Monday, September 21, 2009

Living in vietnam and missing my favorite bookstores, is there such a thing as an online library

Living in vietnam and missing my favorite bookstores, is there such a thing as an online library?
Living in vietnam currently. It's great except they don't have decent bookstores here. I used to live in Manila and one favorite past time is hanging around for hours in my favorite bookstore and reading anything I fancy. I love it coz it's time well spent and I always come out feeling stimulated. The best part is it's free...I guess the best alternative for me is books I can download online. Can anyone help suggest the best way to get my hands on books online? Is there such a thing as an online library?
Internet - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/
2 :
If you are living in Hanoi then you need to go to Trang Tien street (Pho Trang Tien), which is lined with bookstores for two blocks from Hoan Kiem Lake. One of the bookstores has the coolest place to hang out and read a book. The second story has a restaurant/coffee shop with a patio area that overlooks the street.






Read more discussions :

Monday, September 14, 2009

Hi. I live in Vietnam. I can't speak many English

Hi. I live in Vietnam. I can't speak many English?
I live in Vietnam. I can speak little English therefore I don't speak more. I have passion with graffiti art and break dance, therefore I want play this. Who can help me? You can teach me, please. Please help me. (Speak vietnamese language if you can). Thank everybody.
Languages - 1 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Actually, broadening/improving one's language skills is a very broad concept, it should be done in more than one ways at the same time which is highly recommended. One can NOT become better ONLY in one area, say, chatting or speaking, one MUST improve skills in ALL dimensions of the language! Learning language well requires being as active as possible and making the learning as FUN for oneself as possible. Taking lessons is always important, but equally important are these: 1) Listen/watch: Keep listening to internet radio stations like BBC, watch TV shows in English (use only subtitles, NOT voice dubbing in case you are not a native English speaker!), etc. 2) Write/communicate: Try to find discussion forums from the web about things that you find interesting and FUN (music/various artists, hobbies, etc.) and start communicating there with other people using only English. Start using instant messaging systems in case you find some new friends or start emailing them. Please do NOT be afraid of making mistakes or hesitating, because even native speakers do make mistakes and do hesitate at times! The more you enjoy communicating, the better! 3) Buy yourself a proper dictionary, and each time when you see a strange word that you do not understand, look it up. Putting words into their CONTEXT is one of the best ways to broaden one's vocabulary and grammar knowledge, the more you read and write the better. Memorising is NOT the best way to go with learning vocabulary, grammar or any other language areas! For idioms, you should buy an all-English dictionary which explains the words in English and shows you examples of how to use the words. The main point in ANY language learning is to make it as fun as possible for yourself. Try to find topics that INTEREST you, read online newspapers (Times, Guardian, Independent...), listen to BBC/NBC and other radio stations online, if you find a discussion forum for e.g. your favourite hobby or your idols in music do participate there, etc. The key word here is CONTEXT, which means that it is easier to learn new words and their usage as well as grammar when you use/see them in their real CONTEXT. The more you see and hear the new words in their context and the more you use them in your speech & writing, the easier it becomes to remember their meanings and correct spelling. Do NOT be afraid of making mistakes though, because even native speakers do make mistakes and do hesitate at times! I'm sorry there is NO EASY WAY out with this, one really must develop language skills in ALL these language "levels" or dimensions in order to reach better language skills!! Last but not least: NEVER EVER use ANY online translators, they are nothing but utter rubbish!! English is practically EVERYWHERE in the online world these days, you just have to use your imagination to find it! Learning pace is always personal, it takes the time it takes so there is no reason to hurry it up too much. If you do, you will not learn so well. Also, please learn the basics of the standard English first before advancing to finer details like dialects/accents. A word of warning though: Do stay well away from overrated, overpriced and overhyped language "gimmicks" such as Rosetta Stone, they really are NOT worth for checking out! Good luck!







Read more discussions :

Monday, September 7, 2009

where do the majority of people in Vietnam live

where do the majority of people in Vietnam live?
which part of Vietnam
Other - Vietnam - 6 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Red River Dental, CuuLong(Mekong) Dental, Southeast region(Dong Nam Bo)
2 :
the big cities...are where the heavy of economic and industry of working people.
3 :
If you mean cities, they are Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang
4 :
The majority of the population live in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Ha Noi (the Capital). Hope this help!
5 :
Flat areas and close to water resource. the majority is delta regions such as: Red river delta, Mekong delta..
6 :
Nha cau di ia/dai







Read more discussions :

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

What do the foreigners do for living in Vietnam

What do the foreigners do for living in Vietnam?
This question is for the foreigners who are living in Vietnam. I'm just curious what you do for living, how much you earn every month and why you chose Vietnam to live. Thanks.
Other - Vietnam - 9 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Nguyen's salary examples aren't even close! A U.S. employee working in the U.S. embassy makes around $45k U.S. per year, and those positions are impossible to obtain. The only people (employees) making $10k U.S. a month are people who were making that before they came here. Unless a company sends you here or you have a specialized degree, you'lll most likely only find a job teaching English (if you'ree a native English speaker). The most I'vee ever seen an English teacher make was $25 per hour. This is someone with a masters in education and over 10 years experience. The average English teacher makes $15 to $20 dollars an hour and works 20 hours per week (realistically for every hour you get paid you work 1.5). Nguyen, don't believe everything you hear form the expats community.
2 :
Very few foreigners live and work in Vietnam. Remember Vietnam is still a communist socialist country and the currency is almost worthless outside the country. There has been some benefits from ownership of houses that has been allowed but the country is still a socialist government where the people are still very poor in some areas.
3 :
I know some that go to Viet Nam and apply for jobs as teachers; mostly in the big cities. They teach English.
4 :
Vietnam is a beautiful country.
5 :
Number 1 answer is teach english. but I know people that... Run diving company's. run hotels own restaurants are Engineer's own book stores own bars work in the charity field with orphanages etc work in the Medical field. Own manufacturing plants Own export company's Own jet ski companys etc etc etc Its like most places with lots of different professions. Work permits are easy here and 1 year work visas are a snap. good luck.
6 :
I bet Peter O has NEVER been to Vietnam, so he has no experience as a foreign worker in here. Many foreigners work in Vietnam as specialists, who contribute to the booming economy. Many work as representatives of foreign companies and corporations, or just simply teachers in English language center or international schools. Foreign workers in Vietnam are usually paid higher than Vietnamese colleagues. Their income may be very low in their homelands, but in Vietnam, it could be an ideal income for a comfortable life here.
7 :
I think Traveler gave you a very detailed answer. Combination of 2 answers above me (Traveller and Tuấn) is perhaps a correct answer. However, let me try to give some more info even though I'm not a foreigner (I'm Vietnamese). Correct me if I'm wrong ^_^ - If you watch soccer in Vietnam, you can see that 1/3->1/2 players of the teams are foreigners. That is also a good career to earn money in Vietnam ^_^ - How much they earn every month? Various, depends on the career. For example, working in Embassy of the United States of America in Hanoi can give you a salary of about $35,000/month (USD) (Vietnamese person who works here only get $10,000/month ^_^). Generally, NGO/Non-profit organizations offer very high salary. An English teacher can earn about $50/hour. Normally, I think a foreigner can earn around $10,000/month. You can have more information about career opportunities for foreigners here: http://www.vietnamworks.com/jobseekers/searchresults.php?search=true&industry=18&lang=2 - However, language is still one of the biggest barriers for the foreigners who want to live in Vietnam, because people speak Vietnamese in Vietnam, not English. Nevertheless, young people (especially in the cities) can speak English and many of them are working in foreign-invested companies. Besides, we can't compare Vietnam as a developing country with developed countries in the world. In the US, London, Australia ... there are many people from different nationalities; not only because of higher living standard but also because they all speak the same language: English. - The reason why they chose Vietnam to live: I personally think that with great incomes in Vietnam, they can live a "luxury" life, because everything in Vietnam is cheap and basically everything can be found here. Living a life in Vietnam is great with incredible people who take care of each other. You can also have time to have a cup of coffee which you usually not in the western countries (they are keeping busy in the western countries and fast-foods are perhaps most suitable choices ^_^). Communism is not a problem anyway.
8 :
No offense Melanie but do you know ANYTHING about Vietnam besides that it is a beautiful country? I am half Vietnamese. Usually, they would teach English but sometimes they would go out on the streets and sell foods or tobacco. Of course, those were the old days.
9 :
Some foreigners go to VN because they are sent there. The people that I knew when I was there (4 years) were pretty much there because they wanted to be there! It is an interesting country, it is one of the most pleasant places I have lived, and I have spent a lot of time living in foreign countries. I did NOT go to VN because of a luxury lifestyle. I went there because I wanted to be there. And I want to return - because I really like the people and the country!







Read more discussions :