Economy Vietnam Tourism Threat Looms: Could It Overtake Thailand?

[hotchilli]

1 minute ago, soalbundy said:

Sparkling pussy and 'HIV free' doctors certificates?

Nah, that's the tired old model... 70 years and nothings changed, only the whitewash

[newbee2022]

It's not a threat but competition.

Vietnam is beautiful, many people (left behind fatherless after the American war) speaking American English, fresh tasty croissants and Baguette, delicious food, (churches), safety rules, helmet wearing bikers.

What you want more?

[Pinot]

No Vietnam beaches to compare with Phuket Beaches

[kuzmabruk]

6 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Thai people don't care, Thailand is the center of the Universe, people will always come to Thailand, 

With first class facilities like Pattaya Water Park, Thailand will continue to attract the well heeled foreigners who live on their frozen pensions.   Recently we visited Safari World Bangkok.  Many cages were empty and I assume the facilities have not been touched/repaired since the place was constructed.  What a dump.  

[grain]

3 minutes ago, Pinot said:

No Vietnam beaches to compare with Phuket Beaches

Dunno about that, couple of years ago I was at Danang, great beach, didn't see any surf there but beach was clean, water was clean, didn't have any stupid hawkers all over the beach, no dog<deleted> either, that a big plus in Nam compared to Thailand, you don't see mangy mutts everywhere, cause the Viets will catch and eat the bastards. 😂

[Shocked farang]

5 hours ago, mikebell said:

And these numbers are before Thailand's latest hoop was in place; TDAC. I love Vietnam's simplistic approach to incomers versus Thailand's convoluted mindset. 

As a practical example on a microcosmic level, I decided to do a number of trips to various Chinese cities in the next couple of years: until I discovered the visa rigmarole entry requirements! 

So it's back to Hoi An, Ha Long Bay & Hanoi for me and GF.

DTAC is a no brainier, anyone who has difficulties filling up DTAC has a serious cognitive problem and should book an appointment with a doctor. 

[AhFarangJa]

Put the Baht where it should be among other currencies, it will make Thailand 25% cheaper straight away. Ah, but then the rich would have to pay more for their offshore assets they buy to avoid tax.

[Shocked farang]

Just now, Shocked farang said:

DTAC is a no brainier, anyone who has difficulties filling up DTAC has a serious cognitive problem and should book an appointment with a doctor. 

I meant TDAC of course. It's very simple and straightforward. Piece of cake. 

[TigerandDog]

5 hours ago, mikebell said:

And these numbers are before Thailand's latest hoop was in place; TDAC. I love Vietnam's simplistic approach to incomers versus Thailand's convoluted mindset. 

As a practical example on a microcosmic level, I decided to do a number of trips to various Chinese cities in the next couple of years: until I discovered the visa rigmarole entry requirements! 

So it's back to Hoi An, Ha Long Bay & Hanoi for me and GF.

speaking of TDAC, just had a mate return from the USA on Sunday. He had to produce his TDAC re-entry when checking in for the flight back. No TDAC and you're not issued with a boarding pass and thus not allowed to board the flight.

[Jimjim1]

3 hours ago, MarkBR said:

2000 bht renewal each month.

2000 baht renewal each month! You got to be joking? 
The Thai government is making enough on visa costs as it is and when add to the rising cost of everything plus the manipulation of the baht is why people are going elsewhere, but the Thai government are obsessed with greed and cannot see the wood for the trees so perpetuate this stupidity.

I returned to Thailand 3 years after Covid and my monthly costs have doubled and I don’t drink or go to bars.

We could all get together and send an ‘en block ‘ email to TAT but to Thais farang no nothing, so carry on doing what you do best Thailand but don’t complain when the costs of disrespect and greed comes home to roost

[Harrisfan]

32 minutes ago, LatPhrao said:

What a joke.  Invent a crisis a day and stay in the headlines.  

That's life. It is all bs.

[Chongalulu]

5 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Bangkok will always be Bangkok and there isnt much like it, anywhere.

Certainly in the air pollution stakes....

[Chongalulu]

9 minutes ago, Shocked farang said:

I meant TDAC of course. It's very simple and straightforward. Piece of cake. 

 

9 minutes ago, Shocked farang said:

I meant TDAC of course. It's very simple and straightforward. Piece of cake. 

It's also a piece of cake to simply edit your original comment...

[Chongalulu]

11 minutes ago, Shocked farang said:

DTAC is a no brainier, anyone who has difficulties filling up DTAC has a serious cognitive problem and should book an appointment with a doctor. 

Or an optometrist in your case....

[simon43]

Just now, Chongalulu said:

Or an optometrist in your case....

Absolutely!  I topped up DTAC this morning with 300 baht - easy as pie 🙂

[josephbloggs]

27 minutes ago, Shocked farang said:

DTAC is a no brainier, anyone who has difficulties filling up DTAC has a serious cognitive problem and should book an appointment with a doctor. 

Yep. Anyone who calls that a "hoop" or something that will put people off is obviously too stupid to be able to book a flight anyway, so no loss.

[andux]

1 hour ago, LeoM said:

Tax rules taking effect as myself included look for somewhere else to spend six months to avoid becoming tax resident in Thailand? Seems the Thai government is not addressing this cause.

 

This is probably a reason, lots of "tourist arrivals" were just location-independent people. It's hard to know the actual number though, but maybe a few million left Thailand or stopped coming so often.

 

Those who are still here are also finding ways to bring less money into the country to reduce their tax burden, going to Vietnam or Malaysia to buy stuff like electronics to minimize remittances (and increasing neighboring countries "tourism" stats too). 

 

Prices in Thailand increasing is just proof that there are less 'customers'. Those who've been in Thailand long enough know that Thais tend to increase prices to make up for the difference in lost customers instead of addressing the cause that made them lose those customers in the first place. Then more customers are lost, prices are increased even more, and so on. I've seen many places entering this spiral until they finally give up and shut down.

 

Thailand will be fine but the tax policies definitely made them lose the edge over the location-independent ones. Instead of staying in Thailand the whole year, a lot of them just hop between Thailand, Vietnam and other countries.

 

In other words, with those new policies, Thailand essentially told its customers to spend time and money with their competitors as well.

[trainman34014]

Simple really; Vietnam is progressive and listens.    Thailand is far from progressive and never listens as they live in a Parallel Universe where useless dopes rule !

[josephbloggs]

19 minutes ago, trainman34014 said:

Simple really; Vietnam is progressive and listens.    Thailand is far from progressive and never listens as they live in a Parallel Universe where useless dopes rule !

A one party system.
No marriage equality or anti discrimination laws.
No independent judiciary.
No freedom of speech or expression.

Very progressive.

[Hardcastle P]

Welcome to the real world.treat tourists properly and you get the rewards.

[cookie1974]

Im in Vietnam now for the first time, a lot cheaper than Thailand, Just as nice, reminds of Thailand 20+ years ago before it was invaded by morons and drunken idiots, this place could be the future, i will be certainly coming back

[cookie1974]

14 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

A one party system.
No marriage equality or anti discrimination laws.
No independent judiciary.
No freedom of speech or expression.

Very progressive.

Sounds just like Thailand to be honest, although the Thai government tries to hide it behind a veil of " democracy "

[steven100]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Thailand has to offer something new.

 

what about filthy soi dogs in many of the soi's laying about ready to bite kids...! 

oh sorry '     they already have that    !!    

[BritManToo]

14 minutes ago, cookie1974 said:

Sounds just like Thailand to be honest, although the Thai government tries to hide it behind a veil of " democracy "

3 year marriage visa, or child visa sounds good though $135.

I believe you need to border bounce every 180 days.

Not that much effort, bus from Saigon to Phnom Penh is cheap.

[Upnotover]

1 hour ago, TigerandDog said:

speaking of TDAC, just had a mate return from the USA on Sunday. He had to produce his TDAC re-entry when checking in for the flight back. No TDAC and you're not issued with a boarding pass and thus not allowed to board the flight.

Airline was wrong. They'll get the hang of it in time.

[watchcat]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Could Thailand’s tourism crown be slipping to Vietnam?

 

No, China would'nt leti t happen. Or so they

think.,in reality 

[Paul Henry]

I have mentioned several times in my blogs that Vietnam is leaving Thailand for dead in the tourism stakes.My wife is Thai and even she says Vietnam is a better choice .Only reason we have been here the last half a dozen times is or her to catch up with her family,however we have still squeezed in a few trips to Veitnam. People more caring and polite and costs are about half those of Thailand.Especially alcohol, wine and spirits and the French Patisseries are out of this world.Cambodia will also become a major threat to Thailand in the not to distant future.

[Jumbo1968]

Just returned from Vietnam our 3rd visit, fast developing around Da Nang Beach only downside will be the Chinese are building a huge hotel complete with a casino.

Vietnam where we were Hoi An and  Da Nang were both cleaner and brighter than most places in Thailand. I found most spoke English and were more approachable. I think down to the fact they haven’t as yet had the multitude of tourist Thailand has. The majority of tourists were a lot younger age group than in Thailand as well.

[Jumbo1968]

8 minutes ago, watchcat said:

 

No, China would'nt leti t happen. Or so they

think.,in reality 

China are investing in Vietnam as well, building a huge hotel/casino in Da Nang.

[BarraMarra]

Well its finally sinking in. Thailand killed the Golden goose before covid with there greed and dont care attitude towards treating tourists. All you got was the chinese will be here dont worry. Well there not coming now are they ? Te Thai tourism bosses bent over backwards offering free visas to the Chinese , draft dodging Russians and the indians we westerners were treated as collateral damage. What you doing to repair the damage ? Moving the 60 day visa back to 30 days for starters. Then the hotel bosses will increase prices to try and recover loss from Chinese numbers. They just dont listen or learn so they will believe all will be well. Next high season.