Phuket Thailand - Thailand vis-a-vis Vietnam

Capt. Fantastic · #1 17-12-2006, 07:52

An interesting article:

Thailand loses luster with Vietnam's rise

Other BM thoughts? Thailand is said to be losing ground to other SE Asian countries in various lifestyle components. For instance, Cambodia is as Thailand was 35 years ago. Or something. And now Vietnam is filling the post-coup economic void.

Personally, wasp-wasted temptresses aside the LOS has the best mix of good roads/good Internet access/low cost of living/weather/beaches. Certainly good enough for me.

K2 · #2 17-12-2006, 13:13

Good article Capt. Fantastic. Thailand seemed to loose its way on the toursim front after if changed the 'Amazing Thailand' to 'Unseen Thailand'. The area that Thailand seems focused on now is on high end tourism - spas, resorts and quality shopping. Singapore and Hong Kong are still so far ahead of Thailand on shopping front, but the spa/resort concepts are a niche that appear to be yeilding results.

Back to the arcticle itself - the fall in FDI into Thailand will have consequences, and hopefully this governement will take the necessary steps to open up - or will face the consequences of falling behind.

JayBee · #3 17-12-2006, 14:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt. Fantastic

Other BM thoughts? Personally, wasp-wasted temptresses aside the LOS has the best mix of good roads/good Internet access/low cost of living/weather/beaches. Certainly good enough for me.

With the dollar losing value against the baht, and BGs raising their prices over the last few years, Cambodia is beginning to look better and better.

4 years ago, finding a girl in BKK to go LT at 1000 Baht was no problem. At the time the USD was trading at 44 Baht. Now the standard LT price there is 2000, and the $ is trading at 35 Baht. Translated to dollars and sense, that means in 2003 I paid $22.75 for LT, which will cost me $57 now. That is an increase of approx. 150%.

The wasp-wasted temptresses of Cambodia are starting to look better and better. The internet in Cambodia is excellent and cheaper than LOS. The roads in the cities are fine, as are the connector roads between cities. the weather is hot, same as LOS. LOS definitely has better food. No comparison there! I've never been to the beaches in Cambodia, but thinking about maybe checking them out.

K2 · #4 17-12-2006, 14:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayBee

I've never been to the beaches in Cambodia, but thinking about maybe checking them out.

I did consider living in Cambodia ... what put me off back then (2003) was the amount of tea money payable for things like electricity supply, land line telephone was very expensive.

As for beaches - Sahnookville (Kamot) in the south rivals anything in Thailand, and they have been environmentally consiuos so far as to not develop directly on the beach front.

As Cambodia is a USD economy for Americans this definitely does have financial advantages compaired to Thailand as far as vacationing is concerned.

LivinLOS · #5 17-12-2006, 15:50

I havent read the link above yet but it seems to me that many of the expats that liked it a bit more developing than developed like Cambo..

Was sitting with someone who has a good biz and development head.. He reckons Vietnam is a very hot and rising star to be involved in..

JayBee · #6 17-12-2006, 16:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by K2

I did consider living in Cambodia ... what put me off back then (2003) was the amount of tea money payable for things like electricity supply, land line telephone was very expensive.

As for beaches - Sahnookville (Kamot) in the south rivals anything in Thailand, and they have been environmentally consiuos so far as to not develop directly on the beach front.

As Cambodia is a USD economy for Americans this definitely does have financial advantages compaired to Thailand as far as vacationing is concerned.

No problem with phones there. The cell phone biz is booming. In Siem Riep, there were about 6 cellphone stores on every block!

Electricity is a different matter. Very sketchy, power outages almost every day for a few hours in PP. Therefore, if you want to have a fridge, you pretty much need your own generator, and some one to turn it on when the power fails.

In general, shopping is not much fun in Cambodia. I even missed 7-11s.

visa2003 · #7 18-12-2006, 07:41

As an Australian, what I would really wish for is a passport issued by a department of ASEAN that would give me the ability to stay in any ASEAN country for a period of up to 3 months.
That way I could take advantage of 3rd world prices in places like Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos, but still have the safety net of being able to access the better infrastucture of places like Thailand, Singapore or even Hong Kong.( as long as I could pay for it!!!)
The chances of it ever happening are about 0% but it is a nice dream!!!

LivinLOS · #8 18-12-2006, 08:46

The ASEAN or APAC card is very much like that...

Exists and Ozzies can get it..

visa2003 · #9 19-12-2006, 07:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

The ASEAN or APAC card is very much like that...

Exists and Ozzies can get it..

Any idea on how and where to get it?
If it could get me around the 30 day visa on arrival or applying for a tourist visa, I would certainly give it a try!!!!

LivinLOS · #10 19-12-2006, 08:56

Read about it on TV.. Wasnt open to me and was for business people (so what proff I am unsure) skipped info when I realized it didnt apply..

stevem · #11 19-12-2006, 09:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by visa2003

Any idea on how and where to get it?
If it could get me around the 30 day visa on arrival or applying for a tourist visa, I would certainly give it a try!!!!

google is your friend, unless of course you come from Ireland

Setanta · #12 19-12-2006, 11:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

google is your friend, unless of course you come from Ireland

Why is this so?

Never mind Stevem, I done the obvious and googled it. I got the answer.

visa2003 · #13 20-12-2006, 06:14

Yeah, I also had a Google and found that the "ASEAN Passport" is only available to people working on ASEAN projects.

They are talking about an EU type of co-operation but it probably won't be in my lifetime.

BTW LivinLOS, I am constanly amazed at the information you come up with!!!! Will we ever plumb the depths of your knowledge???
Or do you just have too much time on your hands???

Stevem- just call me lazy!!!!

stevem · #14 20-12-2006, 06:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Setanta

Why is this so?

Never mind Stevem, I done the obvious and googled it. I got the answer.

Just a post the other day from an Irish BM asking what google was!!!

LivinLOS · #15 20-12-2006, 11:02

I hadnt heard it called an ASEAN passport.. Google calls it an APEC Card

APEC Business Travel Card

APEC Business Travel Card - Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

Quote:

APEC Business Travel Card

Business travel between APEC Member Economies is now faster and more efficient with the innovative APEC Business Travel Card. If you travel in the Asia-Pacific region regularly or you plan to visit multiple destinations, then it is worth considering applying for your own APEC Business Travel Card. The credit-card sized APEC Business Travel Card provides you with pre-cleared short-term entry to the 14 APEC Member Economies participating in the scheme. Being a card holder means there will be no need for you to individually apply for visas or entry permits each time you travel, saving you valuable time.

Other benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card Scheme include the capacity for multiple entries into participating economies during the three years the card is valid and faster immigration processing on arrival via access to fast-track entry and exit through special APEC lanes at major airports.

visa2003 · #16 21-12-2006, 06:03

I was going to say that I have never seen an APEC lane at any immigration area in any airport, but I looked it up and it seems to be the same one as the Air Crew use.
Also, a 3 month mongering tour of Thailand does not seem to qualify as "Business".
Thirdly, it is cheaper to get a "3 year Non - Immigrant B, multiple entry visa" without the ABTC than with one. ( the ABTC alone costs 3000 Baht)
All that B/S to get "express" entry at immigration does not seem worthwhile!!!

LivinLOS · #17 21-12-2006, 09:40

The 3 year non imm B is not easy to get.. it isnt a case of form filled and fee paid so I am told.. Though I will be asking and pushing to suss this next year..

Would even form a dud company if it helped to get it.. 3 years of not considering my visa status would be sweet. Even if it cost a bit.

visa2003 · #18 22-12-2006, 05:47

Typical Thailand though:- it's only good for 90 days at a time. Then it's back to visa runs for another 90 days? They are not very clear on how often you can use it!!!

LivinLOS · #19 22-12-2006, 09:16

What are you discussing the 3 year ??

The 3 year will be same as the one year.. If you can fulfill the requirements for an extension (based on work) then you dont have to visa run.. If you dont then you need to do a visa run each 90 days..

But a 3 year term is a big plus..