La Quenta

I'm the OP. Just coming in to say I told you so. Nothing much has changed, although business visas are available for those with work permits in processing with an employer & the immigration department. Although from all reports, that processing is taking up to (and in some cases over) 6 months. There remain no tourist visas longer than 30 days. There remain no viable options for retirees. There remain strict requirements on Bachelors Degrees and verified experience in the field you are working in to secure a working permit application. We are just about 2 years on and there have been no real changes. Those in charge do not want long term residents unless they are experts, working under certain criteria and paying their taxes. Even among those experts (not teachers), I know some who have just thrown their hands in the air in exasperation at the situation and walked away. Those who make the extra effort to jump through the hoops are those with ties to the country (such as a business, a family, have been in country for a long time anyway and its become a home). Just the way it is now, and will be for some time.

Interesting post, thanks. Yes, Vietnamese culture is quite different to Thai culture. The majority of it's historical influences have been from China (whereas Thailands have been from India), although it is also influenced in the deep south by Cambodia (which was the former 'Lower Angkor' of the Angkor kingdom) and Cham culture also has a very minor influence in some parts. There is an ethos to work in Vietnam that is very much Sino in approach, and educational attainment is highly valued. Generally, Thai folk are more open and easier to get to know. Vietnamese folk are very welcoming in general, but it can take a long time to get to know them. Thai people seem a bit more carefree almost not worrying at all about tomorrow with very little future planning. Whereas although Vietnamese aren't the best future planners in the world they seem to be very cognisant of it and are better at it.

Lol. Are you claiming the likes of Changi Airport are inferior to Tan Son Nhat? Never thought i'd hear that one said with a straight face.

Well.....it's all happening in Vietnam. For those not informed, since approx 1st April, Vietnam started rejecting the vast majority of rolling business visas and a very large number of tourist visas. People who are trying to do new work permits to change jobs or get new jobs are ALSO being rejected. The vast majority of those whose visa has been 'flagged' are being asked to leave the country within 15 days on an exit visa (which costs additional fees). Its basically a mass deportation. The deportees largely consist of retirees, digital nomads, workers whose workplace 1. improperly processed work permits or 2. didnt do it at all, or 3. used a dodgy agent to process (all unbelieveably common). It is quite possible that once all is said and done, Vietnam will lose 75% of foreigners living in situ by around August/September this year. Hundreds have already left (no choice really) just in the past few weeks alone. There remains no official Government announcement aside from "Those who entered Vietnam - specifically those after March 2020 - on a tourist visa have been granted an extra month stay" Aside from that, no official notice at all. Certainly no clarification for those who were in country before March 2020. It was just a decision made and executed, except no one is entirely clear what is going on...even the agents. What does this mean? The takeaway is, for the next couple years (or more), it is quite likely that Vietnam will be totally out of the question for anyone who doesn't fit the following 2 criteria. 1. A tourist staying 30 days or less 2.An expert worker, with a minimum of a Bachelor Degree, 3 years+ verified experience in the field for the job in question outside of Vietnam (that can be formally verified). In short, it has become very very very expat unfriendly in a very short space of time.