I was 4 when my parents and I immigrated to Miami and let me tell you: it was a very different place than it is today. Having grown up here, my childhood memories are of clear waters, snorkeling the beach, suntan lotion and steamy summers. It was a very laid back and relax part of the U.S. when I was a kid.
Fast forward to 2019, and things are very different: crazy traffic, tall buildings everywhere, urban sprawl. (For those of you from Saigon, you will definitely relate!) But guess what: those same clear waters, seashells to be discovered in 3 feet of water by snorkeling 8 year olds, and sunburnt shoulders are STILL giving kids today the same irreplaceable experience of growing up in a subtropical paradise with all the blessings of geography, opportunity, international business...and the security of living in America.
I joke with people that Miami is known in Europe, India, and Latin America as "OOOH-Miami". That's because when people ask me where I live and I tell them, their eyes look heaven-ward, they smile and say...."Ohhhhhhh-MIAMI!!!"...which is immediately followed by either:
1- the story of what an incredible vacation they or their friend had there or
2- How they've always dreamed of going there.
Having spent most of my last few years in the air between OOOOH-Miami and Vietnam - truthfully, I DO frequently call it "AHHHH-Vietnam", when I am thinking about the food, the people, the beaches and the adventures I've had there -- I am now making an effort to "re-embed" myself in Miami. I believe Miami offers our Vietnam clients and investors tremendous lifestyle opportunities which are simply superior to those of other U.S. locations, even those most-often selected destinations such as California and Oregon. For one, NO STATE INCOME TAXES in Florida. That's a BIG blog unto itself but, trust me...it's a big deal.
But the main reason I think you need to consider investing in and immigrating to Miami is "childhood". It is remarkable that a half a century later, little kids at the beach are finding the same seashells that I was finding at that very same beach so many years ago. With Miami and opportunities galore all around. Take a look at this new study looking into why Miami is among the healthiest cities in the world....
Miami: The Healthiest City in America and 6th in the World
P.S. If you are curious, here's the link to the whole list: List of the Healthiest Cities in the World
