Why the 'Happiness Cost-Performance' in Southeast Asia is Too High
3:30 PM.
It's quite hot, April in Vietnam.
I received a LINE message from a former colleague from my investment banking days.
"I've become depressed... Vietnam sounds nice, can I come over there now? lol"
I kind of get it.
Southeast Asia isn't a place to 'get your life together,' but rather,
it has the power to make you stop caring about things for a while.
So, I took the liberty of coming up with a'Depression Recovery Tour'.
## First, download Grab before you travel
It's an app like the Southeast Asian version of Uber.
Just having this changes your level of happiness quite a bit.
'I don't want to walk because it's hot'
'I'm tired'
'I want to eat tapioca'
It solves everything.
Civilization.
## Once you get to the hotel, just wander around the downtown area for now
A parasol and mosquito repellent spray are essential.
The sun is, in any case, intense.
But strangely, just by walking outside for 2-3 hours,
your brain gets a forced shutdown.
I don't know if it's serotonin or just the heat, but
by the time I get back to the hotel, I'm already out cold.
## When you get hungry, GO to a shop where only locals are
Not a fancy shop for tourists, but
a local shop with plastic chairs lined up.
It's okay if you can't read the menu.
Look around,
point at a dish that looks delicious,
and just make a face like 'Same!'
and you'll manage somehow.
Besides, the people in those shops are the kindest.
## Vietnam is a cafe paradise
My personal recommendation is
'Mango Avocado Smoothie, no sugar'.
Even though it would probably be at a high-end cafe price in Japan, it's just normally cheap.
Just zoning out in an air-conditioned cafe helps you recover quite a bit.
## If you're tired, get a manicure or a massage
Vietnamese people are very dexterous.
Their nail art is detailed, and
they are also good at head massages.
And since it's cheap,
there's no guilt like 'Is it okay to indulge this much...?'
The threshold for happiness suddenly drops.
## Go home by Grab bike at night
Riding on the back of a bike! This is fun too.
They speed through narrow streets, so
it feels a bit like a Hong Kong movie.
It's super thrilling and nerve-wracking💦
However, the helmets are quite often smelly.
I recommend carrying a towel and putting it between your head and the helmet.
## When you get back to the hotel, pool -> tapioca yogurt ice cream
My recommendation after the pool is
Sữa chua trân châu
(tapioca yogurt ice cream).
You can order it on GrabFood.
I gained 3kg from this.
But I was happy, so it was probably a necessary 3kg.
## Why the happiness cost-performance in Southeast Asia is high
### 1. Low cost of living
Eat what you want to eat,
take a Grab whenever you want to ride,
and get a massage when you're tired.
It's easy to 'not hold back'.
### 2. No one cares about anyone else
This is truly liberating.
Middle-aged women in bright pink pajamas walk around normally.
It's chaotic,
noisy,
lacks uniformity,
but that's what makes it good.
### 3. The heat forces your brain to shut down
I really think this is true.
Soaking up the sun,
sweating,
getting tired,
and feeling sleepy at night.
I think modern people use their brains too much.
My former colleague didn't end up coming.
But if you're tired,
you should try going to Vietnam once.
Perhaps,
your body will recover before your brain does.
I've written other articles about lifestyle and Southeast Asia here👇️
How I changed through life in Southeast Asia👇️
Stories about living in two locations👇️
Whether you're aiming for FIRE or struggling as a company employee, please let me know in the comments! Let's talk about it together. I'm looking forward to your likes, follows, and comments!!
Thank you for reading this far!