6 Life Lessons learnt from Ho Chi Minh City trip

I came back from a 6-day Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam trip yesterday. It was my first getaway and an eye opening experience since being trapped in Singapore for more than 3 years due to the pandemic.

Let me share 6 life lessons learnt in the past 6 days.

1. Money makes the world go round

While I am taking a break from work, there is a tinge of guilt in me to experience everybody working - from the staff of airport, plane, bus driver, hotel, restaurants, security all doing their jobs diligently to meet the needs of their customers.

Everybody works hard for money in Vietnam where the average monthly salary of a worker is only US$300. All over the city streets and busy markets, there are many peddlers, hawkers and touters for food, snacks, drinks, clothes and cigarettes, all trying to make ends meet. The crowds of scooters and bikes dashing all over the roads make the city buzzing with life.

2. Simplicity in the Pleasure of Life

On the streets of Vietnam, there are many pop-up street shops, drinking stations and chill points with tiny stools and tables. Local workers, students and some tourists will be relaxing, gathering and chillaxing in such joints for a quite bite or some drinks, basking the simplicity of life.

Such culture stems from the anti-capitalist post war era spawning many black market small street businesses to be nimble and ephemeral. This has become a local culture which thrives till today and highlights the essence of bare essentialism, minimalism and stoicism. We do not need to sit on comfy luxurious furniture in order to enjoy a meal or a drink.

3. Invest for growth

Ho Chi Minh city is a populous, developing city with immense growth potential. It is no surprise to see that Keppel Land invested and partially own Saigon Center mall which has layout and retail shops not much different from any Capitaland owned heartland mall in Singapore. It has an anchor tenant Takashimaya. 

Another modern shopping mall in the city, SC Vivocity is developed and owned by Mapletree.  The presence of Keppel Land developed condominiums under construction and UOB atm machines also highlighted that Singapore companies do invest to grow their regional footprints in neighbouring cities with potential.

I also learnt that Japan has invested heavily in the infrastructure of Vietnam, such as the airports, bridges and metro lines in order to share its technologies, foster bilateral relations and boost the profiles of Japanese firms.

In our own financial journey, we should also consider investing in regional or foreign businesses, albeit taking on high risks, to unlock the potential of long-term growth and returns.

4. Stay focused and be flexible to adapt

Crossing the roads taught me to stay extremely focused and alert as bikes and vehicles can be coming towards me in all directions. Although some cross junctions have traffic lights, some bikes will still beat the traffic and pedestrians in no time. It is also important to take small steps at a time to clear lane by lane while checking all directions.

As this trip was an impromptu one, our itinerary was changed flexibly day by day. Possible dining options and places or interest to visit were considered and decided fast without haste.

Such lessons were important in our lives in achieving our goals, missions and objectives as every decision we make will shape our future destiny.

5. Freedom is priceless state of mind

Getting to experience the quality and state of being free gives a priceless and great feeling. Not needing to join in meaningless meetings and discussions in the corporate world, being liberated from modern day slavery while immersing in a dream world of just eat, play and sleep is really enjoyable.

I usually cleared all my credit card liabilities and debts before travelling overseas hence being totally debt free gives me a peace of mind. I can buy and eat whatever I want overseas using cash that I can afford to spend.

6. Never take things for granted 

Singapore has the best airport, land transport, infrastructure and security in the region, if not in the world. After visiting a neighbouring developing country, I get to deeply appreciate the Singapore environment we got sick of. Though there are costly COEs for bikes and cars, I get to understand that they are for curbing the vehicle population on the roads, while encouraging the masses of low to middle income folks to take public transport. We also take the infrastructure such as traffic lights, shelters, bus stops, bus interchanges, coffee shops, hawker centres, water, peace and security for granted but these are basic necessities that not every city has provided well or even have. We should be grateful to be able to live in such a comfortable city where basic amenities are well taken care of.

Thanks for reading.

With love & peace,

Qiongster