BangkokBernie

I always come back to the following words spoken by Michael Caine in the opening monologue of the film "The Quiet American". Of course they were written for the purposes of a fictional story, and on a specific topic, but I look at them through the eyes of wishing the world as a whole could just be half as romantic and simple: I can't say what made me fall in love with Vietnam. That a woman's voice can drug you? That everything is so intense - the color, the taste, even the rain? Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you're looking for you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes. But the rest has got to be lived. The smell, that's the first thing that hits you - promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straight away a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there's a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war, that the gunshots were fireworks, that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then something happens as you knew it would, and nothing can ever be the same again.

Reading all the comments so far on my OP has been really interesting, thank you. It has confirmed my suspicions that people are either using untraceable overseas payment methods for local purchases, spending less in Thailand in general and/or spending less time physically in Thailand as a result of the Thai taxation announcements that were made last year. Meaning that, very few foreigners are planning on paying any income tax to the Thai government at all under this new tax regime. Although we know that the government doesn’t give a toss if a couple hundred thousand foreigners don't embrace this new tax policy because of the millions of tourists that are now coming back in again, but that is very shortsighted of them. A tourist spends money here for a week or two and doesn't contribute much whereas long-term residents need to spend money here 52 weeks a year, which does add up, even if it's not grand amounts of spending. In addition, those tourist dollars are not something that's guaranteed for the future, especially if the Indians or the Chinese change their mind about Thailand, whereas long-term residents can't avoid spending money in Thailand once they are living here full time. Well, as we said before, hopefully they eventually rethink all of this when they realize it isn't the big money maker they were hoping for, nor is it worth all the additional administrative hassles and burdens placed on their government systems. But it always takes time for the dumb eyed deers to figure out that they are simply dumb ideas.

It's semantics how you wish to interpret the new tax structure. The question was whether or not people's spending habits have changed in 2024 as a result of the fact that they could be expected to pay personal income tax on money (starting this year) that they remit into the country into their own Thai bank account via an overseas bank or fintech transfer.

Thank you, but as I said in my OP, the purpose of this topic is to discuss changes in spending habits as a result of the changes to the Thai tax laws that will effect foreigners residing in Thailand. Anyone's individual tax situation is only anecdotal. Also, it remains to be seen how much of people's taxes already paid overseas on the imported money will actually get applied to their tax liabilities in Thailand under any double taxation treaties. I anticipate a number of situations where the TRD can't understand the contents of the documents that foreigners are presenting as evidence of tax already paid overseas and, thus won't accept them.

How do you define tourist ghettos? And, no, I don't know who. Who are you referring to? Russians, Indians, Arabs, Chinese, it can't be the Brits, right?

Now that nearly a year has passed since the Thai government put a new law into affect that created a personal income tax on all cash transfers into Thailand which applies to all residents of Thailand, I’m curious how this change has affected your lifestyle and spending habits over the past year. Have you found yourself reducing your spending in Thailand and/or canceling or indefinitely postponing any large purchases you were planning to make here? Personally, while I’ve continued spending about the same amount, I’ve made a conscious decision to stop bringing significant sums of money into the country and to avoid keeping it in Thai banks. My Thai bank account balances have been steadily decreasing rather than staying stable or increasing. This approach, I think, isn’t achieving the taxation benefits the Thai government was hoping for. Instead, I’ve started using overseas debit cards for a lot of my spending here. While I understand that, technically, these transactions are also supposed to be reported to the Thai Revenue Department (TRD) and taxed, I’ll be honest, that’s not going to happen. I’m struggling to see how this policy is a win for the Thai government. They aren’t going to collect any income tax from the money I spend in Thailand from my overseas savings, and, like many others, I’ve scaled back on transferring as much cash as possible into Thailand. The result is that they’re likely receiving less revenue from foreigners overall. Maybe this policy benefits the TRD on Thai nationals earning money abroad and transferring it back home. But for foreigners, I think it’s far more likely to discourage spending and investment in the country. In fact, it already serves as a deterrent for retirees and potential long-term residents. If you don’t already have the ฿800,000 in a Thai bank account required for a retirement visa, who’s going to transfer that amount in (plus 20% more) and then lose 20% of it to taxes just to meet the visa requirement? This feels like a long-term misstep for Thailand. Policies like this may discourage large purchases, property investments, and even retirement plans for foreigners who might otherwise bring significant amounts of money into the country. The only way I see this policy working in Thailand’s favor is if it were limited to taxing Thai nationals on any overseas income they repatriate while leaving foreigners out of it. That way, foreigners could continue to spend freely, providing a big boost to the Thai economy.

I’m thinking of heading down to Pattaya for a few days, and while I’m there, I’d love to have some egg noodle soup with red pork and pork dumplings (Ba Mee Kiao Moo Daeng) a few times. I really enjoy it, but I don’t get to eat it as often as I’d like when I’m in Bangkok. For those of you who live in Pattaya and know the area, could you share your top three spots for Ba Mee Kiao Moo Daeng? They don’t have to be full restaurants—street stalls and stalls in food courts are great too. I’ll likely be staying at the north end of Pattaya, so places within walking distance would be ideal. I’d be open to spots as far south as Central Pattaya Road, but I probably won’t be venturing much further south than that. Thanks in advance! If you have any photos of the noodle soups from these places that you've eaten, I’d love to see them. Google Maps links would also be really helpful for finding each location. In Bangkok, I think the best Ba Mee Kiao Moo Daeng is still around Chinatown at night, though I haven’t made it down there in years (and really should!). I’ve also seen some great street noodle spots on Instagram from around different parts of Bangkok, but many of them aren't so central and so I haven’t made the effort to visit them. In Pattaya, I find it easier to get around in general, so I’ll make a point to try a few different spots. If I remember right, there isn’t a stall offering it in the food court at Terminal 21 down there, either. Thanks again!

I ended up taking it for only four days and then stopped taking it. The side effects were making me sick. Also, the issue that was giving me a lot of anxiety is mostly resolved now. So I don't really need to take anything at this point anyway.

Thank you for your clarifications and concern. After I made my OP earlier, I looked at the box and realized it is indeed made in India and is then distributed through a local Thai pharmaceutical company. I already have some experience with antidepressant medication. Around 10 years ago, a Thai doctor put me onto Deanxit for an off label use. I think I took it for around 8 to 10 months and it helped me quite a bit for the needed purpose. In fact, I might have stayed on it a bit longer, but at the time I had eventually read some things about the dangers of that drug and how it wasn't even approved for use in the USA, the UK and most of Europe. It's manufactured by a European company, but yet it's only really used in India, Thailand, and a few other developing countries. From some studies I read, which were conducted in India, it turns out the drug is fairly high risk for seizures as well as some other issues. So that is why it's probably not approved for use in most countries and was the main reason I stopped it abruptly. The doctor who put me on it probably wasn't aware of the dangers, unfortunately. In hindsight, I wish I was given a different drug instead, but we can't change the past. And after I stopped taking it, there were luckily no issues and I also realized that I didn't need it any longer anyway. By comparison, Escitalopram is a much milder drug, and I had no noticeable side effects from using Deanxit for close to a year, so I think I should be fine. My plan is to only use it for a few months at most to help reduce some anxiety, but I'll try it for a month first, and if it's not working well for me, then I'll just stop. It's possible by then I may not even need it any longer. It's not something I'm planning on using long-term, so I'm less concerned about general side effects. Also, I've studied all three of the drugs I mentioned pretty closely and Escitalopram seems to have the least number of side effects overall than the others. So it sounds like it's the most conservative choice as well.

I searched for recent post on this topic to seek answers to my questions below, but I didn't find anything very recent so I decided to post a new topic about it. It seems the 3 main SSRIs available in Thailand are: 1. Escitalopram (Lexapro) 2. Sertraline (Zoloft) 3. Fluoxetine (Prozac) Out of the 3, I've read that Escitalopram is the most well tolerated with the least amount of side effects. It also seems to have the least of any possible side effects on sexual function. I have a few questions on Escitalopram please: 1 - Is it available in Thailand in 20mg tablets so that it can be split in half to save on cost when taking a 10 mg daily dose? Or are there only 10mg tablets available? 2 - There is a locally made generic available for Escitalopram in Thailand under the generic brand name Esidep (from Sun Pharma) which sells at around 650 Baht for 28 tablets of 10mg each. Is this the best low cost option for this medication? 3 - I saw that there is another generic brand in Thailand of this medication called Esopam. I haven't seen it being sold in pharmacies in Thailand though so I'm wondering if the price is roughly the same as Esidep or is it much different? Thank you.

Speaking of potentially haunted sites, The King Power Mahanakhon Building on Naradhiwas Road (adjacent to the Chong Nonsi BTS station) was partially constructed on top of land belonging to the old Hokkien Cemetery which is located directly behind it. Most of the cemetery is gone now, but a tiny piece of that Chinese cemetery is still there in Soi Seuksa Witthaya, which is also known as Silom Soi 9. I believe they spent years relocating the old Chinese graves (prior to construction of that tower), and that some of the graves used to reside directly underneath where parts of that building now sits, but I am surprised that nobody was worried about ghosts when building a skyscraper on top of that old Chinese cemetery land. Given that the current owners of the building are Thai Chinese (King Power Group), you would think that there would be more superstitious issues involved with a property like that.

Bangkok Kush has been discussed a lot in this thread as an online seller with good prices, but I discovered they also have a retail shop run out of a small townhouse on Pracha Uthit Road Soi 54 (the area known as Bang Mot or Thung Khru). There you can see all the weed they have in stock and buy from them directly if you like. The location is about 15 miles outside the city center on the outskirts of Bangkok. They seem to have at least 15 strains of greenhouse grown mid-grade bud on hand to choose from and it's all in the 20-25 Baht per gram price range. Stuff is kept in large white plastic containers. Looks and smells quite fresh. I reckon the THC averages around 13%-17% on most of this mid-grade stuff. Good for people who like to smoke a lot and/or not get too high from such high percentages of THC. Lots of good, clear photos of many of their low cost strains are also shown on their website at http://bkkushhh.com Below is their Google Maps location link which also has some photos of their shop: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cymKpARuZjFvHK9D7 Attached is a photo of the shop interior from Google Maps.

It would be interesting if the government created a temporary ID card for foreigners that would have your photo on it, passport number, and current visa expiration date for any foreigner residing in Thailand on a one-year visa (or longer) who wants one. Not to make the ID card mandatory, but as an option for foreigners who would like to have it and then not have to carry around their passports, or any other form of identification, to prove that they are present in Thailand on a valid visa. The government could charge ฿200-฿300 for the card every year and I think many foreigners would go for it. It would be helpful for everyone, create a few more jobs, and add a boost to Immigration Dept revenues.

I have a friend coming into town. He's gonna stay with me for a few days in Bangkok and then I think he plans to go down to Pattaya. In the past, I've seen many car services advertise around town that will take people in private cars from hotels in Bangkok, or from the airport, directly to Pattaya for somewhere around ฿1000-฿1500. I think most of them already include the cost of the tolls as well. I haven't kept any of the ads or links though that I had seen in the past. Can anyone recommend a reliable car service that would pick somebody up from a condo in Bangkok in a comfortable car and then drive them directly to Pattaya for no more than ฿1500 including tolls? Or would it just be better to call a Bolt car for him? I see you can hire an economy car on Bolt for as little as ฿1075, but not sure if that includes the tolls or not.

Good analysis of how foreigners in Thailand no longer seem exotic to the locals. But that doesn't necessarily change the lifestyle of a foreigner in Thailand. I also don't think that the foreign men living in Thailand will struggle to find a local partner if they want one simply because of dating apps and the digital revolution. Anyway, my questions were more about what draws foreigners to the lifestyle in Thailand rather than how the locals may now feel about foreigners. Also, the friends of mine who finally left, didn't leave for any of those reasons. They mainly missed the natural and clean environments of where they came from. They missed hiking, the seasons, the outdoors, the better air quality, etc and they seemed to have gotten a bit tired of all the adventure when living in a developing country.

When people move overseas to a foreign country, they often say that what makes their new environment so unique and interesting is not the new and different surroundings but the exciting new lifestyle. So, thinking about Thailand and the lifestyle you’ve created for yourself here as a longtime resident, what would you say is so special about your life in Thailand that makes it worth living here versus living somewhere else? Or do you think the lifestyle in Thailand is not so great and that you would actually be much happier and feel more fulfilled living somewhere else? Thirty years ago, I met other foreigners in Thailand who had already been living here for 5-10 years, and at the time, they said they probably would never leave. However, I think sentiments have changed for some people since then, and I haven’t heard anyone say that to me in quite some time. In fact, I know a couple of those who told me that they planned to be lifers, but have since already upped and left. Maybe that’s because Thailand has changed and had a much more positive general feeling about it back then than it does now? Well, I’m not sure. But aside from some people having started a family in Thailand to keep them busy, what do others see as the ideal aspects offered by the lifestyle that are available to foreigners and to be enjoyed in Thailand? Is it perhaps simply the exoticism of living somewhere in Asia off off the beaten path, or is it something much deeper and greater than that? What also comes to mind are the poetic opening words from Michael Caine in the film "The Quiet American":

I often see posts on here from retired expats in Thailand talking about their daily routine and many seem to do very little that involves leaving the house. In addition, many are routine drinkers and smokers, which they also seem somewhat proud of. Some do have some social activities, and also do a bit of exercise, travel, reading, watching movies, etc, but not so much. Complacency, lethargy and spending time on this website seems to be the name of the game for many. Also, very few seem to have any serious hobbies or passion projects that they work on regularly. So, I do wonder, if they were still living in their home countries, would their lifestyles be any more productive? Especially in a Western country where the social and civil society around them might encourage them to be more active in other ways?

And it's down to one 81 year old man named Joe to try and stop all this. America has never appeared so defenseless.

After reading the replies to my last post I made about undesirables in Thailand, I realized that there are also seemingly many concerns about visitors being held to a higher level of accountability than the locals. So the question is, are there instances of hypocrisy in how foreigners and locals are held accountable for their rule/law breaking in Thailand? It sounds like outsiders are possibly subject to more stringent penalties for breaking the law while there is a perception that locals themselves may engage in similar behaviors with either less or no consequence or scrutiny at all. We've seen scenarios where tourists face hefty fines or legal action for such small things as traffic violations or cultural missteps, while locals seemingly go through these same situations with ease and leniency. Then the next question is if this disparity is a reflection of actual breaches in fairness or are there merely cultural misunderstandings? Next, are there cases where locals engage in behaviors deemed unacceptable or illegal, but manage to avoid public shaming or legal repercussions simply because they are locals? Is it an issue of corruption and graft (seeking to exploit more money from visitors) or is it nationalism at play, or neither or both? In turn, are outsiders unfairly held to higher standards, expected to adhere to rules that locals tend to overlook, dismiss, or not even be held accountable for? Thus, should Thailand strive for an approach that ensures equal treatment of everyone under the law or is everything already good just the way it is?

As time goes on, I've noticed more about the negative aspects of many of the visitors I've come across in Thailand, either through personal interaction, through friends, or from things I've read in the media, a lot of it being posted here on AseanNow. Overall, it's pretty disconcerting to see so many different types. I would say these undesirables are either involved with alcohol abuse and public drunkenness, fraud and violent crime, predatory sex tourism and exploitation, drug use and trafficking, or cultural disrespect. All the alcohol abuse and public drunkenness is mostly prevalent in places like Pattaya and the tourist and nightlife centers of Bangkok, Phuket and Samui, and thankfully it is not all across the country. But we see many cases of excessive drinking leading to disruptive behavior (often directed towards locals), fights with locals and other foreigners, and destroying both public and private property. Then, the involvement of some foreigners in criminal activities is another significant and growing concern. From petty theft to serious offenses such as financial and internet fraud and violent assault, these actions strain local law enforcement agencies and threaten the general public safety. Sex tourism is also a big thing. I'm not referring to the many visitors that come to Thailand, follow the rules, and are well behaved patrons of the nightlife, but it's the one's participating in activities that involve human trafficking, underage women, and child exploitation that are the disease. This not only tarnishes the image of foreigners and labels them as sexual predators, but it also perpetuates a cycle of illegal and immoral activities that harm the most vulnerable segments of the local population. It then makes you wonder, despite the country's strict drug laws, there are still, as we see in the news so often, many who will take the risk and engage in illicit drug use and trafficking. This not only puts them at significant legal risk, but creates a host of social issues and problems, which contributes to the already negative perception of foreigners in the country. Lastly, the lack of respect for the local culture is also shocking. Love the local culture in the host country or not, one needs to show respect when they are a guest in that country, yet it’s so common to see visitors dressed inappropriately at religious sites, behaving loud and/or getting nude in public, and showing little regard for any local traditions. These behaviors not only harm the cultural venues, but shows a blatant disregard for the country. I think the presence of these groups in Thailand is undeniable. I guess we can only hope one day that things change and these types are no longer welcomed into Thailand.

Also, here is some information I pulled up online about a time when there were some issues about 10 years ago, however, since then, there hasn't been anything else like it that I'm aware of: In late 2014 and early 2015, Thai police conducted frequent checks on tourists in Bangkok, particularly around the Sukhumvit Road area. Tourists were asked to show their passports, and those who couldn't produce them were sometimes fined or threatened. This practice drew significant criticism from tourists and expatriates, leading to concerns about police conduct and the legality of such demands. These intensified checks were linked to broader security measures following political unrest and the coup in Thailand. Reports indicated that tourists, especially those not carrying their passports, were frequently stopped and subjected to searches and even urine tests for drugs. This led to numerous complaints of harassment and extortion by the police, which eventually prompted discussions and changes in how these checks were conducted. The police justified these actions as part of efforts to crack down on illegal activities and ensure security. However, the practice was seen as targeting and harassing foreigners. Due to the backlash and negative publicity, the frequency of these stops eventually decreased, and the practice mostly stopped after a few months. This period highlighted the importance for tourists to carry at least a copy of their passport and visa while in Thailand.

In my opinion, the answer is no, it's not necessary. In over 30 years in the country, I've never carried my passport with me unless I am traveling around the country and need to have it with me to check in for a domestic flight or hotel. I've also never been stopped randomly and asked to show it to any form of immigration or law enforcement officer during the entire time that I've been here. The only time I was ever asked for my passport was once very many years ago during a routine traffic stop/road block at night. I politely explained to the police officer that I didn't have it with me and that was the end of it. The truth is that many foreigners in the country will also be without their passport at times when it's with a lawyer or visa agent and while their visa is being renewed. When I used to work for a company in Thailand, there were even times that my passport was not in my possession for weeks at a time. Anyway, none of the people that I know who live here full-time carry their passports with them either. I think it's more common for tourists to carry their passports, but not residents. I always have a photo of my passport, a photo of my current visa and my latest entry stamp, and even a copy of my last 90 day report receipt, all in my phone with me at all times. Something I only started doing 5-6 years ago. Before that I never had anything with me related to my passport or visa. In addition, I have a Thai driving license and a pink card so I have plenty of ID with me to prove my identity, that I've been here for some time and that I'm not a tourist. So it's never been an issue for me or anyone I know and I really don't expect it to become one in the future. I also don't reside in a major expat area or live in a rural part of the country on an O Visa, so that probably helps to avoid these random, isolated checks that some people seem concerned about.

Hello everyone - I'm new to this site, but I’ve been living in Thailand about 50% of the time since 2018 and have been in a relationship with a wonderful Thai woman (that I met in a yoga class) since around 1.5 years ago. We are both in our late forties and I feel we've developed a pretty solid bond within a short period of time, but there are a number of cultural nuances that I’m still struggling to absorb and understand. Recently, she expressed a desire for me to participate in certain traditional practices that, from a Western perspective, seem quite unusual. For instance, she wants me to take part in a family ritual where we make elaborate merit making offerings to her deceased ancestors 2-3 times per year. While I respect her northern Thai traditions and Chinese origins, I feel somewhat out of place and unsure about how to approach this without seeming disrespectful or insincere. Additionally, there's an expectation for me to handle any disputes in Thailand with a non-confrontational level of indirectness and subtlety that’s quite different from my usual straightforward approach. I’ve always valued open communication and directness in resolving conflicts, but this seems to cause discomfort and misjudgments in her view. Moreover, my partner has often hinted at preferring that I take a more traditional masculine role at times. This clashes with my belief in equal partnership and shared opinions and input within a relationship. For example, she often wants me to make all the decisions when we travel on where we go, where we stay, where we eat, how we get there, etc and without her providing me with any useful or helpful input. I'm trying to adapt, but I’m uncertain how to balance these expectations with my own values and without causing more unwanted friction. Then there are times when my partner’s family expects us to attend various social gatherings and ceremonies, which can be long, tiring, and often overwhelming for me. I enjoy spending time with her family at times, especially when it's a casual event, but the frequency and duration of some of the larger, more formal events are quite different to what I'm used to. Another area of occasional tension has been around the concept of "saving face", which I'm sure many others here are also familiar with. In many situations, my partner prefers to avoid direct confrontation or admitting to any mistakes to maintain harmony and avoid embarrassment. I find this challenging as I’m used to addressing issues head-on to resolve them quickly, and I’m unsure how to navigate this cultural difference without seeming insensitive, disrespectful or creating even more misunderstandings. All these face saving performances also get in the way of progress at times and prevent one from expressing what one really wants. It seems like a big time waster. In a way it feels a bit like slow dancing to a romantic song, but without ever fully embracing one's partner as they should. Lastly, our differing attitudes towards personal privacy and sharing information have caused some additional challenges at times. My partner tends to share details about our relationship, even in fine detail about our sexual relations together, and other similar personal matters, with her close friends, which is quite different from my preference for keeping such things more private. This difference in boundaries and expectations around personal privacy sometimes leads to feelings of discomfort and vulnerability on my part. Thus, I have begun to wonder how others from Western societies have managed to navigate these intricate cultural differences within their own relationships. I guess I hope to gain some insights from others here who might have more experience than I have in navigating relationships with Thai partners.