Vietnam or Thailand

Hello group, it's been a while since I posted but have been lurking. The world is certainly different as is life. A few years ago before Covid, I was researching hard on living as an expat in Da Nang. Many of you were kind enough to give me information publicly on the forum and via private message. Thank you.
Some of the changes on my end is the divorce is almost final after 24 years. Other changes were Covid and how that affected the immigration/visa policy to Vietnam. I have read many of you say Thailand is easier from a visa perspective than VN and people are moving there vs staying in VN. Is that true?

From a big picture perspective, what are the biggest difference in day to day life as an expat between Thailand and Da Nang or VN in general? Pros/cons?

And I know this is very subjective for everybody given the lifestyle they want to live and the budget they have...I get it. That being said, what are the major considerations to think about between the two countries? I am sure there is just so much that I don't know that I don't even know the questions to ask. Any tips or suggestions are welcome.

Thanks,
Jim
-@Jimpdxusa

If you come to Vietnam on a tourist visa you must leave every 30 days.

I have read many of you say Thailand is easier from a visa perspective than VN and people are moving there vs staying in VN. Is that true?

From a big picture perspective, what are the biggest difference in day to day life as an expat between Thailand and Da Nang or VN in general? Pros/cons?

And I know this is very subjective for everybody given the lifestyle they want to live and the budget they have...I get it. That being said, what are the major considerations to think about between the two countries? I am sure there is just so much that I don't know that I don't even know the questions to ask. Any tips or suggestions are welcome.

Thanks,
Jim
-@Jimpdxusa

Welcome back to the board.

For your 1st question, yes. As OB mentions above, the only visa currently available, without getting married, investing a large sum of money or finding an employer to sponsor you, is a online 30-day tourist visa. So, yes, many expats have left/are leaving Viet Nam (including myself), although some have tried to hang in there by doing border runs. Of course, not everyone moves to Thailand; Cambodia and Malaysia are other potential long-term options and perhaps the Philippines and Indonesia??? You can probably rule out Laos, Myanmar and Singapore for long-term living.

The second question is difficult to answer; there are many similarities. Probably the biggest difference is the level of development. Although VN has improved a lot recently, Thailand is still quite far ahead in terms of infrastructure, consumerism, globalization, tourism, etc., which isn't always a good thing.

Finally, the most majorest consideration is, once again, the visa. People are able to enter Thailand on a tourist visa and then convert to a one-year retirement visa.

Check the Thailand forum for more info:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=211

@johnross23

Thank you so much. I appreciate lining me out a bit.  I will checkout the Thailand board.  Cheers.

    @johnross23
Thank you so much. I appreciate lining me out a bit.  I will checkout the Thailand board.  Cheers.
   

    -@Jimpdxusa

You can get a 90 day tourist visa now

A LOT more people will speak English in Thailand.  Makes every day life much easier.

Your best bet is not to make any decision on anywhere until you come and visit. It is literally like 1 hour to fly to VN from TH. Nearby are PH, indonesia, etc.

That being said it takes time to understand what place is the right one for a person.

For a guy like you it will be where is there some poor woman willing to take care of you  for no money.

Kidding.

I'm joking.

I currently live in Thailand and have done so since 2015... with 25% of these years in México.

I lived.. Forced to stay ha ha.. In Da Nang in 2020. I like Vietnam people MUCH MORE... curious and friendly. Thai.. Not so much.

Da Nang weather.. Several typhoons each year... The weather was grey and stormy in January through March. Then hit and very very humid in July and August. Thailand weather.. In Hua Hin... Is more settled weather.

Food in Thailand is much better.

ATMs were very problematic in covid times.. Is this normal now?

Healthcare.. VinMec in Da Nang... High quality care.. Equipment and high end surroundings... Just like the private Bangkok Hospital chain... But at a fraction of the price

Visa is back to 90 days. But for how long?

The best reason for me to consider returning to Da Nang is the local communities and genuinely friendly people.

Visa is back to 90 days. But for how long?


    -@1happykamper

Well being English you have the 45 days visa exempt option.

90 days tourist visa & now you must leave the country to re apply.

    Visa is back to 90 days. But for how long?      -@1happykamper

Well being English you have the 45 days visa exempt option.
90 days tourist visa & now you must leave the country to re apply.
   

    -@goodolboy

Here in the greater Đà Nẵng area, they are still doing twice weekly, same-day border runs to & from Lao Bảo, mostly for people who successfully applied for their new evisa through the main local agent, while still in country on their old evisa.

Next border run scheduled for February 15th.