Positives and Negatives of Thailand (from Western perspective)

[SEAsia Traveler]

A while back I was watching a live stream by an expat who listed his positive and negatives about Thailand. I borrowed some of his points, added my own, organized into categories and present them here (in no particular order) for your entertainment. I suspect the grumpy old men on the forum will enjoy the negatives like crocodiles snapping at red meat. ????

 

I recognize that one person’s positive can be another person’s negative. For example, weather can be both a positive and a negative (too hot for some), and protectionist laws can be both a negative and a positive (keeps housing affordable). I also recognize that Thais will have a different perspective.

 

Surely, I missed something, so comment on your own positives and negatives. Enjoy!

 

Positives:

1.  People (manners, values, consideration)

2.  Traditional society (male-female roles, family orientation)

3.  Overall vibe (hospitable, accommodating, non-confrontational, fun-loving, tolerant)

4.  Central location (Asia travel hub)

5.  Diverse geography (plains, mountains, jungles, rivers, beaches)

6.  Weather

7.  Convenience (eating, shopping, transport)

8.  Social opportunities (clubs, meeting people, forming relationships)

9.  Nightlife (bars, nightclubs, night markets)

10. Food quality, price, and selection (street food, markets, restaurants, foreign foods)

11.  Thai fine arts (sculpture, architecture, artwork, music, dance, dress, cuisine, massage, kickboxing)

12.  Inexpensive, abundant, and flexible accommodation (hotels, guesthouses, furnished condos, serviced apartments)

13.  Inexpensive transportation (air, rail, taxi, ride-hailing, van, bus)

14.  Inexpensive labor (tradesmen, mechanics, housekeepers, drivers)

15.  Delivery services (food, products, packages)

16.  Availability of products and services (supermarkets, pharmacies, specialty stores, online)

17.  Adoption of western innovations with precision and beauty (air travel, telecom, electric trains, shopping malls, product display, fashion, music, cinemas, interior design)

18.  Low incidence of crime

19.  Flexibility in compliance with rules

20.  Ability to use money to solve problems

21.  Infrastructure (airports, ground transport, power, telecom, medical, banking)

22.  Liberalizing drug laws

23.  Availability of massage parlors and spas

24.  Sports and exercise (gyms, cycling, swimming, running, walking)

25.  Personal hygiene (cleanliness, showers, bum guns, public health awareness)

 

Negatives:

1.  Governance (corruption, cronyism, nepotism, ineptness, inconsistency) 

2.  Bureaucracy (paperwork, red tape, needless complexity, roadblocks, subjective application of laws and regulations)

3.  Uncertain future (protests, coups)

4.  Road danger (disregard for laws, lack of enforcement)

5.  Animal control and welfare

6.  Puritanical laws (alcohol, sex)

7.  Protectionist laws (import taxes, jobs, business, real estate)

8.  Immigration and visas

9.  Inflation

10.  Strong currency

11.  Increasing traffic on roads

12.  Aging rail system and lack of high-speed rail

13.  Low quality of building materials and construction

14.  Electrical and fire hazards

15.  Dual pricing (rents, real estate, transport, medical care, entrance fees)

16.  Lack of pedestrian amenities (footpaths, crosswalks, green spaces, public seating)

17.  Environment (industrial and vehicle pollution, fires, flooding, waste disposal, tap water)

18.  Feudal practices (groveling, inwardness, xenophobia, heavy-handed treatment of foreigners, patronage system, nationalism, censorship, bloated civil service and military, profligate spending, protection of elite class, disregard for vulnerable populations)

19.  Lack of modernity (intellectual curiosity, innovation, product expertise, city planning, skilled workforce, economic opportunity, rising incomes, transparency, free speech, talented and representative leadership)

20.  Severe defamation laws, adjudication, and penalties

21.  Familial burdens placed on young women

22.  Cultural expectations and misunderstandings (saving face, family obligations, raising children, relationship problems, workplace conflicts, collective vs. individual values)

23.  Opportunistic treatment of foreigners (rip-offs, scams, shameless use of cunning and guile, aggressive ladyboys)

24.  Fear, suspicion, and avoidance of foreigners

25.  Apathy of Thai men towards foreigners

26.  Low class of foreign visitors (criminals, drug dealers, cheap charlies, scammers, mentally ill)

27.  Foreigners preying on other foreigners and Thais (begging, scamming, cons, negative energy, violent crime)

28.  Thai vices (gambling, loan sharking, lottery, consumer debt, corrupt monks)

29.  Foreign residents and citizens being mistaken as tourists

30.  Language barrier and low prevalence of English

31.  Public education system

32.  Public nuisances (loud music, parties, advertising trucks, public announcements, cooking fires, chemical sprays)

33.  Food hygiene (bacteria, sanitation, pesticides, oils, additives, preservatives)

34.  Increased prevalence of artificial, processed, and manufactured foods

35.  National emergency response (PM 2.5, Covid-19)

 

BONUS LIST

 

I’m leaving Thailand after nearly a year in Phuket as a trial retirement. My reasons for leaving, in descending order of significance.

 

1.  The heat

2.  Boredom

3.  Distance from North America

4.  Miss family back home

5.  Hassles traveling within Thailand currently

6.  Xenophobia in its various forms

7.  Prefer Filipina for relationship 

8.  Second-hand smoke

9.  Temptations of alcohol and drug use

10.  Outdoor mask mandate

11.  Motorbike lifestyle

12.  Want to travel to other countries

13.  Untreated tap water

14.  Food hygiene

15.  Thai bureaucracy

[Mutt Daeng]

One year is not a long time in Thailand or maybe it is if you live in Phuket (I don't know cos I've never been). Why not try somewhere else? Perhaps some of your issues will not be (as) prevalent at a different location.

 

[tonray]

10 minutes ago, SEAsia Traveler said:

3.  Distance from North America

That's a good reason for my staying !

[Kwasaki]

1 hour ago, SEAsia Traveler said:

I’m leaving Thailand after nearly a year in Phuket as a trial retirement. 

Bya have nice time. 

Your just another who lives in a place like Phuket and knows everything about Thailand. ????????

[Maha Sarakham]

Quote

26.  Low class of foreign visitors (criminals, drug dealers, cheap charlies, scammers, mentally ill)

Pretty much sums it up.

[tonray]

1 hour ago, SEAsia Traveler said:

26.  Low class of foreign visitors (criminals, drug dealers, cheap charlies, scammers, mentally ill)

27.  Foreigners preying on other foreigners and Thais (begging, scamming, cons, negative energy, violent crime)

No reason to disparage the ThaiVisa membership en masse...????????????????

[HappyGoLuckyLife]

Timely post for someone like me looking to move to Thailand. As our pros and cons may differ, I will say I wish you the best. You gave it a shot and you feel it's not for you. I will agree with @tonray that the distance from North America is a selling point for me. Almost have my life has been spent here. From the places I have travel, Thailand feel most right for me. I can only hope you find that place as you continue your search.

[Doctor Tom]

Many of the cons are applicable to the UK.  The pros are okay, but one year is not enough time to make a reasoned judgment.  I would say that it took me 2 to 3 years to settle to the place, now I couldn't be happier with my situation.  Never to the UK again. 

[ezzra]

This post would be suitable for newbees and people who are thinking of coming to Thailand to settle

i have been here over 30 years now and lost all zeal to do pro and con of life in Thailand...

[DaLa]

I agree with just about all the +ves and if I thought about it there may be a few more. Thus I am relatively pleased to be here in LoS.

 

The -ves:

1. I’m lucky and street wise enough to have avoided a lot of your list.

2. I suspect a number of these are due to where you were based.

3. All of them can be applied to my home country (UK)...with the addition that the UK is ridiculously expensive.

[BritManToo]

My list,

 

Pros

1. Easy no strings sex, with a wide selection of attractive partners at very reasonable costs.

2. Cheap housing & utils..

3. Warm weather all year.

 

Cons

1. Yearly immigration extension.

 

OP made a big list, most of the items don't affect my life in any way plus or minus.

PS. I drink the tap water in Chiang Mai and never had a problem.

Edited October 3, 2021 by BritManToo

[MRToMRT]

1 hour ago, SEAsia Traveler said:

I’m leaving Thailand after nearly a year in Phuket as a trial retirement. My reasons for leaving, in descending order of significance.

I say good for you, I enjoyed reading that. Don't be disheartened by so many negative commentators, they have skin in the game so to speak and are being tribal. 

[BritManToo]

3 minutes ago, MRToMRT said:

Don't be disheartened by so many negative commentators,

I counted one!

Everyone else were either neutral or supported the OP.

[KannikaP]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

My list,

 

Pros

1. Easy no strings sex, with a wide selection of attractive partners at very reasonable costs.

2. Cheap housing & utils..

3. Warm weather all year.

 

Cons

1. Yearly immigration extension.

 

OP made a big list, most of the items don't affect my life in any way plus or minus.

PS. I drink the tap water in Chiang Mai and never had a problem.

Attractive partners once a night. Immigration extension once a year, (plus 90 day jobbies) = 4 times.

[Will B Good]

Two positives and a negative.

[cliveshep]

I think I'd go crazy if I lived alone here but thank God I don't. My wife is under half my age, is slim yet curvy and to me very desirable and beautiful. Most importantly Semper Fi applies toi her - incredibly and fiercely loyal and cares for me like I have in previous marriages never experienced. She is smart too and a darn good partner, I'm now 75, we've been married for just 3 weeks short of  10 years. We live on my little UK pension here having sold up in the UK when I retired in 2015 at nearly 70 and sold the house, car, boat, caravan and moved here. We bought a car, a truck, 2 motor-bikes (since sold one) and a detached house outside BKK which we extended and modernised adding 2 more bedrooms and 2 more bathrooms and a UK style kitchen. I did the carcase pipework and all the electrics having seen our builder's electrics decided to keep safe and do it to UK standards. Everything else including aircon in every room was done by "professionals" here. 

Since then we have built another single storey 2 room extension together, her sisters pitched in to mix the concrete for the slab and the stanchion bases, I spread and levelled it and that was the only timewe had any assistance. I cut and welded the steel frame and roof steels and fitted them, and we clad the walls together in 8mm Sheera board. We did the roof together - our only mistake because we got a flashing leak but the roof sheeting was cheap and is too fragile even with crawl-boards and we'll change it to metal sheet next year we think. 

She was the one to lay the floor tiles which I cut for her using a diamond saw (she only leter learned to use that being scared of it).

Togther we taped and filled and sanded the ceilings and walls and my wife painted everything while I did plumbing for pump and 2 x 1000 litre tanks and all the electrics for the extension as well as plumbed in a 2nd washing machine for her sisters to use. 

Together we used my electric jack-hammer to break up the concrete at the back, and dig out and build new drainage and manholes, later she concreted it over and she tiled the whole thing.

The point of all this - if you have a good partner or wife willing to work with you - you have it all for Thailand. I am hopeless at languages but she is smart and has learned to read, write and speak English and in the translation stakes I can rely on her fully. I mend things still - washing machine, furniture, certain car repairs like changing brakes etc and she is showing an interest in tools. She made a beautiful wooden picket fence and gate across the front porch area all varnished up and made by using electric power tools. This prevents our 4 big dogs eating visitors as soon as they enter the front giving us a chance to shove them into an enclosure. More and more as I age she is becoming my builder under my direction.

We are a team and that makes it all work.

[spidermike007]

8 minutes ago, cliveshep said:

I think I'd go crazy if I lived alone here but thank God I don't. My wife is under half my age, is slim yet curvy and to me very desirable and beautiful. Most importantly Semper Fi applies toi her - incredibly and fiercely loyal and cares for me like I have in previous marriages never experienced. She is smart too and a darn good partner, I'm now 75, we've been married for just 3 weeks short of  10 years. We live on my little UK pension here having sold up in the UK when I retired in 2015 at nearly 70 and sold the house, car, boat, caravan and moved here. We bought a car, a truck, 2 motor-bikes (since sold one) and a detached house outside BKK which we extended and modernised adding 2 more bedrooms and 2 more bathrooms and a UK style kitchen. I did the carcase pipework and all the electrics having seen our builder's electrics decided to keep safe and do it to UK standards. Everything else including aircon in every room was done by "professionals" here. 

Since then we have built another single storey 2 room extension together, her sisters pitched in to mix the concrete for the slab and the stanchion bases, I spread and levelled it and that was the only timewe had any assistance. I cut and welded the steel frame and roof steels and fitted them, and we clad the walls together in 8mm Sheera board. We did the roof together - our only mistake because we got a flashing leak but the roof sheeting was cheap and is too fragile even with crawl-boards and we'll change it to metal sheet next year we think. 

She was the one to lay the floor tiles which I cut for her using a diamond saw (she only leter learned to use that being scared of it).

Togther we taped and filled and sanded the ceilings and walls and my wife painted everything while I did plumbing for pump and 2 x 1000 litre tanks and all the electrics for the extension as well as plumbed in a 2nd washing machine for her sisters to use. 

Together we used my electric jack-hammer to break up the concrete at the back, and dig out and build new drainage and manholes, later she concreted it over and she tiled the whole thing.

The point of all this - if you have a good partner or wife willing to work with you - you have it all for Thailand. I am hopeless at languages but she is smart and has learned to read, write and speak English and in the translation stakes I can rely on her fully. I mend things still - washing machine, furniture, certain car repairs like changing brakes etc and she is showing an interest in tools. She made a beautiful wooden picket fence and gate across the front porch area all varnished up and made by using electric power tools. This prevents our 4 big dogs eating visitors as soon as they enter the front giving us a chance to shove them into an enclosure. More and more as I age she is becoming my builder under my direction.

We are a team and that makes it all work.

Good on you. No reason to live with an old hag, if you do not have to! And I agree. Finding a great partner here has made the whole experience alot richer. Not that I do not have complaints about the place. 

[sanuk711]

3 hours ago, Mutt Daeng said:

One year is not a long time in Thailand or maybe it is if you live in Phuket (I don't know cos I've never been). Why not try somewhere else? Perhaps some of your issues will not be (as) prevalent at a different location.

Please...Mutt Daeng.............whatever you do, don't talk him out of it ....................

[Rampant Rabbit]

Really  depends on how "you"  are

I dont  feel any need to mix  with people, dont need  nightlife, women, drugs. alcohol etc

I dont feel  any need to "thank" Thailand for letting me stay, I  have no love of Thai  culture or  people,  or  people in general, Thailand isnt special in any way I can see.

Best thing, no tax enforcement for income, worst thing total negligence from the entire population of  supposed Budhists who  have no  pride in anything except  unimportant things that cant be discussed..

To me Thais  seem  like a Borg  collective, well I aint being assimilated.

[Doctor Tom]

It is meaningless to try to list pros and cons  on one location, in isolation, as the judgement must be a comparison with any alternatives open to an individual and be rated according to how much a con is a negative to that one individual and how much a pro is important to life for that person.   For example, at least half of the con list has no impact on me whatsoever. The list is no more use to any person thinking of locating to LOS than is a guide book, or indeed this forum.   

Edited October 3, 2021 by Doctor Tom

[tonray]

1 hour ago, cliveshep said:

Together we used my electric jack-hammer to break up the concrete at the back, and dig out and build new drainage and manholes, later she concreted it over and she tiled the whole thing.

I've heard of getting freaky in Thailand but this tops them all

[Mutt Daeng]

4 hours ago, sanuk711 said:

Please...Mutt Daeng.............whatever you do, don't talk him out of it ....................

Well, he isn't going to be visiting us up in Isaan any time soon, is he?

[zzaa09]

......and compelled to bring it to the random attention of all within the settings of this public venue. 

 

Why?

[Grecian]

5 hours ago, cliveshep said:

I think I'd go crazy if I lived alone here but thank God I don't. My wife is under half my age, is slim yet curvy and to me very desirable and beautiful. Most importantly Semper Fi applies toi her - incredibly and fiercely loyal and cares for me like I have in previous marriages never experienced. She is smart too and a darn good partner, I'm now 75, we've been married for just 3 weeks short of  10 years. We live on my little UK pension here having sold up in the UK when I retired in 2015 at nearly 70 and sold the house, car, boat, caravan and moved here. We bought a car, a truck, 2 motor-bikes (since sold one) and a detached house outside BKK which we extended and modernised adding 2 more bedrooms and 2 more bathrooms and a UK style kitchen. I did the carcase pipework and all the electrics having seen our builder's electrics decided to keep safe and do it to UK standards. Everything else including aircon in every room was done by "professionals" here. 

Since then we have built another single storey 2 room extension together, her sisters pitched in to mix the concrete for the slab and the stanchion bases, I spread and levelled it and that was the only timewe had any assistance. I cut and welded the steel frame and roof steels and fitted them, and we clad the walls together in 8mm Sheera board. We did the roof together - our only mistake because we got a flashing leak but the roof sheeting was cheap and is too fragile even with crawl-boards and we'll change it to metal sheet next year we think. 

She was the one to lay the floor tiles which I cut for her using a diamond saw (she only leter learned to use that being scared of it).

Togther we taped and filled and sanded the ceilings and walls and my wife painted everything while I did plumbing for pump and 2 x 1000 litre tanks and all the electrics for the extension as well as plumbed in a 2nd washing machine for her sisters to use. 

Together we used my electric jack-hammer to break up the concrete at the back, and dig out and build new drainage and manholes, later she concreted it over and she tiled the whole thing.

The point of all this - if you have a good partner or wife willing to work with you - you have it all for Thailand. I am hopeless at languages but she is smart and has learned to read, write and speak English and in the translation stakes I can rely on her fully. I mend things still - washing machine, furniture, certain car repairs like changing brakes etc and she is showing an interest in tools. She made a beautiful wooden picket fence and gate across the front porch area all varnished up and made by using electric power tools. This prevents our 4 big dogs eating visitors as soon as they enter the front giving us a chance to shove them into an enclosure. More and more as I age she is becoming my builder under my direction.

We are a team and that makes it all work.

that's a fantastic post.

where did you find her?

[Grecian]

5 hours ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

Really  depends on how "you"  are

I dont  feel any need to mix  with people, dont need  nightlife, women, drugs. alcohol etc

I dont feel  any need to "thank" Thailand for letting me stay, I  have no love of Thai  culture or  people,  or  people in general, Thailand isnt special in any way I can see.

Best thing, no tax enforcement for income, worst thing total negligence from the entire population of  supposed Budhists who  have no  pride in anything except  unimportant things that cant be discussed..

To me Thais  seem  like a Borg  collective, well I aint being assimilated.

 do you think you could find a country with a population you can feel warmer towards? 

[Rampant Rabbit]

12 hours ago, Grecian said:

 do you think you could find a country with a population you can feel warmer towards? 

I  like Italians

[malibukid]

21 hours ago, BritManToo said:

My list,

 

Pros

1. Easy no strings sex, with a wide selection of attractive partners at very reasonable costs.

2. Cheap housing & utils..

3. Warm weather all year.

 

Cons

1. Yearly immigration extension.

 

OP made a big list, most of the items don't affect my life in any way plus or minus.

PS. I drink the tap water in Chiang Mai and never had a problem.

covid has killed the sex scene.  apart from the go go bars Thai woman are way to conservative and present too much of a cultural and language barrier.  its an exclusive culture. the West has the most open minded woman, but still many good reasons to stay in Thailand.

Edited October 4, 2021 by malibukid

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, malibukid said:

covid has killed the sex scene.

It's alive and well on ThaiFriendly et al.

[CM Dad]

21 hours ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

Really  depends on how "you"  are

I dont  feel any need to mix  with people, dont need  nightlife, women, drugs. alcohol etc

I dont feel  any need to "thank" Thailand for letting me stay, I  have no love of Thai  culture or  people,  or  people in general, Thailand isnt special in any way I can see.

Best thing, no tax enforcement for income, worst thing total negligence from the entire population of  supposed Budhists who  have no  pride in anything except  unimportant things that cant be discussed..

To me Thais  seem  like a Borg  collective, well I aint being assimilated.

Why are you here?  You sound like a miserable person.  I am grateful not to know you.

[Titan1962]

Pros =  cost of living and younger partner.

Cons = immigration,humidity and crazy drivers.