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You maybe be correct. Its just insane really! Just don't have the stomach for it at the moment. I am good to go at this point living well in Vietnam now. More zeroes to my name would just be left to my daughter and wouldn't make much difference in quality of life for me. That being said, if it drops again into the teens I will spend some of my savings...lol

Hard to make large profits when one coin is $33,000. But, I had an opportunity at $9,000 a few months ago. Oh well!

Interesting, I left Chiang Mai in December for a month to Phuket before moving "permanently" to Hoi An, Vietnam. I would never live in Hanoi because of the air pollution and population size so using that as an indicator doesn't make sense to me when searching air quality. If air quality was my sole reason to live somewhere I would be back on Kauai or in the high country of Colorado. Hoi An is quite different in all respects. I actually prefer the quality of life to Change Mai and I loved Chiang Mai. If the visa situation was different in Thailand I would have fled south during the burning season which is costly and a pain in the ass, but I love Thailand! Oh there is plenty to gripe about Thailand if you are a griper type, but I enjoyed my time there very much and will return from time to time. 

First let me address the most important aspect of Vietnam for me as an American. I have a one year business visa multiple entry no reporting. And for me that is the main reason I chose Vietnam. I know that that doesn't apply to other nationalities, so its a moot point for others. I can give you a few comparisons of why I prefer Hoi An. Better air this time of year. Mostly moderate, but often in the green. Its on the ocean as i prefer it to what some people call mountains in CM. The food is equal to or better and the price is too close to be an issue. The apartment I have although 3,000 baht more is a palace in comparison to my digs in CM. Overall a better deal, but too wide a subject to try and cover. Although I can tell you a huge, three bedroom house furnished is $300 US here. People are friendly enough, and I think the old adage where you take yourself there you are. Massage is less expensive in Thailand and all things equal not better. None of these therapist know how to do real neck work, but massage is still valuable, so I partake of it weekly here as well. Infrastructure like post office, roads, is better in Thailand. Wifi is everywhere here and in some places just as fast as anything in CM. My condo here has much faster then my condo in CM. Beaches are a wee bit cleaner in Thailand. I haven't seen a policeman in Hoi An in the entire 6 weeks since moving here. My Thai drivers license is accepted here, and I understand if I ride to Da Nang I might meet a few men in blue or green I think. It was almost a weekly occurrence along the canal rode where I lived in CM. Food prices are too close to call, and I have a lot delivered by a great service. Organic was better in CM because of Rimping. I found an incredible bread baker here, and I would say overall my circle is already larger and more comfortable here, and again I really enjoyed my time in CM other than the air quality last year which was way worse then this year! Again, the visa situation is why I am here. Hoi An is very comfortable for me and I would highly recommend checking out Vietnam and seeing how it fits for you. I do have to mention the motor scooter scene here is insane. Its like being in a video game! Much prefer riding in Thailand...much! All in all I prefer it here for the time being and would love to explore in a year or so the Philippines, Ceylon, and being drawn to Malaysia as well. One last thing, I do believe if a person is on a very limited budget based on housing and food prices, one could get by quite well here for under 800 a month, and that is going out for coffee and renting a motor scooter which cost me $150 a month. If you need an easy visa transition to here let me know I have a friend in Saigon that makes it seamless.