Big Decision: Which Asian country is ideal for foreign retirees?

[Hummin]

4 minutes ago, flexomike said:

Not true if you are on an OA visa or extension from it

 

Applied and Renewed in Thailand

[NanaSomchai]

42 minutes ago, Buffy Frobisher said:

What, you haven't encountered 4 Floors yet? ???? It's wall to wall, mate, and most of it from Thailand. Same applies to anywhere in Geylang.

Geylang is dead post COVID-19.

 

https://www.youtube.com/c/RoamingSinCity/videos

 

 

Edited February 14, 2022 by NanaSomchai

[eppic]

Having lived in Singapore (15 years), Thailand (7), US, UK (1) and Japan (2)... and married to a Filipina, I would also personally choose Spain (Malaga or Valencia area)...

 

The never-mentioned problem is, if you have any decent income or assets Spain is a horrible tax trap.  Tax worldwide income at very high rates and also a horrendous wealth tax on worldwide assets. Great place if you have no (or very little) income or assets, I guess.

 

My favorite place for women probably Indonesia, wow, amazing (nevermind that they are Muslim, they don't care!). Malaysia? hell no.

 

At least SE Asia countries don't tax worldwide, so I don't get the oft-repeated line that no one with money would want SEA...at least you can keep it, whereas Spain will try to take it all!

[blazes]

17 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

35 minutes ago, blazes said:

Tell us more about Mauritius, pros and cons.  Everything I've ever heard of it suggests it is paradisal....

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10507805/Ex-partner-one-UKs-richest-financiers-leave-Mauritius-ill-father.html

Divorce $hite that could take place anywhere in the world.  Nothing to do with Mauritius.  Disappointing response.

[JulesMad]

6 hours ago, NanaSomchai said:

A staggering 8.54% of the total Sri Lanka population has HIV.

 

Source? It's all over the web (although these numbers are from 2020).

Your 'facts' are fake!!!

According to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_HIV/AIDS_adult_prevalence_rate ) Sri Lanka is on position 118 (4000 people with AIDS) and the usa (for example) on position 11 (1,189,700 people with AIDS). These numbers are from a few years ago.
Even so, 8.54% of 22 million is roughly 1,880,000 people. How can just 4000 people infect 1.8 million people in a few years?!? They are people, not rabbits.

Very, very hard to believe without mentioning a source...

[jacko45k]

2 minutes ago, JulesMad said:

Your 'facts' are fake!!!

A lot of folks chuck things out there... I have learned to investigate further if I do not feel the statement is likely. Often find they are untrue or misrepresented for effect.

[NanaSomchai]

3 minutes ago, JulesMad said:

Your 'facts' are fake!!!

According to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_HIV/AIDS_adult_prevalence_rate ) Sri Lanka is on position 118 (4000 people with AIDS) and the usa (for example) on position 11 (1,189,700 people with AIDS). These numbers are from a few years ago.
Even so, 8.54% of 22 million is roughly 1,880,000 people. How can just 4000 people infect 1.8 million people in a few years?!? They are people, not rabbits.

Very, very hard to believe without mentioning a source...

You need again to read between the lines, as I've said above, I cannot legally provide you with a source because:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Sri_Lanka

 

Prostitution in Sri Lanka is illegal, and related activities such as soliciting,[1] procuring,[2] and brothels[3] are outlawed.

 

https://www.equaldex.com/region/sri-lanka

 

Homosexual activity in Sri Lanka is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).

Current status Since Jan 1, 1885

Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)

Homosexuality is considered illegal in Sri Lanka, with up to 10 years of prison for "carnal knowledge" against order of nature.

 

Also from that page:

 

Jan 1, 1885–Sep 9, 2018

Male illegal, female legal

8-14 years in prison and fine under Section 365 and under article 365 A. Not enforced. Just got ruled unconstitutional in India on June 17, 2018.

 

So again, Sri Lanka:

 

Prostitution is illegal. Sex workers have ZERO rights. Homosexuality is illegal as well. Gays have ZERO rights and face 10 years of prison, therefore they cannot be added to the OFFICIAL statistics.

 

To compute the number I came up with, you first need to account for the amount of infected females from official sources then the amount of infected heterosexual males THEN on top of that the officious number of infected GAY males.

 

My sources? Several concatenated reports from: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/pages/home.aspx

 

OHCHR: Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights. United Nations.

 

[Rimmer]

A post with an incorrect quote has been removed

[Prometheus33]

I would put Thailand at number # 1 , Malaysia in the second spot  ...

[garni]

Laos is a nice country, but you get only Retirement visa if you marrying a local girl after 6 years. 

[NanaSomchai]

3 minutes ago, garni said:

Laos is a nice country, but you get only Retirement visa if you marrying a local girl after 6 years. 

Cambodia is better in that regard as you are eligible for it's citizenship after only 5 years.

[Prometheus33]

I would put Thailand at number # 1 followed by Malaysia   ...

[connda]

The one's with the least drama, restrictions, and expense.
That applies for locations world-wide.

[connda]

The PI has the SRRV program which is a great option for anyone who is a US Veteran.  Very low cost to apply for visa leading to permanent residency.

[dddave]

7 hours ago, NanaSomchai said:

Okay what about Malaysia and it's LEGAL TORTURE SYSTEM then?

 

Still skeptical? Read on:

 

Article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) defines the term “torture” as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person.

 

While most countries have condemned and criminalised torture, Malaysia remains one of the very few countries yet to commit to becoming a torture-free nation.

 

In Malaysia caning is used as a judicial punishment for criminal offences. Amnesty International estimates that as many as 10,000 people each year are subjected to caning in Malaysia, and many of them are foreign nationals.

 

Source?

 

https://www.amnesty.my/stop-torture/

Singapore also uses judicial caning, often held-up as the most advanced and sophisticated society in SE Asia.

[MyFriend You]

7 hours ago, NanaSomchai said:

Okay what about Malaysia and it's LEGAL TORTURE SYSTEM then?

 

Still skeptical? Read on:

 

Article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) defines the term “torture” as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person.

 

While most countries have condemned and criminalised torture, Malaysia remains one of the very few countries yet to commit to becoming a torture-free nation.

 

In Malaysia caning is used as a judicial punishment for criminal offences. Amnesty International estimates that as many as 10,000 people each year are subjected to caning in Malaysia, and many of them are foreign nationals.

 

Source?

 

https://www.amnesty.my/stop-torture/

Singapore is famous for it's Caning Laws, you can get 8 lashes for Graffiti on  public bldg, street sign, sidewalk or wall.   or Malaysia, I do not believe it is because of Sharia laws, they tried that back in the noneties, but once they started dictating to the Banks, the whole Sharia Law movement collapsed  -  read - they were kicked out.   I wouldn't pick Malaysia over Thailand or Vietnam as I own property in both countries, but the Visa situation in Malaysia is more retirement friendly.

[dddave]

3 hours ago, JohnHans said:

PHILIPPINES, half the "real" cost of Thailand.

Until you need extensive health care!  Hospitals up to western quality standards are scarce and VERY expensive; pretty much non-existent in the provinces. 

Compare the cost of both prescription and OTC medicines and the Philippines is much more expensive than Thailand with much less selection.

Sad to say but all the best Filipino doctors and nurses work outside the Philippines. 

[neytil]

10 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Laos is more of a retirement destination for "pioneers" but the Philippines has one of the most robust formal retired expat programs in the world, the SRRV, and has for a long time. 

Do you have any idea if that SRRV program has an option for foreign retirees and foreign dependant spouse and family members....or is it only for single travelers.

 

Thanks

[JustAnotherHun]

If the choice is only about asian countries I'd still prefer Thailand.

[MyFriend You]

5 hours ago, rocksniffer said:

I lived in Thailand for 32 years. For the last 8 years I have been living in Indonesia. I prefer Indonesia. 

I must say the best 3 years of my former career were in Jakarta, I have lived and worked in 37 countries, and to this day when asked which was my favorite one - without hesitation, I say Indonesia!!

They are one of the first to re-open after pandemic, really easy Visa laws, affordable housing and some of the best landscapes in the world.   I don;t know who it was that is bantering "Sharia law in Indonesia"  obviously they never lived there, or only stayed in the expat area - Block M - of Jakarta.  Indonesian's are the most tolerant of any Muslim Country I have been in. Can't say enough good things about it.However, there is a form of Sharia in Banda Ache area, but is toned down after the Tsunami. 

Edited February 14, 2022 by TunnelRat69

[SteveAZ]

7 hours ago, blazes said:

Prefer Spain myself.  Almost anywhere there, but especially Seville and  Granada...

In Europe Portugal, Spain and Italy are lovely. Italy is affordable if you live where Italians can’t earn a living. 

[MyFriend You]

4 hours ago, vandeventer said:

I met a guy in a bar in Penang a few years back and he said he  came from the USA to marry his GF. Her whole family said he had to become a Muslim, so he was booked on the next flight back home Poor Guy!!!

That is true in any Muslim country............non-muslim cannot marry a muslim in their home country IF it is predominately Muslim.  Granted most times this is only a symbolic gesture to show respect for the family.  It doesnt mean you have to face Mecca and pray five times a day.

[Felt 35]

8 hours ago, NanaSomchai said:

Thailand of course!

 

Hua Hin and it's pristine beaches:

 

 

The sea is even better........

[jacko45k]

9 minutes ago, TunnelRat69 said:

That is true in any Muslim country............non-muslim cannot marry a muslim in their home country IF it is predominately Muslim.  Granted most times this is only a symbolic gesture to show respect for the family.  It doesnt mean you have to face Mecca and pray five times a day.

I believe it is simply more accurate to say a muslim woman cannot marry a non muslim man. A man is restricted to muslim, Jew or Christian women....Saudi women can only marry Saudis I believe.

Not sure how strict that is worldwide, but it is 'traditional'...

[Inala]

7 hours ago, muratremix said:

Malaysia would be great if they weren't favoring muslims and have a dual law system (sharia + civil) where Muslims hold advantage over non-muslims (or infidels)

 

Agree. There is no way I would be retiring anywhere that is a muslim dominated society. Absolutely NO way. Why would you? No short time girls. No go go bars. No bikinis. Ugh, can't think of anything worse! Long live the infidel girls!!

 

Edited February 14, 2022 by Inala

[oslooskar]

2 hours ago, The Hammer2021 said:

That kind of sordid, sleazy, 15 minute wham bam on sweat stained sheets with a pimped, trafficked junkie is not comparable to night life here in Thailand

GEEZUS! You sound embittered. Did you really expect to find true romance on Calle Robador? ????

[Dustdevil]

9 hours ago, steven100 said:

Why  ?    Vietnam is better than the Philippines in my view.   Philippines is ok but their food leaves alot to be desired.

You got that right. If you want a lunch without a ton of sugar in it, you have to either make it yourself from western-imported goods or else dine at a five-star hotel.

[Dustdevil]

9 hours ago, NanaSomchai said:

Okay what about Malaysia and it's LEGAL TORTURE SYSTEM then?

 

Still skeptical? Read on:

 

Article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) defines the term “torture” as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person.

 

While most countries have condemned and criminalised torture, Malaysia remains one of the very few countries yet to commit to becoming a torture-free nation.

 

In Malaysia caning is used as a judicial punishment for criminal offences. Amnesty International estimates that as many as 10,000 people each year are subjected to caning in Malaysia, and many of them are foreign nationals.

 

Source?

 

https://www.amnesty.my/stop-torture/

And then there's always the death penalty for possessing more than a couple of grams of any illicit recreational drug.

[tlcwaterfall]

11 minutes ago, Dustdevil said:

You got that right. If you want a lunch without a ton of sugar in it, you have to either make it yourself from western-imported goods or else dine at a five-star hotel.

Good post. However my experience during my numerous trips to the Philippines is that there are many many good quality restaurants serving good quality western food in the tourist areas of the Philippines.

Edited February 14, 2022 by tlcwaterfall

[oslooskar]

2 hours ago, NanaSomchai said:

For once (but just once) I'll have to agree with you. That place is sordid, drugs den and HIV nest.

 

Not the typical GFE experience you would be getting in Thailand.

 

There were no drugs or HIV when I was there in 1962. Franco ran a tight ship.