Should you live as a tourist or as a local while abroad?

Experiencing expatriation as both a tourist and a local can enrich and diversify your time abroad, easing your integration and filling each day with new discoveries and learning opportunities.

Do you agree with this perspective?

- @Veedushi

Not really.

The thinking expressed in this statement is akin to the modern philosophy that there are no winners or losers in sports, just participants.

Actually becoming an expatriate requires a certain amount of commitment and dedication to follow the rules of residency in your new location.

A person could simply call themselves a citizen of the world as many travelers are doing, but that's only possible if they maintain their legal residence in their home country, meaning the country of their passport.

COVID-19 should have been a wake up call for those who would like to call themselves expatriates living in a foreign country without actually having a legal residence status there, other than tourist.

Here in Vietnam (both in person and in dialogue on the Vietnam forum) I witnessed the utter disbelief being expressed by long-term tourists that the government here was not allowing them to stay in place, except with month-to-month approval in certain limited circumstances.

It was a rather rude awakening for most of those people, especially the ones who were attempting to live here while working illegally without the approval of the government.

Certainly the experience of being a tourist can be valuable in the development of the expat experience.

In the Vietnam forum we get almost daily posts from people who say that they have decided they are going to move to Vietnam, even though they have never visited the country, while also being ignorant as to the laws regarding employment and residency here.

Those of us who have been living here legally for a significant period of time are quick to advise them to first visit this country on a tourist visa while also providing information as to the immigration laws in Vietnam.

Just because that person comes and visits as a tourist does not make them a Vietnam expat, but when they do eventually qualify to be a legal expatriate here, the experience that they had as a tourist will be an invaluable part of that process.

So in retrospect, there is some truth to your statement, but anyone can be a tourist.

Only after certain decisions are made and commitments to legal requirements are accomplished can someone honestly be called an expat in this country.

@Veedushi

expatriate = "denoting or relating to a person living outside their native country"

tourist = "a person who is travelling or visiting a place for pleasure"

Being a tourist, or an expatriate who lives as a tourist, seems to me to be very much AVOIDING "integration".

01/25/25 Those of us who have been living here legally for a significant period of time are quick to advise them to first visit this country on a tourist visa while also providing information as to the immigration laws in Vietnam. Only after certain decisions are made and commitments to legal requirements are accomplished can someone honestly be called an expat in this country. - @OceanBeach92107

We say much the same things  to people who decide that they're going to live in Brazil, and then some are outraged to discover that the immigration and other laws apply to them.  I guess that it's the same everywhere.

Hello everyone!

Thank you very much for your input.

Best regards,

Veedushi

Depends on 2 factors  IMHO......your intentions and your bank account.

I have lived in 4 countries long term and visited about 50.

Always live as a tourist for the first experience. and if a second or third trip becomes warranted, revisit your plans based on your longer term intentions and budget.

Integration can be attained if the people you communicate with are genuine.

Communication is a mutually beneficial relationship, and a community requires a heart.

This is applicable anywhere in the world.

So in retrospect, there is some truth to your statement, but anyone can be a tourist.

Only after certain decisions are made and commitments to legal requirements are accomplished can someone honestly be called an expat in this country. - @OceanBeach92107

Very good summary except if I may say so, there is one point missing.  You do not only have to make certain decisions and commit to legal requirements to become an expat (worthy of your new home), you need to become a contributing member of your new home country, or you will always stay someone who is an outside, an expat in the bad sense of the word, always comparing and typically complaining about how much better it was back home.   As a good expat you are not only committed to certain legal requirements but you also feel a commitment to the country itself and are grateful that it offers you a new home.  And please learn the local language, communicate with them.  They owe you nothing.  You owe them.

I agree with this perspective. Starting out with a tourist mindset helps you discover the culture, landmarks, and overall feel of a place, but long-term integration really comes from living like a local - building routines, understanding everyday norms, and connecting with people. A balance of both makes the experience richer and helps expatriates feel more at home while still staying curious and open to learning.

Food for thought,

Some time ago, I had a conversation with a Spanish man who works in Paris and visited the village where his father lives. He stated that the town hall labeled him a 'foreigner' on the paperwork next to his name, despite being born in the same village as his father.

IntereSting !

I liken this topic to dating someone (a tourist) vs marrying someone (an expat). 

When I visited Poland 15 years ago, other than not really being able to speak the language I found it was better to fit in more like a local than look like a tourist. Right now, the way things are going in the behaviour of the U.S., I do not want to be mistaken for an American.

Especially if one doesn't know for how long one will stay in a country it is always good to soonest also be a tourist. Who would want to have lived in a country for a year or more and leave without having seen the most interesting sights? Wherever we went, we made sure that we used part of our holidays to explore our expat location like a tourist instead of always going back to the "home" country for holidays. When we lived in NZ for a few years we went on holidays in the wider Pacific region, while normally working and living similar to the locals as well. The degree to which one can integrate into the local life varies by destination (I think).

The Study No One Talks About

Video Advice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqjsFTjLNyE

@GuestPoster6669

That is good basic advice.

@gjene

Why be concerned?

America has been the biggest and most consistent 'interventionist' in other countries since 1945.

I think everyone is used to the political elite of America doing their activities.

@suministro

Interestingly just got blocked by expat , no idea why,  not important as my freedom and my private info is for my eyes only. I don't have a free website to collect infos on people either.

They erased my profile photo too how sensitive of them;

@suministro

Hello,

You are replying to your own post. How did you get blocked ? Your account seems to be working perfectly fine.

And we don't erase member's profile photo without notice.

Please send us an email to contact.cmteam@expat.com 

We will investigate this matter.

Regards

Bhavna