American vlogger Philip Beere, who has been based in Thailand since 2019, says he is considering Ho Chi Minh City as a new base after becoming concerned about changes he has seen during his six years in the country.
Beere, whose The Borderless Office YouTube channel has 74,100 subscribers, posted a video filmed in Ho Chi Minh City on August 2, 2026. The video has attracted more than 45,000 views.
A different energy in Ho Chi Minh City
Giving his first impressions of Vietnam's largest city, Beere said there was "more optimism in the air", along with "a lot more youthful energy" and "a lot more hustle energy".
He said Vietnam was growing at around 8%, compared with Thailand's 2%, and predicted that "very soon the Vietnam economy overtakes Thailand's". He also said he had noticed "a lot of new corporations moving here".
The economic data broadly reflects the gap he identified. Vietnam's economy grew by 8.02% in 2025, while the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development puts Thailand's 2025 growth at 2.4%.
For 2026, the OECD projects growth of 6.5% for Vietnam and 1.7% for Thailand. Nikkei Asia has reported that Vietnam could overtake Thailand in nominal GDP as early as 2026 or 2027, supported by state-led infrastructure projects and a planned 26% rise in public investment.
Thailand remains significantly wealthier on a per-person basis, with income per head of $7,980 compared with Vietnam's $4,740.
Concerns about Thailand's direction
Beere has praised Thailand in many earlier videos and said he still loves its people and culture. He cited the ease of living, safety and politeness as major reasons foreigners are drawn to the country.
However, he said tourism was increasingly consuming Thailand, warning that Phuket "might be the warning for the rest of Thailand". In his view, the country is drawing more people "seeking low costs, permissiveness, or escape, but not necessarily cultural engagement".
He also said Thailand's heat, air quality and worsening floods had made him less inclined to explore more of the country.
Visa options remain very different
Thailand's tax rules may also be part of the wider calculation for some long-term residents. Since 2024, Thailand has taxed all income remitted by anyone staying 180 days or more. A Thai Examiner survey reported that 55% of respondents had considered leaving because of the change.
Vietnam, meanwhile, has no retirement visa and its e-visa is limited to a maximum of 90 days. Temporary residence cards, valid from two years, are available to foreign workers, family members of Vietnamese citizens, students and investors.
Beere said he will spend a few weeks in Vietnam and plans to make comparison videos between Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok.
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15 August 2026
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