44 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

They ruined Krabi also.

well I guess things can't last forever..Still, as far as the "major" Thai beach joints are concerned, Koh Chang is still the best in that category (IMO), despite its rubbish removal problems, etc., then Krabi is second on my list of main tourist beach joints. Phuket is a write-off now for me - not interested. Samui... went there one Xmas/New Year and it pissed down rain and flooded the place for a week. Won't go again. Of course both Thailand and Vietnam have many stunning smaller beach areas that are great.

58 minutes ago, shdmn said:

Glad I got to experience DaNang before the Instagram crowd flocked there and ruined the place.   Time to go elsewhere now.   

I know right. It's 2025 now. If DaNang is really that great it will be flooded and wrecked within a couple years thanks to social media.

12 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Thailand, and Pattaya, is certainly not for everyone.   But does Vietnam give Retirement visas/extensions?

 

Nope.  You have to do visa runs every 90 days.  They keep talking about maybe doing something someday but that sort of talk has been going on for years now. 

 

On 9/29/2025 at 7:55 PM, georgegeorgia said:

Can't wait to get on my flight away from Pattaya after 5 weeks here 

The costs are more than Australian prices in some things 

I pay cheaper for a pizza in Australia 

I pay cheaper for coffee in Australia 

I pay cheaper for milk 

Blood tests are free 

 

I have had enough, I'm going to Vietnam next year maybe Hanoi or Da Nang 

Is it true Vietnam is cheaper?

Please tell me about Da Nang 

Are the people friendly ?

 

Have you as a Thai expat moved to Vietnam,are you considering it ?

Maybe I can look at this new place Da Nang for retirement 

 

I need these studies.... financial,is it cheap ?

Safety ,is it safe at night ?

People,are they friendly ?

Clean street?

 

I found the Philippines didn't meet my needs and I went 4 times 

,so now looking at Vietnam 

 

 

 

   

   You need to change your name to Boomerang 

11 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

Just back from 4 days in Da Nang.

 

Don't go in typhoon season, it p!ssed down solidly for 3 days.

 

Da Nang is great if you like Pho and Banh My.

 

 

 

It is bigger than I remember from my 3 previous visits. Great infrastructure - which it will need because it is being over-developed.

 

 

Hoi An just up the road.

 

I stayed at Mixay Boutique hotel, one street back, in a deluxe Ocean View room for 1,150 Baht a night (including a crappy breakfast).

Is it cheaper than say Pattaya for massages ,breakfasts etc or same ?

11 hours ago, BritManToo said:

That law was revoked years back.

Same as Thailand now,they leave their ID at the desk.

 

So many hooker bars at Vung Tau around front beach.

Bit intimidating really, I walked into a bar on my own, full of girls.

The place went completely silent, they all turn to look at me, girl walks up to me .....

"Hi, I'm 18 and the only girl in this bar that speaks English, how far is your hotel room?"

 

Scarey!

It was a long time ago. 

 

It was a great trip to Vung Tau back in the day. I'd catch the 9am flight to Saigon, then jump on the Hydrofoil for the next hour and a half, had a bar on board. 

 

In the last year of working there, they put a motorway in, had to take the car, I think the hydrofoil got scrapped. A little annoying at times, you'd get up to speed, then the engines would cut out, we'd stop, reverse, this would evacuate the debris, engine clogged from the river crap, then back up, off again. 

 

14 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

Even so I would recommend anyone go. The cable car was really cool, great weather and being that high up in Asia is a treat. Highest peaks where I live in Thailand are 1200 meters and that was 3500 I think. I just wish it was more mellow but that's now how those people are sadly.

Sapa did look interesting when I was reading the Lonely Planet book that I bought before the trip. It just seemed to be a bit of a hike to get there. With hindsight, I should have gone the extra mile as I was already in Hanoi for a week and getting bored after 3 or 4 days. Live and learn.

2 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Is it cheaper than say Pattaya for massages ,breakfasts etc or same ?

 

 

Massages more expensive. Depends on what type of breakfast, I didn't notice a plethora of western style places compared to Thailand. 

18 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

The ladyboys did garner a larger footprint (as men do) but they are gone and the whole four floors no longer exists as we remember it. There were some criminal activities, probably Vietnamese gangsters protecting their patch, with shootings and, if I'm not mistaken, some foreign tourists may got caught in the crossfire. The authorities took that as their queue to shutter all the bars and clubs, bad for the image, etc..

 

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3226454/singapores-4-floors-whores-closes-its-nightclub-doors-sex-workers-worry-their-futures

Interesting reading, thanks 👍

 

I spent some time in Geyland over the years, nice nightime walk, lots of fun karaoke bars. 

 

 

In Singapore, sex workers must apply for a yellow card, which allows them to work in brothels in Geylang, the city state’s sanctioned red-light district.

sex workers in Singapore since 2008, there are many rules to qualify for this card. Workers must be between 21 and 35, cannot be male, and must come from an approved list of countries. Sex workers are also not allowed to have romantic relationships with Singaporeans. 

 

 

Not everything is about the difference in prices, I could name you things in Thailand that are far cheaper than Australia. It's the relaxed way of life in Thailand, without all the crazy bureaucracy and restrictions that Australia has, where you can't put up a chicken coop without getting planning permission, plus the civil unrest caused by mass migration. Nope, been here 16 years and don't regret it for a minute.

5 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Is it cheaper than say Pattaya for massages ,breakfasts etc or same ?

Your holidays are monkeys, perving on old guys in units, gym and cheap meals.

 

Ask AI

5 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Is it cheaper than say Pattaya for massages ,breakfasts etc or same ?

You travel to places that have things you enjoy or would like to try. You can get massages and breakfasts anywhere. You'll pay more in tourist places, less in the country areas.

On 9/29/2025 at 11:16 PM, georgegeorgia said:

Fantastic,love to know more about it 

I guess YouTube maybe my best friend 

Your only friend 

On 9/30/2025 at 11:02 AM, georgegeorgia said:

I have never paid for a blood test in Australia 

I get one every 6 weeks or so , it's bulk billed and paid by government under Medicare 

 

Mind you ,if you want to be pedantic you have to pay the GP to get a referral for a blood test

Paid by the taxpayer. The Government doesn't have any money per se.

9 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Interesting reading, thanks 👍

 

I spent some time in Geyland over the years, nice nightime walk, lots of fun karaoke bars. 

 

 

In Singapore, sex workers must apply for a yellow card, which allows them to work in brothels in Geylang, the city state’s sanctioned red-light district.

sex workers in Singapore since 2008, there are many rules to qualify for this card. Workers must be between 21 and 35, cannot be male, and must come from an approved list of countries. Sex workers are also not allowed to have romantic relationships with Singaporeans. 

 

 

Plenty of make sex workers and very overweight indian ladies working Gaylang street.

Just now, emptypockets said:

Plenty of make sex workers and very overweight indian ladies working Gaylang street.

Oh don't be fataphobic theres no need for it 

2 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Oh don't be fataphobic theres no need for it 

Just saying what I saw. If you're into fat....you do you.

9 hours ago, emptypockets said:

Plenty of make sex workers and very overweight indian ladies working Gaylang street.

I haven't been there for a long time, the chicks there never seemed as beautiful as the 4 floor chicks.

 

I suppose it's really gone down hill now, similar to Pattaya, now most girls are overweight and lots of Africans roaming beach road etc 

I experience some of the same feelings.  I am fortunate than I am a bit well off and can afford the increased costs of Thailand.  But I guess with age comes a niggling annoyance that it USED to be so much cheaper.

 

But I know I'll be back.  Probably until I die.  I do wish the exchange rate would move better for my dollars but it is what it is.

On 9/30/2025 at 6:59 AM, shdmn said:

Glad I got to experience DaNang before the Instagram crowd flocked there and ruined the place.   Time to go elsewhere now.   

 

💯

The OP needs to realize there are no 'retirement' visas issued by VN.

 

It's border runs every 90 days ... till the VN gov't changes the rules (again).

 

Also Danang weather is sh!te for much of the year given its location.

 

The continuous tooting and the coaches jammed w Chinese and Korean package tourists starts to grate too.

 

Stay away!

On 9/30/2025 at 7:59 AM, NorthernRyland said:

I know right. It's 2025 now. If DaNang is really that great it will be flooded and wrecked within a couple years thanks to social media.

 

Well on its way.

 

There are several dozens of YT channels bragging about how cheap it is to live in Danang.

 

Sadly, anti-foreigner sentiment is already brewing among some locals... 

 

Why does every nomadic schmuck HAVE to have a YT channel?  Narcissism?

 

Keep it on the down low.

 

Idiots!

57 minutes ago, Woke to Sounds said:

Why does every nomadic schmuck HAVE to have a YT channel?  Narcissism?

It's look at me, look at me. 

On 9/30/2025 at 9:00 AM, brewsterbudgen said:

Thailand, and Pattaya, is certainly not for everyone.   But does Vietnam give Retirement visas/extensions?

 

No, but they intend to do it but it will be for people who have money to invest.

I'm back in Australia today 

And I won't be back to Thailand,too expensive 

Most of the stuff I can buy cheaper here in Australia 

 

47 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

I'm back in Australia today 

And I won't be back to Thailand,too expensive 

Most of the stuff I can buy cheaper here in Australia 

 

Thailand

Hotel 400 baht

Fried rice 40 baht

Massage 150 baht

 

 

Aus

Hotel 3000 baht

Fried rice 300 baht

Massage 1200 baht

 

<removed>

On 9/29/2025 at 8:17 PM, georgegeorgia said:

Where is the majority of retirees in Vietnam?

There is no retirement visa in VN.

On 9/30/2025 at 11:46 AM, TedG said:

There is not much you can do to prevent an enlarged prostate.   Aging sucks. 

They say and I don't know that the Gay community has a lower prostate problem than the straight community 

Why not provide evidence to back this up ?

On 9/29/2025 at 7:55 PM, georgegeorgia said:

Can't wait to get on my flight away from Pattaya after 5 weeks here 

The costs are more than Australian prices in some things 

I pay cheaper for a pizza in Australia 

I pay cheaper for coffee in Australia 

I pay cheaper for milk 

Blood tests are free 

 

I have had enough, I'm going to Vietnam next year maybe Hanoi or Da Nang 

Is it true Vietnam is cheaper?

Please tell me about Da Nang 

Are the people friendly ?

 

Have you as a Thai expat moved to Vietnam,are you considering it ?

Maybe I can look at this new place Da Nang for retirement 

 

I need these studies.... financial,is it cheap ?

Safety ,is it safe at night ?

People,are they friendly ?

Clean street?

 

I found the Philippines didn't meet my needs and I went 4 times 

,so now looking at Vietnam 

 

 

 

 

Good.
Didn't you mention this in one of your previous posts but never went?