Saigon, or Hồ Chí Minh City, is a busy, bustling, crazy and chaotic metropolis home to nearly 9 million people and over 7 million motorbikes.
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.
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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.
🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio!
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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!
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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.
🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio!
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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.
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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.
🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio!
👉 www.saigonpodcaststudio.com
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🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio!
👉 www.saigonpodcaststudio.com
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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 List
Here 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.
🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio!
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🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio!
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“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 Episode
Chapters and Timestamps
04:00 – First impressions of Saigon
09:00 – Why Saigon feels alive and always changing
15:00 – Adjusting to daily life and practical challenges
22:00 – Money, banking, and budgeting in Vietnam
30:00 – Raising a child in Saigon
🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio!
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"All tortoises are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises—just like not all who wander are lost."
Niall Mackay sits down with James Hunt, an American expat in Vietnam known for his restaurant ventures like Brick and Barrel and Big Boss Bistro. However, James's story extends far beyond the world of fried chicken and culinary pursuits. He delves into his passion for wildlife photography, which initially drew him to Vietnam, and how it eventually led him to explore and document some of the country’s rarest creatures, including King Cobras and critically endangered species like pangolins.
James also shares the challenges and joys of navigating Vietnam’s stunning landscapes, from the rich biodiversity of Cat Tien National Park to remote, unexplored regions along the Laos border. Together, Niall and James discuss the growing awareness of conservation in Vietnam, touching on how recent government policies and grassroots efforts are making a difference. It’s a conversation about adventure, discovery, and the importance of preserving Vietnam's natural beauty.
Takeaways:
Chapters and Timestamps:
02:00 - Meeting James Hunt: From Fried Chicken to Photography
05:30 - How Vietnam Became Home for James
10:15 - Opening Restaurants During COVID: Big Boss Bistro and Brick and Barrel
14:20 - The Hidden Wildlife of Vietnam: Snakes, Birds, and More
18:15 - Conservation Efforts in Vietnam: A Changing Landscape
23:00 - Illegal Wildlife Trade: Challenges and Solutions
28:45 - Discovering Cat Tien Nat
🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio!
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Join The Community
Phuong Truong, "just another lesbian in town", is the owner of Twist coffee bar in Thao Dien, a fun place for everyone and a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community.
We discuss the LQBTQ+ community in Vietnam in the context of religion, region and generational acceptance.
We also talk about sex education in Vietnam in light of a recent story in VNExpress with the headline, It's not working: sex education makes teachers and students squirm and another story about a parent finding her 12 year old child had been watching pornography.
Phuong herself started watching pornography at only 8 years old.
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Theme music composed by Lewis Wright.
Main Cover Art designed by Niall Mackay.
Episode art designed by Niall Mackay, with pictures supplied by guests and used with permission.
Audio Engineer Luke Digweed.
These are the programs we use to create A Vietnam Podcast.
These are affiliate links so they will give us a small commission, only if you sign up , and at no extra cost to you! You'll be directly supporting Seven Million Bikes too.
Editing - Descript https://bit.ly/3FM3IFB
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Design - Canva https://bit.ly/3oW2S2n
Support - Fiverr https://bit.ly/3FI7EXZ
Website - 10 Web https://bit.ly/3HNTOoU
🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio!
👉 www.saigonpodcaststudio.com
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“I never thought I was going to have kids here… that wouldn’t have even crossed my mind.” — Claire Simpson
This episode with Claire really opened my eyes to a side of Vietnam I’ve never personally experienced but have always been curious about — what it’s actually like to be an expat parent here. I've interviewed entrepreneurs, creatives, teachers, founders… but motherhood is a whole different universe.
There were parts of this episode that surprised me, like how many expats assume you can’t buy diapers or formula here, or the fact that kindergarten can start as early as 6–9 months. And then the nanny story… wow. It’s one of the wildest behind-the-scenes expat-life stories I’ve ever heard on the podcast.
But the biggest takeaway for me is this: Vietnam can absolutely be an amazing place to raise a child — as long as you’re prepared, informed, and connected.
Key Talking Points
Episode Chapters & Timestamps
02:50 — Awards, Identity & Pregnancy
Claire talks about influencer awards, losing parts of her identity, and finding out she was pregnant.
06:30 — Navigating Healthcare & Maternity Packages
We dive into hospitals, costs, tests, translators, and what the maternity journey looks like in Vietnam.
12:50 — Motherhood Without Family Support
The emotional and practical challenges of being an expat mum, postpartum depression, and building a “tribe.”
17:45 — Raising Kids in Vietnam: Food, Formula, Kindergartens & Safety
Diapers, play areas, pollution, sidewalks, cultural attitudes toward children — the full picture.
28:30 — The Nanny Story: Contracts, Conflict & Lessons Learned
Claire shares the dramatic and eye-opening experience of hiring a nanny and the advice she wishes she had known.
🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio!
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Slawpi Đô, his pseudonym, shares why he is dedicated to learning Vietnamese. why he wants to be on Vietnamese TV, and talks about his military background, trying to start a business in Vietnam and learning to enjoy being unproductive.
In this episode Niall and Slawpi Đô talk about;
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Theme music composed by Lewis Wright.
Episode art designed by Niall Mackay on Canva
Audio Engineer Garrett McLean
These are the programs we use to create A Vietnam Podcast. These are affiliate links so they will give us a small commission, only if you sign up , and at no extra cost to you! You'll be directly supporting Seven Million Bikes too.
NordVPN | Descript | Buzzsprout | Canva | Fiverr | 10 Web
🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio!
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“The first thing I saw that I just loved so much is that the women here are so fearless.” — Amy Wenham
This conversation with Amy was one of those episodes where I found myself nodding almost the entire time. I’ve been talking about how badass Vietnamese women are for years, but Amy put language to things I’ve seen but could never fully articulate.
What I loved most is that she didn’t just compare Vietnam to the UK — she compared it to Dubai, a place where she saw firsthand how a country can transform itself, empower women, and build an entirely new entrepreneurial ecosystem. And according to her, Vietnam is on that trajectory too — maybe even faster.
We also explored identity, expectations, family pressure, and the very real tension between being a modern entrepreneur and living within traditional structures. It’s something every foreigner eventually observes here, but Amy broke it down with empathy and clarity.
Key Talking Points
Chapters & Timestamps
03:00 — Amy’s Journey From London to Dubai to Vietnam
Amy talks about arriving in Dubai, cultural shock, and eventually discovering the same energy in Vietnam.
10:00 — Feminine Power, Subservience & Small-Town vs City Life
We unpack the contrast between modern entrepreneurship and traditional expectations.
18:00 — The Pressures on Vietnamese Women: Family, Work, Marriage
Amy explains the invisible load women carry and how family structure supports — and pressures — them.
27:00 — Social Media Culture & The Myth of Virality
We talk about TikTok culture, “mukbang,” seeding, and why going viral is usually bad for business.
45:00 — Vietnam’s Future & Why It’s a ‘Mother’ Country
Why Vietnam’s growth will be heavily shaped by women — and why the country feels inherently feminine.
🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio!
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Join the Seven Million Bikes Community.
This episode’s guest, Tracey Nguyen Mang, is the founder and creator of the award winning podcast: The Vietnamese Boat People. This podcast shares the stories of hope, survival and resilience from the Vietnamese diaspora during 1975-1992.
Tracey was so interesting and engaging an interview it went for nearly two hours. It's been edited into two parts with bonus content available to the Seven Million Bikes Community.
In Part 2 Tracey shares about the Conversation Starter Kit they've developed to help children of Vietnamese Boat People break down barriers and get their family to comfortable open up about their painful past.
Read The Accompanying Blog Post.
Follow and Listen to the Vietnamese Boat People Podcast here.
Season 7 is sponsored by Blue Dragon's Children's Foundation and Saigon Children's Foundation. Please donate if you are in a position to.
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-------------------
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.
🎙️ 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!
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These are affiliate links, and I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.
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If you enjoy content about life in Vietnam, food adventures, and great conversations, hit that subscribe button.
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