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[FishboneFelix]

I propose to everyone who lives or travels to Phuket to BOYCOTT the mafia taxi network and only walk or ride  rented bicycles or motorcycles until the air gets a bit cleaner and the local police start doing there jobs of maintaining law and ORDER.....

[waza]

I used to go to Phuket every year, but the place is getting out of control.  This year the Mia and I are heading off to Vinpearl a resort on Hon Tre Island off Nha Trang City in Vietnam's south-east.   For $80US each per night we get ocean views in a 5 star resort all meals, free taxis, cable cars ect.  It is said to be one of the most beautiful bays in the world, a tropical paradise and one of Asia's best-kept secrets. It has a one-kilometre white sand beach, backed by a range of hills and lush greenery. It enjoys around 300 days of sunshine a year with a comfortable average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius. Vinpearl Land has just opened a 3320 metre cable car system, the world's longest over water. Its nine pillars have the shape and structure of the Eiffel Tower (it was built by a French company) and can carry up to 1500 people an hour. The 10-minute ride makes it very simple to reach the island and the views of Nha Trang Bay are an added bonus. At night the whole thing is laser lit.
The cable car takes you to Vinpearl Amusement Park, which has a variety of indoor and outdoor games and rides, a food village and shopping street. Every night a musical fountain with laser effects entertains visitors and a 5000-seat amphitheatre with moving stage has shows and concerts. There are loads of rides, including a swing carousel, merry-go-round, crazy bull, jet elephant, 3D and 4D movies and video games.  The cable car and amusment park are all included.
Hmmm how can Phuket compete with that, the only thing  Hon Tre Island doesnt have is gogos and  bars girls.

Edited by waza, 2012-02-06 03:03:47.

[NamKangMan]

waza, on 2012-02-06 03:00:46, said:

I used to go to Phuket every year, but the place is getting out of control.  This year the Mia and I are heading off to Vinpearl a resort on Hon Tre Island off Nha Trang City in Vietnam's south-east.   For $80US each per night we get ocean views in a 5 star resort all meals, free taxis, cable cars ect.  It is said to be one of the most beautiful bays in the world, a tropical paradise and one of Asia's best-kept secrets. It has a one-kilometre white sand beach, backed by a range of hills and lush greenery. It enjoys around 300 days of sunshine a year with a comfortable average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius. Vinpearl Land has just opened a 3320 metre cable car system, the world's longest over water. Its nine pillars have the shape and structure of the Eiffel Tower (it was built by a French company) and can carry up to 1500 people an hour. The 10-minute ride makes it very simple to reach the island and the views of Nha Trang Bay are an added bonus. At night the whole thing is laser lit.
The cable car takes you to Vinpearl Amusement Park, which has a variety of indoor and outdoor games and rides, a food village and shopping street. Every night a musical fountain with laser effects entertains visitors and a 5000-seat amphitheatre with moving stage has shows and concerts. There are loads of rides, including a swing carousel, merry-go-round, crazy bull, jet elephant, 3D and 4D movies and video games.  The cable car and amusment park are all included.
Hmmm how can Phuket compete with that, the only thing  Hon Tre Island doesnt have is gogos and  bars girls.

"the only thing Hon Tre Island doesn't have is gogos and bar girls" -  ummm, what about the theft, assaults, corruption, rip offs, scams and extortion etc.  Don't forget them.

Seriously, have a good trip Waza.  I give you credit for having a look "next door" and seeing that Phuket is not all it's cracked up to be.  I'm sure you will enjoy Vietnam.  You will not be alone.  Tourists are flocking there now.  Nha Trang has plenty of girly bars, you just have to know where to look.  Any local taxi driver (that's a proper metered taxi - not like here) can point you in the right direction.  There's no pressure in these girly bars.  Take the missus, just for a look, as tourists.  They are not "sleezy" like in Thailand.

I've posted before about the rapid rate of expansion of tourism, and tourist infastructure, going on in Vietnam.  If they are not already, they soon will be Thailand's number one competitor.  The amount of hotels and shopping centers being built is staggering.

The cable car is a prime example.  They have paid top dollar to a western company for a safe, reliable and direct from of transport.  The same situation here would see a small fleet of dangerous boats, captained by an unlicenced navigator with a rip off ticket price, because there is no other way out to the island, and no free market for other boats to offer the service because they all collude and operate as a cartel, paying gratuities to certain "influential" people who allow them to do so.  No sustainability in running a business, let alone an industry, like that.  Especially, when not far away in Vietnam, you get a very similar product, if not nicer and newer, bettter presented, more affordable and safer.

Whilst it's not all about what the two countries have to offer by way of entertainment and natural beauty, it's the service delivery that puts Vietnam way in front at the moment.  They understand if you want the tourist money, you have to take the tourist.  Here, unfortunately, they just want the money, but not the tourist that bring it in.  So, sadly, many are going elsewhere now, people such as yourself.

Of course, the tourist stats are held up by Russian, Chinese, Indian and Arab package holiday makers, but there is no money in that market, just some new lambs to the slaughter for the cartels here.  

I've been to Vietnam many times and I am increasing my stays there longer each time I go.  I've not heard of the island you are going to but have just done a quick google, it looks nice.  Enjoy.

Maybe you can post an update after your holiday.

Edited by NamKangMan, 2012-02-06 06:14:06.

[Orac]

waza, on 2012-02-06 03:00:46, said:

I used to go to Phuket every year, but the place is getting out of control.  This year the Mia and I are heading off to Vinpearl a resort on Hon Tre Island off Nha Trang City in Vietnam's south-east.   For $80US each per night we get ocean views in a 5 star resort all meals, free taxis, cable cars ect.  It is said to be one of the most beautiful bays in the world, a tropical paradise and one of Asia's best-kept secrets. It has a one-kilometre white sand beach, backed by a range of hills and lush greenery. It enjoys around 300 days of sunshine a year with a comfortable average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius. Vinpearl Land has just opened a 3320 metre cable car system, the world's longest over water. Its nine pillars have the shape and structure of the Eiffel Tower (it was built by a French company) and can carry up to 1500 people an hour. The 10-minute ride makes it very simple to reach the island and the views of Nha Trang Bay are an added bonus. At night the whole thing is laser lit.
The cable car takes you to Vinpearl Amusement Park, which has a variety of indoor and outdoor games and rides, a food village and shopping street. Every night a musical fountain with laser effects entertains visitors and a 5000-seat amphitheatre with moving stage has shows and concerts. There are loads of rides, including a swing carousel, merry-go-round, crazy bull, jet elephant, 3D and 4D movies and video games.  The cable car and amusment park are all included.
Hmmm how can Phuket compete with that, the only thing  Hon Tre Island doesnt have is gogos and  bars girls.

Certainly does sound good but I took a quick look on Agoda and they are quoting 6327 baht - any pointers for cheaper rates???

[stevenl]

FishboneFelix, on 2012-02-06 00:22:51, said:

Very true.  I've witnessed the chinese/thai mafia controlling the government operations in Phuket.  Many of these business owners operate within the local crime syndicate and some of the bigger boys operate on an international level of crime and corruption.  Phuket is the richest island in Thailand because of the money the locals extort from innocent tourists.  Why would I say LOCAL, Phuket was once mainly inhabited by malaysian gypsies and a wide sprectrum of wild life until the chinese came in with there fresh new thai names on there passports and overdeveloped everything in the name of greed!  Now 90 percent of the wildlife in Phuket is EXTINCT and the number one place in Thailand for the death rate of westerners, and u know what its all because of the governments failure to enforce and maintain laws and there overwhelming ability to protect the rich business mobsters that infect this island like mother natures vaginal discharge of credit cards..

Do you have a problem with Chinese?

[FishboneFelix]

stevenl, on 2012-02-06 10:50:54, said:

FishboneFelix, on 2012-02-06 00:22:51, said:

Very true.  I've witnessed the chinese/thai mafia controlling the government operations in Phuket.  Many of these business owners operate within the local crime syndicate and some of the bigger boys operate on an international level of crime and corruption.  Phuket is the richest island in Thailand because of the money the locals extort from innocent tourists.  Why would I say LOCAL, Phuket was once mainly inhabited by malaysian gypsies and a wide sprectrum of wild life until the chinese came in with there fresh new thai names on there passports and overdeveloped everything in the name of greed!  Now 90 percent of the wildlife in Phuket is EXTINCT and the number one place in Thailand for the death rate of westerners, and u know what its all because of the governments failure to enforce and maintain laws and there overwhelming ability to protect the rich business mobsters that infect this island like mother natures vaginal discharge of credit cards..

Do you have a problem with Chinese?

Not ALL chinese people but I certainly do have a problem with the ILLEGAL operations many of them engage in and facililitate with the protection of corrupted government officials..  HMMM whose the owner of CP?  How did he change the name on his passport so easily??  He is just ONE example of chinese businessmen BUYING there way into corrupted world of business in Thailand.

[waza]

Orac, on 2012-02-06 09:25:19, said:

waza, on 2012-02-06 03:00:46, said:

I used to go to Phuket every year, but the place is getting out of control.  This year the Mia and I are heading off to Vinpearl a resort on Hon Tre Island off Nha Trang City in Vietnam's south-east.   For $80US each per night we get ocean views in a 5 star resort all meals, free taxis, cable cars ect.  It is said to be one of the most beautiful bays in the world, a tropical paradise and one of Asia's best-kept secrets. It has a one-kilometre white sand beach, backed by a range of hills and lush greenery. It enjoys around 300 days of sunshine a year with a comfortable average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius. Vinpearl Land has just opened a 3320 metre cable car system, the world's longest over water. Its nine pillars have the shape and structure of the Eiffel Tower (it was built by a French company) and can carry up to 1500 people an hour. The 10-minute ride makes it very simple to reach the island and the views of Nha Trang Bay are an added bonus. At night the whole thing is laser lit.
The cable car takes you to Vinpearl Amusement Park, which has a variety of indoor and outdoor games and rides, a food village and shopping street. Every night a musical fountain with laser effects entertains visitors and a 5000-seat amphitheatre with moving stage has shows and concerts. There are loads of rides, including a swing carousel, merry-go-round, crazy bull, jet elephant, 3D and 4D movies and video games.  The cable car and amusment park are all included.
Hmmm how can Phuket compete with that, the only thing  Hon Tre Island doesnt have is gogos and  bars girls.

Certainly does sound good but I took a quick look on Agoda and they are quoting 6327 baht - any pointers for cheaper rates???

I booked on Agoda about a month ago, it was quoted in aussie dollars $160 twin share for an ocean view with all food and run of the house including cable car and amusement park.  Since my knee went I need a hotel with and elevator, so I usually look for a good 3 or 4 star hotel,  so why would I book in Phuket where the beaches are to dirty to swim at, the taxis are a rip off, really you pay through the nose for sub standard service.  Who wants to spend their holidays on guard in case they say or do something that will upset a local.

[BanglaMayor]

love the sign on the airport meter taxi hut... No Taxi's  wonder why