Why are you still in Thailand, not in Vietnam?

[ViajeroLA]

On 5/7/2025 at 1:45 AM, JoseThailand said:

Vietnam is getting a lot of hype now, 40% cheaper than Thailand, easy immigration rules, no problem with border runs or "staying too much", friendly and helpful locals, no fake smiles like in Thailand when they only want your money. Tourists are flocking to Vietnam and can't stop raving about how much they like it. So the question is: why are YOU still in Thailand, and not in Vietnam?

 

... because I'm not a fu👑 tourist 🤔😆

[Lorry]

10 hours ago, garygooner said:

She'd have to be incredibly cute!  😍

Don't tell me you bought her a Toyota!

Shame on you!

[JoseThailand]

3 hours ago, ViajeroLA said:

... because I'm not a fu👑 tourist 🤔😆

 

You are, unless you have a permanent residence, which you most likely don't

[KhunLA]

12 hours ago, ViajeroLA said:

 

... because I'm not a fu👑 tourist 🤔😆

I'm a tourist, and always will be.  Here on holiday ... long holiday ... 25 years.   Just have to pop in every year and ask to stay, another year.  Give 'em some silly reason, like, being married, or want to retire here.

 

Unlikely, but one day, they could easily say, F'off and get out.  So yes, we're all tourist, unless holding a Thai passport.

[KhaoHom]

On 5/9/2025 at 3:44 PM, Magictoad said:

"Thailand has gone absolutely nowhere for 25 years." Is an entirely erroneous statement. And your last comment about taxes gives you away as an American Trumpian. Thailand's economy has increased enormously over the past few decades.

 

You're absolutely and thoroughly clueless. The economy of Thailand has been in the toilet for a quarter century.

 

But hey, you're card carrying leftist so it's a given you know nothing about economics and finance.

 

Its been a slow burn buoyed by 100s of millions of damaging tourists over that period. Now... rubber hits the road...

 

Thai Central Bank says hold on to your Depends....

 

https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2025/05/10/thailand-is-entering-a-dark-economic-storm-in-late-2025-lasting-at-least-a-year-says-central-bank-boss/

[KhaoHom]

On 5/14/2025 at 10:02 AM, KhunLA said:

I'm a tourist, and always will be.  Here on holiday ... long holiday ... 25 years.   Just have to pop in every year and ask to stay, another year.  Give 'em some silly reason, like, being married, or want to retire here.

 

Unlikely, but one day, they could easily say, F'off and get out.  So yes, we're all tourist, unless holding a Thai passport.

 

Understood.

 

Nevertheless, being a married man of 15 years on O visa is very different than being some chav 'lifecoach' on whatever he can grub at the border.

 

While I don't at all disagree with the sentiment, given economic situation of the country it seems they need every retiree that they can hold.

 

I'm now of the opinion that we're going to start getting taxed up the ying yang because these governments love to spend money but cannot come up with an economic plan that generates it. 

 

We will all suffer increasing VAT. I think the income tax thing will become a lot more real in the next year or two or three. I recently read an article in the last day or two stating that the government is looking for an exit / departure tax .

 

Funny... The government just taxes but they don't think that they need to provide anything for those taxes. This is especially in the case of foreigners.

 

Let's say there's a very important and they don't pay any tax at all aside from VAT. They receive catastrophic healthcare and all of the infrastructure needs are set up for them... Roads, rail systems, subways and monorail. They are tight Nationals and fair is fair

 

Meanwhile you pay vat, possible tax on employment if you're working here, any excise taxes within the country, any import tariffs on a number of goods. If you don't pay employment tax you will pay tax on income brought into the country.

 

They are now digging deep into the poors pockets to get them to pay for VAT (sellers).

 

Thailand might become very expensive for us long stay tourist. We all might be better off on TRs.

 

Looking into the future I don't see this government doing much of anything to correct serious deficiencies in the economy and government. If going back home wasn't so bloody expensive I would. This current government seems more concerned with bringing Taksin back into Thailand and creating extremely dubious casinos which Thai people absolutely do not need.