Economy Vietnam Tourism Threat Looms: Could It Overtake Thailand?

[jcmj]

They need to save their money on the campaign to get back the Chinese. Too late. Invest it in infrastructure and police training. Thailand’s a mess and it doesn’t help with the inflated baht. Even I’m thinking of a trip to Vietnam before it gets completely taken over by the Chinese. 

[Daniel 2]

The answer is (maybe) easy! Thailand is West, Vietnam is East, West is going down, East is coming up! 

[baansgr]

8 hours ago, steven100 said:

wrong ...  many absolutely disagree Blogs,    take those rose tinted glasses off. 

But what so you do after 90 days, you have to leave and there are no long term visas

[Rolo89]

Thailand is eastern european price with awful air quality, death trap pavements and scams everywhere. Not suprised people are going to countries that represent value. 

[baansgr]

1 hour ago, Jimjim1 said:

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

My monthly costs since covid are the same...bet you are buying imported foodstuffs..can't think of anything else that has increased, let alone doubled

[Pinot]

12 minutes ago, Jumbo1968 said:

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.

 

A couple of years ago, I visited Vietnam for a month. Walking home at night in Hoi An the rats were all over the trash and garbage. I saw nothing in Da Nang that would make me want to return. Saigon was a crowded mess where every scooter driver constantly honked their horn. Crossing the street was a constant challenge. It's a place where you have to bring your scooter into your house at night or it would certainly be stolen. The cops there make the BIB look like alter boys. Overall, it's a full step down in every category from LOS. I never want to return. 

[josephbloggs]

7 minutes ago, Rolo89 said:

Thailand is eastern european price with awful air quality, death trap pavements and scams everywhere. Not suprised people are going to countries that represent value. 

Vietnam's air quality is just as bad if not worse. My nephew had a full blown asthma attack there in March and it put him in hospital for three days.

Have you walked around HCMC? Death trap pavements. Killer scooters. 

[josephbloggs]

14 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

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.

Another poor hard done by farang.

What "collateral damage" have you suffered exactly?

And you do still get 60 days visa exempt, right? How long do most tourists spend here, two weeks? No hardships there.

[LivingNThailand]

23 minutes ago, Jumbo1968 said:

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

That's too bad.  I have been to Da Nang and Hoi An many times.   The first time was in about 2010.  Very nice , low key and special.  The last time probably 2019 before Covid.  

 

[ikke1959]

THailand has a lot solve first.. airpollution, traffic accidents, expensive THB, overpricing, outdated laws  and  not tourist friendly laws ad alcohol sales and buy hours, vaping, and chasing foreigners to fine them, while netizens with the same offences are left alone... Headlines in the news how bad the foreigners are, no guides available in many languages.. Only in Thai, and maybe some Chinese and English..and laws that forbid foreigners to work as a guide( protected occupation).. and the tax law will not bring many new expats and retirees... A lot to solve for the Thai Government

[Reddavy]

8 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Oh wow, good one - you said "lieland" instead of "Thailand"!! 

Vietnam isn't a patch on Thailand in many aspects.

Witch are????

[josephbloggs]

4 minutes ago, Reddavy said:

Witch are????

Already listed some a few posts back, go and have a look.

[Cameroni]

Very quiet in CM now due to the earthquake.

 

I would not be surprised if Vietnam does very well, I've heard amazing things about Phu Quoc and can't wait to go there myself.

 

However, I've also heard that the Vietnamese aren't as friendly as the Thais, plus the motorcycle traffic is far worse, so not everything is better there.

[Shocked farang]

2 hours 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.

Which is an exaggeration from the Airlines. I arrived in Thailand on May/2nd and I had my TDAC ready with QR code and all. 

If I had not done that before boarding the flight to Thailand, Thai immigration has set quite a few totems at the arrival in Suvarnabhumi-airport where anyone can fill out the TDAC on arrival, just fill it out before heading to immigration. 

[Tom100]

I have only been here FT since 2022 and I have seen many proposed changes that make it harder to visit and stay in Thailand -- Yet the government says their top goal is to increase revenues by promoting tourism. These proposals have included changes for Visas + taxation + reporting + arrival cards + arrival tax changes. WTF! Enough!

 

Almost all the proposed changes were dropped. I am tired of all this stupidity and BS. 

 

VIETNAM IS LOOKING BETTER EVERY DAY

[wensiensheng]

9 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Oh wow, good one - you said "lieland" instead of "Thailand"!! 

Vietnam isn't a patch on Thailand in many aspects.

Which aspects in particular? Genuinely interested in your opinion

[jingjai9]

Vietnam bars and clubs closer earlier and they do not have the number of bargirls Thailand employs. When I was there they did not know how to treat tourists and they were endlessly overcharging foreigners with a smile as they did it. That was years ago and i assume that situation has improved.

 

If Vietnam is threatening Thailand as THE place to go for tourists in southeast Asia, perhaps Thailand will have to take a look inward and reflect. 

If tourists are flocking to Vietnam, which does not have open bars until 4 in the morning and troops of sex workers, this could suggest Vietnam will get the cream of the crop from Thailand's tourism industry while the rowdies and sex tourists will perhaps make up a larger percentage visitors.

[wensiensheng]

11 minutes ago, Shocked farang said:

Which is an exaggeration from the Airlines. I arrived in Thailand on May/2nd and I had my TDAC ready with QR code and all. 

If I had not done that before boarding the flight to Thailand, Thai immigration has set quite a few totems at the arrival in Suvarnabhumi-airport where anyone can fill out the TDAC on arrival, just fill it out before heading to immigration. 

I just flew back from Paris. The checkin desk at CDG definitely wanted my TDAC before checking me in. I had it ready, but I reckon they would have asked me to complete it there and then, if I hadn’t already done so.

 

Which would not have been a big deal. It’s ridiculously easy to complete.

 

FWIW, they also wanted to see it at Suvarnabhumi immigration, queried why I hadn’t filled in a return date (I live here) but accepted my explanation that I haven’t decided yet. Although that led to follow up questions about what I would be doing while in Thailand. Obviously concerned that I would not be working. Fortunately I look my 67 years of age, so it wasn’t a big deal when I said I’m retired.

 

All in all, I didn’t see any issues with tdac 

[wensiensheng]

5 minutes ago, jingjai9 said:

Vietnam bars and clubs closer earlier and they do not have the number of bargirls Thailand employs. When I was there they did not know how to treat tourists and they were endlessly overcharging foreigners with a smile as they did it. That was years ago and i assume that situation has improved.

 

If Vietnam is threatening Thailand as THE place to go for tourists in southeast Asia, perhaps Thailand will have to take a look inward and reflect. 

If tourists are flocking to Vietnam, which does not have open bars until 4 in the morning and troops of sex workers, this could suggest Vietnam will get the cream of the crop from Thailand's tourism industry while the rowdies and sex tourists will perhaps make up a larger percentage visitors.

I was in Da Nang a couple of months ago. The lasck of google bars, hostesses and dodgy massage places was genuinely refreshing 

[josephbloggs]

1 minute ago, wensiensheng said:

Which aspects in particular? Genuinely interested in your opinion

I am a frequent(ish) visitor to Vietnam and must have been there 25 times. My first trip was in 1996. I have nothing against the place and think it's ok. But compared to Thailand it is lacking, Thailand has:

Much better infrastructure. Better scenery (although Vietnam does have some beautiful scenery too), better food, nicer people, it's more fun, more vibrant, there's way more variety.

In terms of the major cities HCMC is hard to walk around - yes, even compared to Bangkok. You get hassled by beggars and vendors. It is dirty, the scooters are a nightmare. It is easy to get ripped off, especially if you go to any of the hostess type bars.

I like Vietnam, but I could never imagine living there. Thailand just has so much more to offer.

[wensiensheng]

2 hours ago, Pinot said:

No Vietnam beaches to compare with Phuket Beaches

I beg to differ. In high season I can’t go on Nai Harn beach because it’s so crowded, morning, noon and night. Low season has big waves and trash.

 

Da Nang beach was much nicer when I visited a couple of months ago. 
 

BUT, I’m sure there are crappy beaches in Vietnam, Nha Trang was too busy when I visited 8 years ago. And I’m sure there are still un crowded beaches in Thailand, Trang down south, maybe Khao Lak?

[Guderian]

Poor Vietnam, another 10 or 15 million oiks each year and they'll find their doctors being kicked, their cops being assaulted, biker gangs everywhere, and their streets full of foreign yobs fighting the locals or each other, they don't really mind which.

[Sydebolle]

a) the currency is a yoyo issue, no predictability
b) tourists might have completely different visa regulations between booking and arriving
c) Thailand became EXPENSIVE in line with the free fall of quality and service level
d) rip-offs on a daily basis, nicely splashed all over the internet - daily
e) ongoing ranigaxoo on the ladyboy front in Pattaya

f) two-tier pricing of up to 25 times higher than the locals
g) the command of foreign languages is heading towards North Korean standards 

[BritManToo]

11 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

I beg to differ. In high season I can’t go on Nai Harn beach because it’s so crowded, morning, noon and night. Low season has big waves and trash.

 

Da Nang beach was much nicer when I visited a couple of months ago. 
 

BUT, I’m sure there are crappy beaches in Vietnam, Nha Trang was too busy when I visited 8 years ago. And I’m sure there are still un crowded beaches in Thailand, Trang down south, maybe Khao Lak?

Viet beaches are all deserted during the day, then packed at sunset.

All rather odd from our western POV, but all the locals want white skin and hide from the sun.

[kingstonkid]

8 hours ago, Yagoda said:

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

The challenge is that Khao San is a relic much like patpong. They were great but backpackers have dwindled and what they have to offer is stale.  Who wants to go to a bar and see girls shift from 1 foot to the other.  Khao San is not as cheap as it was.

 

The only reason nana flourishes is the bars in the plaza have the right idea for entertaining and there are lots of short time hotels around.

[Dan747]

I am a Thailand fan but welcome the "Competition!"

[BritManToo]

9 minutes ago, Dan747 said:

I am a Thailand fan but welcome the "Competition!"

Me too, but if I wasn't already here, I probably wouldn't be coming.

[Magictoad]

Problem is Vietnam has a puritanical attitude towards ganja & hash. This is one thing Thailand has got going for it. They could blow it if they listen to the cabinet members who are campaigning against dope. That could let Vietnam in. Then of course there is the issue of legalised gambling at racetracks and casinos: they could even include cock fighting and Thai Boxing 

[Xonax]

Thailand wants mass-tourism, but most tourists don't!  I have long ago stopped paying for overprized tours, where all tourists like cattle are being ferried to the same small beaches!

[NICKMONDO1]

i do 6 months in Thailand and Vietnam

Thailand miles ahead in quality accomodation, but i think more expensive.

Mold is very common in Vietnam accom, its very difficult to find a room without it.

Road traffic is dangerous in Thailand, but a fraction of the level of danger in Vietnam, and the constant horn blowing can drive you crazy.

Food is fifty fifty........with Thailand slightly better if i was to make a choice.

Hygiene in Vietman, not great.........spitting in the streets is very common and disgusting.  Yes the thais do it, but not like Vietnam.

Da Nang is not cheap, but i would not say expensive.

Beaches are fifty fifty.

Visa in Vietnam, extremely easy, very cheap, be it the 45 day stamp, or the 90 day e visa.

Thailand visa, not hard, but more of a pain in the arse, and no 90 day reports in Vietnam

both have a lot going for them...........medical care, a lot cheaper in Vietnam, and i found it to be of extremely high quality, both from the staff and the medical facility.

I am buying my meds I need from Vietnam now, half the price of Thailand (anti coagulants, beta blocker).

all in all, Thailand still gets my vote for quality of life, but time will tell