5 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

One used to be able to extend a 1 year tourist visa in country, so, pretty much a retirement visa, but they ended long stay visas. I have no idea why Vietnam did not want to be known as a retirement destination, but it appears they will soon be appealing to that market.

Last time I was in Danang, there was a lot of construction of high rise condo buildings.

It will be interesting to see what deal they offer.

Something I will be looking at strongly in November

23 hours ago, QPRFC said:

Vietnam's visas can't really get any easier than they are now. I've not heard of a visa refusal even with multiple one day border runs to BKK and KUL every 90 days. TRC are relatively simple provided you meet the criteria. Shame there's still no Retirement Visa available.

And just as you say that...

I hear a lot about guys doing border bounces every 90 days but cannot work out how these would work for Brits or Americans...

Brits get 45 days Visa Exempt so we could do it every 45 days, but Americans don't have a VE option so would need to get a new Visa which takes a minimum of 3-5 days and can only be applied for if you're physically outside of Vietnam.

AFAIK TRCs can only be got if you're on a Work, Investment or Family type visa.

Masstourism ahead...

As a retiree the thought of potentially moving to a country that is going the same way as Thailand has wrongly gone in the past in my opinion does not appeal. A permanent building site to cope with increased tourist numbers, the undesirables, heavily budget Chinese orientated. Everything that makes it desirable at the moment will likely be eroded rather quickly.

16 hours ago, Chivas said:

Something I will be looking at strongly in November

Vietnam is my Plan B. Currently, the main thing ruling Vietnam out as a genuine retirement destination is no long stay visa.

It will be interesting to see what deal they offer. Set the bar too high, and their long stay visa is useless. Set the bar too low, and the country will attract a lot of rubbish. They will probably be aiming for the sweet spot of attracting foreigners with decent financial capacity.

7 hours ago, SamSpade said:

And just as you say that...

I hear a lot about guys doing border bounces every 90 days but cannot work out how these would work for Brits or Americans...

Brits get 45 days Visa Exempt so we could do it every 45 days, but Americans don't have a VE option so would need to get a new Visa which takes a minimum of 3-5 days and can only be applied for if you're physically outside of Vietnam.

AFAIK TRCs can only be got if you're on a Work, Investment or Family type visa.

I spoke to a friend in Vietnam about this a while ago. He told me agents can arrange fast track. So you are stamped out of Vietnam, then you message the agent to let them know, the agent then arranges that your eVisa application gets processed straight away. You then receive the eVisa via email minutes later, and are then good to cross back over into Vietnam because it's now on the Vietnam immigration system.

7 hours ago, kinyara said:

As a retiree the thought of potentially moving to a country that is going the same way as Thailand has wrongly gone in the past in my opinion does not appeal. A permanent building site to cope with increased tourist numbers, the undesirables, heavily budget Chinese orientated. Everything that makes it desirable at the moment will likely be eroded rather quickly.

Good point.

It will be interesting to see how Vietnam handles the sharp increase in tourism, and possibly expat retirees. Like in Thailand, there will be hot spots for tourists, and places away from the hot sports for expats.

I think it will also be interesting to see how they develop the infrastructure, as in, the size, scale, and quality, to cater for the influx of tourists and expats.

19 hours ago, Explorator en Action said:

Even though there are thousands of empty condominiums in Hanoi, Saigon, Nha Trang and Danang..........prices keep going up, not down - that are overpriced by any countries standards.

Same Same Thailand.

3 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

I spoke to a friend in Vietnam about this a while ago. He told me agents can arrange fast track. So you are stamped out of Vietnam, then you message the agent to let them know, the agent then arranges that your eVisa application gets processed straight away. You then receive the eVisa via email minutes later, and are then good to cross back over into Vietnam because it's now on the Vietnam immigration system.

But isn't a lot of the current negativity about Thailand, including from yourself, about the amount of foreigners who are using agents here to get what they want from Thai immigration?

But it's ok to do that in Vietnam?

5 hours ago, NanLaew said:

But isn't a lot of the current negativity about Thailand, including from yourself, about the amount of foreigners who are using agents here to get what they want from Thai immigration?

But it's ok to do that in Vietnam?

What negativity?

Thailand, as a retirement destination, is merely a product to me. I have not imprisoned myself emotionally, or financially. No problem for me to shop around.

Thailand is now facing real competition. It will be interesting to see how they handle it.

Most countries in South East Asia are corrupt. When in Rome.

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

Edited September 2Sep 2 by KhunHeineken

3 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

What negativity?

Thailand, as a retirement destination, is merely a product to me. I have not imprisoned myself emotionally, or financially. No problem for me to shop around.

Thailand is now facing real competition. It will be interesting to see how they handle it.

Most countries in South East Asia are corrupt. When in Rome.

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

As you so often like to accuse others of doing, you miss the point completely.

You have stated your dislike for agent-assisted long stayers in Thailand, yet here you are condoning agent-assisted border bouncers in Vietnam.

Those dirt tunnels along the ho trail must be cozy 🫠

6 hours ago, NanLaew said:

You have stated your dislike for agent-assisted long stayers in Thailand, yet here you are condoning agent-assisted border bouncers in Vietnam.

Wrong. You must be confusing me with another member.

I use agents myself. I've posted that many times.

On 9/2/2026 at 9:14 PM, SiSePuede419 said:

Those dirt tunnels along the ho trail must be cozy 🫠

Don't worry. I'm sure the value of your property in Thailand will hold up in the future. 😂 😂 😂 😂

Edited September 7Sep 7 by KhunHeineken

There has been a recent and real consensus of news that it is indeed the case that Vietnam is in the process of putting greater scrutiny on people doing multiple visa runs.

Questioning, asking for documents etc. not always but more possible.

The clear intent that just like Thailand, Vietnam does not want people living in Vietnam on tourist visas.

The chances of friction increases over time.

People -- the concept of Vietnam as a "retirement" destination based on 90 day visa runs is now OFFICIALLY OVER.

Yet the international retire abroad press still tours the place!

23 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

People -- the concept of Vietnam as a "retirement" destination based on 90 day visa runs is now OFFICIALLY OVER.

Link please.

23 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

There has been a recent and real consensus of news that it is indeed the case that Vietnam is in the process of putting greater scrutiny on people doing multiple visa runs.

I would think this is in preparation for their long stay visa offer.

24 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Questioning, asking for documents etc. not always but more possible.

Anything is possible, in any country in South East Asia, at anytime. Example: Thai Company nominee crackdown.

24 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

The chances of friction increases over time.

Or, with the offer of a long stay visa for Vietnam, the chances of less friction increases.

25 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Yet the international retire abroad press still tours the place!

It's obvious Vietnam is set to go in direct competition with Thailand, and not just for tourism, but retirees, and also for manufacturing, agriculture etc etc.

Grab the popcorn. It's going to be good entertainment.

4 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Link please.

I would think this is in preparation for their long stay visa offer.

Anything is possible, in any country in South East Asia, at anytime. Example: Thai Company nominee crackdown.

Or, with the offer of a long stay visa for Vietnam, the chances of less friction increases.

It's obvious Vietnam is set to go in direct competition with Thailand, and not just for tourism, but retirees, and also for manufacturing, agriculture etc etc.

Grab the popcorn. It's going to be good entertainment.

I disagree.

It's not obvious at all.

6 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

It's obvious Vietnam is set to go in direct competition with Thailand, and not just for tourism, but retirees, and also for manufacturing, agriculture etc etc.

Link please, for retirees.

4 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I disagree.

It's not obvious at all.

I disagree that it's not obvious at all. The current tourists stats show this. Tourism in Thailand is down 7%, Vietnam tourism is up 15%. That's not luck, not by those margins.

5 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Link please, for retirees.

I posted one before, then AN posted another one.

Vietnam is seeking to introduce a long stay visa. It was in more than one media source.

7 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

I posted one before, then AN posted another one.

Vietnam is seeking to introduce a long stay visa. It was in more than one media source.

Not in this thread you haven't, and the OP doesn't mention retirees either.

8 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

I disagree that it's not obvious at all. The current tourists stats show this. Tourism in Thailand is down 7%, Vietnam tourism is up 15%. That's not luck, not by those margins.

Wanting more tourists is not the same as wanting people to live more or less permanently on tourism status. The Philippines has been tolerating that for I think decades but even they went through a crackdown period which seems to have waned.

8 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

I posted one before, then AN posted another one.

Vietnam is seeking to introduce a long stay visa. It was in more than one media source.

I think they are in the process of discussing that. Doesn't mean it will actually happen anytime soon and doesn't mean it will mean offers that the majority of expats living in Thailand can actually qualify for.

One thing is certain -- Vietnam most definitely does not want to be another Thailand.

Edited September 7Sep 7 by Jingthing

9 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Not in this thread you haven't, and the OP doesn't mention retirees either.

That's the news article AN started a thread on, but it's in other news sources as well.

https://news.tuoitre.vn/vietnam-plans-to-study-more-favorable-entry-exit-policies-for-intl-tourists-103260828123158544.htm

"Notably, the Politburo hints at studying controlled pilot mechanisms to attract long-stay visitors, remote workers, and international capital into tourism and resort development."

9 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Wanting more tourists is not the same as wanting people to live more or less permanently on tourism status. The Philippines has been tolerating that for I think decades but even they went through a crackdown period which seems to have waned.

There are a lot of people living in Thailand on tourist visas. They are counted as tourist, but they are not tourists.

9 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I think they are in the process of discussing that. Doesn't mean it will actually happen anytime soon and doesn't mean it will mean offers that the majority of expats living in Thailand can actually qualify for.

One thing is certain -- Vietnam most definitely does not want to be another Thailand.

It's only a matter of time before Vietnam reintroduces a long stay visa.

No country wants to be another Thailand. 🙂

It will be interesting to see what deal they offer.

38 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

There are a lot of people living in Thailand on tourist visas. They are counted as tourist, but they are not tourists.

No there aren't.

4 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

No there aren't.

Really? Are you saying there are NONE?

36 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

It's only a matter of time before Vietnam reintroduces a long stay visa.

No country wants to be another Thailand. 🙂

It will be interesting to see what deal they offer.

Yes.

Interesting.

Don't hold your breath.

I can't see them ever offering that at middle- class wealth / income levels similar to Thailand and the Philippines.

They should do a digital nomad visa but if they do it will have a high financial bar.

Just now, KhunHeineken said:

Really? Are you saying there are NONE?

Thailand's visa system actively filters out people who try.

You said live..That implies several years. Not possible legally on tourism status.