45 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Okay, now imagine they require you put VND600M in the bank?

Then it's Plan C - Bali.

1 hour ago, JerryM said:

You haven't called anything that someone living full time for 20 years in Thailand and had direct exposure to Thai inner working politics doesn't already know.

Yet, they defend it with vigor, and why, because they are heavily invested in Thailand. It's about psychology.

1 hour ago, JerryM said:

And a lot of what you have called is plain wrong.

Example?

48 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Not sure marrying someone, just for a 5 yr visa is in my game plan. Wife might have issue with it.

I think you are unofficially allowed to have 1 wife per country. If you marry in Thailand they ask from a freedom to marry cert from the US embassy. Rinse and repeat in other Asian countries. A dispersed harem of sorts. One is enough for me but just saying....

3 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Same here. Saying one loves Thailand isn't the correct verb as it's way too emotive. You can love one's homeland though. Despite not living there since 1977, I love Scotland, where I was born. I have lived in Thailand for the past 20 years (the previous 27 years here as itenerant oilfield trash, although great fun, doesn't count), but I don't love this country.

i often ask the staunch Thai apologist, "If Thailand was at war with your home country, who would you fight for?"

So, would you fight for Scotland, or Thailand?

59 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Not sure marrying someone, just for a 5 yr visa is in my game plan.

Yet, you married a Thai lady and put a house in her name. 😂 😂

9 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Example?

Why should I ask my wife's brother for DNA check when HE paid for the house., You just glommed on to the wife's 'brother' is really just a Thai guy screwing your wife on the side routine

And my 'pig farm' was built by the same company that builds those 50 story condominiums you see on the way to the BKK airport.

Edited August 21Aug 21 by JerryM

19 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

If I could, then they would get about 20 years of social security.

I decided at 40 years old I didn't want any kids. Glad my daughter planned something else, as I would have missed out, on some on my best experiences.

18 years, unless they go to college in the US

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

No, people's opinion that I respect said don't bother,

Credibility zero.

You've never even been there, yet criticize Vietnam in the Thailand v Vietnam debate.

You know nothing about Vietnam.

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

in his recent visit there, first driving he got stuck behind 3, and took hours till cleared,

Would never happen in Thailand, would it? 😂

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Internet sucks also, and that info from folks that have been there.

On my last visit there I was staying in a reasonably large hotel and was getting 93 down and about the up. I remember going to a bar and getting 600 down and nearly the same up. That bar was streaming music and sport and had patron on their phone on WiFi.

Where did your friend go in Vietnam? I know the speed are not real good in the Issan villages. 😂

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

NO VISA, so not even a consideration and never would be. Y'all say TH could change at any time and we can't stay here. Well, VN, you already have no way to stay there ... NO VISA

We all know there is currently no Thailand style retirement visa in Vietnam. That's not to say there will not be one in the near future.

Many are living there on back to back 3 month tourist visas.

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Anyone concerned about cheap beer prices, as a priority, speaks volumes of their finances.

It's cheaper everything in Vietnam, and and for those expat retirees living on a fixed aged pension, pricing is important, and no, that is not my personal circumstances.

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

and small ass country, as seen the whole thing more than a few times.

Yet, never bothered to see a country next door. Very strange.

34 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Having a kid was the best choice I ever made.

Having 6 in LTRs was great, wish I could have had more ..........

Mind you, about 50 one and done without protection, so maybe a lot more!

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

If you are married to a Viet, or have Viet kids a 5 year VISA cost $50.

Correct.

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

If I'd been moving to SEA today, I'd probably choose to move there and marry a local as it's a lot easier to stay than Thailand.

I predict this is what the next generation of retired expat coming through is contemplating, and it's Vietnam's booming tourism that is advertising it to them. Meanwhile, Thailand's tourism is in decline.

What would be interesting to see would be if Vietnam announced a retirement visa next week, how many in Thailand would jump ship.

5 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Correct.

I predict this is what the next generation of retired expat coming through is contemplating, and it's Vietnam's booming tourism that is advertising it to them. Meanwhile, Thailand's tourism is in decline.

What would be interesting to see would be if Vietnam announced a retirement visa next week, how many in Thailand would jump ship.

Not to mention,

1. Viet women are generally a lot slimmer than Thai women these days.

2. Their income is a lot lower than Thailand

3. I've never been hit on anywhere as much as Vietnam (with PI a close second).

4. Alcohol much cheaper in Vietnam (but not as cheap as PI and Cambodia).

5. Best sightseeing in the world.

6. No bitey sandflies on their beaches (unlike every beach in Thailand I ever visited).

Edited August 21Aug 21 by BritManToo

1 hour ago, marin said:

KH has been banging on this same topic 20-30 times a day for over two months. I really feel he would be much better off in Vietnam. Then he would have the ability to compare Thailand and VN and really let us know how much better it is. First he has to get that Vietnamese retirement visa though.

I didn't start this thread, and I don't bang on about it.

I have posted that Vietnam is firmly my Plan B, and then Vietnam gets criticized because it does not have a Thailand style retirement visa, by people who have never been there, and think Vietnam never will never have a retirement visa.

I've already posted I have no problem doing a boarder run once every 3 months. One would be the Singapore F1 anyway. I could make another boarder run for the Buriram / Malaysia MotoGP, one to visit friends in Pattaya, and one for some other festival or show or event somewhere. Or, I can just do an out and back in a day. As it's my Plan B, I have already thought about this. It really is no big deal for me.

Same question to you. If Vietnam announced a Thailand style retirement visa next week, what impact do you think it would have on Thailand, if any, in the short to long term?

People have to look further down the track than just today.

Edited August 21Aug 21 by KhunHeineken

1 minute ago, KhunHeineken said:

I didn't start this thread, and I don't bang on about it.

I have posted that Vietnam is firmly my Plan B, and then Vietnam gets criticized because it does not have a Thailand style retirement visa, by people who have never been there, and think Vietnam never will never have a retirement visa.

I've already posted I have no problem doing a boarder run once every 3 months. One would be the Singapore F1 anyway. I could make another boarder run for the Buriram / Malaysia MotoGP, one to visit friends in Pattaya, and one for some other festival or show or event somewhere. Or, I can just do an out and back in a day. It really is no big deal for me.

Same question to you. If Vietnam announced a Thailand style retirement visa next week, what impact do you think it would have on Thailand, if any, in the short to long term?

People have to look further down the track than just today.

A reduction in tourism benefits expat retirees.

No, I have never thought about anywhere else. Been coming here 45 years and living here 36. Always stable, and since meeting and marrying my wife quite profitable for us. We were able to put our twin daughters through top universities. One works for Google and lives in Sausalito Ca. The other is with K2 Space and lives in La Jolla Ca. Always welcome in their houses. Never had any of the worries you live with so enjoying life. I finally retired this month at 74, and perfect health.

28 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

I didn't start this thread, and I don't bang on about it.

I have posted that Vietnam is firmly my Plan B, and then Vietnam gets criticized because it does not have a Thailand style retirement visa, by people who have never been there, and think Vietnam never will never have a retirement visa.

I've already posted I have no problem doing a boarder run once every 3 months. One would be the Singapore F1 anyway. I could make another boarder run for the Buriram / Malaysia MotoGP, one to visit friends in Pattaya, and one for some other festival or show or event somewhere. Or, I can just do an out and back in a day. As it's my Plan B, I have already thought about this. It really is no big deal for me.

Same question to you. If Vietnam announced a Thailand style retirement visa next week, what impact do you think it would have on Thailand, if any, in the short to long term?

People have to look further down the track than just today.

If you're living in Saigon, there's a bus to Phnom Penh that's very reasonably priced.

If Vietnam came up with a retirement visa, I'd certainly take a look at the details. How much does it cost? What's the duration? Once granted, can it be renewed based on the original set of requirements? What about tax treaties?

And I could always renew my Thai O visa extension of stay once a year, right? Just leave the 800,000 baht in the Thai bank and show up once a year and stay for a month or whatever.

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Not to mention,

1. Viet women are generally a lot slimmer than Thai women these days.

2. Their income is a lot lower than Thailand

3. I've never been hit on anywhere as much as Vietnam (with PI a close second).

4. Alcohol much cheaper in Vietnam (but not as cheap as PI and Cambodia).

5. Best sightseeing in the world.

6. No bitey sandflies on their beaches (unlike every beach in Thailand I ever visited).

I find Vietnamese people generally more friendly than the Thai's.

On one trip to Danang, a mate had to go to a function with his missus for dinner, so I went to a restaurant alone.

There was a big table of Vietnamese guys nearby. From their attire, and their build, and their hands, it appeared they worked in construction, and it looked like a finished project p*ss up.

There were a couple of more well dressed guys who I would say were the project manager and / or foremen, then someone who appeared to be the top guy. He was the one dealing with the staff. Boxes of beer, bottles of whisky, and a ton of food was coming out.

After I finished eating, and they were half p*ssed, a couple of them motioned for me to join the table. I waved to them and politely said the word "no" to them in Vietnamese. They got the waitress to speak to me in English and she said to me with a shocked look on her face, "They invite you."

What can I say, I squared my bill up and I joined them, and out came Google translate. 😂 Turned out the top guy could speak some English, so I ended up with an interpreter, other than the staff.

They refused to let me buy any alcohol. Kept putting dishes to try in front of me. It was great fun, and of course everyone wanted to do a "Cheers" with the foreigner. I kept messaging my mate saying, "Take your time, take your time." 😂 Eventually I had to go, and they are shaking my hand, smiles all round.

At the reception of the restaurant I ordered and paid for a bottle of Johnnie Walker. I went back to the table, put it on the middle of the table and ran out and jumped in a taxi before they could grab me to stay. They were starting to get messy towards the end. I can only image what they would have been like after another bottle.

A big group of Vietnamese strangers who didn't want to see someone sitting alone. I have no doubt they would have done the same had it been a Vietnamese guy also.

That wouldn't happen in Thailand, and as a foreigner, if you approached the table, a Thai guy would get up and shoot you to show off to his friends. 😂 😂

16 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

That wouldn't happen in Thailand, and as a foreigner, if you approached the table, a Thai guy would get up and shoot you to show off to his friends.

Happened to me several times in Thailand.

Always in places for locals, no tourists.

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Happened to me several times in Thailand.

Always in places for locals, no tourists.

Nice story above -- here's my story:

25+ years ago I met the founder/director of a large NGO under Royal patronage and he asked he to help some of his disadvantaged students.

Yeah but did you have a work permit?

I helped the director in writing some of his speeches

I helped some of his students with their Thailand university exam

I helped some his students in eventually winning overseas scholarships

I helped one of students getting a PhD at ex-Thai university

I helped one of students with a stipend for graduate studies

I helped one of his students get a law degree ex-Thailand

Yeah but did you have a work permit? ETC.

With one of those students I thought I was just helping with university entrance exams. But I later found out I was actually prepping her for a UK scholarship which she later won. Someone said you helped her a lot. And I later found out she was valedictorian of her high school.

I said she already spoke excellent English. They said: She lacked confidence. YOU helped her gain confidence.

BTW this girl was totally blind.

Edited August 21Aug 21 by JerryM

28 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

I find Vietnamese people generally more friendly than the Thai's.

On one trip to Danang, a mate had to go to a function with his missus for dinner, so I went to a restaurant alone.

There was a big table of Vietnamese guys nearby. From their attire, and their build, and their hands, it appeared they worked in construction, and it looked like a finished project p*ss up.

There were a couple of more well dressed guys who I would say were the project manager and / or foremen, then someone who appeared to be the top guy. He was the one dealing with the staff. Boxes of beer, bottles of whisky, and a ton of food was coming out.

After I finished eating, and they were half p*ssed, a couple of them motioned for me to join the table. I waved to them and politely said the word "no" to them in Vietnamese. They got the waitress to speak to me in English and she said to me with a shocked look on her face, "They invite you."

What can I say, I squared my bill up and I joined them, and out came Google translate. 😂 Turned out the top guy could speak some English, so I ended up with an interpreter, other than the staff.

They refused to let me buy any alcohol. Kept putting dishes to try in front of me. It was great fun, and of course everyone wanted to do a "Cheers" with the foreigner. I kept messaging my mate saying, "Take your time, take your time." 😂 Eventually I had to go, and they are shaking my hand, smiles all round.

At the reception of the restaurant I ordered and paid for a bottle of Johnnie Walker. I went back to the table, put it on the middle of the table and ran out and jumped in a taxi before they could grab me to stay. They were starting to get messy towards the end. I can only image what they would have been like after another bottle.

A big group of Vietnamese strangers who didn't want to see someone sitting alone. I have no doubt they would have done the same had it been a Vietnamese guy also.

That wouldn't happen in Thailand, and as a foreigner, if you approached the table, a Thai guy would get up and shoot you to show off to his friends. 😂 😂

They don't know you as well

1 hour ago, KhunHeineken said:

i often ask the staunch Thai apologist, "If Thailand was at war with your home country, who would you fight for?"

So, would you fight for Scotland, or Thailand?

No brainer there KH. After painting my wee face blue, I'll be right up there with the Jockinese Liberation Army, freeing Isaan from southern domination.

Freedummmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!

In the event Thailand cracks down on visa agents, I think it is a good idea for everyone that cannot afford the B800K in the bank method, should have a plan B.

6 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

In the event Thailand cracks down on visa agents, I think it is a good idea for everyone that cannot afford the B800K in the bank method, should have a plan B.

As with many criminal investigative instances, the culpability may be established by a sting.

Edited August 21Aug 21 by JerryM

1 hour ago, Yellowtail said:

A reduction in tourism benefits expat retirees.

No, it doesn't.

It reduces variety and choice, and causes prices to rise.

Edited August 21Aug 21 by KhunHeineken

58 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Happened to me several times in Thailand.

Always in places for locals, no tourists.

Do they ask you to pay the bill? 😂 😂

1 minute ago, KhunHeineken said:

Do they ask you to pay the bill? 😂 😂

Nope ........

We did buy our table a Chang tower once, but my pal did take the Thai guys gf home, so I think that was fair.

55 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

They don't know you as well

Correct, complete strangers. They didn't want me sitting alone. Refused to even let me pay for anything.

2 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

No, it doesn't.

It reduces variety and choice, and caused prices to rise.

So fewer people renting rooms and banking hookers reduces the variety of available rooms and hookers, that makes sense.

You're right, reduced demand always increases prices.

24 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

In the event Thailand cracks down on visa agents, I think it is a good idea for everyone that cannot afford the B800K in the bank method, should have a plan B.

I bring in way more than the 65k each month, so that's my Plan B for my Plan A, but I won't be keen wasting my time in immigration. What a PIA.

Not everyone who uses an agent can't afford the 800k / 65k.

I simply refuse to donate 800k to Thai bank, who pays a pittance.

I make Thailand work for me, not the other way around.

52 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

No brainer there KH. After painting my wee face blue, I'll be right up there with the Jockinese Liberation Army, freeing Isaan from southern domination.

Freedummmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!

Issan's got nothing worth fighting for. 😂 😂