Backpackers in Vietnam - Casual Interviews

Name: Backpackers in Vietnam - Casual Interviews
Duration: 17 min 20 s
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Transcript: 348 sentences

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0:00 "You're traveling alone, right?"
0:01 "I am, yeah.
0:01 Did you ever feel lonely on your trip?
0:03 Stick to the people you meet in your hostel, 'cause a lot of the old guys here are pretty &%@ weird.
0:07 What made you start backpacking in the first place?"
0:10 "I got some vaccinations for Asia.
0:11 Is there something that you wish you would have known beforehand?
0:14 We are in Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, and in this episode, we're trying to
0:20 approach some random backpackers here in the city to get a better picture of what backpacking is like in Vietnam, what the hazards are, what you should know, and all the bits as well."
0:31 "The first time here, I've been here 3 weeks, and I actually go back home tomorrow."
0:35 "Okay, well, actually sad to hear you're going back, but, at the same time, it's good for us because then we can talk about your experience.
0:42 How was it?"
0:43 "It was awesome, man.
0:44 I've been traveling for about three and a half months now.
0:47 I did Australia, New Zealand, and then hopped over to Vietnam, so it was quite a nice difference weather-wise.
0:53 The price of everything was beautiful down here, just beautiful in Vietnam.
0:58 Yeah, I can't imagine Australia and New Zealand are quite expensive, and then coming here."
1:02 "So, we're basically looking for travel tips and travel stories.
1:06 How is Vietnam and how did you manage your trip?"
1:08 "I really didn't prepare for any of the trip.
1:11 It was very spur-of-the-moment.
1:12 Before taking another work contract, I kind of just booked a one-way flight.
1:16 My biggest tip, I would say, is the Ha Giang Loop up north in Vietnam was the highlight of all three months of traveling.
1:23 It was amazing.
1:24 Did you get an easy driver, or did you go by yourself?"
1:27 "I did do the Easy Rider.
1:28 I didn't know much about it, so the people I had met all booked that way.
1:32 So, I did that with them.
1:33 If I were to do it again, I would do it myself.
1:36 But if you're not confident, do it with the Easy Rider.
1:40 It was just as fun.
1:41 But if I were to do it again, which I definitely would, I would do it by myself."
1:45 "Have you been to other Southeast Asian countries?"
1:47 "Yeah, about four or five years ago, I did Indonesia and Thailand."
1:51 "Nice.
1:51 Vietnam, how is that compared to the other two countries that you just mentioned?"
1:56 "The north of Vietnam, I think, was very beautiful compared to others.
2:00 Thailand, they're all beautiful, but I think, for me, the one difference, I definitely preferred the food in Thailand - like the curries and so on - to here.
2:07 But still, a lot of great food here.
2:10 I'm actually on my way to hit a little street market somebody told me about."
2:13 "So, yeah, but no complaints.
2:15 Vietnam's been beautiful."
2:16 "Is there something that you wish you would have known beforehand before coming off the top of my head?"
2:20 "No, not too much.
2:22 It worked out as I went.
2:23 It was a good trip.
2:25 No complaints."
2:25 "Nice one.
2:26 Did you stay in a hostel at all?"
2:28 "Yeah, all hostels.
2:29 Yeah, how is it to mingle with people?
2:32 Everyone's super friendly, man.
2:33 I find like each hostel will be a little bit different, but for the most part, people are always welcome to meeting, going out.
2:40 Especially in bigger cities, people want to party or whatever.
2:43 There's something for everyone in each hostel."
2:45 "So, you're traveling alone, right?"
2:46 "I am, yeah.
2:47 And did you ever feel lonely on your trip?
2:49 There's definitely times, but I've learned over the last couple of years I like time alone.
2:53 I'll go to dinner and read a book by myself or whatnot.
2:55 So that's not a problem.
2:56 It's a little bit of the best of both worlds, you know?"
2:59 "Do you have a message to the world or some wisdom to pass on?"
3:02 "This trip was either take this trip or buy a house, and I kind of went with, 'You could buy a house at any point in your life.
3:09 You're going to settle down at some point.
3:10 Take the time while you're young to enjoy and travel, experience new things.'"
3:13 "I've been here for 3 weeks now, it's my fourth week.
3:17 Yeah, wow.
3:18 Have you been backpacking?
3:19 Yeah.
3:19 What's your favorite experience here?"
3:21 "I think the people are very nice, very friendly, and I know people around the world.
3:27 So, I think there are a lot of people here from different nationalities.
3:32 It's my first country.
3:34 After here, I'm going to Thailand and Indonesia, and then I don't know."
3:38 "What made you start backpacking in the first place?"
3:41 "Oh, because it was my dream to know the world, and I think backpacking is the best way to do it, right?
3:49 Because you feel more free to do a lot of things, different things.
3:53 You're not programmed, no tour.
3:56 I don't have a list to do things, to do a to-do list, you know?"
4:02 "Do you have limited time, or do you have to go back at some stage?"
4:06 "I have four months for a start, but I don't know.
4:09 I can continue traveling.
4:10 Maybe.
4:10 You're starting this travel because you want to see the world.
4:14 Yeah.
4:15 Why did you start in Vietnam?"
4:18 "I'm following some people on Instagram, and I started to see the pictures and the things about here.
4:27 So, I thought, 'Why don't?'"
4:30 "And did it match your expectations?"
4:32 "Oh, yeah, yeah.
4:32 It's good.
4:33 It's good.
4:34 More than I expected.
4:35 Is there something that you wish you would have known beforehand?
4:38 Maybe something that you can teach us."
4:42 "I think you need to travel life with minimalist things, and if I forget something, that's okay.
4:50 Someone will find it and will use that the best form, and I can buy another thing."
4:58 "Did you feel safe here?"
5:00 "Yeah, I do.
5:01 I'm traveling alone, and I feel safe."
5:05 "Is there any place where you didn't feel safe or some uncomfortable situations here in Vietnam until now?"
5:12 "No, no uncomfortable situations.
5:16 Everything is good, you know.
5:18 So far, so good.
5:19 Yeah, that's very good.
5:20 I think Vietnam is one of the best backpackers like starting destinations.
5:23 Do you agree with this, or..?
5:25 Yeah, I agree.
5:26 I agree."
5:27 "You're going to Thailand as well.
5:28 I mean, that's also a good place to start.
5:30 I think.
5:31 So, Thailand is good.
5:32 What was your highlight here in Vietnam?
5:34 Like, the best thing that happened to you or the best place?"
5:38 "I already visited Hanoi, Da Nang, and today's my first day here.
5:42 But I think it's good to visit different cities because each city is different.
5:50 I don't know.
5:51 The things are different.
5:52 I've been five or six times in the last year."
5:57 "In the last year?
5:58 Yeah, spent a fair bit of time."
5:59 "Yeah, I really like it.
6:00 You've been flying back and forward?
6:02 Yeah go home, cash up a little bit, and come back.
6:04 So, that's been the plan.
6:05 How come you're doing it like this?"
6:07 "I love Vietnam, man.
6:08 It's so cheap.
6:09 It's only like an 8-hour flight away.
6:11 "Yeah, it's not too far.
6:13 I don't know; I just love it.
6:15 It's fascinating, especially like there's, I mean, I just find there's so much energy here, and it's really cheap, and I love it here, man.
6:22 We're actually talking to backpackers.
6:24 Do you consider yourself a backpacker?"
6:27 "Yes and no.
6:28 I mean, I don't stay in a hostel.
6:30 I stay in an apartment, so I guess I lost points for that.
6:33 Have you stayed in hostels at all?"
6:35 "Yeah, I've been there, done that, but I've got an apartment now.
6:38 But I mean, technically, I'm here not working, just not traveling.
6:42 So, I guess you could say I'm like a permanent backpacker in one city, to a degree.
6:46 I just saved up as much as I could in Australia.
6:49 So that's why I've been home a few times.
6:50 I go home, save up, and come here and spend it 'cause it goes a lot further here than it does in Australia.
6:56 That's what I hear.
6:58 Actually, quite often, people come from America or come from Australia, stay here for a little bit, and spending Australian dollars in Vietnam, it lasts a lot further.
7:06 So yeah, it goes pretty well.
7:08 Cool, man.
7:08 Have you been seeing other places in Vietnam?"
7:10 "I've been a little bit.
7:11 I've been to Hanoi, Da Nang."
7:14 "Dang, what's the best place?"
7:16 "So far, I like the big cities.
7:18 I like Hanoi.
7:19 Da Nang's pretty cool.
7:21 Hoi An's beautiful, though.
7:22 It's pretty touristy, but it's really, it's definitely worth going there for sure.
7:25 Is there something that you wish you would have known the very first time you arrived here?"
7:30 "Oh, so many things.
7:31 Like, see, this video is also for the people that have never been to Vietnam and want to come to Vietnam.
7:39 So maybe we can learn Vietnamese.
7:41 People love it when you know just a little bit of Vietnamese.
7:44 That's definitely handy.
7:45 So, learn a few words.
7:47 'Sinow' - I don't know how - are you?
7:49 But 'sinow' or 'chow,' and if you're talking to a man, it's 'an,' or if it's someone younger than you, it's 'em.'
7:55 Just addressing them correctly and stuff like that.
7:57 A few things.
7:57 I've learned a lot of people are here for the right reasons, a lot of people aren't as well.
8:01 Like, you gotta be sort of careful.
8:03 I can imagine if you live here, you can meet a lot of people that are here for maybe different reasons."
8:09 "Absolutely.
8:09 I've met all sorts of people here for all sorts of reasons, you know?
8:12 But what kind of advice would you give, let's say, the new young backpacker?"
8:16 "Stick to your hostel.
8:17 Stick to the people you meet in your hostel 'cause a lot of the old guys here are pretty weird."
8:23 "Wow, okay.
8:24 All right.
8:24 All right.
8:25 Keep it simple, but yeah.
8:27 I meet some interesting people.
8:29 Just be careful.
8:31 Zip pockets.
8:31 Z pockets.
8:32 I see you're walking, actually; your zip is open.
8:36 That's a bit hypocritical, but yeah."
8:38 "But that's good advice, man.
8:40 Always wear zip pockets, and, you know, and don't carry too much cash.
8:44 Well, not that it's unsafe here, like in all honesty, I feel safer here than I do in Australia, but you just never know, especially if at nighttime on this street if you've had a few beers.
8:52 You never know.
8:53 You can rather be safe than sorry.
8:54 Good on you for saying that because the last thing we want to say is that Vietnam is unsafe.
8:58 I would definitely not say that.
9:00 Like I said, just for the record, Vietnam is incredibly safe.
9:04 And we're not saying this because some government is watching or something.
9:09 No, no, no.
9:10 Everyone here, no one here wants to.
9:11 I mean, sure, they probably want your money, but like, they're not going to take it.
9:16 They'll try and sell you something.
9:17 People here are very honest and hardworking, very.
9:19 It's quite humbling if you come from the West.
9:22 A lot of people here work all day, every day.
9:26 It's pretty humbling.
9:27 Yeah, nice one, man."
9:28 "Hey, I think you mentioned already, but what's the best thing about the country?"
9:33 "Much as I hate to admit it, to be honest, the price of everything.
9:36 Sometimes I go out, get a meal, have a couple of drinks, and you get the bill, and it's like $7.
9:43 It's like, what the hell?
9:44 You can live here 30 bucks a day.
9:46 But you're quite young still, I think, somewhere in the 20s, right?"
9:49 "Yeah, yeah.
9:49 22, yeah."
9:50 "So, are you not going to end up like an old man having too much?"
9:54 "That's exactly what my mom said to me, actually."
9:57 "How do you keep yourself sane in such a big city all alone?"
10:01 "One visa at a time.
10:02 Just go for walks, drink coffees, and go out.
10:05 I don't know, to be honest.
10:07 I'm quite happy walking around.
10:09 I can happily sit at a coffee shop and just watch the world go by for a couple of hours.
10:14 I mean, to be honest, my life isn't exciting or anything, but it's chill, it's relaxing, it's cheap, and just being fascinated by what's going on around you is enough for me.
10:23 But yeah, my visa runs out in about a month, so probably explore other opportunities then.
10:28 But are you going to any other Southeast Asian countries?"
10:31 "Yeah, I think it's time, man.
10:32 Like I said before, I've only been coming here.
10:35 It's probably time to go to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines.
10:39 100% worth visiting a lot of them.
10:42 Yeah, heard amazing things about all of them.
10:45 So I can't just get trapped here forever."
10:47 "So yeah, I mean, you're a great example to show how great it is over here also Ho Chi Minh City because you're coming back all the time.
10:55 Highly recommend, especially for young backpackers.
10:57 You can live here really, really well for really cheap.
11:01 Honestly, it's a perfect backpacker destination, in my opinion.
11:04 Nice one, man.
11:05 Do you have any last words, maybe a message to the world?"
11:08 "Oh, hello, Mom.
11:08 Miss you.
11:09 It's my first time, actually, and I've been here since Sunday.
11:12 I know a guy from Vietnam I've worked with before, so that's why I'm actually visiting Vietnam.
11:17 I've been to Thailand before and stopped over in Vietnam, but just for two weeks.
11:20 Oh, okay.
11:21 Are you actually backpacking, then, or is it just, yeah, I'm doing backpacking.
11:23 So, I just met him the first day, and now I'm going to the Cu Chi Tunnels, and I will travel to Dalat, okay, and to the coastlines.
11:30 So, for the next two weeks.
11:31 Yeah, yeah.
11:32 So, what do you expect from Vietnam?
11:34 Actually, I mean, I only heard good about it.
11:36 It's a great country.
11:37 I like the food.
11:39 The weather is good And the people are so kind.
11:42 So, I just enjoy nature, have a little bit of beach, try some different kind of food.
11:48 Street food is amazing, and yeah, have a good time.
11:50 So, you've been here a few days now, and I just wonder, do you feel a difference between Thailand and Vietnam?
11:55 Yeah, definitely.
11:55 So, the people are more kind and more respectful, I feel, than in Thailand.
11:59 They, in Thailand, they're more offensive.
12:00 They're just scamming you, want to try to sell you everything.
12:03 It's definitely cheaper here, and people are, I would say, not that kind of smiling so much like in Thailand, but they are still more kindly.
12:10 So, yeah, more honest, yeah, yeah, more honest, maybe even okay, it is.
12:15 Yeah, I think in Thailand, there's a kind of politeness that is also, sometimes, you, they think different, but they smile.
12:22 Exactly, exactly, exactly.
12:23 They don't smile that often.
12:25 No, no, no.
12:26 What do you look forward to most other than your friend that you visit?
12:29 Definitely to see Mong River delta, just like spend some time in nature, not in a big city, so in the rural areas.
12:34 Get to know the people, some local cooking.
12:37 I don't want to kind of do these tourist attractions in the cities, but more just like spend time with local people in the outer areas.
12:45 Nice.
12:45 How long is your journey in total?
12:47 Six weeks, but only two weeks in Vietnam, so yeah, and then one month in Thailand, let's say.
12:52 No, I had been in India before, so post-wedding, actually.
12:55 It was a crazy, proper Indian wedding.
12:57 Yeah, it was a proper Indian wedding in the rural area.
13:00 It took seven days.
13:01 I was part of most of the kind of rituals, so that, yeah, it was crazy.
13:05 That's so cool.
13:06 How did you get involved in this?
13:08 I was working with an Indian guy in Germany, and his was his wedding in India, and yeah, he invited me.
13:13 I was like, okay, let's do it.
13:15 So, I went there.
13:16 These are the stories, man.
13:17 I really like this.
13:18 So special that you just get adopted by a family.
13:21 Then, it was so lovely, man.
13:23 So, India is a hard country for a European guy because everything is like so different, but the hospitality they had, it was like amazing.
13:32 Like, really never had something like that before.
13:35 Hey, and here in Vietnam, did you take any precautions?
13:39 I got some vaccinations for Asia, just like one, but in respect that not really anything because it feels like a Western country because I was in India before, and this one is like normal.
13:50 Do you think it's a lot more safe than, yeah, absolutely.
13:53 Like Vietnam feels even more safe than Thailand.
13:55 Oh, you reckon?
13:56 Yeah, yeah, I think so.
13:57 So, where have you been in Thailand?
13:59 Just to Kuami Pet, so like also the big cities, but also in Ranong in the rural area.
14:04 But still, it feels way more safe and more, more, more rest on here too.
14:08 Okay, well, my channel is actually based in Thailand, and I do have to say that Thailand is also super safe.
14:13 It is safe, absolutely.
14:14 So, I didn't feel like unsafe there, but it feels more like home here than but it's just like a personal, well, that's, that's why I'm making or that's why I'm taking these interviews because I
14:23 don't want to only show my experience and then I just hear my point of view.
14:26 It's good to hear your point of view as well.
14:29 How big is your budget each week, let's say?
14:31 I have to say I didn't really think about a budget, so it was more like, uh, I wanted to spend not more than, yeah, like 4K for the for the six weeks.
14:39 So yeah, roughly about that, but I mean, Vietnam is way cheaper than Thailand, so yeah, like enjoy the time, and if it's a couple of years more, it's fine.
14:47 You go back to work again, as I feel.
14:50 Thank you so much.
14:51 One more question, do you have a message to the world or some wisdom to pass on?
14:54 Yeah, definitely visit Vietnam, so it's a great country, go for it.
14:57 Been in Vietnam for about 2 and a half weeks now, traveling for like 6 weeks total.
15:01 Only in Vietnam or no?
15:02 A few other places in Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, a bit of Thailand, and then Vietnam.
15:07 Oh wow, busy schedule then.
15:09 So, what have you been seeing in Vietnam already?
15:12 I just got here like yesterday, so I saw the war memorial, um, walked around, did that, just kind of like saw most like the main city, kind of like the downtown area.
15:21 So, you basically just arrived, yeah, yeah.
15:22 So, did you plan your trip at all or like the major flights in and out?
15:25 But for Vietnam, it's kind of just been, uh, kind of loose, wing it, yeah.
15:29 What are you looking forward to most?
15:31 I think the north, um, I've heard like a lot of good things about the north, so trying to make my way up and and enjoy it.
15:36 I hope you enjoy the south as well and the and the middle parts, yeah, yeah, yeah, of course.
15:41 But, um, is there something that you wish you would have known beforehand?
15:43 I think planning, maybe a bit more planning could have been a bit more useful.
15:46 Is it just this area that you're going to explore or, um, trying to branch out, um, do more, but, uh, yeah, I mean, my hostels over here.
15:54 So, how do you plan to get around?
15:55 Like, I can imagine for the first time in Vietnam, it's, uh, yeah, you have any idea?
16:01 Um, I've used the Grab app, uh, so in some of the other countries, so I'll do that.
16:06 But definitely not driving.
16:07 Going up north, you're flying or you go by bus or train or how does that work?
16:11 Uh, it depends on the cities.
16:12 If they're far apart, I'll fly.
16:13 Uh, I might do like a night bus or a night train.
16:16 Can I ask you what your budget is for the six weeks?
16:18 I mean, outside of my flights, I think I was trying to keep it within like, like two grand, three grand.
16:24 It was kind of loose.
16:26 Um, I've been working and whatnot, and I was like, let's just kind of...
16:29 Are you going back to work after this?
16:31 Yeah, I just think, uh, go out there, try it, go travel, explore the world.
16:34 Um, and yeah, I think a lot more people are friendlier and willing to help you out and hang out with you than you think.
16:40 I hope you found this video useful, at least entertaining.
16:43 This channel is based in Thailand.
16:45 We're showing you the beauty of Southeast Asia and meeting a lot of interesting people along the way, doing a lot of street interviews to get a better understanding of what the places are like we are visiting.
16:54 We are only spending time in Ho Chi Minh City this Vietnamese trip.
16:58 Hopefully, you're able to subscribe to the channel if you didn't do so yet and be part of the journey in Southeast Asia.
17:03 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
17:05 I hope you are surrounding yourself with loved ones and great food, maybe some drinks as well.
17:10 He, thank you all for watching till the very end.
17:13 I would like to say from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, bye for now and stay champ.

Backpackers in Vietnam - Casual Interviews

Hard words

Transcript: 348 sentences

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