White people haha. Expats i think you mean *wink wink . I have only been here a few days trying to find an apartment. I have never been treated with anything other than respect and unless you are near a tourist trap, no one is really trying to rip you off. If you get a taxi app it makes things a lot easier because you don't need to speak anything. I recommend GRAB App

Cost of living: That is a difficult question because everyone is different. I am finding many many many options while having a budget of less than $600 a month for a serviced apartment.

As far as food and drinks are concerned. Hanoi is exceptionally affordable, even by south-east Asian standards (certainly cheaper than Thailand)