Retirement in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia or Thailand?

[bigwavedave]

WHERE IS IT????

[38nholding]

And the natives speak pretty good english, and a little french.We are hopeing to be out of here for five months on a "lookey loo" mission, starting around the end of October. Which is why you see our home up for rent in classifieds.Any help finding good renters over the "winter season" would be greatly appreciated.
I believe it is the second largest country in the world. No not Cambodia ,and no not Malaysia.

[aznyron]

38 why are you busting them tell us now I think it India because you said the 2nd largest country in the world well it can not be #2 because I think China & Russia are 1&2 so that leaves me to think it India
and yes they would welcome us as for the french language I guess so I do know they speak English in India

[souness]

And the natives speak pretty good english, and a little french.We are hopeing to be out of here for five months on a "lookey loo" mission, starting around the end of October. Which is why you see our home up for rent in classifieds.Any help finding good renters over the "winter season" would be greatly appreciated.
I believe it is the second largest country in the world. No not Cambodia ,and no not Malaysia.

id say somewhere like fiji,tahiti,french polynesia....but the second largest country in the world is india.

sean

[BobHelm]

Country ranking by population

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co ... population

Country ranking by area

http://www.mongabay.com/igapo/world_sta ... y_area.htm

India number 2 by population, Canada number 2 by area...

[WBU ALUM]

Sounds like India or China with prices ... Homes in Canada are more expensive than 750,000 baht.

[rickfarang]

My only wish is that Immigration would come up with one set of rules nation wide and remove the requirement that says the immigrant officer can ask for whatever the hell he wants...Year after year of the same old BS gets to be very frustrating, at least in Nong Khai.

Then you certainly wouldn't like Cambodia, where immigration officers demand bribes on top of everything else.

Viet Nam is a communist country similar to Laos, and similarly, you can't own land.

There are a lot of things to complain about in Thailand, but there are so many expats here because its a better place. Go out and visit these other countries - its not expensive and its quite an eye opener.

As far as I know, nobody goes hungry in Thailand, but just step into Laos or Cambodia, and it is literally a whole different world. Poverty everywhere, and few Westerners would be comfortable there. Haven't been to Viet Nam, but I have Vietnamese friends, and they are very proud of the way the country is developing. Still, its not on my list of alternatives. Malaysia would be my preferred second choice if I had to make a quick decision.

[Dante]

For Americans, especially, I'd recommend being very cautious about sinking roots too deep in any of the subject countries. There seems to be a choice between stable-and-dictatorial and loose-as-a-goose, with little in between. Those who remember the war and assorted "side wars" in the area (and those who flew out of Udorn AB) may note the mention of "revolutionary activities in Thailand":


From: http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/Memorial ... 101424.vov

Memorial complex of late President Ho Chi Minh to be built in Thailand

The groundbreaking ceremony for a multi-purpose house at the memorial complex of late President Ho Chi Minh was held in the northeastern province of Udon Thani on January 27.

The Vietnamese ambassador to Thailand, Nguyen Duy Hung said that the upgrading of the relics is of great significance to not only overseas Vietnamese in the province of Udon Thani but also to all Vietnamese nationals living in Thailand.

He added that the multi-purpose house and the memorial complex will help generations of overseas Vietnamese in the province of Udon Thani as well as young people in Vietnam learn more about revolutionary activities of late President Ho Chi Minh. Local residents and overseas Vietnamese hope that the complex will become an attraction for tourists in future.

The first phase of the project was officially inaugurated on May 19, 2006 including the construction of a house where Uncle Ho lived and worked in 1928. The second phase will include the construction of a multi-purpose house displaying photos of Uncle Ho’s revolutionary activities in Thailand and overseas Vietnamese’s daily lives, as well as a projection room and a reading room. The house will be completed in the next few months at a total cost of six million baht.

On the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival, around 600 overseas Vietnamese in Thailand who have made great contributions to Vietnam’s two past resistance wars and its current process of national construction and defense, will receive honours from the State and the Government.

[aznyron]

Rick I am no authority on Vietnam or any other S/E Asian country but it is to my understanding you can own land & a business in your own name in Vietnam and they are also trying desperately to get foreign
investors as well as retirees to go there so they are giving you the red carpet treatment I also heard they price things in USD so it makes things a lot easier for you when you arrive as they say the YANKEE dollar is welcomed every were

[laphanphon]

mixed thoughts on this one, contrary to most yanks, i like uncle Ho. visited the house/grounds where he supposed spent some time in exile over in sakon nakhon area. interesting, but didn't know he spent time in udon.

The house will be completed in the next few months at a total cost of six million baht.

hence the mixed thought. i think uncle Ho would be pissed if he new someone spent that much on anything for his past life . hopefully a good vietnam food vendor will set up close by.

[aznyron]

LA there is a excellent vietnam restaurant in Udon it called VT it not to far from the park
if you would like to go be my guest I go often Jun & I and you bring Ree also give us a call when your ready

[laphanphon]

thank you, been there myself, vietnam food is not my forte', but it was fine, and i found something to munch on. also the one in Nk is good, for viet munch, just not my preference. but thanks anyway. have something for you, but i forgot what it is already..............

on topic, still waiting for FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE OF SOMEONE THAT HAS ACTUALLY LIVED THERE. as many people suggest the philipines, and all i talk to and respect their opinion, say it sucks compared to here. so, ANYONE OUT THERE.

[Irish Alan]

I considered the Philippines a few years back. I only lasted in Manila for 1 week then I was back here. I was told I should have got out of Manila and went to Cebu or Davao. The southern areas are a bit more dangerous, like Zamboanga (Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Abu Sayyaf).

Sorry now I didn't at least check out Cebu and Davao. Might do it at some point in the future if things go tits up here.

http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/

http://www.philippinesretirement.info/