Wrong Turn

Avoid Bangkok Bank in Hanoi to change Thai Baht into Dong.

Bangkok Bank in Hanoi offered me for 10 000 Baht an exchange rate of 0.56.

Exchange shops in the old quarter 0.62.

Gold shops are the best to echange Baht,USD, Yuan, European, whatever for Dong and vice-versa.

The gold shops are also faster.

IMA farang is correct. Don't take baht with intention to exchange. They have all sorts of reasons to not accept.

Sometimes even USD etc. They want the notes almost perfect.

You can change Baht, but USD is easier and more places will exchange it.

Hotels, for example.

There are gold shops that offer the best rates. The bills do not have to be perfect.

I think he going rate is around 22,300 VND per $1, if you're buying Dong.

Anyone know a safe link for applying the visa online?

Dutch, do they have visa exempt?

Cant find a reliable source online for this information

thanks

Are you folks referring to "visa exempt" or 'Visa on Arrival."

I flew into VN from Bangkok 2 months ago and the tourists / visitors were lining up for the visa on arrival.

I know there is not much difference. Or, is there?

The govt has been trying to increase tourist numbers recently, so I assume they are trying to be more visitor-easy or visitor-friendly.

Having worked and lived in Vietnam during the 1960s...was a bit apprehensive as an American returning to the place where the US was involved in so much unnecessary human strife, misery, and destruction...

I was not certain how the Communist Regime would accept a former enemy...

Could not have been more surprised when people's faces would just light-up when they found out I was a returning American...they seem to go out of their way to assure me that all had been forgiven...yet not forgotten...the biggest tourist attraction in HCMC (former Siagon) was the Vietnam War Memorial...I attended of course...and after viewing the captured US Military arsenal...and especially the pictures of people who were born deformed from the criminal use of agent orange to defoliate the Vietnamese forests...I could not put my mind around how they could now be so accepting of Americans...

..

ggt,

I lived in Saigon for 7 years. The so-called "communist regime" was and is just another kleptocracy. VNese communism was in large part: "if someone has something you want, you steal it from them."

Property was one of these things. And after stealing the house and/or property you sell it for profit.

Many Southerners do not like Northerners nor the VNese government. The Politburo is entirely composted of Northerners. The traffic cops you see are usually Northerners.

The VC did a lot of the work, only in the end to get shut-out by the Northerners.

As for the "war museum," yes bad things were perpetrated by the US and it should be remembered. And the VNese were killing VNese as well. But don't expect the state run media, education system, or even people to every tell you the truth about it.

Seems to happen more and more. Soon the news coverage of these incidents will not be enough motivation for the BiB anymore to really try to catch the bad guys. And then again... what if they catch the rat? An apology, a wai and back to farang mugging.

Yes, I've been thinking this also.

It does seem to happen more and more.

Interesting thread.

I think some are a bit too hard on the OP.

Lighten up, me thinks. But that's just me.

Tattoos are a sign of rugged individualism.

IMO, Tats are so common that it sends a message to me that someone is a FOLLOWER.

I have no problem with tatts. To each their own.

But it seems to be a generic fashion statement these days. Most tatts will look awful as they folks get older.

But again, to each their own.

Yes.

It is easy to change Thai Baht but exchanging USD for VND is easier and more common.

You can exchange Thai Baht at banks.

You can get a better rate at gold shops.

What city / area will you be in?

About 1,220,000 results (0.67 seconds)

heres one of them

http://www.philippines-travel-guide.com/travel-to-angeles-city.html

I know there are options, but I'm looking for a minivan service type (that will take x amount of people.

No private taxis, no public buses on my first trip.

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I've done my research and I will see Baguio and other places. This time I don't have more than 7-8 days unfortunately.

Thanks, all.

I've traveled to other SEA countries, but want to visit the Philippines. It'll be my first time.

I want to go to Angeles City (AC) for a couple of days and then northward.

How do I get to AC from the Manila International aiport?

Is there is private shuttle or private bus service?

I'm only asking b/c Manila has a reputation as being a rough place and I'll be a newbie.

Thanks in advance.

Much more important to look at how foods affect your insulin levels, which in turn affects whether energy is burned or stored as fat. I suggest reading or listening to Gary Taubes' "Why We Get Fat". He's a great writer and his book is pretty much irrefutable.

Agree 100% - speaking only for me.

The article noted that 'calories are reduced when you put cooked rice in the fridge.'

I assume - think - that putting the cooked white rice in the fridge reduces its GI index. It's a fact that if you put boiled/cooked pasta in the fridge overnight there is a reduction in GI.

If I eat white rice, I blow up like a balloon. My face, and my gut.

Same with many white breads.

I prefer to look at macros, Protein / Fat / Carbs, in conjunction with a caloric range that I know I can lose in. On heavier workout days I'll have around 2000 cals, on more sedentary days around 1500.

A lot of the people that lift weights, myself included don't count calories much.

I do consider my macro ratio.

Good article and many people don't focus so much on counting calories (as Rob and others noted how flawed and time consuming it is).

The gut bacteria will be studied, researched, and published more and more, IMO.

So, the Federal Hotel on Soi 11 is closed down at of Feb 2016?

Chou Doufo

I’ve got a nice little thai lady, possibly getting hitched in the near future. Turns out she has a little debt problem she hasn’t told anyone about. Took a while to get the whole story from her…..

She has seven credit cards maxed out and one personal loan. She also has a friend’s credit card maxed out. Most are charging 20%, one charging 28%. She had no idea how much she actually owes. She has no understanding of interest rates, late fees, collection fees, etc.

Total debt comes to 150% of her annual salary. Monthly payments equal 150% of monthly salary….NOT including two cards demanding full payment immediately. Monthly interest charges, plus late fees and collection fees, are about equal to what I’ve calculated she can actually pay. Up until now, she’s been paying a few cards, waiting a few days until posting, and then taking cash advances to pay other cards. Now at limits, so that’s no longer possible.

I read this thread.

IMO, do not get legally married to this lady.

Foxboy,

There are several ATMs in Hanoi from local banks and some international banks such as HSBC, ANZ, Standard Charter etc.

Yes, I assume there will be high ATM transaction fees, and they like to gouge us on that anywhere in the world, we we're making international withdrawals.

As Cheeskraft noted, it's best to bring USD (or Euro) to the gold shops. There are gold shops in the Old Quarter tourist area on "Hang Bac" street. Hotels will exchange, but they'll a little extra for it.

Credit cards can also be used at the 3-star hotels, if you care.

Good evening people...

Just a bit of my background. I have been living in Thailand for 15 years now. I came here on holiday when I was 20 and never left. I spent the first 5 years getting drunk and then opened a small business which over the years has afforded me to live comfortably here.

5 years ago I met my wife and 2 years ago we were married. We now have an 18 month old son and my step-daughter lives with us. My business is doing better each year and life is good. I'm very content.

Recently after a death in the family I inherrited quite a large sum of money. It's currently sat in my UK bank account. Now I'm not sure what to do with it...

I've always wanted to buy land here and build my own house which I could do with this money. However, I'm very hesitant due to the fact that a foreigner can't legally own land. One option is to put it in my wife's name but that would be insane. We're very happy at the moment but in 5-10 years who knows? I think that's too much of a risk.

The other thing in my mind is the old saying that they don't want us here, we don't have a right to be here and never invest in Thailand what you're not willing to lose.

I know a lot of people have houses in their business's name, but even that isn't properly legal and uses loopholes.

Any suggestions would be great. I guess a safe option would be to keep the money in the UK bank and keep renting!

Are there any other options open to me, i.e. putting the land and house in my son's name?

Don't "buy" in Thailand.

But IF you "buy" then buy cheap.

Who benefits? Not you.

Keep your investments, cash, and assets in your home country OUTSIDE of Thailand. You already stated why. (Wife.)

I've got a good friend who's been in Seattle for about 5 years now. He's moving down south a bit as the traffic is getting to him as are the very high prices. He was telling me about his recent visit to the downtown area and how much things cost there. Seems the prices are quite high. Weather is also starting to get him down, but his grandkids are there and his wife won't let him move! LOL

Seattle is very expensive - depending if you have been on the "property ladder" (sorry, British term, but apopriate) for some time.

Houses last year were literally being auctioned off, meaning, you put a house on the market, and there is a bidding war.

Rents are VERY high.

If you move the souther burbs or the northern burbs, you will save. Not huge savings, but you will save.

Seattle IMO, is for the STEM, and upper management professionals - everyon else is in the "rat scramble."

In addition to the high cost of living, they never planned ahead (like most west coast) cities about population growth and transportation - how to get people around,

Add the weather and temperament (google "seattle freeze) and you might want to re-consider.

Up to anyone of course, Just MO.

Look around Phoenix area not in the city. I lived in Surprise just outside Glendale. Even Goodyear. Lots of things to see and do. Cities in Az are really spread out. I mean you can drive 5 miles just to get to the supermarket. You can find reasonable rents for under $900. I found a new apt for $650 and had its own washer/dryer set up and..a pool. Yes it's hot but that's what air conditioners are for. Really not as bad as you think.

Check out the other cities but avoid Tucson. High crime area now.

They actually have good public transportation but think of this, "lease" a car. New car less than $250/month w/insurance. Many options there too.

Yeah I can see the high crime stats for Tucson but that's not in every single neighborhood. The spread out thing is OK within reason. Phoenix being twice as big a metro area is twice as spread out, yes? There are also many high crime areas in and around Phoenix. There do seem to be good rents in both places, just a lot more choice in Phoenix. Good public transport in Phoenix, you mean? Leasing a car? My last car in the U.S. was leased. I thought it was a pretty awful deal in the long run. I've always thought the smartest option in the U.S. is to buy like a 10 year old car but check it out first. Not for status. For wheels.

In Phoenix IMO, you will need a car.

You can get by without one, but a used car as you note will be very handy.

JT, sorry to interject in your thread - but just one post, please.

(I am an expat who has been and is, researching places to relocate to the USA, like you.)

I have family in the Seattle area that I can stay with / live with until I find work. At 45, with my background, yes, I can find work. I updated my resume with a professional resume service and get calls for interviews.

However, I do NOT ever want to live in Seattle again for a few reasons: cost of living, traffic, weather, and I already have had all of my experiences to have their.

I guess you could say this about any place but reading comments on the net about the pros and cons of living in Tucson I am struck by the extremes of most of the comments. Either very positive or shockingly negative. I understand it depends on your specific situation there, but still, not sure what to think.

Here is a specific spot to avoid. At least that's clear!:

Contrast that nightmare to some of the listings I'm seeing for rentals for example in decent looking complexes with nice grounds and pools, in what seem to be OK areas, for 650 for a 2 bedroom (which you could get a roommate if needed and have very cheap rent, even not much more expensive than many parts of Thailand).

On some of the comments online, sometimes I think some of them are trolls trying to scare people away because they think the place is too crowded.

Jingthing,

My parents are retired in Green Valley, Arizona, about 30 minutes from Tucson.

I have visited a few times, considered living there, and know the area to some degree (but I'm no expert).

In general, Tucson (within the city limits) is a poor city. It was the 6th poorest in the US, if you can believe the statistics. It is literally, a burger flipping / retail economy.

The University of Arizona is based here with lots of job, but they seem to go to local Tucsonians with connections.

The retired snowbirds from the Northwest and Mid-west have money and/or enough money to retire and they live south of the city.

Pima county is very large.

Rents are affordable and decent in Tucson. Decent Apartments, IMO.

But the wages are also low as the minimum wage is $7 US per hour (not saying you're in these fields or that you're even looking for employment).

It's a beautiful area. If you need work, it's very, very, rough.

If you have enough for affordable rent though, it can be very good.

Fort Worth Texas is a nice laid back mid sized city ... less expensive housing / rentals can be found not far from the central downtown in older quaint neighborhoods ... there is plenty of bus service. And you would be close to possible jobs. Several universities and many high grade hospitals.. .Fort Worth downtown around Sundance Square is a very nice place to hangout ... a festive area with a lot of trendy cafes and restaurants... Today's Fort Worth is far from just a cowboy town .. .but they have that too on the North Side...

There is much more -- you should research it... before tossing it...

And the Ft Worth/Dallas area seems to have a good employment situation.

Any time I have tried to sleep late in any hotel, by the early afternoon they always pound on the door. I suspect the cleaners get paid per room so the ladies are going to try and wake me up. RIP old man. Being in Thailand while 77 is not the worst way to go.

Yeah, I hope I can check out from a condo in Pattaya is I make it to that age or around there.

RIP.

Don't have sympathy for the "vietnamese memorial."

The Vietnamese did plenty of slaughtering of their own, they just don't admit it. And, teaching it is not allowed in schools, nor is it allowed to be discussed.

Cannot say it always or mostly happens, but when you book a certain type of room, you may arrive and get a lessor room. Also, responding to email inquiries and hence, common sense is maybe lacking at times. That said.... Cash IS king in VN. AeVERYTHING is negotiable in VN. Be firm, direct, polite, and have cash. Always bargain.

There is a mask called "neomask" with a filter that can be washed that has been very effective and with a good price.