Thailand’s Losing Its Edge — Is Vietnam the Next Real Deal?

[ronnie50]

2 minutes ago, CG1 Blue said:

I've only been to Vietnam a couple of times, and only to HCMC. I didn't feel the same sense of freedom in Vn that you get in Thailand, especially around the nightlife where I was told (by locals) the bars could be raided any time by police wanting to crack down hard on fun. I was strongly advised not to get caught up in a raid! 

No, Vietnam is definately not a nightlife kind of place - I don't think anywhere. The holiday island of phu quoc might be an exception. but I've never been there. It seems popular though. Been to Hanoi, HCMC many times and also to Da Nang and Hoi An. I didn't really like HCMC either.

[freedomnow]

22 hours ago, Cameroni said:

 

No surprise. Hate always comes from the very bottom.

 

 

I just can't be seen sharing common ground with you in public is all after all your s-talk about Bruce Lee.

[JensenZ]

8 hours ago, J Branche said:

People are done with the Currency Manipulation that Thailand is implementing.  Economy not doing well but surprise USD is down 11.6% against the Baht but USD is up 2.6% against the Vietnamese currency.

 

Others Year over Year

Yuan (China) down 10.6%

Pound down approx 6%

Cambodian Riel down 9.5%

Vietnamese currency down 14.23%

Australian Dollar down 12.72%

 

I would immediately place Thailand on the list of Countries Manipulating Currency and stop all but essential trade until it is corrected.

I'll focus on the Thai baht. Take a look at the USD/THB chart, and you'll see the THB is trading at about the average price for the last 14 years (against the USD). People visit Thailand from all over the world, and some currencies have done better against the baht historically, but it's not a reason not to visit Thailand.

[henryford1958]

15 hours ago, peter zwart said:

I largely agree with you. In particular, the incredibly poor customer service is a major irritation for me. The question, however, is: what is causing this change in behavior? Is it the arrival of pumped-up muscleheads from the West who need to act out their inferiority complexes on a daily basis and don’t know how to behave? Is it the TAT that first targeted the Chinese and now the Indians and Arabs? Or have the Thais been spoiled by the easy money of recent years? What I do know is that Thailand needs to get its act together quickly, or it will be left with nothing but bottom-tier tourism.

 

The rot started when they legalized weed. It began the gradual decline of Thailand as a decent place to live.

[SAFETY FIRST]

On 6/16/2025 at 6:00 AM, Scouse123 said:

saying “Thailand is finished,” and while that might be a bit extreme, I get where people are coming from. Something’s changed.

Yes, too many nasty, disrespectful, unhinged foreigners here now. 

 

If you are looking to relocate here for long term stay you've missed the boat, left your run too late, find somewhere else. 

 

[1happykamper]

10 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

No, Vietnam is definately not a nightlife kind of place - I don't think anywhere. The holiday island of phu quoc might be an exception. but I've never been there. It seems popular though. Been to Hanoi, HCMC many times and also to Da Nang and Hoi An. I didn't really like HCMC either.

You visited all those places in Vietnam and found no nightlife? I saw LOTS.. . not Hoi An though.

What is your definition of nightlife? 

[J Branche]

13 hours ago, JensenZ said:

I'll focus on the Thai baht. Take a look at the USD/THB chart, and you'll see the THB is trading at about the average price for the last 14 years (against the USD). People visit Thailand from all over the world, and some currencies have done better against the baht historically, but it's not a reason not to visit Thailand.

Maybe funny how tourism was pretty good when the foreign currencies were stronger.  1 person no big deal.  Family of 3 or 4 you may say let's wait to visit Thailand when costs are more favorable.

 

Also Funny how people are flooding to Japan where the USD and Euro are up over 15%.  Believe what you want but Tourist know Thailand is not going anywhere it will be there 10 years from now so unless its bucket list why rush just wait.

[ronnie50]

6 hours ago, henryford1958 said:

 

The rot started when they legalized weed. It began the gradual decline of Thailand as a decent place to live.

On every corner. No market big enough to sustain. Do just a few rich hi-so own most of them? Money laundering joints?

[ronnie50]

5 hours ago, 1happykamper said:

You visited all those places in Vietnam and found no nightlife? I saw LOTS.. . not Hoi An though.

What is your definition of nightlife? 

What I meant is no Pattaya, Soi Cowboy or Nana go go kind of places. But if I'm wrong, set me right. Maybe I wasn't looking in the right places. I was usually there for work. Even Phnom Penh in Cambodia is just a pale shadow of the craziness it used to have, except near the river.

[thecyclist]

On 6/16/2025 at 8:48 AM, Cameroni said:

 

I thought they were rude, aggressive, cold and unhelpful?

You got both, the rude ones and the friendly ones. 

[Scouse123]

5 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

What I meant is no Pattaya, Soi Cowboy or Nana go go kind of places. But if I'm wrong, set me right. Maybe I wasn't looking in the right places. I was usually there for work. Even Phnom Penh in Cambodia is just a pale shadow of the craziness it used to have, except near the river.

 

You mean you didn't see it all full on in HCMC?  The place rocks!

 

5 hours ago, thecyclist said:

You got both, the rude ones and the friendly ones. 

 

That's true, and they can be standoffish, but once you are in with them, they are fantastic I found.

[Taboo2]

It is amazing that out of nowhere, every You Tuber is now an effing expert on Thai Tourism.  

 

Click Bait.  Hype.

 

Pretty soon, we will see "Expert You Tubers" explaining in detail the issues with the Thai/Cambodia borders.

 

 

 

[Sigmund]

Sure Vietnam or any other place in Asia like Malaysia or the Philippines or even Japan where things are far cheaper then what we think. 

 

Foreigners are fed up with the almost institutionnalised cheating and overcharging all over. The total lack of respect from some of the locals and all the absurd immigration rules against foreigners who bring in money or who have invested in homes here. 

 

Vietnam the ladies are divine, prices around half of what is being overcharged in Thailand, great healtcare facilities, great food, people are still friendly with all foreigners....and their beaches are pristine, magical and far cleaner then most beaches in Thailand. 

[ronnie50]

4 minutes ago, Sigmund said:

all the absurd immigration rules against foreigners who bring in money or who have invested in homes here. 

Glad I never purchased a place (renting cheaper anyway - so the math tells). But I do empathise with those who have bought places here - especially the older retirees now in their mid to late 70s. Many (including some on this board) came here many, many years ago and are surviving only on their State Pensions (Brits and Europeans - Social Security for Americans) - and purchased apartments years ago in Pattaya, or Hua Hin. As the landscape is changing, some members with no financial ties (like ownership here) could well leave and go to more welcoming places - maybe move around every 4 months or so and pay no taxes. But older guys on a meagre fixed income - with an apartment here already (though maybe paid off) - would find it very difficult to move away and start over in VN or RP, etc. Those with Thai families also discouraged from multiple countries.

[JoseThailand]

On 6/16/2025 at 6:00 AM, Scouse123 said:

Great beaches, solid infrastructure

 

Beaches are crap, infrastructure is terrible