Essecola

So you like it in Vietnam. Great. Enjoy it. I guess. It's not as good as Thailand and Bkk by far.

(Make sure you don't get sick while ur there ????  )

On 7/31/2019 at 9:46 AM, Inn Between said:

 

I was talking about the price of apartments being near double priced. At least 1.5x priced for sure for the same thing and that is with the fact that the shopping is clearly inferior. Haven't been in a hotel for more than a few days in ages. I suspect the days of cheap hotels are dwindling, but it's not something I'm worried about.

Just now, Inn Between said:

Even though it's very general, thank you for your concise impressions of Vietnam. Knowing a little more about where, when and how long you stayed would have helped a bit, but I do appreciate your reply. 

 

As you elude to, each of us is after something a little different than the other guy, and I was always grateful that I didn't have to live in Bangkok, whereas others couldn't imagine living elsewhere in Thailand. 

 

I'm surprised that accommodation was as much as twice as expensive as Thailand. Was that long-term or hotels in somewhere like Saigon? As for the reckless and dangerous drivers, we know how highly Thailand rates for road carnage, and Vietnam actually ranks lower from what I recall seeing before -- something like 35 road fatalities a year per 100,000 people in Thailand and 27 in Vietnam. I could be wrong, but that's nothing I'm going to obsess about anyway...at least I hope not. 555

 

I assume there are a lot of similarities but also some shockers as one ventures into the country and its culture. Thanks again. Hopefully I'll be responding with my own impressions of the place before too long. 

I meant accomodation up to double prices in terms of apartment rentals of same quality and size. And the options you get for nearby shopping to such places a total fail compared to almost anywhere in Bangkok. Hotel prices not much higher.

4 hours ago, Inn Between said:

I'm interested in Vietnam and assume you're comparing it to Thailand. I have about 17 years experience living in Thailand and none in Vietnam, so please tell me how the place is inferior. I'm not asking for an exhaustive list -- just the top 5 or so aspects of Vietnam that make it worse.

 

I'm not looking to challenge you -- just interested in your perspective. As I've never been to Vietnam, I can't really challenge anything that's said about it, but can you give a little background -- where you stayed...how long, etc.  

 

 

Best way I can put it is things don't work well in Vietnam. Everything, including moving around, is more difficult to do. The roads are more dangerous. The shopping is 5% of what's in Thailand. Maybe that's if comparing to Bangkok; if compared to very rural areas of Thailand, maybe the shopping would be on par. The shopping in Vn major cities is a joke. Medical services are far inferior/difficult to access. Dental in Vn, would say it's good on that front. Vn is dirtier. Everyone's opinion is different, some people love Vn or at least don't mind it. Sure, some parts are pleasant but for the most part I think it's a hole. To give the people their credit, most of Vn people are friendly. So there is a concise version of sorts, per your request. It's just my opinions, I was perfectly content in Bangkok for shopping, services, transport, medical, etc. Didn't like Vn at all.

(Accomodation is 1.5 - 2 times more expensive in Vn whilst getting less)

What do they expect when making visas difficult on purpose and turning people back at the airport then crying later that business is down. Losers. Vietnam isn't as nice at all but at least they let you in.

Maybe the next questions that will pop up re Vientiane are, oh is that one stamp in the past 12 months or the past calendar year. Got to be a good little visa fetcher after all. Getting into vans with a smile on your face and jumping through all the hoops nice and politely.

Yeah, well, neither consulate in Laos should be thronged too much after this month now that it's been reported Vientiane will give one tourist visa per year and Savannakhet will give a tourist stamp only if u havent been in the country much recently. It's not so nice trying to go to Thailand anymore. Philippines ans Vietnam are not so nice either. What a shame. Guess the whole going around southeast Asia thing is fading unless you want to go once for a short time or stay somewhere that's dirty and unpleasant.

I always paid my bills on time, never overstayed, followed every rule that was put in front of me  -  JUST TO BE RIPPED OF AT THE END , KICKED OUT

Just now, lamyai3 said:

No one will cut you any slack if you give them the finger, anywhere. Why are you such an apologist for immigration? I see nothing to suggest bad attitude in either of the cases on here, nor any indication they're looking for work which you accuse them of. Even if they were this wouldn't be illegal on a tourist visa, it's only taking up work that's not permitted. What I do see is their righteous indignation that they've been treated very badly by a new breed of immigration officer, I'm baffled why any other foreigner would applaud this and sneer at their misfortune.

Breed of immigration officer? Try breed of primate. Most of them make around 20,000 baht per month.

It's all so mind numbing. I also had to tell my building owner I was being kicked out. I wish I never came to Thailand. The horrible feeling of wasted years and money will likely never go away. I saw a guy shouting about Thailand the other day. There are loads of people in nearby countries that absolutely <deleted> hate Thailand now. By the way, Vietnam is very boring and much more difficult to do normal things. It is not the same at all. Food. Shopping. Access to health care. Cleanliness.... etc etc. It sucks.

5 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Very good question. Some time back a UK guy had a thread. He was obtaining setv back to back. Obtained last one Saigon. Denied entry DM. Flown back to Saigon. Refused entry even though UK are visa exempt Vietnam. Then sent to UK. 

They do not cancel exit stamp. 

When a person who used a visa exempt stamp to get into VN (Ppl from UK and a few other countries can get them, Americans and Canadians can't) , they can't get another one for 30 days after they departed. If they want to come in again earlier they need an actual visa. This would be a likely reason why this guy was refused entry. Some ppl have said an amount of money can stop this problem (pay some large amount at the airport and get let in) , but, a) i dont know for sure, and, b) it's a VN visa issue so no need giving it much airtime here.

DON'T SPEND MONEY IN THAILAND

Best idea is to stop coming to Thailand. Don't spend money in Thailand.

15 hours ago, ocddave said:

Just dump it on the curb side, watch how fast it disappears.

The management and folks nearby would be, how to say, 'non plussed' , if i wuz to leave a load like that on the pavement. It's a nice place, nobody would like it. It's a bit shyytte to need to just dump stuff but when there needs dumping, it still needs to be in the right place and way etc

16 minutes ago, tabarin said:

Guess the sales of furniture, cars, motorbikes and other belongings will only continue at high speed on FB groups. 
It is like shopping for new items at 40-50% discount lately.

I have a bunch of stuff Im just going to throw in the trash. Still havent found a driver to help me dump the stuff somewhere. 

7 hours ago, Jadam said:

I'm not confident he would have had any better luck with a land border.

Sadao are being dickheads; even people coming through with Non-B visas are being made to show cash and accommodations and they are being harassed over not carrying their work permits with them.  I hardly think he would have made it through with no visa any easier than at the airport.

 

Jim and Banana (the 2 go to agencies in Penang) told him to avoid Pedang Besar for the same reason.

 

 I know it sounds inane but I meant something like fly on Air Asia to Laos or Cambodia and enter at one of those land borders. Don't know how to say, entering Thailand has been totally nuts for a period of time and the 'problems' have only gotten more intense.