Directory A–Z - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 1049

Treat overly friendly strangers, both male and female, with a good deal of caution.
Many travellers have reported small peepholes in the walls and doors of cheap hotels, some of which op-
erate as boarding houses or brothels (often identified by their advertising 'day use' rates). If you can, move
on to another guesthouse or hotel.
Work
The main opportunities for people passing through the region are teaching English (or another European
language), landing a job in tourism or starting a small business such as a bar or restaurant.
Teaching English This is the easiest way to support yourself in the Mekong region. For short-term gigs, the
large cities such as Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh have a lot of language schools and a high
turnover. Payaway ( www.payaway.co.uk ) provides a handy online list of language schools and volunteer
groups looking for recruits for its regional programs.
Tourism Most of these jobs deservedly go to locals, but there are opportunities for wannabe guesthouse or
hotel managers, bartenders, chefs and so on. This can be a pretty memorable way to pass a few months in a
different culture.
Small-business start-up If you elect to go this route tread with caution. Many a foreigner has been burned
in the region. Sometimes it's an unscrupulous partner, other times it's the local girlfriend, or boyfriend, who
changes their mind and goes it alone. Sometimes the owners burn out themselves, drinking the profits of the
bar or dabbling in drugs. Do your homework regarding ownership laws and legal recourse in the event of a
dispute. That said, there are many success stories in the region, where people came for a holiday and built an
empire.
Transitions Abroad ( www.transitionsabroad.com ) and its namesake magazine cover all aspects of overseas
life, including landing a job in a variety of fields. The website also provides links to other useful sites and
publications for those living abroad.