Kaoboi Bebobp

Check out Scruffy Murphy's, formerly the Queen Vic on soi 23. Quite reasonable pricing for Bangkok in a high-rent district. Tiger pint 130 regular price, HH price 99 baht.  Heineken HH price 110. Much cheaper than the Vic on this and food. They have an FB page, which I think I cannot link to. Main web page under construction as they just opened a few weeks ago.

If you can buy used ones, there are several second-hand restaurant supply shops on Soi Kho Pai. I haven't been up there in a couple of years though,

2 hours ago, lonewolf99 said:

Mmmm - good looking women.

But back to reality, I know several ex-pats who have / had Vietnamese partners....and if you think Thai women can burn money, then let me tell you

Viets are Premier League when it comes to cleaning out a bank account.

Of course I will now have dozens on here telling me the opposite. I only state what I know personally.

Love that line. Because it's so true. And once cleaned out, they will come back for more without a gram of shame. I've done two sojourns in VN, just ending the second. 

I had half a dozen girls chasing me; those are the ones I knew about. Wish I could draw a cartoon. I'm standing on one side of a chasm, she on the other. There's no way I could figure out how to join her. But to my right is a path, which joins a bridge across the chasm. In the middle of the bridge is a bank festooned with ATMs. I refused to budge, but many others have crossed that bridge and, without a single exception, regret it. 

It's one of the reasons I'm leaving VN and returning to Thailand. 

11 hours ago, Ulysses G. said:

I felt the same way in Vietnam. The beef was crap. However, I have not been there in 20 years, so that might have changed. Back then, it was trendy to use packaged noodles. Hopefully, they have returned to home made.

Australia is regularly exporting a lot of beef cattle to VN and taught them how to feed and slaughter them (their actions are monitored). Consequently, the beef is often pretty good, with some exceptions. 

I'd have been willing to try it until I saw the photos. Neither the bahn mi nor pho look all that desirable. Still, photos can lie. 

There's also a specialty cooking shop on Klang, right beside the Foodland exit drive. A decent selection of quality glassware.

1 hour ago, balo said:

The 29 baht coffee at Burger King is probably best value if you want a quick cup of black coffee. The taste is better than in most of the overpriced Thai coffee shops. And they use real coffee machines with grinder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting. Never thought of BK as a coffee shop. 7-11 has a very decent black coffee from a machine for 25 baht in the Bangkok 7s. But not all 7s have the coffee machine, particularly in Pattaya centre. Darkside 7s usually have coffee.

11 hours ago, smotherb said:

Yeah, for the normal visas you do have to leave every 90 days--as I said, you could go to China, Cambodia or Laos overland and r/t SGN-BKK can be had for as little as $170. However, there are one, three and five year visas with more qualifications and cost--they are marriage and business-type visas. Some visa services offer a one-year multiple entry visa can be had for about $1200, but it appears about $7-800 of that is their fee.  I like to travel, so 90 days does not bother me and the Vietnamese don't seem to be as uptight as the Thais with back to back--I know one American who has been there for 14 years  doing 90-day back to back--he lives near Cambodia and has found a Cambodian honey with whom to unwind on those nasty visa trips.

re $1200 for a multi-entry visa. Wow, that's way overpriced. Most long-term Viet visas are Business class, various subclasses, DN, DL. They run $450 to $650 via a third party. What I've found is you have to earn your way up to the 12-month biz class visa. Start off with a 3-month single or multi business visa. Forgotten the cost. You definitely have to leave after 3 months. Come back with a six-month multi through a third party. I paid $290US all in. I recently got a 12-month for $350 through a private channel; didn't have to leave because of my extensive VN visa history.

Tourist visas are maximum 3 months, single entry. You can get an extension but it's prohibitively expensive. In effect, Tourist visas are not renewable. Go out and come back with a biz visa, 3-month multi or 6-month multi.

That said, Americans get a better deal for a 12-month visa due to a reciprocity agreement with VN. You'll have to go to the VN embassy in Bangkok. It's cheap, too. 

There are 3-year temporary residency permits and the old favourite, a 5-year due to marriage.

1 hour ago, amvet said:

Tell us about the Vietnamese retirement visa and the banks where you can have your Social Security and Pension direct deposited and the places like Pattaya and the beer bar areas and go go dance clubs.

I have lived in Bangkok, Pattaya, Siem Reap (briefly), Phnom Penh, Saigon (briefly) and now Vung Tau, but mostly Thailand. 

I've wanted to live in Vietnam for the experience. Been in VT almost 7 months and I'm moving back to Thailand, likely Pattaya, for a few of the reasons Amvet (hilariously and honestly) provided above. There is no retirement visa for Vietnam. All substantial (expensive) visas are available via the back door. Never have to see an immigration officer your entire life except through the airport.

I denied it for a long time but Vung Tau really is a Little Pattaya. Most (mostly Aussie) expat residents have virtually one (maybe two) interests: groping a girl in the girly bars (and drinking cheap beer and hard liquor). We jokingly call Phan Chu Trinh street Soi Pattaya. There are no pubs, only girly bars with closed doors and dark interiors. Cheap booze, expensive companionship. 

What is there to do? Nothing. But it's a pretty, clean low-mountain coastal city with fresh air and constant breezes, and with loads of apartments. Only 2 hours to Saigon. No malls to speak of to buy western clothes and other goods, although there are a couple of western specialty stores.

Oh, medical care is substandard and in some cases, dire. The only reputable hospital is the French-Vietnam Hospital in District 7, HCMC, about 1.5 hours away.

Why go back? Tired of girly bars, fear of poor medical treatment, worry about dodgy food (multiple reports of raids on disgusting markets and slaughter houses), dangers of being a pedestrian in a country of the worst drivers/riders I have ever seen (never been to India), Vietnamese language can sometimes be torture to hear, constant scamming by taxi drivers, and last but not least, the girls. They can be beautiful, sweet, very friendly and fun and often have good to decent English in VT, but they are relentlessly practical, which comes across as having hearts of steel. Stands them in good stead in a country with no social safety net.  

One thing I know in the cases of both blood labs, samples for PSA tests are sent to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. 

11 hours ago, dpdp said:

 

I drive a 10mb car and I don't pay 100 thb for a ridiculous coffee, let alone 200.

When reading this thread it seems that not many people agree with you, and they are closing.

Wish you the best to find another scam place to pay your coffee 300 thb.

 

 

10 million baht car? You just hanged yourself.

There's one in Bangkok at the corner of Ekamai and Sukhumvit that's still open. While I stare wide-eyed at the 101 baht price for a (pretty good) americano, it does have a decent terrace. It's always busy, too, with many Thais and some tourists. But I only go there infrequently when I visit BKK. 

It is truly awful along Sukhumvit all day long. It seems like every motorcycle has a specialist exhaust system or none at all. I now frequently have to over my ears when the green light goes on and the scooter boys take off in a cacophony of ear-splitting sound. It's way out of control.  Same in Pattaya.

5 hours ago, The manic said:

Pho, pronounced foo, is really no different essentially, from Thai noodle soups. Its just got a more marketable name is all.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g293916-c41-Bangkok.html/

I go to Vietnam every year and do food tours but the only Vietnamese restaurant I've been to in Thailand was in Ubon Rachathani which was excellent but I did not bother with the Pho. Too many other good things to eat

No. This is so wrong, I don't know where to start. Viet noodle soup requires 6 + hours of simmering with bones and seasonings. Thai soup is a quickie, with loads of MSG and a few other things. I know from my ex-GF who sold soup from a cart in the Soi Buakhao market. Also, it's not pronounced "foo". It's like "fur" without the "r". It's a quick rising tone, then falling, then rising tone, indicated by the "?" diacritic. 

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

That's ridiculous. A true long cooked distinctively spiced Pho broth is very different than the simple (often chemical) broth of a Thai noodle soup. The origin of Pho is French beef pot au feu. Also Pho is mostly with beef cuts and balls (less common in Thai noodle soups). 

Exactly. Key phrase: "Often chemical". There's no comparison. Viet pho can be superb, if done in the traditional way. It started in the north. The central highlands (especially Hue) did their own thing with pho, and the south did their own interpretation. 

To add: Several Viet restos have come and gone in BKK. Good ones. Not much left to recommend. 

For those of you belly-aching about tire shops not inflating tires to their correct pressure, do something about it. Buy a proper pressure gauge and a hand pump like I did from HomePro. I had to pump up my scooter tires every 7-10 days. Most tires lose air over a short period but the small scooter tires deflate even faster. 

Phở : Vietnamese noodle soup, usually with beef  (Phở Bò), but can also have chicken (Phở Gà). Great stuff if well made. 

I don't understand the complaint that "it's too hot" to wear some proper gear. It would be too hot to wear a full length leg cast and arm cast, too. And I've seen lots of bandages on foreigners around town. 

I wear a top quality three-quarter open-faced helmet, with convex shield that's pretty stout. And armoured gloves, jeans and running shoes. I proved the value of this setup when the bike went out from under me on a dirty, bumpy corner at only about 10-15 km/h. The noggin hit the asphalt as did the hands. Got some leg abrasions but got cleaned up at hospital for all of 720 baht.

There's very little difference in feeling hot between the above and full-on beachwear. My white helmet reflects the sun and heat, as well as gives shade. Clothing does the same. Twice I've had things ping off my helmet, oddly enough, both times on northbound Sukhumvit. One time it was a big bug, likely a bumble bee. Another time it was harder than that, likely a pebble or piece of metal. 

But it's your body to do as you see fit. Just make sure you have gold-plated insurance. 

Any time I've taken the Jomtien bus (not Pattaya bus) from the airport, I've always gotten off at Pattaya Klang (Central Road). I always tell the staff I want to get off there. Many Thais get off there too. This bus NEVER goes to the North Road bus terminal, unless they've just changed the route. 

On 12/30/2017 at 6:25 PM, hyku1147 said:

I went there today but it turns out its closed on a Saturday.

Yup, it's always closed on Saturdays. 

I live 2 hours from HCMC and can only take it for one or two nights. It's so congested in D1 and the shops change every 6 months. Foreigner restaurants charge about the same as in Bangkok, which is rather hefty. But the food is usually always good. The bars are a lot of fun, the booze cheap. The amazing thing for me is that despite the congestion, you can usually make progress in a taxi. Just only take Vinasun or Mai Linh taxis. 

The backpacker area is Pham Ngu Lao/Bui Vien. Stay away unless you like tripping over the "hippies" and holding onto your wallet pocket the whole time. And never let go of your bags. 

1. There was a time recently, according to reports, that BIDV would give 5 million but it seems to have been dropped to 2 million like all the banks. At least that's the case here in Vung Tau. I have an ACB account which lets me withdraw 5 million max, but then I live here in VN. 

2. You must have got lucky with the vendors to buy with US$, however, you usually lose on the exchange rate due to fudging on smaller bills and all the zeroes. Foreigner bars will usually insist on Viet dong, and even have signs up saying so because it is illegal to use anything but dong. 

3. The only way to do it is to take your US$ or CDN$ or THbaht to a gold shop. Tip: Check the online Exim Bank ForEx page for fairly accurate and the least stingy rates before buying/selling at a gold shop and calculate what the payout to you should be. Gold shops tend to give a touch more than Exim. 

Wallet tip: Keep the 500,000, 200,000 and 100,000 notes in one pocket of your wallet and the others in sequence in the other pocket. 200,000 and 10,000 notes resemble each other in red/green colour shading as do 500,000 and 20,000 notes, which are a very similar blue. 

In any social (bar) engagement, it's always the drunkest who venture to ask if I'm American right out of the box. To me, that's a hint the conversation is trending downhill because, I know you're going to be shocked by this revelation, but alcohol loosens judgement. I pretty much know how it's going to go after that, until I tell them I'm from Canada, which I am. Then it's all friends and handshakes.

But this type of aggressive opening has been rare over the years here. But it's also peculiar to Thailand expats. Not happened in the years of living in Cambodia or Vietnam.

Also, you're bound to bump into knuckleheads of different nationalities in beer bars and soi plastic stool operations, etc. I've met the occasional annoying Canuck, too. I don't hang out in either any more. That said, you don't have much choice in Pattaya (which I've since left).

400 million baht is $12 million US. NASA spends $52 million US a day. So, by my reckoning, Thailand will be able to afford the signs on the road to the proposed satellite factory and a brochure. 

21 minutes ago, khwaibah said:

This beer is NOT brewed in Thailand but in Australia. Craft beer or home brewing is illegal in Thailand.  http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/thai-craft-beer-brewers-breaking-the-law/9286552

Read my post No. 8. When I searched for Bannok and Australia, nothing came up. It's also sold at Wishbeer. Country of origin: Thailand.

Bannok beer