1 minute ago, KhunLA said:

Can own with long term visa, which I would have no desire to qualify for ...

... work

... support citizen

... invest large sum

 

... so as stated, no retirement vise, no ownership of transport, except bicycle.

Please reread and rethink this post. 

 

Just now, amexpat said:

Please reread and rethink this post. 

 

Why ... it's self explanatory

10 hours ago, 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?

If you're getting too many fake smiles, you might be in the wrong place. Try moving out of the main tourist areas. I can understand how difficult it is for Thais to put up with all the Indian and Chinese tourists, and plenty from the Middle East and Russia. They have to deal with them all day long.  

 

I asked my Thai gf, who works in a 5-star hotel in Pattaya, if she likes them. Graciously, she replied, "not too much" LOL

 

Why am I still here? I like it here and don't want to start over in another country after 20 years, even if there might be some advantages. I've never been to Vietnam and don't have a desire to visit. I don't believe your story that in Vietnam they smile genuinely all the time, and that they aren't after your money, and that they really "dig" all foreigners. The desire for money is universal around the world.

 

 

My home base is in Thailand, this last week I flew to Da Nang for a 46 day visit. Da Nang is a few degrees cooler so that's a nice break all its own. It's true about no fake smiles. It does seem at least 20% cheaper. Much wider roads, less traffic, similar pollution.

 

The beach walk in Da Nang is way bigger, better. It took awhile(last trip in

March) but I found several nice restaurants that serve italian, greek, uzbek, western, etc. and the service is excellent. It's great to go back and forth between Thailand and Vietnam as each one has it's benefits/drawbacks. I recommend Bali as well to get away from the pollution. 

10 hours ago, 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?

I work here and have a family, no need for border runs as I have a year extension every year at the BOI which takes me very little time. I speak Thai and have no problems with most of the locals. My kids go to school / university here and I don't have to live on a budget.

 

Why should I go to Vietnam?

1 hour ago, Trippy said:

I used to work with a lot of Vietnamese in the US, they were way too serious. No Thai easy going philosophy. 

And I used to live with a Viet girl, the sex was great but she stole from me to fund her gambling habit. no Thai girl has ever stolen from me.

You can keep Communist Vietnam, I'll stay in Thailand.

 

I had a Thai girl steal from me. Took 20,000 baht right out of my wallet. I had her ID, went to police, but they're completely useless.

5 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I've been living Thailand over 20 years, never been treated like trash. 

 

Agree, but there is some who always have a problem wherever they go in Thailand. Continously being a victim for the unpredictable Thai system, rules and Thai culture, who trying to get them out of Thailand, and do not want their money. 

 

Obs sarcasm 

There is no better retirement place yet than Thailand where you easily can live for 30k baht a month if you do not count insurance and travelling money or excessive party lifestyle.

 

Best infrastructure and public services, visa options, and for single guys, only Philippines can compete with Thailand if you are living on budget.

 

The best thing with Vietnam is the wine, bread and cheese option's

27 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

I had a Thai girl steal from me. Took 20,000 baht right out of my wallet. I had her ID, went to police, but they're completely useless.

 

Well, it's your word vs her word

1 hour ago, Cameroni said:

 

I had a Thai girl steal from me. Took 20,000 baht right out of my wallet. I had her ID, went to police, but they're completely useless.

Where in the world would police be able to recover cash stolen from a wallet? How would you prove it? Going to the police station would be a waste of time. Very few people walk around with that much cash these days. 95% of my transactions are debit card or QR transfer. Even food vendors accept QR payments. 

 

Having said that, you should be more careful about the company you keep. I could keep 100k in my wallet, and my gf would touch it.

20 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Because I am not a tourist......I have a life here

Best answer. 

Same here.

On 5/7/2025 at 6:05 AM, ikke1959 said:

Because I am not a tourist......I have a life here, but when I go on holiday I never travel in Thailand always go out of the country

 

Lemme tell ya something. You are same-same tourist hahaha. Unless you get a permanent residence which is impossible for you to do, let alone citizenship. You're not even considered an immigrant! At best, you have a NON-IMMIGRANT visa. Your rights in Thailand are the same as for any other 30-day tourist.

1 hour ago, JoseThailand said:

 

Lemme tell ya something. You are same-same tourist hahaha. Unless you get a permanent residence which is impossible for you to do, let alone citizenship. You're not even considered an immigrant! At best, you have a NON-IMMIGRANT visa. Your rights in Thailand are the same as for any other 30-day tourist.

You know me very well.. I am a permanent resident.. not difficult at all.. and I don't want a citizenship as Thailand can't offer teh benefits I get from my country...But permanent resident is ok for me... So I don't where your information come from but please inform yourself before making comment on someone

18 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

You know me very well.. I am a permanent resident.. not difficult at all.. and I don't want a citizenship as Thailand can't offer teh benefits I get from my country...But permanent resident is ok for me... So I don't where your information come from but please inform yourself before making comment on someone

 

I though you are a typical clueless farang who says he's not a tourist here while holding a non-immigrant visa at best. But if you are a rare exception with permanent residence, I take my words back

I'm in Thailand now because that's where I am.  I like to stay mobile and I could move tomorrow, but there are factors to consider, not the least of which which would be, for me, the ability to stay long term without too much trouble.  I really don't like aggravation. 

 

For me, Thailand works right now, so I'm here.  

 

As for Vietnam?  If they really want more visitors in the country spending money, you'd think they would come up with a solution for retirees and others to stay long term.  Why wouldn't they want that?  What's the downside for them?  I'd be in the country, not working, but spending my money.  I have health insurance.  Why not? 

 

Of course, it's not just about the visa. I think about things like the climate, language difficulties, political stability, and so on.  Things can and often do change.  Take Argentina, for example.  A few years ago, the US dollar went a long way there and expats with US dollars had it made.  Today, not so much.  

 

 

 

 

The best thing with Vietnam is the wine, bread and cheese option's

 

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-1199-op80.pdf

 

 

22 hours ago, Hummin said:

There is no better retirement place yet than Thailand where you easily can live for 30k baht a month if you do not count insurance and travelling money or excessive party lifestyle.

 

But Vietnam is so cheap bro, you can live on 600 usd a month bro

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?

Already spent two years plus there, yeah different world then but yeah, if they have a vise with benefits like the LTR then I would be there ASAP!  Nice beaches but I recall the small planes patrolling with explosives to keep the sharks away from the beach. Liked a lot of the people I did meet there and worked with quite a few though those fled to the US.

2 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

 

I though you are a typical clueless farang who says he's not a tourist here while holding a non-immigrant visa at best. But if you are a rare exception with permanent residence, I take my words back

That is the problem... many people say something without knowing the facts and surely Thai people are masters in it.. Even the news is not accurate and many times only a convenient part of a story is written or told.. And than the next day you get updates and updates but if you read the foreign news you get the right information... Same as you state a clueless farang... without knowing the details and now you have to take your words back... and many other farangs are not clueless.. Most are well educated in the West and know what they are talking about instead of Thai people, who never lived abroad and have no idea of other cultures, but are brainwashed that Thailand is the centre of the world and everything is the best here

2 hours ago, ThreeCardMonte said:

Have deposits sent to a US account and use WISE  every month into a Viet bank account.

 

Would that work?

 

Exactly what I do for Thailand.

 

You are wasting money then because your SSi can be sent directly to a Thailand bank. account without using any American banks or wire services

 

2 hours ago, ThreeCardMonte said:

30k a month for live on.  LOL

Another one.

 

That doesn’t cover my rent let alone other expenses.

 

23 hours ago, Hummin said:

 Thailand where you easily can live for 30k baht a month if you do not count insurance and travelling money or excessive party 

 

Do not pay rent, married, so what to spend money on?

 

15k is alot of food and drinks, 4k for electric ? 

 

Dog food is included, 

 

We grow vegetables and fruit, have live stock, 

 

When you got a farm you have entertainment enough being busy 😁

 

If I lived single in Pattaya, I would agree, 30k is not a life

OP, because Vietnam is fashionable, you want us to go there? And in 10 years, it will be a different country, so we'll have to leave Vietnam because it's no longer fashionable? I've been in Thailand for 15 years, I like it here, and I won't leave because people tell me it's supposedly bad.

1 hour ago, JoseThailand said:

 

But Vietnam is so cheap bro, you can live on 600 usd a month bro

We have a farm with no neighbours, quality life cant compare with money alone when you have hobbies and also interest for soending time doing something you enjoy.

 

It is not about the money, We spend alot more travelling and dining out, but if we ad to, we could survive on 20 k fine with basic expenses in thailand, wich  think are around 600usd

Thai soup tastes better than Vietnamese soup...

I have been to Vietnam three times over nearly 25 years. Both the north and the south, and both solo and with my Thai gal. All those trips left me unsatisfied. Had a good time, but found alot of the locals there to be like wet fish. Not warm, and rather heavy hearted. Kind of like the Chinese. Nah. No need to go back. I prefer Thailand by light years. 

25 minutes ago, Aforek said:

OP, because Vietnam is fashionable, you want us to go there? And in 10 years, it will be a different country, so we'll have to leave Vietnam because it's no longer fashionable? I've been in Thailand for 15 years, I like it here, and I won't leave because people tell me it's supposedly bad.

I simply don't do fashionable. If they say this is hip, this is fresh, this is the spot, I don't have any desire to follow "them". 

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?

 

I am no longer in Thailand, or Vietnam - I'm in Cambodia, an easy and hassle free country with no financial or bureaucratic administration especially regarding visas.

Because the weather and the women are warmer in Thailand.

54 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

I am no longer in Thailand, or Vietnam - I'm in Cambodia, an easy and hassle free country with no financial or bureaucratic administration especially regarding visas.

 

But Cambodia is more expensive overall. Everything is in hard dollars

4 minutes ago, ThreeCardMonte said:

“I lived single in Pattaya, I would agree, 30k is not a life”

 

Of course girls are not included