Top 10 expat destinations

hdgh29 · Post by **hdgh29** » Sat Sep 07, 2019 2:53 pm

Cruisemonkey wrote: ↑Sat Sep 07, 2019 9:17 am Vietnam? I live here... and it's getting more and more difficult.

Except for Americans, nobody can get more than a 3-month visa. They've made the banking rules more stringent for opening accounts and term deposits (which now can't exceed the expiry date of your visa).

Yep I lived in Hanoi for two years with a work permit then three years in HCM being paid 'off the books' which meant the visa run every three months, which wasnt too bad really since I got to know PP and Siem Reap quite well. I am thinking about heading back there, and a Viet I worked with in Hanoi now has his own restaurant chain. In return for a small 'investment ' in his company he reckons he can put me on board as a director , so I can get 1 year business visa, although I have yet to get this confirmed. Vietnam is definitely the best retirement option in SE Asia. Outside Saigon, Danang is a great city, Nha Trang not so much (Russians...), or Vung Tau if you're Aussie, and the best thing is they all hate the Chinese. Just a pity they haven't sorted out a retirement visa option. Maybe in the future....

hanno · Post by **hanno** » Sat Sep 07, 2019 4:15 pm

Cruisemonkey wrote: ↑Sat Sep 07, 2019 1:33 pm
hanno wrote: ↑Sat Sep 07, 2019 11:41 am
Cruisemonkey wrote: ↑Sat Sep 07, 2019 9:17 am Vietnam? I live here... and it's getting more and more difficult.

Except for Americans, nobody can get more than a 3-month visa. They've made the banking rules more stringent for opening accounts and term deposits (which now can't exceed the expiry date of your visa).
As I get a 2-year residency card, that does not really apply to me. As with all top-ten lists, different criteria will give different results. I guess the relative safety of Vietnam plays a role, as does good medical care, good schools, ample shopping, etc.
I know an Ausie who is married to a Vietnamese woman and has lived here for years on a series of 2-year Temporary Residence Permits. He left the country and upon return was told his current TRP was "No good". He had to turn around, 'fly out' and come back on a three month visa. The trouble with Vietnam is there is no consistency... talk to three different people who deal with three different visa agents and three different Immigration Officers... and you'll get three different stories.

Yes, those are people that got the 2-year residency by registering with some bogus company. That was never legal, but it is now being enforced.

crob · Post by **crob** » Sat Sep 07, 2019 6:12 pm

sigmoid wrote: ↑Sat Sep 07, 2019 1:37 pm
crob wrote: ↑Sat Sep 07, 2019 1:21 pm
Doc67 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 07, 2019 9:06 am Vietnam #2, really?
Vietnam is looking very tempting at the moment, dollar goes much further than the baht, lots of growth occurring at the moment creating an exciting atmosphere, good food, lots to do, pretty open to foreigners, good internet.... hoping to go spend a year over there in the next 12-18 months.... just got get my saving where i need them n pull the trigger
So, you've never been there before?

There is growth and yes, the cost of living is low, but exciting atmosphere, good food, lots to do and good Internet sounds like somewhere else.

i felt n exciting atmosphere when i was there a few months back, n sure i was being a little generous with food compared to Thailand, but its still better than food poisoning roulette you play in Cambodia... and good internet... i live in Australia

sigmoid · Post by **sigmoid** » Sun Sep 08, 2019 10:56 am

crob wrote: ↑Sat Sep 07, 2019 6:12 pm
sigmoid wrote: ↑Sat Sep 07, 2019 1:37 pm
crob wrote: ↑Sat Sep 07, 2019 1:21 pm

Vietnam is looking very tempting at the moment, dollar goes much further than the baht, lots of growth occurring at the moment creating an exciting atmosphere, good food, lots to do, pretty open to foreigners, good internet.... hoping to go spend a year over there in the next 12-18 months.... just got get my saving where i need them n pull the trigger
So, you've never been there before?

There is growth and yes, the cost of living is low, but exciting atmosphere, good food, lots to do and good Internet sounds like somewhere else.

i felt n exciting atmosphere when i was there a few months back, n sure i was being a little generous with food compared to Thailand, but its still better than food poisoning roulette you play in Cambodia... and good internet... i live in Australia

Yes, that's true. It's all relative. I agree that the food scene is somewhat better than Cambodia but mostly in terms of the non-Vietnamese food that is available. Local fare is generally greasy and bland.

In terms of excitement, I guess you were in District 1 of Sài Gòn, which has radically changed over the past 15 years, but doesn't really reflect the rest of the country, which is still pretty sleepy. Anyway, VN is pleasant and compares well with the neighboring countries, but having realistic expectations is important. If you enjoyed it, why not come back? Just remember, living somewhere is different from visiting.

Jcml19 · Post by **Jcml19** » Sun Sep 08, 2019 11:32 am

Food is decent in any of the se destinations.. if you're looking for Western food though you'll be disappointed. It's like going to swizerland, Paris and looking food good Chinese food. It's not going to happen except for the fancy joints.

Go local and dont't look back.. if food will be deal breaker, it's probably best to rethink relocating outside of your comfort zone

hanno · Post by **hanno** » Sun Sep 08, 2019 12:04 pm

sigmoid wrote: ↑Sun Sep 08, 2019 10:56 amI agree that the food scene is somewhat better than Cambodia but mostly in terms of the non-Vietnamese food that is available. Local fare is generally greasy and bland.

Food is decent in any of the se destinations.. if you're looking for Western food though you'll be disappointed. It's like going to swizerland, Paris and looking food good Chinese food. It's not going to happen except for the fancy joints.

There is excellent Vietnamese food available everywhere and I do not agree with the "greasy and bland" bit at all; that sounds more like Myanmar or the Philippines.

There is also excellent Western food available, at least in the larger cities. More western restaurants in Tay Ho than one can shake a stick at; and some are at least as good as any restaurant in Europe.

phuketrichard · Post by **phuketrichard** » Sun Sep 08, 2019 1:52 pm

Jcml19 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 08, 2019 11:32 am Food is decent in any of the se destinations.. if you're looking for Western food though you'll be disappointed. It's like going to swizerland, Paris and looking food good Chinese food. It's not going to happen except for the fancy joints.

Go local and dont't look back.. if food will be deal breaker, it's probably best to rethink relocating outside of your comfort zone

strongly disagree;
You can get great European, American, South American, Mexican, Swiss, Italian etc etc cuisine in Phuket, Bangkok & HK, prepared by chefs from those countries with years of cooking experience.

PS: best Filipino food i ever had was in HK and great french cuisine in Vientiane

The Seawolf · Post by **The Seawolf** » Sun Sep 08, 2019 2:39 pm

I lived in Vietnam from 2008 to 2017. In Hanoi, then Nha Trang and the last 4 years in Saigon. I have a soft spot for Vietnam and it’s people but I ended up having to leave as getting a work permit became a ridiculous hassle.

Someone earlier in the thread mentioned the inconsistency being annoying and they are right. Go to 5 visa agencies and get 5 different answers.

I ended up on 3 month visas but I stayed in the country as I found a visa place that could swing it for me without doing a border run.

When that came to end I went back to applying for a work permit through official channels but it was a major ball ache.

During the time I lived there I felt Vietnam went downhill but that might be a case of familiarity breeds contempt.

The construction is ridiculous there. I went to Hanoi a few months ago and it is unrecognizable from a decade ago. Loads of vast developments and zero urban planning.

Saigon is a vibrant city with a fierce energy but I got worn down by the ridiculous traffic that just got worse and worse, the pollution and the continuous noise.

Plus the Vietnamese, well the Saigonese at least, are fully embracing the values of conspicuous consumerism which was one of the reasons I left my home country. Properly vulgar ostentatious bollocks with zero cultural value.

Any Saigon resident over 40 hated what was happening to their city. I am told it’s even worse now with Bui Vien as a walking street and Vietnam firmly on the map for holiday makers.

Shame. If the visa hassles weren’t in place and they weren’t all so besotted with consumer culture I would still be there I reckon. Loved the food and the energy of the place.

I miss Vietnam but, for me, I feel it has become a good place to visit but a poor place to live.

CamExpat · Post by **CamExpat** » Sun Sep 08, 2019 10:11 pm

On the plus side, PP is not in the bottom 10 either.

https://finance.yahoo.com/amphtml/news/ ... 31660.html

Anthony's Weiner · Post by **Anthony's Weiner** » Thu Sep 12, 2019 11:26 am

newkidontheblock wrote: ↑Sat Sep 07, 2019 6:00 am Thank God and Budda that my parents are wrong. Day in and day out they keep saying Taiwan is going down the tubes. Young people only making slave wages there, high level corruption that would make the KOW blush, and out of control crime that would make London at night feel safe by comparison.

Not that this poster will convince them otherwise.

But it made my day.

Very courageous of you to admit at age 50 that your parents may be wrong. I hope your mother doesn t read this forum or you will likely be grounded for a week. Perhaps you should revisit her opinion that Jews should be wiped off the face of the earth. Now that you have accepted she is not infallible there is always the hope that you nay start thinking and acting in your best interest, not hers.

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