I'm in Chiang Mai just now after about a 6 year absence - I am surprised how expensive it is now. Also Thapae area and Night Bazaar etc seem very very quiet considering its December.

Most restaurants and bars seem brutally quiet - It must be tough for the owners. The reception staff in my Hotel almost jumped over the counter to hug me when I asked if I could stay longer.

I admit I don't understand all the reasons why but it is quiet.

You have to blame the system and the stupid teachers, Just saw a video of a male Thai teacher in Udonthani smacking a young Thai girl on the head very hard because she didn't hear what he said.

The kids have no chance with morons and bully's like this educating them.

I hope someone knocks him out very soon.

On 12/3/2019 at 1:14 PM, Matzzon said:

No need for any Wiki. If you would have done the same, you would know there are 19 urban districts and 5 rural district that binds together the Ho Chi Minh City. Out of the reason Saigon is one of the districts it can no longer be the city name. It was Saigon up until 1976, when it was lawfully changed to Ho Chi Minh City. 

If it´s still widely used has no point. The only point that makes is that people do not keep up with the changes, which is extremely common and visible in this forum.

 

The reason why they call it Saigon, is because they are using the name of the district you, probably, usually reside in on your business trips. That due to it´s the place where you find the old part of Ho Chi Minh City and most of the entertainment.

Regarding the spare thing. Well, I guess that´s a little late now. I

Yawn - what a bore

I was in Pattaya Klang Big C food court today.

It was pretty embarrassing as groups of old farangs were sitting around filling up multiple tables as well as some individuals.

They had food and drink with them brought from outside and some were drinking beer out of a bottle wrapped in a bag.

Most were in vests and threadbare clothes. The Thai people there noticed the scum but were too polite to say anything.

What the <deleted> has happened to Pattaya?

Put up a sign in Thai that says "NO PIGEONS ALLOWED" I am assuming they read Thai and not English.

On 8/24/2019 at 4:11 AM, keysersoze276 said:

So if you did, how would you do it?  Would you just buy a plane ticket and figure it out when you get there?  Would you use an agency or classified ads online to secure housing before you arrived?  I will be honest here, fellas.  Moving to BKK was the easiest thing I have ever done.  I met a girl online.  Good girl, valedictorian Thammasat Uni., 100% fluent without an accent.  Found a condo for me (rent), paid the deposit and first month rent before I arrived.  Not bragging here.  I was goddamn lucky on that one!  Not planning on being that lucky again!  My point is...how to get housing?  BritManToo is almost certainly right that anything printed in English is twice as expensive.  But maybe some of you know a scam free, fair friend or something who owns condos for rent?

 

I worked in Vietnam (Vung Tau) in 2011 / 2013 and got to know it well, Since then I have been many times in Saigon & Vung Tau on holiday, as well as being in Halong and Hanoi up North.

If I need a visa for more than a month now I use this agent  http://www.vietnamvisapro.net/

They get the letter done, E mail to you and you pay stamping fee on arrival.

Recently I rented different accommodation and I found it by joining local facebook groups for the area.

IE: expats in Vung Tau, expat housing in Vung Tau, expat housing in ho chi minh & vung Tau. The prices were comparable with Thailand.

For me I like a quiet place with nightlife available easily as well as HCM city 2 hours away for the occasional visit so Vung Tau works for me.

My plan next month is to travel up to Danang / Nah Trang etc and explore a bit as may find it even better. I would say that Vietnam do NOT hate tourists yet unlike Thailand.

Tell her you need to go home for some BS reason, dump your sim card and run away.

I was in Jomtien office this Friday to show that my 800k was still there exactly 90 days after issue - I needed the letter they gave me at the renewal of my extension, updated passbook & copy of first page and fund page and passport copies - visa/extension/face page/entry stamp/TM6.

It can be done after the 90 days if you are out of the country at the time it's due I was told by the officers.

I was in and out in under 2 minutes, 3 staff on desk number 8 and only me to deal with ???? I was not told to come back with proof again in another 90 days so I am happy with that.

No doubt this will add more delays to the wonderful airport experience, I am currently in the lounge in Swampy having endured the immigration exit process at passport control - I was 45 minutes in a crowd of Asians who were behaving like children - shouting, jumping queues and eventually the immigration stopped fingerprints being taken - it was a <deleted> joke. One prick asked to get in front of me when I was almost at the front of the line - "I think my flight left already" he said I told him no point in rushing then - asshat.

I hope I am fully done with this place in the coming few months, I have enjoyed living here but I don't  want to live on a military base anymore.

I can give you my personal circumstance and that of my many friends who visit. I am a single guy from the UK now 55 who has been living here since 2005 as non resident in the UK for tax.

When I came visas were no problem, Immigration was easy currency rate was very good etc. I worked 5 weeks in Saudi and 5 weeks off in Thailand with travel to neighboring countries during my time off.

All was good ???? I started getting retirement extensions when I became 50 (800k method) I have never overstayed or had any run ins with the authorities.

I have owned vehicles and several condos in my own name - I have no money issues. 

Fast forward to today, Of the large group of friends I regularly meet, I estimate about 20 of them come to Thailand every year for 2 to 3 months and spend a lot of money on their holiday (some have been coming here for over 30 years) This year I know only about 4 or 5 guys are coming and not for the long 2 or 3 month breaks.

I myself have grown tired of the constantly changing goal posts with immigration, the needless and ever changing paperwork, the corruption, the political uncertainty, the poor attitude to foreigners now and a lot of other small things are beginning to wear me down also.

So I have quietly sold up - almost everything has now been sold and the majority of the proceeds sent to my Singapore bank. I am off to Vietnam where I also worked in the oil business and know it well. I have already spend many long periods there and it is a breath of fresh air to be smiled at and spoken to by the locals as you walk on the beach in the morning.

I will apply online for my Vietnam visa probably next week - then it's over for me unfortunately, no more LOS apart from the occasional weekend perhaps as my current retirement extension has 10 months left, it's been fun - but its over.

I am just a normal guy so wont show up in any figures anywhere but my 1 1/2 - 2 million or so I spent here annually is gone. The apartment complex I currently rent in has lost dozens of westerners in the past months who have also just silently gone.

He saved 2 young lives, a selfless and brave act.

Sad when people like this lose their life so young. He is a hero and his family can take some comfort in that. RIP