American vlogger leaves Thailand after years for Vietnam

I hope this guy moves to Pakistan after Vietnam gets "too expensive".

It's a lot cheaper there for Americans used to the American lifestyle. 😄

I didn't mind his videos. More polite than some of them sticking cameras in people's faces, but it's those like him that tend to ruin the quieter, unspoilt, "undiscovered by tourists" places by plastering them all over Youtube and TikTok.

Before you know it, the hordes arrive, demanding bars and loud music, because "there is nothing to do."

On 8/15/2026 at 3:52 AM, ukrules said:

lol, wait until he finds out just how accomodating the Vietnamese are towards people like him.

Yeah, he should realize Vietnam taxes him on money he has made in Vietnam as a digital nomad, he ad better engage a lawyer. They take Tax evaders very seriously because it is stealing from the public, hence The Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Edited August 16Aug 16 by Explorator en Action

This guy will have the exact same complaints about Vietnam because you carry your baggage with you.

1 minute ago, Real Name Hidden said:

This guy will have the exact same complaints about Vietnam because you carry your baggage with you.

True in a way but people do have certain places that are more home to them than others. If you can be yourself and enjoy what made you happy throughout your years, that's home. Wherever you go, there you are.

On 8/15/2026 at 3:50 AM, Georgealbert said:

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.

Join the discussion?

15 August 2026

View full article

Never heard of him, and I watch a lot f Thailand Videos, may have turned one of his on, then shut it down because of stupidity. Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish my mother used to say. Hope he likes the 90 tourist visa’s with no possibility to extend.

1 hour ago, Explorator en Action said:

Never heard of him

1 hour ago, Explorator en Action said:

Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish

If you've never heard of him, how do you know he's bad rubbish?

1 hour ago, Explorator en Action said:

Hope he likes the 90 tourist visa’s with no possibility to extend.

I've got some friends in Vietnam. Two of them are ex Thailand.

Many expats are married to a Vietnamese national. 5 year visa, no other hoops. One expat I met told me he has never even met his wife, she's just his wife on paper. They are known as "visa wives."

If not married, a border run every 3 months, and one can live in Vietnam perpetually on 3 month tourist visas. No back to back rule like Thailand.

Vietnam is my Plan B, so I have looked into it.

Have you even been to Vietnam?

On 8/15/2026 at 8:45 AM, HappyExpat57 said:

Those of you who have been around a while have heard my story. I got the 7-year-itch living in Thailand, moved to Zihuatanejo Mexico (Shawshank Redemption beach at the end of the film), and was back to the LOS in 6 weeks with a renewed appreciation.

You mean Andy didn't let you help with his boat

15 hours ago, Watawattana said:

With a forum name “cynic”, what do you think the chances are of your good words being heeded?

I don't really care if they are or not being heeded. My life does not revolve about pleasing everybody. Does yours?

In less than 5 months, he will be swimming back to Thailand.

Vietnam is a different ball of wax. Nothing comes close to Thailand.

Ask yourself this question, after visiting Nam for the first time, did you want to immediately book a trip? Were you depressed at the airport leaving Vietnam or BKK?

8 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

I hope this guy moves to Pakistan after Vietnam gets "too expensive".

It's a lot cheaper there for Americans used to the American lifestyle. 😄

Why waste time going to Pakistan, just move to England......55555. Same as Pakistan and have more People from Pakistan arriving everyday.

On 8/15/2026 at 1:31 AM, Sir Dude said:

Lol... six years is still a relatively new arrival, so you rocked up during Covid or shortly after. Go harping off on your soapbox like a pro once you reach 15-20 years here. The grass is always greener etc. and whilst Vietnam is up and coming now, it probably needs another 5 or so years before it becomes clear what tragetory it will take long term.

Yes, Thailand is struggling at the moment and is a political circus that isn't entirely sure what it wants to do, but Vietnam is a one-party communist state... so I wouldn't be too quick to jump ship just yet. Sit in your armchair and watch what happens.

There's a danger that America is going that way, so maybe US expats to Vietnam will find a home from home?

On 8/15/2026 at 3:50 AM, Georgealbert said:

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".

Thanks for telling me.

Now, I know that I definitely do NOT want to go to Vietnam.

I expect the environmental degradation, which usually follows rampant growth, will impact Vietnam to an even greater degree.

Taiwan, one of the Four Tigers, is still recovering from its spurt of growth, back n the 1980s.

Thank you for telling me: Because, I don't want to live through rampant growth, all over again.

Quality of life is more important.

On 8/16/2026 at 12:48 PM, KhunHeineken said:

If you've never heard of him, how do you know he's bad rubbish?

I've got some friends in Vietnam. Two of them are ex Thailand.

Many expats are married to a Vietnamese national. 5 year visa, no other hoops. One expat I met told me he has never even met his wife, she's just his wife on paper. They are known as "visa wives."

If not married, a border run every 3 months, and one can live in Vietnam perpetually on 3 month tourist visas. No back to back rule like Thailand.

Vietnam is my Plan B, so I have looked into it.

Have you even been to Vietnam?

I live in the Mekong Delta, started buying property there with my wife in 2000, own 2 large houses, 38,000 square meters of land (36 acres) 2 fish farms and rice as far as you can see. I spend almost 6 months a year at home and the rest elsewhere, including Thailand. Warn your friend that the marraige Visa’s are coming under scrutiny beginning this year - he will have to prove he is married, as the Koreans, Russians and Chinese were exploiting the ‘contract marraiges’ He may have to produce his ‘wife’ - I wish him luck. FYI, I have an LTR for Thailand, Five year Marraige Visa in Vietnam and a ER Visa (Retirement) in Cambodia, bank accounts in all three - Plan B, C & D. Plan A is back home. Peace

6 minutes ago, Explorator en Action said:

I live in the Mekong Delta, started buying property there with my wife in 2000, own 2 large houses, 38,000 square meters of land (36 acres) 2 fish farms and rice as far as you can see. I spend almost 6 months a year at home and the rest elsewhere, including Thailand. Warn your friend that the marraige Visa’s are coming under scrutiny beginning this year - he will have to prove he is married, as the Koreans, Russians and Chinese were exploiting the ‘contract marraiges’ He may have to produce his ‘wife’ - I wish him luck. FYI, I have an LTR for Thailand, Five year Marraige Visa in Vietnam and a ER Visa (Retirement) in Cambodia, bank accounts in all three - Plan B, C & D. Plan A is back home. Peace

2 fish farms

Let me get this straight

You build pools for the fish

Give them food

Clean their poop out of the water

And they let you live in a house?

Who's farming whom? 😃

11 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

2 fish farms

Let me get this straight

You build pools for the fish

Give them food

Clean their poop out of the water

And they let you live in a house?

Who's farming whom? 😃

The poop water is for the 200 coconut trees, we have a floating pump that draws water from bottom of the ponds and sprays the coconut trees - free fertilyzer - we eat and sell the fish Red Belly Talipia………Peace

On 8/15/2026 at 11:08 AM, banyanman said:

Yes I agree. Vietnam is far less tolerant of vloggers than Thailand. Mandatory ID registration, stricter rules on cross-border YT revenue, and a high level of monitoring of content by government officlals. I guess he will find out in due course. In the meantime, one less "same same" vlogger in Thailand, so no great loss to us.

And when it comes to scrutinizing the Internet?? They have some of the best Russian, Czechslovakian trained Vietnamese Network analylist’s on the planet - you will be caught. Banking is a nightmare, you cant open a bank account on a tourist visa - used to be able too, my account was almost closed during the shakeup last year where Vietnam closed(suspended) over 800,000 Foreigner Bank Acct’s. I was lucky as the Bank officials in our town know me so I was not affected. Peace

5 hours ago, Explorator en Action said:

I live in the Mekong Delta, started buying property there with my wife in 2000, own 2 large houses, 38,000 square meters of land (36 acres) 2 fish farms and rice as far as you can see. I spend almost 6 months a year at home and the rest elsewhere, including Thailand. Warn your friend that the marraige Visa’s are coming under scrutiny beginning this year - he will have to prove he is married, as the Koreans, Russians and Chinese were exploiting the ‘contract marraiges’ He may have to produce his ‘wife’ - I wish him luck. FYI, I have an LTR for Thailand, Five year Marraige Visa in Vietnam and a ER Visa (Retirement) in Cambodia, bank accounts in all three - Plan B, C & D. Plan A is back home. Peace

That's a very long way of saying you live in the jungle. 😂

17 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Thanks for telling me.

Now, I know that I definitely do NOT want to go to Vietnam.

I expect the environmental degradation, which usually follows rampant growth, will impact Vietnam to an even greater degree.

Taiwan, one of the Four Tigers, is still recovering from its spurt of growth, back n the 1980s.

Thank you for telling me: Because, I don't want to live through rampant growth, all over again.

Quality of life is more important.

You also do not want to live in a country / city / economy that is in rapid decline. Vietnam is starting to pass Thailand in many metrics.

Here's another example of the current trend.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/asean/40069473

I don't see a very prosperous future for Thailand unfortunately.

• Oldest demographics in SE Asia

• Worst birth rate in SE Asia by far

• Terrible PISA scores

• Income inequality growing rapidly

• Tourism sector feels like it's from the year 2000

• Horribly corrupt government

• Vast deforestation across the country

• Obesity rates skyrocketing

A lot of things in thailand feel old, old people, old buildings and complexes that need remodeling, old politicians running everything, old bar girls, etc. I think the demographics are what's going to kill thailand. You can't have the oldest population with a 0.8 birth rate, it's going to be a disaster and I can almost guarantee that the government will "fix it" through mass importation of indians/africans/burmese/etc.

He's very well-spoken and makes some excellent points. He did forget one type, though. The missionary or NGO worker. Those who come here in an attempt to help the people of Thailand who might be in need.

1 hour ago, captain_shane said:

I don't see a very prosperous future for Thailand unfortunately.

• Oldest demographics in SE Asia

• Worst birth rate in SE Asia by far

• Terrible PISA scores

• Income inequality growing rapidly

• Tourism sector feels like it's from the year 2000

• Horribly corrupt government

• Vast deforestation across the country

• Obesity rates skyrocketing

A lot of things in thailand feel old, old people, old buildings and complexes that need remodeling, old politicians running everything, old bar girls, etc. I think the demographics are what's going to kill thailand. You can't have the oldest population with a 0.8 birth rate, it's going to be a disaster and I can almost guarantee that the government will "fix it" through mass importation of indians/africans/burmese/etc.

Sounds like US

1 hour ago, captain_shane said:

I don't see a very prosperous future for Thailand unfortunately.

• Oldest demographics in SE Asia

• Worst birth rate in SE Asia by far

• Terrible PISA scores

• Income inequality growing rapidly

• Tourism sector feels like it's from the year 2000

• Horribly corrupt government

• Vast deforestation across the country

• Obesity rates skyrocketing

A lot of things in thailand feel old, old people, old buildings and complexes that need remodeling, old politicians running everything, old bar girls, etc. I think the demographics are what's going to kill thailand. You can't have the oldest population with a 0.8 birth rate, it's going to be a disaster and I can almost guarantee that the government will "fix it" through mass importation of indians/africans/burmese/etc.

I would also add to the list that Thailand is unstable.

Military coups, politicians being threatened with arrest, or even locked up. Political parties banned.

A war with a neighbor on one border, and skirmishes with another neighbor on another border.

An alliance leaning towards China, rather than the west.

A 20% of GDP reliance on tourism, which can and is fickle.

To pour fuel on the fire, a slowing economy, with record household debt, and a housing market in a four year decline.

I also do not see a prosperous future for Thailand.

40 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Sounds like US

The US has a welfare system. Thailand hands out a few crumbs.

On 8/16/2026 at 7:03 PM, Taboo2 said:

Why waste time going to Pakistan, just move to England......55555. Same as Pakistan and have more People from Pakistan arriving everyday.

I was reading about Karachi the other day and someone said the best neighborhood was London.

You should be proud they consider your boring bland city an upgrade.

How many times you ride on the ferris wheel? Are the lines too long with Pakistan families enjoying themselves?

Why does that bother you?

Isn't the wheel the most exciting thing there or are the foreign hordes from Pakistan queued up at Madame Tussauds? 😄

Edited August 18Aug 18 by SiSePuede419
Madame Tussauds

15 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

I was reading about Karachi the other day and someone said the best neighborhood was London.

You should be proud they consider your boring bland city an upgrade.

How many times you ride on the ferris wheel? Are the lines too long with Pakistan families enjoying themselves?

Why does that bother you?

Isn't the wheel the most exciting thing there or are the foreign hordes from Pakistan queued up at Madame Tussauds? 😄

You should ask why are those people running to a country of "Infidels". You guys hate Christianity and Western values, but get up everyday and run to Europe...thank God, we have Trump.

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

Sounds like US

KFC, McDonald's and Taco bell baby.....we do not need an army, we just need more fast food restaurants.....55555.

On 8/15/2026 at 1:22 PM, Luka77 said:

He'll be back once he gets tired of the Vietnamese not being too welcoming to foreigners because they still have resentment about the Vietnam war & loss of family members. I visited it twice. They never say hello, very difficult to order food, almost the whole population doesn't speak English or basic English. Their food is not that great.

That is a lie dude. The Vietnamese could give a rat's ass about the "American War OK". I know.,,I have two Vietnamese kids and go there and trust me, they care about one thing,,,,making money and moving up the ladder. It is people like you with your western mentality that focus on the past. Vietnam is free and have moved on from the Americans, French, Chinese, Mongols, etc. Look at them today...or get of your ass and go there.

3 minutes ago, Taboo2 said:

That is a lie dude. The Vietnamese could give a rat's ass about the "American War OK". I know.,,I have two Vietnamese kids and go there and trust me, they care about one thing,,,,making money and moving up the ladder. It is people like you with your western mentality that focus on the past. Vietnam is free and have moved on from the Americans, French, Chinese, Mongols, etc. Look at them today...or get of your ass and go there.

Agree,

And if you're down south in Saigon, it's only the Hanoi government some of them still dislike.

1 hour ago, KhunHeineken said:

The US has a welfare system. Thailand hands out a few crumbs.

I heard about it, the perfect US welfare/health system vs 30 Baht in Thailand. Congrats