Shopping in Vietnam
I just got back from Vietnam last week and it was a gastronomic and shopping fest. At the rate I was eating I probably need to consider weight loss pills at some point in time before I balloon up hehe… But nope, I’m going to persevere and try to work it off the hard way 
That said, here are 3 tips I have for shopping in Vietnam especially in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon):-
- Bargain - the traders are now quite smart. The old rule of 70% discount no longer applies for big purchases. Its more like 50-60% now or they won’t bother to call you back because they know there will be others who will pay for it. For small items e.g. embroidered items you can still try to bargain it to a palatable level.
- Use Vietnam Dong - I’ve found that when I choose to pay in VND I get a better price. It might be due to the high exchange rate at this time between the RM-USD which is the other accepted currency in Vietnam. So, I ask for prices in VND and work from there.
- Don’t shop at the first store you see - in many cases, the most prominent store will be the most expensive store. I prefer to go deep into the labyrinth of the Ben Tanh market or to a store on a side road – I get the same item I want for a smaller price.
Hope this helps!
Courts Promotions on the Radio
Every morning on my way to work, I hear promotions for Courts – the store that popularized installment payments without deposits. This morning it was all about buy now pay later which whilst helpful in these trying financial times, may not be that great an idea when you think about it.
Of course, it might mean I can pick up a tv stand now and pay for it only in 6 months but this begs the question of whether one really needs that new sofa set or tv stand or new phone just now.
Are you swayed by the ads you hear on the radio? Have you bought anything from Courts on installment?
Affordable Pearl jewelry
If you have been wondering where to get some affordable pearl jewelry, you might want to consider a counter I found at Isetan – Shinju Pearls. The pearls are freshwater pearls and they have a wide array of pearl necklaces and pearl earrings.
I haven’t been back there since my last visit mainly because I haven’t had the time to shop anywhere lately. The nice thing about buying it from Isetan is that when Isetan goes on sale, the jewelry too goes on sale for selected lines. Good yes?
The budget does not save me any money
Well, so we have a new mini-budget unveiled recently by the DPM and Finance Minister. I was away while it was being tabled so it took me a while to get to grips with it.
The one thing that I first took notice of was that house owners could claim a rebate for the loans paid on housing loans. That sounded like good news to me. But then the snag is that it applies only to houses bought in 2009. Boo!
There is also a Rm5000 rebate for car owners over 10 years old. The snag – it applies only if you buy a Proton or Perodua car. Ok this is getting worse.
Don’t even get me started on the payout to the toll consessionaires to “maintain the toll rates”. So, there is no incentive to get term life insurance prices at Wholesale Insurance rates to get any further rebates other over and above what we are already entitled to for our income tax.
Way I see it, I’m getting nothing out of this budget but someone certainly is fattening their wallets!