Analysis Thailand in Trouble: Expats Exit as Vietnam Steals the Show

[Magictoad]

Serbia is great and cheap

[Funkymover]

Nothing will change,, the greed for money and their arrogance, plus their want to be taking over by china ,  things will only get worse 

[palmbeachblueeyes]

You seem to have a real axe to grind, but are lacking facts to back up your theme.  

1. Yes, there are two prices for some things here.  But local people pay taxes and vote, so they make many things dirt cheap.  Does this two-tier pricing affect the standard of living for the farang?  NO, it would be nice, as it always is, to pay less, but I haven't done anything to pay for these parks and museums, so I pay when I use them. I have only been coming here since 2004, and the entire time, there was this pricing, so it is wrong to say this is new.

2.   Has the retirement Visa gotten more difficult? NO.  I pay someone to deal with the problems, and if the farang can not afford to pay, then they should either put up with the inconvenience or leave.  Could it be easier and more straightforward, yes.  I would suggest that they should just let us pay 25,000 baht per year and not require a bank account. 

3. Has the nightlife gotten worse in any way?  NO, the problem is that seeing the same show over and over gets boring. The show hasn't changed, the viewer has. There have been articles on this site about women getting less desirable.  If you wander around Pattaya and you can not find a woman you want to have sex with, then you are gay, face it. Yes, there are some older women, but have these people complaining looked in the mirror in the last 20 years? Some of the customers are not looking for a "happy ending" but for a more long-term relationship.  

3. Is Vietnam cheaper than Thailand?  Yes, but if your overriding concern is the cost of living, then you should go, and no one will complain.  There are so many other things that go into deciding where to live.  I live in Jomtien.  I have a very large, nicely furnished two-bedroom apartment with an enormous balcony overlooking the beach on a high floor of the condo building with a panoramic view of the ocean.  It has high-speed internet, cable, and cheap electricity.  I can shop at the local grocery store or drive 10 minutes for Lotus, or either of the two wholesale stores that are like Costco in the States.   I can have almost anything delivered.  The private hospital here is world-class, and the prices are reasonable for the services. The cost of all this luxury is 1/3 of what it would cost in the States, if I could even find it.  I don't need a car because Bolt only charges less than $ 3 USD to get across town.  But if I wanted a car, they are inexpensive, and the insurance is dirt cheap by US standards.  There is a major airline hub several hours away.  I can easily afford to eat out every night. 

4. You complain that Thailand is not friendly.  I would really suggest that you look in the mirror.  If people are not friendly to you, you should look at how you are treating them.  I have only lived here for two years, but I was only treated badly twice in that time.  One was a Bolt driver who didn't see me at the intersection, and so she drove past me and yelled at me when I got in the car.   Considering the hundreds of Bolt rides I have taken, that certainly compares to NYC taxi drivers.  And an Immigration officer because she didn't believe I was as old as my form said.  Finally, it came out that her father was 20 years younger than I and didn't look as good.   She profusely apologized.

I am a guest in their country.  I am a loud American, yet they put up with me.

5.  Could they make me feel more loved by making the retirement visa process easier?  Yes, and I hope they will realize that we retirees try everything we can to get our friends and family to come as tourists.  We are more effective than the Thai Tourist Authority.  

6. Could we do more for them?  Yes,  I would highly recommend that they expand assisted living facilities.  I am sitting on well over 10,000,000B just because I might have to move into a retirement facility in the States, and while my income will pay the monthly payments, there is a large down payment. I don't know what I am going to do when I get much older, but it would be very nice if Thailand had luxury retirement facilities in Pattaya, and if they did, I could double my monthly expenditures.  But Thailand doesn't seem to realize that not all retirees are "cheap charlies" and are, in fact, gold mines.  Articles like this make it more difficult for them to see that we are the gift that keeps on giving. 

 

 

[madone]

43 minutes ago, Geoff914 said:

It is a good few years since I was in the Philippines. Whilst I accept going to the bank and seeing a guard with a pump action shot gun but the bakery has a guard with a pump action shot gun then you know there is some thing very wrong. May be it is better now,

What you didn't notice is that the guns are so badly maintine,d firing them would likely kill the guard

[sambum]

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

THB 50 extra. I just can't afford to get sick!

I would like to know where you get the 50 baht from!

 

At one of our local hospitals they were going to charge a "farang" 19,000 baht for ONE stitch in a cut finger!!!

[captain_shane]

4 minutes ago, sambum said:

I would like to know where you get the 50 baht from!

 

At one of our local hospitals they were going to charge a "farang" 19,000 baht for ONE stitch in a cut finger!!!

You live in a scam area then. I got a toe nail removed at the hospital here and it cost 200 baht.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

6 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

1. From what I understand the retirement Visa is still an issue in Vietnam it's a fairly simple process here. 

 

I believe there have been recurring reports that the Vietnamese govt. supposedly has been considering some kind of long-term, multi-year visas for expats, but the proposals mostly seem to be focused on people willing to make sizable financial investments.

 

 

 

If Vietnam did ever go down the road in an accessible way, I could see them giving Thailand a run for its money among the segment of the expat population here that is disgruntled/disaffected.

 

 

[Taco]

Vietnam is the “explore me now” stage and Thailand is the go back to the same 5 locations and pay double for everything stage.  People have choice.

[ronnie50]

45 minutes ago, palmbeachblueeyes said:

But if I wanted a car, they are inexpensive

Good post and lots of good points. But one minor point - almost all cars are actually more expensive here (bought new). Most cars are assembled at factories not far from where you live. Thailand did a deal with the automakers that helps them keep the sticker price higher than it normally would to recover the costs of building assembly plants here. Most of the Japanese brands are assembled here - but not all models. Pick up trucks seem the cheapest. Importing a car (to get the model you want) is very expensive due to the duties. Great point about assisted living business opportunities. I've seen a couple of them advertised, but it's in its infancy really.

[ronnie50]

13 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

If Vietnam did ever go down the road in an accessible way, I could see them giving Thailand a run for its money among the segment of the expat population here that is disgruntled/disaffected.

I'd be willing to get one for both countries - and go back and forth.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 minute ago, ronnie50 said:

I'd be willing to get one for both countries - and go back and forth.

 

That's also reasonably easily done with the Philippines and their long-established SRRV retirement visa, which has a whole lot lower local bank investment requirement than any of the options Vietnam seems to be considering.

 

The other difference being  -- the Phils' SRRV retirement visa is real, official and available now, whereas the long-term Vietnam visa notions are still just vague reports of possibilities.

 

 

[Snackbar]

B99.00 2 cans a Chang

 

Same price for 10 years 

[Jack1988]

I still like thailand but i don't think i could live here for too long. The hot weather, the bad habits of the locals, this visas all the time, thai food not really healthy, the strange culture, thai women habits and much more. It makes me feel up and down and i don't feel comfortable with that. I like to stay here just for a few months and then i like to explore other asian countries like vietnam which is very popular now 

[save the frogs]

12 hours ago, sambum said:

I would like to know where you get the 50 baht from!

 

At one of our local hospitals they were going to charge a "farang" 19,000 baht for ONE stitch in a cut finger!!!

 

Please stop propagating exaggerated nonsense. 

There's no way any hospital charges that much for stitches. 

To have my stitches removed post-surgery in a private hospital, it was around 900 Baht. 

 

[Jack1988]

1 minute ago, save the frogs said:

 

Please stop propagating exaggerated nonsense. 

There's no way any hospital charges that much for stitches. 

To have my stitches removed post-surgery in a private hospital, it was around 900 Baht. 

 

I have paid 211 thb last year, for accidentally cutting my finger with a knife, they also gave me the tetanus vaccine. I didn't even have a health insurance

[Patong2021]

Vietnam is not eating Thailand's lunch. In 2024;

- 32.40 million tourists visited Thailand, up 15.1% from 2023. 

- 17.58 million foreign tourists,visited Vietnam a 39.5% increase  from 2023

 

Thailand still welcomes 2X the  visitors of Vietnam and Thailand is still seeing visitor numbers increase.

[sambum]

2 hours ago, captain_shane said:

You live in a scam area then. I got a toe nail removed at the hospital here and it cost 200 baht.

 

Good price! I live in a tourist area and that was at the most expensive hospital on the island. They were going to charge me "up to 500,000 baht" for a spinal operation because I had a very sore shoulder! Cleared itself after a couple of days and my local clinic doc reckoned it was probably a trapped nerve!  

[Nid_Noi]

13 hours ago, blaze master said:

 

Did you see him rock the ladies of the view with his take on immigration. 

 

Asta la vista.........ladies.

Did you mean Hasta la vista?

[AngryMan]

Why use images created by AI instead of using some real images? Lazy C**TS!

[blaze master]

1 hour ago, Nid_Noi said:

Did you mean Hasta la vista?

 

No. Arnold struggled to say it correctly. 

[zmisha]

12 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Yes, even Malaysia has now almost as many foreign tourist arrivals as Thailand, despite the lack of nightlife, (popular) beaches, etc. - 

Well, Malaysia has its own strange politicians and crazy things they introduce. Cannot pay cash for public transportation there. So taxi is the only available transport for tourists there. Very inconvenient.

[baansgr]

Johnny Foreigner has already messed up Vietnam, bars and restos owned by foreigners are charging double or triple what the Vietnamese charge...

[geisha]

I don’t think Thailand needs more tourists.  On the contrary, Thailand is a mess. If you’re an expat you sort of get used to it, and certain things that bother tourists don’t interest you !  But for people who have been to Thailand before, especially a long time ago, it’s not paradise anymore. The world is big, loads of interesting places to go for tourists, not always the same old. You’d swear the sun only shines in Thailand, far from it, the once beautiful beaches have been totally invaded and polluted, and the Grand Palace is something to remember yes, for its kilometer long queues, a sour welcome, and scams galore. That’s the way today’s tourists look at it. And let’s not mention the in your face prostitution, it doesn’t exist, does it ?

[StandardIssue]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

Moreover, Thailand's once-renowned nightlife, a historical cornerstone of its charming allure, faces similar criticism. Rising prices and aggressive behaviours in major tourist hubs, such as Pattaya and Phuket, have soured the once vibrant scene.

 

Yea, this is pretty accurate. Just check the news, swarms of Indians filling up Pattaya. Russians and their unconcern for Thai culture inundating Phuket. Gangs of Kuwaiti youth in motorbike gangs swarming around Pattaya proper. Continued over building in many tourist areas. Thailand is attracting the wrong kind of tourists to many areas and it will continue to be a problem for the tourism sector as decent tourists, man from western nations find it intolerable

[Cult of the Sun]

11 hours ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

 

But the issue is that I have to report - like a prisoner on parole - retired Expats dont in many other countries.

 

Don't you also have to have a tracking app on your phone? I don't use cell phones so, if they went ahead w/ that I guess I could just wear a scarlet letter? 🤔

[Cult of the Sun]

6 hours ago, Jack1988 said:

I have paid 211 thb last year, for accidentally cutting my finger with a knife, they also gave me the tetanus vaccine. I didn't even have a health insurance

Fell for another vaccine scam eh?  They get paid a bonus every time they jab you.  I would love to know how many vaccines the typical seasoned foreign traveler has gotten.  Plz share that, anyone...

[Cult of the Sun]

12 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

 and how about the conservative labour laws?? in fact you are not allowed to work in your garden as it is a protected Thai job and also wash your car.. Even be careful if you bring family or friends to the airport as it could be seen as an illegal taxi...

 

Sounds like a police state to me. Sounds as if one has to examine every activity to see if it violates someone's potential opportunity to eat.  The entire world is circling the drain, I think.

 

malibukid

Quote

 America has gotten way to pretentious and arrogant.  stupid ignorant MAGA consciouses prevails.  fast cars and barbecues.  just anger and obesity everywhere and not a lot of smiles

 

Yes, americans are more miserable than ever. Now tourism here is almost extinct. Lots more people will be living on the streets soon. So the anger will only get worse. If I didn't have a newish home on 8 acres, 3 cars, 3 ebikes and virtually no bills, only pay 500 a year in real estate taxes and very clean air, an ideal, private life (at home), I'd be gone.  No in house cat, which in the US is a good thing.

 

When I leave my property, I'm sure to have at least a dash camera rolling at all times. Even many of the people act as if they're the police. The youtube police auditors are keeping busy. The police and many people here have lost their natural minds.

 

[Cult of the Sun]

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[Cult of the Sun]

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[Cult of the Sun]

Sorry for dual posts.