes included in any articles, as well as the right to decline answering any questions)
It would also be great if anyone has any advice on places to check out. Thanks!
Viewed 128 times, answered twice. View / Post Answers
Go to the top of Fansipan
Has anyone climbed to the top of Fansipan. I have plan to go there in the next July. I know that there are some open tours to go there but I think it is cheaper if I can go by myself with some of my friends. If you have gone there, please leave me some advices.
Viewed 265 times, answered 5 times. View / Post Answers
Hiking/ Mountain Biking?
Does anyone out there know any nice hiking or mountain biking trails?
I am also looking for people whom enjoy these things as well.
Let me know. Thanks Hanoians.
-Andrew
Viewed 305 times, answered 14 times. View / Post Answers
VNPT ADSL Setting?
Hi all,
Would like to have some help on this: I have just moved to a new apartment with ADSL service from VNPT. I was using Viettel's service before with a Viettel-branded ADSL modem. My guess is that this modem is still usable with VNPT's services - I just need to get the setting right (DNS for example). Since their help line is never of much help, I've decided to turn to fellow VNPT line users here.
1) What are the settings I should have to access the ADSL service? So far I only have the user name and password.
2) Any special settings I should take note of if I want to use it with an external wireless modem?
Thanks for the help in advance!
Philip
Viewed 67 times, answered 3 times. View / Post Answers
Buying a microwave?
Before I do a metro run and just buy the first thing I see, can anyone recommend the brand / model of a good basic microwave?
And where the best place to buy it / any microwave would be?
Viewed 71 times, answered 3 times. View / Post Answers
Where to buy nice steaks
Hi all, does anyone know where I can buy some nice steaks to cook at a reasonable price?
So far I've checked out Au Delice, which sells some imported steaks from Aus, but the prices seem quite high to me. Any suggestions?
Viewed 72 times, answered twice. View / Post Answers
Swimming pool problems...
OK, we're lucky : we have a swimming pool in the house. And, by these days, it's invaluable... However, it has recently began to become troubled, muddy, green (really green), and none of the products usually used by the landowner have helped. Consequently, he has just... given up. Does someone know good professionals from which we could take an advice and with which we could establish a kind of maintenance contract ?
Viewed 102 times, answered twice. View / Post Answers
Does anyone know where I could find ancient books for sale in Hanoi ? If yes, please contact me.
Viewed 205 times, answered 5 times. View / Post Answers
Full contact-karate in Hanoi?
I'm looking for a dojo where I can train full contact/bare knuckle karate in Hanoi.
I'm not looking for clubs that practice points fighting (karate styles like goju kai, shotokan, wado ryu, etc), but rather a place that teaches a style like kyokushin, ashihara or daido juku.
I found a really nice dojo when I was in Saigon, but alas: I live in Hanoi.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Viewed 80 times, answered 3 times. View / Post Answers