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.