Episode 36: How Do We Do Worldschooling in Vietnam?

Episode Title: Episode 36: How Do We Do Worldschooling in Vietnam?

Hosts: Astrid & Clint, creators of The Wandering Daughter

This week, Astrid and Clint dive into one of the most memorable stops in their four years of full-time worldschooling: Vietnam. With a candid heads-up that their time there overlapped with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, they share what it was actually like to arrive in Hanoi in February 2020, explore the country for three months, and eventually scramble to find a flight home. Their honest, grounded account covers logistics like visas, transportation, currency, and internet access, alongside deeper observations about Vietnam's communist government, its street-level entrepreneurial culture, and the challenges of navigating a tonal language with zero proficiency.

The episode is packed with practical worldschooling angles, from boat tours through Ha Long Bay and bike tours in Ninh Binh to food tours in the old quarter that open the door to dishes like Bun Cha Hanoi and egg coffee. Astrid and Clint also reflect on what they noticed about community and cafe culture in Hanoi, how the pandemic made that vibrant street life suddenly invisible, and what a worldschooling family visiting Vietnam today should prioritize. If Vietnam is on your family's list, this episode is a solid, real-talk starting point.

(Intro clip sourced from 6:55 - Astrid recounts trying to learn Vietnamese from YouTube videos and confusing the tea seller in front of their Airbnb)

 

🎧 Ready to dive in?

 

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📋 Episode Chapters:
00:00:00 – Introduction
00:00:28 – This is Worldschooling Q&A: welcome and show intro
00:00:56 – Today's question: how do I worldschool in Vietnam?
00:02:22 – Getting there: flights, visas, and logistics
00:03:33 – Government, culture, and working remotely in Vietnam
00:05:58 – Currency, affordability, and the Vietnamese language
00:06:55 – ↩ Source of Intro Clip: trying (and failing) to learn Vietnamese
00:09:25 – Getting around: Grab and transportation options
00:09:45 – Highlights: Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, and Hanoi's old quarter
00:17:28 – Cafe culture, community life, and the pandemic contrast
00:20:25 – Food: egg coffee, Bun Cha Hanoi, food tours, and what to know
00:30:34 – Outro and closing

 

👉 For full show notes, resource links, and a complete episode guide, visit: https://thewanderingdaughter.com/episode-36-worldschooling-in-vietnam