Do Expats in Thailand Often Trade Western Wives for Younger Thai Women?

SoCal1990 · December 5

It’s something I’ve seen happen enough times over the years that it makes me wonder just how common it really is: A Western man moves to Thailand, when he's in his 40s or older, often on a job posting or for business, and he brings along his long-term foreign wifey from back home. Fast forward a few years, and that same guy has suddenly divorced the wife and married a much younger Thai woman.

I’ve personally known three or four blokes who’ve gone down this road, and it always leaves me with questions. Is this really a natural byproduct of moving to a place like Thailand where the women and cultural dynamics are so different from the West? Or is there something about Thailand specifically, its allure, the culture, or simply its sexual temptations, that causes the breakdown of these long-standing marriages?

From what I’ve seen, it often plays out in a similar pattern nearly every time. The man becomes enamored by the attention he receives from younger Thai women that are around him, especially when compared to the type of relations he's experienced within his Western marriage. Then, whether it’s the novelty or simply the allure of something “new,” he hastily leaves his wife for a relationship that seems fresh and exciting and that possibly makes him feel younger again.

But here’s the downside: It doesn’t always end well. Some of the dudes find that their new Thai wives aren’t at all what they had expected. Financial strain is common issue, as the new wife may be all about the money, financial support of her family, and/or a spendy lifestyle. In some cases, the man ends up in financial ruins, paying out at a level he can’t continue to sustain and gets drained of lots of his cash by his wife’s extended family.

And then there’s often the added regret later. I’ve seen men, years later, look back and wonder if they made a huge mistake. And I wonder if they would still be happily married to their original wives if they’d never moved to Thailand? Maybe the move itself exposed cracks in the marriage or perhaps it was simply the allure of a younger, more vivacious Thai girl that was enough to cause them to overlook the good thing that they were giving up?

Of course, this raises moral questions too. Is it even fair to uproot your spouse, bring her to a foreign country like Thailand, and then suddenly dump her for someone younger and local? Is that selfish, even cruel, or is it simply just the nature of life itself and how things can change.

But how common is this in Thailand, really? Is it a steadily repeating pattern among expats who move to Thailand with their Western wives? And do most of these men find true happiness in their new marriages, or do they eventually regret the decision to trade in an established and loving partner just for someone that feels new, exciting and a bit younger?

FriscoKid · December 5

I've seen it happen a few times myself. I've even seen guys go back to their original wives later after things failed with the Thai wife. It's all so desperate and pathetic.

Upnotover · December 5

I had a neighbour who resolved the issue quite nicely. He and his wife found a girl they both liked and from then on shared. His only complaint was that the girls seemed more into each other than him, nevertheless worked out acceptably for the three of them.

sungod · December 6

AI is a wonderful hing when it comes to constructing long open ended questions......

RSD1 · December 6

I've never had a Western wife, I tend to stay away from having wives in general, but it might not be bad hooking up with one just for a booty call, one of those who recently got dumped for a Thai girl. The hate sex with the old cougar could be off the charts!

udontomi · December 6

I was single in America for 27 years before I learned of how different Thai women are from American women

! Been married to a Thai woman now for 16 years and could not be happier!!!

Hummin · December 6

I have met a few who succesfully traded in their wife, or run away, and also one who regretted he ever came to Thailand, and Im sure there is more of the last, who ended up here in a restless lifestyle trying to cope with both the mentality and the culture. I have only 2 problems in Thailand, and it is the heat and the pollution. Both came sniking up on my slowly until I had enough.

madone · December 6

4 hours ago, sungod said:

AI is a wonderful hing when it comes to constructing long open ended questions......

based on decades-old cliches.

Ralf001 · December 6

5 hours ago, FriscoKid said:

I've seen it happen a few times myself. I've even seen guys go back to their original wives later after things failed with the Thai wife. It's all so desperate and pathetic.

am, keen to flick my slag for a Jappa lady.

Thai's are over rated.

Will B Good · December 6

The clever one's do.

It never ceases to amaze me that some expats come over here and marry a woman who is the same age as their ex-wife in the West.