Day to day life in Ho Chi Minh

If her experience is like mine (I moved over here without a job) the first couple of weeks or even first month will be so jam-packed with doing new things and formalities (getting set up, finding a motorbike, etc.) that she will probably be very busy. After that, it will start to get boring if she doesn't find something to do. I would recommend getting involved with some local charities or find a group of people that share a hobby and go into it. If you need help finding some local charities that she may be interested in, let me know. I do some work with Catholic charities in Saigon and know a lot of people that would be glad to help her find something to do with her free time. It is also a great way to socialize with some very decent people.

Even if you only plan on staying a short while, I would recommend to her (and you) to take a Vietnamese class. It will give her something to do, and it is a lot more fun in Vietnam when you can speak a few basic phrases.

Thanks for your great advice! I've just been told I will be based in Dak Lak. Do you have any idea of this area?

I will probably spend weekends etc in Ho Chi Minh.

That is an area in the central highlands. That is a very long drive to Saigon. It looks short on the map, but it will take you a very long day to drive that. Luckily flights are pretty cheap. I don't know much about the area. I just went there one time to help an orphanage in a rural area. The weather was very nice.