How about Vietnam?

[tideout]

Just now, TunnelRat69 said:

I would't put $10 in a Cambodian Bank  -  they are rampant money launderers.  but have been putting a lot of money in Vietnamese banks for over 15 years, interest rates are 7.8% at this time, about five years ago I was getting 14%.  Reckon Have made well over $50K US in interest (1.4 Billion Dong).  perfectly safe with the Major Banks - Sacom Bank, VietinBank, VietComBank, but be careful, there are a bunch of Chinese banks popping up now, wouldn't out a nickle in any of those.   Peace

I don't know what the large picture is for opening an account in Vietnam but for most people they will require a contract from their place of work (essentially your sponsor).  But to give you an idea, Vietcom bank in Vung Tau is said to be  more flexible with foreigners than HCM banks....the point is, it's irregular. Don't expect the first run at these things to make sense.

[Jingthing]

Interesting to hear about the rumor that Vietnam may be offering a retirement visa. If so, if it's a scheme that offers a path to permanent residence and I can qualify I'll be on the next plane to Danang to check it out. At this point in my life to be lured out of Thailand, I am only interested in nations that offer a reasonable path to permanent residence and of course qualifications I can meet. At this point, they're all in Latin America. 

Edited January 2, 2019 by Jingthing

[MyFriend You]

9 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Interesting to hear about the rumor that Vietnam may be offering a retirement visa. If so, if it's a scheme that offers a path to permanent residence and I can qualify I'll be on the next plane to Danang to check it out. At this point in my life to be lured out of Thailand, I am only interested in nations that offer a reasonable path to permanent residence and of course qualifications I can meet. At this point, they're all in Latin America. 

That said, the Vietnam Govt will regulate 'where' you can live, the Communists are not going away, although the refer to themselves as Socialist's........I say they are Commie Capitalists.  Da Nang, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Vung Tau (hate it) Saigon, Qui Nhon, Hoi Anh, Hanoi will be some of the Zones where foreigners can build to live I am sure, Da Nang fastest growing city/economy in Vietnam.  They will want to keep us foreigners in a place they can keep an eye on us.  hahahaha

[Brunolem]

3 minutes ago, TunnelRat69 said:

That said, the Vietnam Govt will regulate 'where' you can live, the Communists are not going away, although the refer to themselves as Socialist's........I say they are Commie Capitalists.  Da Nang, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Vung Tau (hate it) Saigon, Qui Nhon, Hoi Anh, Hanoi will be some of the Zones where foreigners can build to live I am sure, Da Nang fastest growing city/economy in Vietnam.  They will want to keep us foreigners in a place they can keep an eye on us.  hahahaha

How clean, or not, are the beaches and waters in and around Da Nang?

Are there international hotels over there?

What about public transportation?

 

[MyFriend You]

13 hours ago, TunnelRat69 said:

There are several categories of Visa's for Vietnam  (all tourist visas's require you to leave country every 90 days, and all can be extended)

• 3 month Tourist  single or multi
• 6 month tourist  single or multi
• one year tourist multi  -  I got mine in November, just spent 2 months there and am going back in 3 weeks.
• You can get a Business Visa almost just for the asking (I am told, I am not interested)
• I know people married to Vietnamese that have 3, 5, 10 year visas, and a few that have residency cards............don't know the specifics.  
• Drivers licenses are easy as pie to get - use an agent.  Bank accounts are opened easily on tourist visas as well - I use Sacom Bank, one of the oldest banks in Vietnam, my lady uses VietinBank which is the oldest bank in Vietnam.
• Same as Thailand, a foreigner can buy Condo's freehold, and now can buy Property - "buy" means can own it for fifty years, you can buy the land and build a house on it , you can transfer it to a family member, but they are still stuck with the 50 year rule. then it must be turned over to ?????  This is a very new law that came in effect 2 years ago, I know no one that has been able to 'buy' property.  My name appears in the House Registration as "Management Officer"  no one can sell it without my approval.

There are major changes coming up this year, Vietnam has started becoming safehaven for Bad Guys, and they are getting stricter.  but there is rumor that a "Retirement Visa" in is the works.

Quite easy getting a visa in Bangkok Vietnamese Embassy, usually in 1 or 2 days. not open Sat or Sunday.

and, and, and, all you guys going to Vung Tau????  Might as well stay in Pattaya, I hated that place, not Vietnamese at all, rips offs, filthy water, beaches are oil soaked from al the oil spills past years..........you don't notice it right away as they have trucked in tons tons tons of sand from other beaches to cover up the oil, but every once in a while??  it comes to the surface.

I only visit HCMC as I live in the Delta region.

I like Nha Trang (Kanh Hoa) They Hoa, Mui Ne, Hoi Anh, Danang  and of course my homestead in the Mekong Delta, but thats another subject all together.     Peace and Happy Holidays

For those really interested in Vietnam, join this forum:

 

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=219

 

like The TVF, there are some real colorful characters posting on it, but they are knowledgeable and have feet on the ground year round, so keep up with all the changes.  say Hello to Yogi for me.

[MyFriend You]

9 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Interesting to hear about the rumor that Vietnam may be offering a retirement visa. If so, if it's a scheme that offers a path to permanent residence and I can qualify I'll be on the next plane to Danang to check it out. At this point in my life to be lured out of Thailand, I am only interested in nations that offer a reasonable path to permanent residence and of course qualifications I can meet. At this point, they're all in Latin America. 

 

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=219   join this forum and keep up with changes.   Cheers.........

[MyFriend You]

13 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

How clean, or not, are the beaches and waters in and around Da Nang?

Are there international hotels over there?

What about public transportation?

 

see post above for specific info..............but ;

• clean especially Hoi Anh, Qui Nhon not as clean but better than Pattaya will ever be.
• Tons, but why restrict yourself, perfecto good local hotels in the $20-80 range
• Very Modern busses and trains are frequent and can get you anywhere you want t go - cheap as chips. Taxi's are cheap, as wells Motorbike taxi's.  I use them.

 

 

 

 

 

[Brunolem]

On 1/1/2019 at 5:59 PM, marcusarelus said:

 

When debating economic well being of countries to say GDP per capita is irrelevant is just nuts. 

 

 

 

As shown with this chart, using only GDP while forgetting debt is also nuts... 

Assets minus liabilities is not at all the same as assets alone...