Luke S;
It ain't that cheap for western style apartments in nice areas, and the commute home for almost everyone other than someone who lives in Sydney is both time consuming and very expensive, making the low pay even less lucrative. If you are a non-motorbike rider ( I had two) cab rides add up quickly. Schools are very expensive if you bring your family. When I was there, less than half "survived" the one year mark. I did, but it was challenging. There are some great things about Saigon, but also a lot of serious limitations. Throw the 30k bond on top of the low pay, and I would pass. I wouldn't give it a second thought.