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

[Paradise Pete]

On 6/19/2025 at 4:39 AM, sambum said:

 

I had a cataract removed and a replacement lens fitted privately and it cost 75,000 baht (special lens to improve far and mid distance vision). A friend of my Thai wife had a similar procedure done (standard lens) and it  cost her 6,000 baht, so don't tell me there is no double pricing!

A large part of that 75,000 baht went to the cost of the lens. 

(prices in US dollars)

Monofocal (standard)	$50 – $200
Toric (astigmatism-correcting)	$400 – $1,000
Multifocal or EDOF (extended depth of focus)	$1,000 – $2,500+
Light-adjustable lenses	$2,500 – $4,000+

[newnative]

On 6/19/2025 at 4:39 PM, sambum said:

 

I had a cataract removed and a replacement lens fitted privately and it cost 75,000 baht (special lens to improve far and mid distance vision). A friend of my Thai wife had a similar procedure done (standard lens) and it  cost her 6,000 baht, so don't tell me there is no double pricing!

   I wonder if your Thai wife's friend had her eye procedure done at a public hospital--which, of course, would be cheaper than a private hospital such as what you used, and result in two different prices.  Also, to start with, her standard lens likely cost far less than your special type of lens.  My Thai spouse and I both had lasik done at a private hospital and we were both charged the same price.   

   About 12 years after our lasik, we both had lens replcement, Supersight, done.  Same private hospital.  Mine cost slightly more but that was only because I required a different, more expensive lens, not because I was a farang and my partner Thai.  The service was quick and easy, both of us done in one day, with both eyes done for each of us.  

   Contrast that to my partner's Thai sister.  She also wanted lens replacement but, to save money, she used her public hospital.  When we saw her, she had had one eye done but was waiting to have the second one done because the public hospital had run out of the type of  replacement lens she needed.   Months later, she was still waiting.  I think she has now had the second eye finally done.  

   So, in this example, two different prices, for two levels of medical care, reflecting the use of a private hospital over a less expensive public one.  Frankly, I don't have a problem with Thai citizens paying less at both public and private hospitals--or parks, museums, national monuments, etc., etc.

     

 

[sambum]

9 hours ago, newnative said:

   I wonder if your Thai wife's friend had her eye procedure done at a public hospital--which, of course, would be cheaper than a private hospital such as what you used, and result in two different prices.  Also, to start with, her standard lens likely cost far less than your special type of lens.  My Thai spouse and I both had lasik done at a private hospital and we were both charged the same price.   

   About 12 years after our lasik, we both had lens replcement, Supersight, done.  Same private hospital.  Mine cost slightly more but that was only because I required a different, more expensive lens, not because I was a farang and my partner Thai.  The service was quick and easy, both of us done in one day, with both eyes done for each of us.  

   Contrast that to my partner's Thai sister.  She also wanted lens replacement but, to save money, she used her public hospital.  When we saw her, she had had one eye done but was waiting to have the second one done because the public hospital had run out of the type of  replacement lens she needed.   Months later, she was still waiting.  I think she has now had the second eye finally done.  

   So, in this example, two different prices, for two levels of medical care, reflecting the use of a private hospital over a less expensive public one.  Frankly, I don't have a problem with Thai citizens paying less at both public and private hospitals--or parks, museums, monuments, etc., etc.

     

 

 

You are quite right in your assumptions in that she had hers done at a Public Hospital whereas I opted to go to a Private Hospital. However, I got a quote from the Public Hospital where she was treated, and for the cataract removal and basic lens fitted they were going to charge me app 40,000 baht, whereas she paid 6,000 baht! I don't mind paying slightly more, but almost SEVEN times as much is a BIG price differential!!!

(I opted to go to a Private Hospital because (a) A couple of farang friends had been there and recommended it highly, and (b) the Public Hospital did not stock the type of lens that I required.) 

 

Regarding your point re  "parks, museums, monuments, etc., etc.", I wonder how Thais would feel if, for instance, they had to pay £50 to visit London Zoo, whereas the locals only had to pay £10? (Figures for illustration points only!) 

[Selatan]

On 6/20/2025 at 2:04 AM, zmisha said:

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.

Bus drivers were stealing bus fares by recycling tickets. Moreover, KL could only implement a single concessionary pass system for all the LRT, MRT, Monorail, BRT and bus lines if a single cashless system is employed. RM10 (for foreigners, RM6 for locals) for an unlimited day pass for all the metro lines including buses is a very good deal. You just need to buy a reloadable card (called Touch N Go) at any metro station or at the Touch N Go service center in KL Sentral. You can also use the Touch N Go card to pay for parking and tolls.

[Lorry]

2 hours ago, Selatan said:

Bus drivers were stealing bus fares by recycling tickets. Moreover, KL could only implement a single concessionary pass system for all the LRT, MRT, Monorail, BRT and bus lines if a single cashless system is employed. RM10 (for foreigners, RM6 for locals) for an unlimited day pass for all the metro lines including buses is a very good deal. You just need to buy a reloadable card (called Touch N Go) at any metro station or at the Touch N Go service center in KL Sentral. You can also use the Touch N Go card to pay for parking and tolls.

Double pricing for the subway, that's something I have never seen.

Thailand is planning to do the same.