On 8/18/2026 at 9:40 AM, jcmj said:

I’m sure they will come up with a retirement visa very soon. They are already changing some laws and regulations. They are willing to make these changes, where Thailand is stuck and do not like change that would benefit the retirees.

My concern is what it will be like in 5-10 years time. Maybe overcrowded and the friendliness may wear down like here in Thailand in the major cities.

Thailand is slipping down the charts and maybe this will become a big benefit for the retirees. Only time will tell, but I’m happy enough with Thailand right now. Not happy about a few issues, but we all know that these things will change in time. Hopefully for the better.

a friend of mine that lives 12 years in Vietnam told me that they don’t want Retirement Visa to atttact the same scumbags fighting, drunks and drugs like in Thailand! Also Prostitution is more secret and not open as in Thailand and they don’t want another Pattaya or Patong in Vietnam !

8 minutes ago, TopThai1964 said:

a friend of mine that lives 12 years in Vietnam told me that they don’t want Retirement Visa to atttact the same scumbags fighting, drunks and drugs like in Thailand! Also Prostitution is more secret and not open as in Thailand and they don’t want another Pattaya or Patong in Vietnam !

And of course, living in a foreign country in which you don't speak the local language fluently, much less read it, makes one an expert on what that country does and does not want.

It's like a greeter at Walmart thinking they know what the board members are planning.

15 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

What thread

This thread.

3 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

This thread.

Oh that one. Yes, I perused that earlier, and the only thing I saw that was more difficult was that in Jomtian, one has to update their bankbook the same day.

I update my book he same day at CW anyway.

Were there any other changes that make it more difficult that I missed?

3 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Oh that one. Yes, I perused that earlier, and the only thing I saw that was more difficult was that in Jomtian, one has to update their bankbook the same day.

I update my book he same day at CW anyway.

Were there any other changes that make it more difficult that I missed?

Not so much about changes but about hoops to jump through. Vietnam is easier, especially if one is married to a Vietnamese national.

Your comments are like the boiling frog. We all get so used to the Thai BS that we just accept it, but things are a lot easier in neighboring countries.

Have you been to Vietnam?

Edited Wednesday at 05:13 AM2 days by KhunHeineken

Just now, KhunHeineken said:

Not so much about changes but about hoops to jump through. Vietnam is easier, especially if one is married to a Vietnamese national.

Your comments are like the boiling frog. We get to used to the Thai BS that we just accept it, but things are a lot easier in neighboring countries.

What hoops, filling the forms out and going down there?

The boiling frog thing is a myth.

1 hour ago, TopThai1964 said:

a friend of mine that lives 12 years in Vietnam told me that they don’t want Retirement Visa to atttact the same scumbags fighting, drunks and drugs like in Thailand! Also Prostitution is more secret and not open as in Thailand and they don’t want another Pattaya or Patong in Vietnam !

Tell him that in Thailand most of those are tourists

8 hours ago, JerryM said:

That's right. You're different.

Yes. I didn't se the need to join "The Issan House Builders Club." 😂 😂

1 minute ago, KhunHeineken said:

Yes. I didn't se the need to join "The Issan House Builders Club." 😂 😂

Neither have I -- the family owns and paid for the house. I just rent it.

I just got right of purchase approval based on the availability of a 25m swimming pool open at 6 AM.

Edited Wednesday at 05:34 AM2 days by JerryM

1 minute ago, KhunHeineken said:

Yes. I didn't se the need to join "The Issan House Builders Club." 😂 😂

There are a lot more people in the live in a rental, ride a scooter, bang hookers club, try that.

12 hours ago, BayArea said:

the number is growing rapidly by the day. I can't tell you how many YouTube videos I have watched the last several months from expats on their " retirement" in Viet Nam.

Vietnam is breaking their tourism records. That's tomorrow's expat retiree. Thailand's tourism is in decline. That's tomorrow's expat retiree lost.

https://news.tuoitre.vn/vietnam-tourism-sets-twin-records-in-international-arrivals-in-may-first-5-months-103260604120857023.htm

4 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Vietnam is breaking their tourism records. That's tomorrow's expat retiree. Thailand's tourism is in decline. That's tomorrow's expat retiree lost.

https://news.tuoitre.vn/vietnam-tourism-sets-twin-records-in-international-arrivals-in-may-first-5-months-103260604120857023.htm

When are you leaving?

19 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

When are you leaving?

He's not leaving. He likes it here where he can let everyone know what life is like at the top of the food chain.

16 hours ago, save the frogs said:

I wonder if the banks back home will stop tolerating people who are not tax residents anywhere.

I am still a tax resident of Australia, and wish to remain so into the future, despite some proposed changes to the law.

Otherwise, it's 30% from $0 to $135,000, no exemptions, no tax free threshold, and the government will know you are outside of Australia for 183 days from the immigration records.

26 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

When are you leaving?

I'm not. I like Pattaya and my lifestyle here.

No secret that Vietnam is my Plan B.

Thailand can bring on all the crackdowns and hoops it likes, I couldn't care less.

Unlike yourself, I have not imprisoned myself here, and I am not at the mercy of the Thai government.

Have you ever been to Vietnam?

9 minutes ago, JerryM said:

He's not leaving. He likes it here where he can let everyone know what life is like at the top of the food chain.

I fly under the radar here. I didn't come to Thailand to marry a Thai hooker and adopt her extended family.

How's your pig farm in Issan going? 😂

9 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

I am still a tax resident of Australia, and wish to remain so into the future, despite some proposed changes to the law.

So you live in Australia more than half the year.

But it's not feasible for most people to continue doing that.

Just now, KhunHeineken said:

I'm not. I like Pattaya and my lifestyle here.

No secret that Vietnam is my Plan B.

Thailand can bring on all the crackdowns and hoops it likes, I couldn't care less.

Unlike yourself, I have not imprisoned myself here, and I am not at the mercy of the Thai government.

Have you ever been to Vietnam?

I like Bangkok and my lifestyle here, Point Loma is my plan B, and in the 26 years I've been here, I've never had any problem with any government agency.

Why do you claim I am imprisoned here? And you are clearly more at the mercy of the Thai government than I am.

What is it about your life that has you calling my wife a prostitute, and me stupid for not renting?

What do you see in me, that you don't like about yourself?

12 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

I fly under the radar here. I didn't come to Thailand to marry a Thai hooker and adopt her extended family.

How's your pig farm in Issan going? 😂

How classy you are.

Vietnam doesn't seem to be in any hurry to offer "retirement" visas. You can apply for a long term residence visa of variable length for a fee and an investment in Vietnam, but the duration you will be granted is uncertain and, once you apply, you can't get a refund. On the other hand, people seem to live there by doing visa runs every 90 days. You can do the whole thing in one day. Fly into Thailand and turn around and go back, all on the same day. You don't even have to leave the airport. Or, you can take a bus to the border to cross and return.

If you end up needing serious medical care, hop pneumonia a plane to Bangkok.

Anyway, I've thought about it, although I can't really complain about Thailand. Cost isn't a big issue.

8 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

So you live in Australia more than half the year.

But it's not feasible for most people to continue doing that.

No, I live in Pattaya, full time.

The current residency laws for taxation purposes in Australia are 90 years old, and based on one's "domicile." I have a house, car, utility bills, family, club memberships etc in Australia. I left my life intact there. I can slide back into it at any time, should I want / need to.

As far as the ATO is concerned, I am just on a long holiday, with every intention of returning to Australia, and they can not prove otherwise. 😂

When the new laws come in, Australia will move move to a physical presence and time based model, the same as Thailand. It will be 183 days. That will be what they call "the bright line test." Every expat who derives an income from Australia, and the aged pension is deemed an income, will be impacted.

They have a secondary test where one must stay between 45 days and 183 days, and meet two out of four factor tests, which are easy. It will mean many Aussies will have to do 6 weeks a year in Australia, or be deemed a non resident for tax purposes and pay 30% from $0 to $135,000.

Here's the proposed changes from a random Aussie accounting firm.

https://hlb.com.au/tax-residency-changes-for-individuals/

10 minutes ago, jas007 said:

Vietnam doesn't seem to be in any hurry to offer "retirement" visas. You can apply for a long term residence visa of variable length for a fee and an investment in Vietnam, but the duration you will be granted is uncertain and, once you apply, you can't get a refund. On the other hand, people seem to live there by doing visa runs every 90 days. You can do the whole thing in one day. Fly into Thailand and turn around and go back, all on the same day. You don't even have to leave the airport. Or, you can take a bus to the border to cross and return.

If you end up needing serious medical care, hop pneumonia a plane to Bangkok.

Anyway, I've thought about it, although I can't really complain about Thailand. Cost isn't a big issue.

That seems a lot easier than just staying in Thailand

11 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

How classy you are.

Thailand does attract the classy expat retirees. It's the temples. 😂

41 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

That seems a lot easier than just staying in Thailand

???

You mean it would be easier to jut stay in Thailand, right?

1 hour ago, KhunHeineken said:

and adopt her extended family.

No. Her extended family adopted me.

10 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

Unlike yourself, I have not imprisoned myself here, and I am not at the mercy of the Thai government.

Have you ever been to Vietnam?

This response isn't directed towards anyone in particular, but I believe posters who have doubts about Viet Nam or shun it for various reasons have never set foot on its soil.

20 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

What new requirement has been added?

I think last year they were asking for the coordinates of where you lived, but each province varies.

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

I think last year they were asking for the coordinates of where you lived, but each province varies.

Did they not always ask where you live?

47 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Did they not always ask where you live?

Yes, the address, but that is not what I said. If you want another example, you need to see Integrity Legal YT post just made this morning, on 'Foreign Tax Documentation to Renew Visas'.

7 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Yes, the address, but that is not what I said. If you want another example, you need to see Integrity Legal YT post just made this morning, on 'Foreign Tax Documentation to Renew Visas'.

Thirty years ago, most people did not know what a GPS was, now most everyone owns and uses one. I do not see anything wrong with providing the coordinates, unless one is attempting to deceive.

Taxes are a concern, but I filed taxes here for twenty years without any issue and only stopped when I retired. I did not have to provide any tax documentation to renew in May, so I am not going to worry about it until next May.