Photo from the archive of Milana Jamankulova
— In 2023, we went to Vietnam for our honeymoon, which was a gift from my husband's parents. This trip made such an impression on us that we decided to stay here for a longer period. Two years later, we are back in Nha Trang — a popular tourist city with many people from the CIS.
— Why Vietnam, and not, say, Thailand or Bali?
— First of all, the prices here are affordable. Plus, the Vietnamese are very friendly and open. They are always ready to chat and smile!
— What was the main reason for your move?
— Last autumn, our son was born, and his first months coincided with the cold season. We spent the whole winter at home because we couldn't breathe easily outside due to pollution. In our area, the air pollution level reached 900. I started thinking about wintering abroad and discussed it with my husband, who supported the idea, and that's how we ended up in Vietnam.
— What difficulties did you face when organizing the move with a small child?
— The only difficulty for me was the flight with the baby. Some children handle night flights well, but mine does not. We hardly slept on the plane, and this affected the first days after arrival. The adaptation was not as easy as I expected.
— What problems did you encounter in the first week? Climate, food, everyday issues?
— Overall, there were no difficulties since we knew where to go and what to eat, and the climate was familiar to us. The only problem was the child's adaptation: in the first two days, he had a high temperature and gastrointestinal upset. But fortunately, everything improved afterward.
— How quickly did you adapt to the local culture and lifestyle?
— My husband and I have always loved an active lifestyle, so we adapted quickly. With the child, we slowed down a bit, but overall everything is great. The Vietnamese, of course, know no rest: their day starts at 4:00 AM when they are already swimming in the sea and doing exercises.
— How did you find housing? What are the rental conditions and prices?
— In the first week, we stayed in a hotel, then we started looking for an apartment through Telegram groups. There are many of them here, and it's enough to enter the query "Nha Trang real estate" to get numerous options.
Apartments are offered for any budget, starting from $100-150 and up. We found a two-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and living room, renting it for $400. Including utilities, it comes to about $500. Electricity in Vietnam is expensive, almost ten times more than in Bishkek.
The living conditions are almost the same as at home, except the stove is induction. At first, I couldn't figure it out since we cooked on gas at home.
— How is the job situation?
— I am gradually studying information to return to the job market in the future. For now, I have the opportunity to manage Instagram and TikTok, sharing our experience of living in Vietnam. My husband had a job during the wintering, and I noticed that most programmers here work remotely.
— What are the prices for food, transportation, and medical services in Vietnam?
— Fruits and vegetables are indeed cheaper here, as is fish. For example, I recently bought 2.5 kilograms of beef for 1,500 soms. But dairy products are quite expensive: 200 grams of cheese costs about 350-400 soms, and a liter of milk is 130 soms.
As for medicine, I can't say much yet, except that my husband used dental services, and comprehensive tests here are cheaper than in Kyrgyzstan.
You can save money by taking the bus or bike, which are inexpensive. But with a child, I mostly move by taxi or on foot. Unfortunately, at markets, vendors often inflate prices when they see tourists.
— How do locals feel about foreigners? What language do you communicate in?
— The locals are very friendly and open; they are used to a large number of tourists. We mainly communicate in English, also using translators and chat GPT. Some Vietnamese know a little Russian.
— What surprised you about local traditions, food, and lifestyle?
— I was amazed by their love for sweet bread. I don't know what it's made of, but it's incredibly tasty. We eat a lot of it, sometimes two loaves a day, because it is very light. Maybe it's made from rice flour?
I also like their attitude towards children. My child is always the center of attention; everyone greets him and offers a "high five." He enjoys it very much and has already made a couple of Vietnamese friends.
— What do you think about the climate in Vietnam?
— From October to February, they have the rainy season, and in a month and a half, it rained only ten times, and the rains were brief. Recently, it rained for three to four days, and part of the city was flooded. They say similar phenomena occurred about 30 years ago. Overall, the climate is comfortable — not too hot, sometimes it can be cool, which is nice, especially without snow and slush.
— What do you like most about wintering in Vietnam? Were there moments when you wanted to return home?
— First of all, I like that we can explore a new country and culture as a family. In the first month, I didn't feel homesick, but now I am starting to miss communication with my relatives. We have a big family in Bishkek, and I miss them specifically. If they were here, that would be enough for me.
— Who might enjoy wintering in Vietnam, and who might not?
— I believe wintering will appeal to those who are ready to try something new. Vietnam is close to our spirit; you can find everything you want here.
It's wonderful to relax here both with and without children; there are entertainment options for every taste and budget. The only difficulty for our compatriots may be related to food issues, but there is always a solution, including halal meat for those who consider it.
If you plan to vacation, then from January-February, it will be good here: the sea promises to be clean, and the rainy season ends.
And if you want to stay for a long time, winter is the most suitable period, as it is not too hot. Don't forget that you shouldn't bring too many things with you; otherwise, you won't have enough space in your suitcase on the way back.
— What should you definitely bring from home?
— I brought a first aid kit for the child, as some medications are different from ours. I consulted a pediatrician in advance to compile a list of necessary medications. Besides clothing, we didn't bring anything; we bought everything we needed here.
