Thought it might be woth hearing other people's experinces and opinions given recent threads bemoaning everything Thai. Do people still feel Thailand is the pick of the bunch taking into consideration all variables- employment opps, housing costs/opps, healthcare, friendliness towards non-natives, education etc. Maybe this has been done to death ?, so if so, my apologies and keep the hazing light guys!

Been done to death mate.

Threads like your simply bring out the 'oh woe is me' squad complaining that nobody likes them and the locals aren't giving them a tickertape parade everytime they leave the front door.

Oh, I'll probably stick around here. Life has gotten much better over the past 15+ years. I like complaining about Thailand, but I think living elsewhere would just be too much of a reality check!

Ok. So was there any kind of concensus? And thanks for your replies. Sam that was quite funny and i know what you mean. Scott, well done for being here for so long and still positive. Someone is gonna scream 'search it yourself' soon, right?

The national sport of Thailand is muay Thai, but the "national sport" of resident farang in Thailand is criticizing Thailand and everyone and everything in it. I share an office with a guy who has been here about ten years. He has nothing good to say about this country, and comes in almost every day with some new criticism that has occurred to him. In my fourteen years here, I have met a lot of guys like him, although not surprisingly, most of them are gone after a few months. As for the ones that aren't, I would certainly like to ask them what they are staying for.

I've no experience of other SE Asian countries. Sure Thailand isn't perfect, but where is? I was talking to a Brit in BKK recently, who was on his way to visit a sick parent. He lives in Vietnam and loves it. I'm happy here with SWMBO.

That was a good one!

There are lots of expats living in the following countries: the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore..........it all depends on what makes you feel content.

The "love Thailand or leave it" crowd will tell you that most of these expats prefer Thailand and are living in the aforementioned countries because they can't afford to live in Thailand.

If you believe that, you will believe anything.

There is an active thread in the Southeast Asia section on Penang, Malaysia......maybe read what some people who live there say about Penang and Malaysia.

There have been many similar threads on the Philippines, Cambodia, etc.

I live in Indonesia, I quite like it here.

However, I can't see many differences to Thailand except for the religion, the food and the language.

My ex-wife isn't here so that is a big plus. (Although she does keep threatening to come )

Good one........hopefully she will not find you.

If modern conveniences are what you're looking for, Cambodia and Laos have serious shortcomings and I think you'll find the expats there make frequent trips to BKK. Vietnam is almost as developed as Thailand, but the society is heavily influenced by the Chinese so respect for strangers and overall friendliness is limited. Cambodia is not very friendly in the cities either, Khmers hate eachother and westerners are harrassed... Khmers generally keep their friend circle limited to their immediate families since trust, understably, is not dolled out generously there. Laos is probably the friendliest, Thais or kohn Isaan who have actually been there will tell you that, and I think that's true. Myanmar I have no idea. These are my generalizations broadly based on moderate experience, I think most here will agree unless they had some isolated experiences (negative or positive) that skewed their bias: (including- "the hotel owner was so nice, I love Cambodian people!" "the Laotian stole my camera, Laos is a theiving country", etc) .

I used to love Thailand. Earlier this year I was in Bangkok, and couldn't wait to get home to Vietnam. I still like Thailand a lot, there are more western type restaurants and outlets, and there is more to do entertainment wise. I also find the thai people more friendly, if even at face value.

My wanting to come home was rooted in two issues. First, I now equate pricing in vietnamese terms rather than US. I found Thailand to be very expensive this time around. I really dont care to argue the price of this or that, so will just leave it as my impression. Second, and most importantly, I missed my way of life, wife, baby, friends, usual rythym and comfort.

Thailand has become same same but different for me, and the differences are no longer as important.

Vietnam is home, and on any given day you may find me at the bar complaining about this or that, or you may find me saying that Vietnam will always be my home and how great it is.

Life is kind of like that, ups and downs, and no place like home.

yep..

depends on who you ask. There are those who came here because it was cheap, those who came here looking for a relationship, those who came to work here, and those, like me, who just sort of ended up in Thailand without any real plans to do so.

All will have a different response.

I live in Thailand and spent a few days in HCMC and Nah Trang past year.
I found prices to be about the same in supermarkets and restaurants.
Markets just off limit, prices never shown and got quoted 100,000 dong for 1kg of orange (that's 200 baht , while in Thai Carrefour it's in the 45-85 baht range depending on the season).
A big handicap in Vietnam is that a foreigner cannot buy his condo, therefore has to pay rent which surely is way higher than the figurative rent I pay myself here in Thailand.
Anyway could you write about how you settled in Vietnam ? What visa solution did you find ?

What about the 99 year lease option that everone blags on about in Vietnam ???...

Never heard of it...links please ?

Kind of goes back to what I said about feeling comfortable, and understanding things. I would probably feel the same, and have the same result if shopping for an orange in a Thai local market.

Personally, the only market I shop at is Metro, where everything is priced, and leave the local markets to the wife.

Like I said, I really don't want to argue the price of this or that, as I have seen enough of those arguments, that go no where. I just say that it is my impression that life is cheaper in Vietnam.

Having a wife can be invaluable in Vietnam, although I guess you could say the same about Thailand.

I first came to Vietnam in 2001 on business, was transfered here by an American company in 2005, and now work for a local company.

Prices of houses, and condos are unbelievably expensive in HCMC and Hanoi, so I prefer to rent. I have a large 3 story house, mostly furnished in Saigon for $425/mo. Someday when I do buy, maybe Vungtau, have no problem putting it in my wifes name, even if the laws someday change.

Visas are easy in Vietnam. I have a 1yr business visa. Just give my passport to the travel agent with $90, and a few days later get my passport back with the visa. I could apply for temporary, or even permanent residency, but in that the company pays, I take the easiest route.

Another nice thing is that foreignors are most often treated differentially by government entities, but unlike Thailand (from what I hear) in a positive way.

I arrived in Bangkok in 1979. By 1980, I was splitting my time between Singapore (where I had a dream job working one month on, one month off), Thialand and the Philippines. In 1983, I moved permanently to the Philippines as it was easier to set up a business there at the time.

I regretted it for the next 20 or so years, missed Thailand every day, finally married a Thai and we moved back here in 2000. To those who do nothing but complain about life in Thailand, I say: go live in the Philippines for 6 months and tell me Thailand is such a terrible place . For my money, Thailand is the best place in the world to live (I have to travel constantly to many countries around the world which I believe qualifies my opinion somewhat). You will not find a nation composed of friendlier, more helpful and genuinely kind-hearted people anywhere on the planet.

For many expats living there, the Philippines beats Thailand because of the language issues - the rumour is they speak and understand English in the Philippines. The fact is, miscommunications are far more common in the Philippines because Filipinos are too proud to admit they didn't understand what you are saying. Pretty much every Thai I have ever dealt with in any capacity will ask you to repeat what it is you are trying to say, or repeat what it is they are trying to communicate, until they are sure both parties understand clearly what is required - if you can be bothered to go through the process with them. If your impatience level is such that you can't or won't allow this process to run its course, then yes, you will become terminally frustrated at your inability to be understood or to understand. Perhaps you should go to the Philippines and give it a try.

And perhaps we'll see you back hereagain in 6 months a little more humble than when you left...

Thanks for your answer.
Unfortunately it does not apply to my case, as I am a not working rentier so I have to rely on tourist/retirement visas only. Also for renting I would prefer a simple studio for 100/200 $ rather than a big house.
Your statement "Having a wife can be invaluable in Vietnam, although I guess you could say the same about Thailand." would normally prompt me a joke about how not just assets but also liabilities can be invaluable, but I will pass for now

I like Hong Kong and Singapore, both for different reason but the bottom line is that
A My wife is Thai so she is comfortable here and close to family as I work away a lot
B We have a house here that we couldn't afford to have in either of the other countries
C Most of the crap people say about Thailand here is applicable to other countries too

The benefit of working all over the world is you get to understand the 1 truth of it all, nowhere is perfect.

Foreigners CAN own condos and even land and houses in Viet Nam, subject to certain conditions (just like Thailand).

And the option to lease land / condos is available in any country in the world.

Well mate... how long has been since you have been to the Philippines?? Being married to a Filipina and frequent visitor/long stayer in Cebu I have rarely had a problem with making myself understood. People love to bemoan the Philippines almost as much as LOS. Given the choice I'd take island living in Cebu 1st and if LOS gets it's visa/retiree sh1t together I would consider Bangkok pretty high on the list.. But having spent way too much time in LOS the language issue is a real problem for the non-native speaker. Thai is HARD to learn IDK what those stupid banner ads say. Cebuano and Tagalog are just as difficult, but I don't need to learn them when I stay in the little ladies homeland. And a big plus everytime the BIB have stopped us in the car for a traffic check in Cebu sees my big WHITE self..ask how I am enjoying myself and send us on our way. Never needed to bribe a single officer in the years that I have been there.

With the RP Filipinos are taught in all English in school after the 4th grade. I only have one relative that I have to communicate slowly and deliberately with, he is in his 60s and never finished high school. That is the exception not the rule. People love to bag on my beloved Philippines, take any country and you can find a reason to hate it. Take a person who never has lived or visited the US and drop them in Detroit, Oakland, or the crappy part of any city and they will think it sucks there too. Take bangers Suk 1 - Asoke pure suck, rate the whole city on that? Maybe if you are an idiot. You drop yourself in Manila in the wrong spot and you will find the same. Every place has somewhere that sucks and places that are good. You want happiness all the time move to Disneyland...

Then ride It's a small world over and over and over....

TV is #1 for pissing and moaning.. err I meant TV is #1 forum in SEA

This post has been edited by gunnyd: 2009-07-05 11:04:09

The law changed a couple of years ago.

Allens Arthur Robinson (June 2009)

Decree 51-2009-ND-CP on Foreign Organisations and Individuals purchasing and owning housing in Vietnam, dated 3 June 2009 (Decree 51)
Decree 51 guides and implements the 5-year pilot scheme introduced by Resolution 19-2008-QH12 of the National Assembly, dated 3 June 2008 (Resolution 19) which permits certain foreign individuals and foreign-invested enterprises to purchase housing in Vietnam.
As reported in the VLU in April 2008, a pilot scheme for foreign residential ownership had been long debated and promised. Although it was proposed that the scheme be addressed by amendment to the Housing Law, ultimately the National Assembly established the scheme under Resolution 19. The scheme commenced on 1 January, but until recently, there were no implementing regulations, making reliance on the scheme practically impossible. The long-awaited Decree will be effective from 1 August 2009.
The nitty-gritty
Decree 51 does not change any of the basic elements of the scheme as set out in Resolution 19. It reiterates that:
�� eligible foreign individuals are allowed to acquire only one apartment in a "project for commercial development of housing" (as opposed to a house);
�� the ownership period is limited to 50 years for individuals and the term of the investment project for companies (after which time the owner must sell the apartment within 12 months);
�� the foreign owners must not lease out the apartment