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 Episode

• Why Saigon’s energy feels different from older, more established cities
• The reality of adjusting everyday habits when you first move to Vietnam
• Banking, cash, and budgeting challenges for newcomers
• What it’s really like raising a young child in Saigon
• The balance between convenience, cost of living, and lifestyle in Vietnam

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

Chapters

• 0:00 Ebru