Discover Vietnam: A Vietnam Podcast

Rewind: The Busiest Woman in Saigon, Susan Li

You may have seen Susan Li around town or posting on Fexpats. She is one of of Fexpats original founders and she's been really busy the last 6 years in Saigon!We cover a lot in this episode from the founding of Fexpats, RAD7 and Honey Badger Events to online trolls, dating in Saigon and opening a new bar, The Wreck, with Matt Ryan.Originally born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Susan decided to move abroad to Saigon and has tapped into her entrepreneurial spirit.She also organises weekly wine nights and monthly Network Girl events. When you see her feel free to say hi as she loves meeting new people. -------------------Theme music composed by Lewis Wright.Main Cover Art designed by Niall Mackay and Le Nguyen.Episode art designed by Niall Mackay, with pictures supplied by guests and used with permission."Send me a message!"Support the show🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio!👉 www.saigonpodcaststudio.com🎙️ Start Your Podcast Today!👉 Book a FREE Discovery Call with me and let’s bring your idea to life!🎥 Edit Videos Like a Pro with Descript!👉 I use Descript to create my content—try it for FREE here:🔒 Protect Your Privacy with NordVPN!👉 Get 70% OFF their 2-year plan and enjoy a secure, ad-free internet!These are affiliate links, and I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.✅ Subscribe for More!If you enjoy content about life in Vietnam, food adventures, and great conversations, hit that subscribe button.📸 Follow Me on Instagram 🌐 Visit My Website 🎉 Join Our Community!"Send me a message!"Support the show🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio! 👉 www.saigonpodcaststudio.com 🎙️ Start Your Podcast Today! 👉 Book a FREE Discovery Call with me and let’s bring your idea to life! 🎥 Edit Videos Like a Pro with Descript! 👉 I use Descript to create my content—try it for FREE here: 🔒 Protect Your Privacy with NordVPN! 👉 Get 70% OFF their 2-year plan and enjoy a secure, ad-free internet! These are affiliate links, and I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. ✅ Subscribe for More! If you enjoy content about life in Vietnam, food adventures, and great conversations, hit that subscribe button. 📸 Follow Me on Instagram 🌐 Visit My Website 🎉 Join Our Community!

Rewind: Out & Proud Vietnamese Man, Daniel Doan

WARNING: If you are small minded and homophobic you can probably skip this episode.Daniel was born and raised in Saigon by conservative Northern parents, with his dad having fought for the North before moving South. Daniel faced the familiar familial pressures that many young people in Saigon face, to study hard and get good grades.Daniel's passions are and always have been music, food and fashion but under those family expectations went on to study Biochemistry in California. He spent six years studying in the US before being pressured to move back home to Saigon by his parents despite wanting to pursue his biggest passion, fashion.We talk about what it was like to come out to his parents as a gay man, and how they have handled that since. And what it is like to be LGBTQ in Saigon compared to other parts of Vietnam. You'll be surprised to learn that he is now married and expecting a baby boy soon.After moving back to Saigon Daniel was admittedly lost, qualifying to become an English Language teacher but never finding a job. He eventually made peace with his families demands on him as a gay man, and followed his other passions, American and  food. He is now a restauranteur, owning American Bistro Hungry Bunny.If you go to Hungry Bunny and tell Daniel you've heard this episode he'll give you 30% off your bill!-------------------Theme music composed by Lewis Wright.Main Cover Art designed by Niall Mackay and Le Nguyen.Episode art designed by Niall Mackay, with pictures supplied by guests and used with permission."Send me a message!"Support the show🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio!👉 www.saigonpodcaststudio.com🎙️ Start Your Podcast Today!👉 Book a FREE Discovery Call with me and let’s bring your idea to life!🎥 Edit Videos Like a Pro with Descript!👉 I use Descript to create my content—try it for FREE here:🔒 Protect Your Privacy with NordVPN!👉 Get 70% OFF their 2-year plan and enjoy a secure, ad-free internet!These are affiliate links, and I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.✅ Subscribe for Mo"Send me a message!"Support the show🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio! 👉 www.saigonpodcaststudio.com 🎙️ Start Your Podcast Today! 👉 Book a FREE Discovery Call with me and let’s bring your idea to life! 🎥 Edit Videos Like a Pro with Descript! 👉 I use Descript to create my content—try it for FREE here: 🔒 Protect Your Privacy with NordVPN! 👉 Get 70% OFF their 2-year plan and enjoy a secure, ad-free internet! These are affiliate links, and I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. ✅ Subscribe for More! If you enjoy content about life in Vietnam, food adventures, and great conversations, hit that subscribe button. 📸 Follow Me on Instagram 🌐 Visit My Website 🎉 Join Our Community!

Rewind: Music Producer, Lewis Wright

Lewis Wright is a talented music producer from the UK who now lives in Saigon, working for InQ International producing kids songs for a Vietnamese audience and Vietnamese artists for an international audience. He even composed the popular theme music for Seven Million Bikes.Lewis is originally from the UK and has lived in Vietnam for just over a year, having visited and lived on and off in previous years. He started out as an English teacher but with a degree in Music from the University of Huddersfield he quickly became involved in the local music scene. It wasn’t long before he began doing music production work and now works full time as a music producer.This is one of the most entertaining interviews I've had, and when you hear about the rhubarb you'll know why!He is now engaged to Kim Nguyen, our guest from Episode 2, and plans to make Saigon their home. -------------------Theme music composed by Lewis Wright.Main Cover Art designed by Niall Mackay and Le Nguyen.Episode art designed by Niall Mackay, with pictures supplied by guests and used with permission."Send me a message!"Support the show🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio!👉 www.saigonpodcaststudio.com🎙️ Start Your Podcast Today!👉 Book a FREE Discovery Call with me and let’s bring your idea to life!🎥 Edit Videos Like a Pro with Descript!👉 I use Descript to create my content—try it for FREE here:🔒 Protect Your Privacy with NordVPN!👉 Get 70% OFF their 2-year plan and enjoy a secure, ad-free internet!These are affiliate links, and I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.✅ Subscribe for More!If you enjoy content about life in Vietnam, food adventures, and great conversations, hit that subscribe button.📸 Follow Me on Instagram 🌐 Visit My Website 🎉 Join Our Community!"Send me a message!"Support the show🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio! 👉 www.saigonpodcaststudio.com 🎙️ Start Your Podcast Today! 👉 Book a FREE Discovery Call with me and let’s bring your idea to life! 🎥 Edit Videos Like a Pro with Descript! 👉 I use Descript to create my content—try it for FREE here: 🔒 Protect Your Privacy with NordVPN! 👉 Get 70% OFF their 2-year plan and enjoy a secure, ad-free internet! These are affiliate links, and I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. ✅ Subscribe for More! If you enjoy content about life in Vietnam, food adventures, and great conversations, hit that subscribe button. 📸 Follow Me on Instagram 🌐 Visit My Website 🎉 Join Our Community!

Rewind: Digital Nomad & Football Journalist, Greg Lea

Greg has what would be for many a dream job - a freelance football journalist. After moving to Saigon in January Greg planned to stay for only three months, but now going to be staying for the foreseeable future. He was recently featured in The Guardian writing about digital nomads which Greg is currently debating whether that label applies to him.As both avid football fans Greg and I had so much to talk about I’ve split this episode into two; the main episode on his life as a digital nomad and a BONUS episode with us talking about football, the influence of Asia on the English Premier League and why I became disillusioned with football because of the bigotry and sectarianism in Scotland. There are some interesting stories but if you’re not into football this may not be of interest to you so I separated it from the main pod.In the main episode Greg shares how he came to live in Saigon after he started in Italy as a football journalist, and important advice and tips for anyone thinking about being a digital nomad. He shares the realities of being a digital nomad, both the benefits and drawbacks. Greg also talks about life in Saigon and answers the usual questions I ask each guest.In classic Saigon fashion, there is construction above us so at times you may hear some banging in this episode although Biscuit doesn’t make an appearance this time!(And yes I called it Seven Million Podcasts near the end!)Celtic v Dunfermline Scottish Cup Final I talked about. I got it wrong, Dunfermline scored after 40 minutes, not 26.Check out the website Greg mentioned Nomad ListHere is Greg’s article from The Guardian; The world is my office: why I chose to become a digital nomad worker.Follow Greg on Twitter @GregLeaFootball."Send me a message!"Support the show🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio!👉 www.saigonpodcaststudio.com🎙️ Start Your Podcast Today!👉 Book a FREE Discovery Call with me and let’s bring your idea to life!🎥 Edit Videos Like a Pro with Descript!👉 I use "Send me a message!"Support the show🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio! 👉 www.saigonpodcaststudio.com 🎙️ Start Your Podcast Today! 👉 Book a FREE Discovery Call with me and let’s bring your idea to life! 🎥 Edit Videos Like a Pro with Descript! 👉 I use Descript to create my content—try it for FREE here: 🔒 Protect Your Privacy with NordVPN! 👉 Get 70% OFF their 2-year plan and enjoy a secure, ad-free internet! These are affiliate links, and I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. ✅ Subscribe for More! If you enjoy content about life in Vietnam, food adventures, and great conversations, hit that subscribe button. 📸 Follow Me on Instagram 🌐 Visit My Website 🎉 Join Our Community!

Raising a Three-Year-Old in a City That Never Stands Still, with Ebru Gelibolu

“Rome is always Rome. Saigon is never Saigon. It’s always changing.”That line from this conversation stopped me in my tracks. I’ve lived in Saigon for nearly 10 years, and sometimes I forget just how intense, exciting, and different this city feels when you first arrive. Talking with Ebru, who had only been in Vietnam for three months, gave me a fresh perspective on a place I call home.What I really loved about this episode was how honest it was. We didn’t sugarcoat things. We talked about the energy, the excitement, but also the challenges of adjusting to life here, especially as a parent. It reminded me of my own early days in Vietnam, when everything felt overwhelming, confusing, and full of possibility all at the same time.Ebru has lived in seven countries across four continents, and hearing her compare Saigon to places like Rome, the US, and Japan helped me better understand why Vietnam feels so unique. This episode was a good pause moment for me. A chance to reflect on why I still love living here and why so many people arrive planning to stay a short time and end up staying much longer.Key Talking Points from This EpisodeWhy Saigon’s energy feels different from older, more established citiesThe reality of adjusting everyday habits when you first move to VietnamBanking, cash, and budgeting challenges for newcomersWhat it’s really like raising a young child in SaigonThe balance between convenience, cost of living, and lifestyle in VietnamChapters and Timestamps04:00 – First impressions of Saigon09:00 – Why Saigon feels alive and always changing15:00 – Adjusting to daily life and practical challenges22:00 – Money, banking, and budgeting in Vietnam30:00 – Raising a child in Saigon"Send me a message!"Support the show🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio! 👉 www.saigonpodcaststudio.com 🎙️ Start Your Podcast Today! 👉 Book a FREE Discovery Call with me and let’s bring your idea to life! 🎥 Edit Videos Like a Pro with Descript! 👉 I use Descript to create my content—try it for FREE here: 🔒 Protect Your Privacy with NordVPN! 👉 Get 70% OFF their 2-year plan and enjoy a secure, ad-free internet! These are affiliate links, and I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. ✅ Subscribe for More! If you enjoy content about life in Vietnam, food adventures, and great conversations, hit that subscribe button. 📸 Follow Me on Instagram 🌐 Visit My Website 🎉 Join Our Community!