Thai tourist rule offends visitors from Vietnam

[webfact]

Thai tourist rule offends visitors from Vietnam

BANGKOK: -- The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has presented a diplomatic note to the Thai Embassy in Ha Noi regarding "unfriendly" requirements for Vietnamese tourists entering Thailand.

According to the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand, Vietnamese tourists now have to display US$700 or 20,000 baht in cash and Thai Customs officers take photos of them holding the money next to their faces before they can pass through the border gate.

Body: Chutathip Chareonlar, director of the HCM City office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) Newspaper that providing proof of funds was obligatory at the Poipet border gate.

She said that the regulation applied to foreign tourist visa holders from certain countries because there were an increasing number using tourist visas to enter Thailand and illegally staying and working.

The ministry said Thailand did not inform Vietnam of the new regulations. It also said that the imposition of such regulations on Vietnam was inappropriate and ask the Thai Government to stop it.

Ealier, Vu The Binh, vice chairman of the Viet Nam Tourism Association, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) Newspaper the regulation was offensive.

He said not all tourists carried lots of cash with them because credit cards were safer and more convenient. Moreover, those who bought tours from travel companies did not necessarily carry lots of cash because they had paid for most things in advance.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thai-tourist-rule-offends-visitors-vietnam/


-- Thai PBS 2014-05-09

[terryp]

hope that all Thais will have to do the same going to Vietnam...Thailand really is quite pathetic so called part of ASEAN etc...your a joke

[marko kok prong]

Any pointing in the photos?Maybe Tat can spin this,free photo when entering Thailand.

[casualbiker]

Insisting they have the money is ok.. but the picture taking is stupid and yes offensive

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[scorecard]

There's other example. I'm aware of about 5 students from well regarded Vietnamese universities being denied visas to take up exchange programs, one semester, at Thai universities (already approved for acceptance by the Thai unis.)

These are MBA students, all in good employment in Vietnam, all speak advanced English, all with good progress results so far in their studies, all with full sponsorships from their employers.

And with a refusal to give any details of why they were not approved.

[TVGerry]

Ridiculous. Like the man said, some people carry credit cards. Who wants to carry so much cash?

[HeavyDrinker]

Thailand is dying to be recognised as a 'hub' of something in ASEAN. At this rate it will be the hub of ludicrous demands on tourists.

[Thaiisnotrequired]

What a wonderful introduction/invite/welcome to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by Thailand.

Say no more......

[marko kok prong]

There's other example. I'm aware of about 5 students from well regarded Vietnamese universities being denied visas to take up exchange programs, one semester, at Thai universities (already approved for acceptance by the Thai unis.)

These are MBA students, all in good employment in Vietnam, all speak advanced English, all with good progress results so far in their studies, all with full sponsorships from their employers.

And with a refusal to give any details of why they were not approved.

Probably because they would show up their Thai peers,hence loss of face for Thai students= no visa.

[baboon]

Of course the Thais are entitled to their own rules, but the methods of enforcement really aren't the ticket at times. Why would the authorities want to unnecessarily piss off other ASEAN citizens like this?

[hanno]

Of course the Thais are entitled to their own rules, but the methods of enforcement really aren't the ticket at times. Why would the authorities want to unnecessarily piss off other ASEAN citizens like this?

Agreed. Plenty of countries ask for proof of funds from certain nationalities (Australia, Schengen countries, etc.) but the way this is done is absolutely ridiculous.

[Bluespunk]

Of course the Thais are entitled to their own rules, but the methods of enforcement really aren't the ticket at times. Why would the authorities want to unnecessarily piss off other ASEAN citizens like this?

Arrogance and a false sense of superiority?

[reiltin]

Welcome to Thailand it's all about the dough ray me.

[marko kok prong]

Really the other members of asean must be laughing at this country,it is so ludicrous as to be beyond belief at times,if they carry on like this they are going to get left trying to play catch up.

[lee b]

Really, why? I though the place was trying to draw in more tourists, not drive them away...Oh well we will never know what goes on in other peoples minds !

[mrtoad]

Idiots

[marko kok prong]

Let's take a look at it,this farce,bloody garbage everywhere,polluted water running onto some of Phukets beaches,no government,scams galore,second most dangerous roads in the world,trains that go off the tracks,i mean what the hell is going on here,they need to take a long hard look in the mirror,this farcial story just caps it off for me.

[scorecard]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

There's other example. I'm aware of about 5 students from well regarded Vietnamese universities being denied visas to take up exchange programs, one semester, at Thai universities (already approved for acceptance by the Thai unis.)

These are MBA students, all in good employment in Vietnam, all speak advanced English, all with good progress results so far in their studies, all with full sponsorships from their employers.

And with a refusal to give any details of why they were not approved.

Probably because they would show up their Thai peers,hence loss of face for Thai students= no visa.

Point taken but there are already many foreign exchange students in Thailand, both bachelor and masters programs, some for one semester / on year / whole course, and this has been the case for quite a few years, from: Asian countries, Europe (many) US, Africa, etc., and the truth is that most of these students do outperform the Thais in the class.

In fact it's common when there are course projects, in class case studies that many of the Thai students rush to be in teams with the foreign students and push the foreign exchange students to be the team leader. That's my experience.

Edited May 9, 2014 by scorecard

[tardelli]

[Tywais]

That rule has been around for a few years but not strictly enforced. The photo part is a new one though and can understand the issue.

1. Transit Visa holder: Must hold minimum THB 10,000 per passenger or THB 20,000 per family.
2. Tourist Visa holder: Must hold minimum THB 20,000 per passenger or THB 40,000 per family.
3. Visa on Arrival: Must hold minimum THB 10,000 per passenger or THB 20,000 per family.
4. Non Immigrant Visa holder: Must hold minimum THB 20,000 per passenger or THB 40,000 per family.

Thaivisa.com

Shows in Thaiairways also plus several other sites.

[Sattahip2014]

This is typical Thai hospitality.

You can find other examples such as

Thai Free , Foreigner 150 Baht admission

Thai 100 Baht , Foreigner 300 Baht admission.

etc, etc, etc

[hyperdimension]

Of course the Thais are entitled to their own rules, but the methods of enforcement really aren't the ticket at times. Why would the authorities want to unnecessarily piss off other ASEAN citizens like this?

Agreed. Plenty of countries ask for proof of funds from certain nationalities (Australia, Schengen countries, etc.) but the way this is done is absolutely ridiculous.

Myanmar citizens are even required to show 500 USD upon exiting Myanmar at Yangon airport (i.e. even before leaving Myanmar, their home country), which I find even more ridiculous. I've heard this happen on two separate occasions within the past year, with both people having 100% valid tourist visas for Thailand.

[marko kok prong]

This is typical Thai hospitality.

You can find other examples such as

Thai Free , Foreigner 150 Baht admission

Thai 100 Baht , Foreigner 300 Baht admission.

etc, etc, etc

Exactly,and add this to all the other crap,no wonder the saying 'dont Thai to me' has sprung up.

[Cnxforever]

There's other example. I'm aware of about 5 students from well regarded Vietnamese universities being denied visas to take up exchange programs, one semester, at Thai universities (already approved for acceptance by the Thai unis.)

These are MBA students, all in good employment in Vietnam, all speak advanced English, all with good progress results so far in their studies, all with full sponsorships from their employers.

And with a refusal to give any details of why they were not approved.

Yes Thailand rather wants all the gangsters here than decent people visiting goes with the national admiration for shady,corrupt,lawless people!

It was exactly in HCMC's Thai consulate where they denied a tourist visa to my friend who works off shore and has no way to apply for a visa before he arrives!

Some arrogant consul made him look like an undesirable person like there was something wrong with visiting Thailand 4 times a year!

Although he had been out of the country for 4 month he had all the required documentation and even a flight out of the country!

The guy spent about one or two million baht during his visits - but that's not the kind of visitor Thailand wants it seems !

Now he spends his money somewhere else.

Way to go Thailand!

[Thaiisnotrequired]

Let's take a look at it,this farce,bloody garbage everywhere,polluted water running onto some of Phukets beaches,no government,scams galore,second most dangerous roads in the world,trains that go off the tracks,i mean what the hell is going on here,they need to take a long hard look in the mirror,this farcial story just caps it off for me.

Flowers for Algernon, Hey?

Your teacher said stick commas in.

[marko kok prong]

i was talking to some old friends from the Uk recently,they have been to Thailand a few times,but would not come back again, because,it was dirty,overpriced,to much lies and scams and they can have a better value holiday closer to home in Greece or Spain,when i mentioned the girls they laughed,most of the bars had gone downhill,many girls were now fat,or unattractive,and wanted exhorbitant amounts,and that the gf experience was finished.now it was mostly short time only, as a tourist destination it may be popular with Russians and chinese still,but they generally spend less money than a visitor from the us,Europe,australia,as they buy food at 7/11 and beer there[well with the russians anyway],so whatever Tat does they will be unable to halt this decline,Thailand has through greed killed the goose that laid the golden egg

[Suriya4]

Maybe EU govt impose law that thai women must have live photo prove at check point that they are not going to EU to sell they pu55ies. Many thai woman have gone to EU to sell just that, while pretending to be a tourist.

[marko kok prong]

Maybe EU govt impose law that thai women must have live photo prove at check point that they are not going to EU to sell they pu55ies. Many thai woman have gone to EU to sell just that, while pretending to be a tourist.

Would this require an actual photo of the above mentioned area i wonder,is everyone different like a fingerprint,maybe some uni somewhere,maybe the one that came up with the astounding, Thai men worsts cheaters due to penis size' would be able to research this.

[tardelli]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

This is typical Thai hospitality.

You can find other examples such as

Thai Free , Foreigner 150 Baht admission

Thai 100 Baht , Foreigner 300 Baht admission.

etc, etc, etc

Someday ;they will pay back all these silliness total and very expensive.

still going lucky but no more longer continue well .

thell get banged in Asian Economic Community (AEC) for sure.

They have no idea at all about anythink. they live to chance .

[harada]

i was talking to some old friends from the Uk recently,they have been to Thailand a few times,but would not come back again, because,it was dirty,overpriced,to much lies and scams and they can have a better value holiday closer to home in Greece or Spain,when i mentioned the girls they laughed,most of the bars had gone downhill,many girls were now fat,or unattractive,and wanted exhorbitant amounts,and that the gf experience was finished.now it was mostly short time only, as a tourist destination it may be popular with Russians and chinese still,but they generally spend less money than a visitor from the us,Europe,australia,as they buy food at 7/11 and beer there[well with the russians anyway],so whatever Tat does they will be unable to halt this decline,Thailand has through greed killed the goose that laid the golden egg

The keyword GREED sums it all up.