Ahh yes, Vietnam has that easy to acquire Retirement visa /s I don't go to Vietnam because it's a PITA to get there with visas. Maybe that's what Thailand's aim is ? make it more of a PITA and more people will arrive ah la Vietnam ? I'm currently in Thailand on the last of the 60 day visa exempt visas, (at Day 8) and next years 8 months abroad trip looks to be Malaysia (90 days visa exempt) and Cambodia, unless I opt for elsewhere completely. Why ? Most countries don't want "poor people". The current "retirement" visa will surely be phased out eventually, or have much higher cost hurdles, like Malaysia's MM2H was a few years back. You can get the Thailand "Elite" visa now so perhaps they'll phase out the retirement visa and if you cant afford "Elite" (or whatever it's called now) they'll just say, oh well, so sad, go home ? The current "retirement" visa is an annual visa, not a residency permit (unlike The Philippines, which at least has residency) The only SE Asian country currently that seems ok with poor immigrants is Cambodia (and they do have there new CM2H). Vietnam doesn't and their system is ascendant, so why not emulate that ? Even The Philippines has made it harder. Maybe many tourists are bored of Thailand ? they've been 3 - 5 times and are looking for something else, everyone I know has been to Thailand multiple times, only about 1/3 of them have been to Vietnam. Xenophobia is rampant, be it in the UK, EU, US, Aus or Thailand.
Create an account or sign in to comment