How about Vietnam?

[JimmyJ]

Nobody has mentioned the incessant horn honking.

In Thailand I hardly ever hear a vehicle's horn.

 

In Vietnam instead of using the brakes they use the horn.

Non-stop horn honking. (Based on HCM City and Da Lat, but told it's that way all over).

 

 

I found the best exchange rate by far at a gold shop (HCM CIty).

[tutsiwarrior]

I heard that...I was in a hotel room that faced the road (AN1, the main N-S road btw Hanoi and HCM city) and had to stuff my ears with tissue to sleep...and this was in a little town in southern Ha Tinh province on the north central coast...

 

but I wouldn't put all of VN down due to some horn honking...but it was miserable and the mattress wasn't very nice either...

 

 

 

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

Nobody has mentioned the incessant horn honking.

I never noticed.

Being drunk every night has it's perks.

[terryw]

I have worked all over Vietnam for 10 years and have a home in Thailand that I regulary escape to. Many of the comments above are true.

However if Vietnam is so wonderful, why is it that any Vietnamese family with money wants their children to get an education and job outside Vietnam. The Vietnamese do not see a postive future for their country unless their are major political and social changes.

Despite its problems, Thailand wins hands down.

[scorecard]

On 12/30/2018 at 8:11 PM, Jingthing said:

People say the visa situation is better but I've yet to be convinced on that. There is no actual retirement visa, so you need to play games, right? Also I would predict that eventually if they have an actual retirement visa it will higher financial level than Thailand because Vietnam is becoming a more successful nation than Thailand. 

Games. Well many folks here on the so called 'Retirement Visa' (by the way the Thai authorities don't call it a 'retirement visa') would say it's often a game.

 

Why would you predict that Vietnam will have a retirement visa and it will be higher in terms of the financial level? 

 

I would agree that Vietnam is developing rapidly.

 

Just one small item that I'm well aware of; one of Thailand biggest, most successful and most professional companies operates several of their subsidiaries across VN and the VN operations are big.

 

They have transferred several VN CEOs and managers from VN to Thailand, because their professionalism and business success results are so impressive.  

 

Further I've had dozens of VN CEO's and managers as students in the highest ranking executive international MBA program offered in VN (3 campuses), they are impressive people, keen to learn more and to share, excellent discussions in the classroom / not frightened to ask questions and to offer discussion points, excellent cooperation in team projects and there are no status games. 

 

The same company I mentioned above has also sent several Thai high performers who are earmarked for later senior management roles to their VN operations to gain experiences working under VN CEO's.

 

I've had 2 of these folks in my Executive MBA courses (1M 1F). When they realize my permanent home is Thailand they open up and share their thoughts. Both of the Thais shared that they were doubtful they would learn anything and very hesitant to go to VN but on reflection they have experienced / learned an enormous amount with great value and have been exposed to highly successful organization cultures that they had never dreamed of.   

Edited January 1, 2019 by scorecard

[sfokevin]

It looks like a one year tourist or business visa can be ordered online for some countries like the US... (the business visa is more expensive but I think you don’t need to leave the country every 90 days)... Has anyone bought/used these?... Can you buy and use them back to back for multi year stay?...

 

Example Site:

https://www.vietnam-evisa.org/visa-fee/united-states-of-america.html

 

(I’ve bought 30 day tourist visa from them a couple times with fastrack service where they meet you just before immigration and it’s worked great)

Edited January 1, 2019 by sfokevin

[generealty]

I worked in Vietnam for 9 years, once you get your visa and work permit you never need to report. I was given a 2 year residency card and had to get company to renew every 2 years. Expat life is very good in both HCMC and Hanoi. I love Vietnam and would recommend it. My only gripe is the traffic is very bad in both cities. However, that said transport such as buses and taxis are cheap and frequent. I prefer Thai food but there are many expat bars and restaurants offering whatever you want. Beer is cheaper than Thailand unless you go to a Disco, but as I never frequent them in Thailand I cannot compare. All of the expats I worked with, socialised with or generally met through friends were normal respectable people, unlike the seedier side of Thailand. If I have to compare I would say apart from the traffic in the large cities, it is better than Thailand. You could of course go into 'The Sticks' like Vung Tau and not have traffic problems and still have expat social scene as the oil guys live and work off shore there. Another nice place is Danang or Nha Trang or even further north Hai Duong or Ha Long Bay. I think you need to take a trip as you would need to see and feel it for yourself. Good luck !

[Ban Phe Dezza]

18 hours ago, SheungWan said:

Unlike the Cambodian and the Philippines leadership, Vietnam has a history of a far more prickly relationship with Mainland China and is much greater independently inclined IMHO. Every so often clashes between the two that can really flare up. IMHO it is quite legitimate for individuals to prefer living in Vietnam, but a mistake to think that Vietnam is the answer to all of their sense of problems in Thailand. 

 I am torn between Vietnam and the Philippines as my new residence in 2019 Why  well the simple truth is unlike many of the posters on Thai Visa i am not flush with Funds. In fact combining my super and old age pension I still wont make the required 65,000 Baht PCM even less so the option of 800.000.00 in the bank method. and on top of it all the proposed Health insurance is not an option on medical grounds. so flamers what next Philippines with its costs and Visa run arounds seem my best option happy new year 

 

[German farang]

On 12/30/2018 at 7:02 PM, scorecard said:

I doubt that's true.

Not true.

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, tutsiwarrior said:

I heard that...I was in a hotel room that faced the road (AN1, the main N-S road btw Hanoi and HCM city) and had to stuff my ears with tissue to sleep...and this was in a little town in southern Ha Tinh province on the north central coast...

 

but I wouldn't put all of VN down due to some horn honking...but it was miserable and the mattress wasn't very nice either...

 

 

 

So you would judge a whole country on one mattress?

 

You want horn honking go to India, far far more than in Vietnam.

 

 

[madmen]

 I am torn between Vietnam and the Philippines as my new residence in 2019 Why  well the simple truth is unlike many of the posters on Thai Visa i am not flush with Funds. In fact combining my super and old age pension I still wont make the required 65,000 Baht PCM even less so the option of 800.000.00 in the bank method. and on top of it all the proposed Health insurance is not an option on medical grounds. so flamers what next Philippines with its costs and Visa run arounds seem my best option happy new year 
 

You can use an agent 20 k

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, sfokevin said:

It looks like a one year tourist or business visa can be ordered online for some countries like the US... (the business visa is more expensive but I think you don’t need to leave the country every 90 days)... Has anyone bought/used these?... Can you buy and use them back to back for multi year stay?...

 

Example Site:

https://www.vietnam-evisa.org/visa-fee/united-states-of-america.html

 

(I’ve bought 30 day tourist visa from them a couple times with fastrack service where they meet you just before immigration and it’s worked great)

 30 day e.visa... me too... works great.

 

On arrival with or without the fasttrack service, through passport stamping immediately off the aircraft (no wait to get a sticker), through baggage pick-up, change a few dollars and in a taxi in 15 minutes, both HCMC and Ha noi.

 

 

Edited January 1, 2019 by scorecard

[5633572526]

If you have a USA passport you can get a 1 year visa on the internet with no visits to immigration, tm 30’s or 90 day reports. I already have mine.

it is considered a tourist visa though so you have to leave and reenter every 90 days. For hospital care a short trip to Thailand for anything non emergency is easy. They have adequate hospitals for emergency care in all of the touristy areas. English is less prevalent their than in Thailand but the people are very friendly and you can get by. The average person is poorer in Vietnam so crimes of opportunity are more prevalent ie if you leave something valuable unattended it is more likely to be gone when you return than in Thailand. Plenty of taxis for getting around and they all use the meters.

[madmen]

Horn honking is chronic noise pollution that eventually starts to wear you down

The street hawkers are absolutely relentless and unlike thailand they won't go away. I like to sit near the footpath in resteraunts and bars but ended up sitting further inside to get away from them. A 100 times worst than thailand and even worse than Cambodia

[sfokevin]

16 minutes ago, 5633572526 said:

If you have a USA passport you can get a 1 year visa on the internet with no visits to immigration, tm 30’s or 90 day reports. I already have mine.

Have you gotten the 1 year EVisa more than once?... Is there any problem getting more than one back to back?

[NoshowJones]

On 12/30/2018 at 6:57 PM, marcusarelus said:

Hospitals are friendly and I understand many patients share beds.  Most of the tests are sent to Singapore to be processed I believe.  I would not want to get sick in Vietnam. 

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Posted December 30, 2018

"Hospitals are friendly and I understand many patients share beds." Sharing a bed with another man??????

That is one thing that would make me leave Thailand as soon as possible if it happened here.

  

[The Fugitive]

1 hour ago, generealty said:

I worked in Vietnam for 9 years, once you get your visa and work permit you never need to report. I was given a 2 year residency card and had to get company to renew every 2 years. Expat life is very good in both HCMC and Hanoi. I love Vietnam and would recommend it. My only gripe is the traffic is very bad in both cities. However, that said transport such as buses and taxis are cheap and frequent. I prefer Thai food but there are many expat bars and restaurants offering whatever you want. Beer is cheaper than Thailand unless you go to a Disco, but as I never frequent them in Thailand I cannot compare. All of the expats I worked with, socialised with or generally met through friends were normal respectable people, unlike the seedier side of Thailand. If I have to compare I would say apart from the traffic in the large cities, it is better than Thailand. You could of course go into 'The Sticks' like Vung Tau and not have traffic problems and still have expat social scene as the oil guys live and work off shore there. Another nice place is Danang or Nha Trang or even further north Hai Duong or Ha Long Bay. I think you need to take a trip as you would need to see and feel it for yourself. Good luck !

Thanks for your positive report! For me, continuous water, electricity and, to a much lesser extent, internet is important. Can you let me know your experience of reliability, say in Saigon and rural areas?

[Ban Phe Dezza]

41 minutes ago, madmen said:

1 hour ago, Ban Phe Dezza said:

 I am torn between Vietnam and the Philippines as my new residence in 2019 Why  well the simple truth is unlike many of the posters on Thai Visa i am not flush with Funds. In fact combining my super and old age pension I still wont make the required 65,000 Baht PCM even less so the option of 800.000.00 in the bank method. and on top of it all the proposed Health insurance is not an option on medical grounds. so flamers what next Philippines with its costs and Visa run arounds seem my best option happy new year 
 

You can use an agent 20 k

waiting to see if  they stop that avenue No agents in my area, Provence, The nearest is Pattaya though that can cause issues with 90 day reports, as you say that is an option

 

Edited January 1, 2019 by Ban Phe Dezza

[NoshowJones]

On 12/30/2018 at 10:18 PM, NCC1701A said:

do I get to pick who I share the bed with? that might make a difference and speed recovery. 

I take it you mean if it is a mixed ward.????

[Ban Phe Dezza]

15 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

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Posted December 30, 2018

"Hospitals are friendly and I understand many patients share beds." Sharing a bed with another man??????

That is one thing that would make me leave Thailand as soon as possible if it happened here.

  

I once shared a  hospital bed with a female Though I was 8 years old and just had my tonsils out  true story back in Burton imfirmary many long years ago 

 

[1FinickyOne]

On 12/30/2018 at 7:30 PM, BritManToo said:

none of this 'my friend you' malarky.

 

Who the f$#% cares about hospitals? I avoid them whenever possible.

The guy whose chest tightens up to the point where he can barely breathe... the person who is having a stroke and every minute counts,... etc etc.. nobody I know wants to go to a hospital... it can be life and death... 

 

my friend you is just an attempt to communicate. I am sure my Thai is not perfect either... 

[tandor]

On 12/30/2018 at 9:46 PM, marcusarelus said:

Per capita GDP is 300% greater in Thailand.  $2,303  vs $6,663.  Vietnam is not in the same league.  Vietnam has 23 vehicles per 1000 people Thailand has 225.  It is like comparing the stone age to modernity. 

 

https://countryeconomy.com/countries/compare/vietnam/thailand?sc=XE15

...so there!

[NoshowJones]

11 minutes ago, Ban Phe Dezza said:

I once shared a  hospital bed with a female Though I was 8 years old and just had my tonsils out  true story back in Burton imfirmary many long years ago 

 

That would have been in a childrens ward, right?

[Brunolem]

1 hour ago, Ban Phe Dezza said:

 the simple truth is unlike many of the posters on Thai Visa i am not flush with Funds. 

Let me amend this statement: ...unlike many of the pretenders/posters on Thai Visa...

 

The general rule is that really wealthy people don't come spontaneously forward to mention their good fortune, but rather prefer to remain silent about it, for obvious reasons.

 

It is like the guys who are always talking about their success with women...the talking is necessary to compensate for the lack of real activity...

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, terryw said:

However if Vietnam is so wonderful, why is it that any Vietnamese family with money wants their children to get an education and job outside Vietnam.

I doubt any of them decide to relocate to Thailand.

[chingmai331]

I liked Hanoi, ten years ago.  But during the lunar new year it was cold and rainy, the shops closed down, the streets deserted.  

I also stayed in Lang Som for a week. Watched the 'cops' patrol the streets with iron hands.  

Remind all that VN is a full-fledged commie country where individuals do not count. The STATE is all. 

[BritManToo]

16 minutes ago, chingmai331 said:

Remind all that VN is a full-fledged commie country where individuals do not count. The STATE is all. 

And Thailand is in the grip of a military junta where the people have no rights at all.

Can't see the difference really, China and Vietnam appeared perfectly open and free to me, compared quite well to the tyrannical gynocracy that is the UK for freedom IMHO. Just different things you aren't allowed to do, I prefer the restrictions in Thailand/China/Vietnam to the restrictions in the UK.

Edited January 1, 2019 by BritManToo

[SheungWan]

9 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

And Thailand is in the grip of a military junta where the people have no rights at all.

Can't see the difference really, China and Vietnam appeared perfectly open and free to me, compared quite well to the UK for freedom IMHO. Just different things you aren't allowed to do, I prefer the restrictions in Thailand/China/Vietnam to the restrictions in the UK.

Good luck with that.

Edited January 1, 2019 by SheungWan

[tutsiwarrior]

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

So you would judge a whole country on one mattress?

 

You want horn honking go to India, far far more than in Vietnam.

 

 

 

a mattress facing the sea in a 4 star hotel would be nice but where I was was less than zero star...moved on to a much nicer place a few days later...

 

forgot and left the AC on one day when at work and the chinese lady manager charged me an extra day for my negligence...the place was just a flop for folks to sleep when on a road journey, pretty much of a joke with half functioning toilets and no food...but I got turfed out of the nice BMC hotel in Ha Tinh city for cooking in my room, except for breakfast their food was inedible...but that was 8 years ago when things were primitive and it's a lot nicer now and catering to westerners...

 

 

[DividendGuy]

Are there Vietnamese immigration offices available for foreigners to apply for their standard yearly visas in Danang and Nha Trang? What I am asking is; Do they have full immigration services for foreigners in Danang or Nah Trang or do you have to go to other bigger cities to do your yearly visas?