IsaanUSA
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My other idea was to come over for 1 month just to explore the area and see what it has to offer.
I have done a lot of research online about the cost of transport, accommodation, food ect but is it really that cheap?
If you've never been to Thailand, you should DEFINITELY visit before committing to a move. It seems crazy to randomly move to any country in the world without having ever visited.
Is it really that cheap? It can be...as long as you're outside Bangkok. Thailand can be done as cheap or as expensive as you want or don't want. You need to have good self control, seriously.
Keep in mind that typically when people say SE Asia is cheap, they are referring to living like a local. No imported beers, no imported foods, living with family, etc.
Also, as a 20-something, it's pretty difficult to actually live in Thailand. You can read up on the Elite card though, http://www.thai-elite.com/
It's the easiest way for a young person to live in Thailand, visa-wise.
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Good day to all.
I should be a First TImer this july 2016. I plan to fly BKK--HCMC.. I would like to spend 3-4 days in HCM city and then 2-3 days outside HCM city.
What to see / do in HCMC ? Where to stay ( 3 star hotels) in HCMC ? How is HCMC airport ?
Where to go outside HCMC for 2-3 days ?
I have read this topic and taken some notes and then of course i will google as much as possible
BUT there is NOTHING like Your Recent Visit to Vietnam to provide an up-to-date picture. Please share your experience.
Thanks have a nice day/evening.
I like to use Trip Advisor and Wiki travel to find "what to see / do".
I like to use Trip Advisor and Agoda to find hotels and read reviews.
Cu Chi tunnels is okay. Nothing too exciting there.
Mekong delta tour is neat.
War Remnants museum is okay.
Bitexco observatory is cool if you're into that.
There are some temples, Notre Damme, parks, museums, etc
I highly recommend visiting a Trung Nguyen coffee shop. And really, you should be drinking Vietnamese coffee everyday!
Try some bia hoi (fresh beer) if possible.
Do a food tour. XO Tours seems to be the most popular.
Ben Than Market is okay for a visit, but don't buy anything there. The prices are INSANE compared to shops on the streets. You may think your bargaining of a $9 Tshirt to $6 is a good price, but you can find that exact same shirt at a small shop down the road for $3.
Also, you can pretty much bargain/haggle on anything. Seriously. Don't be afraid to offer 50% of their initial offer.
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Been to Vietnam 4 times, and been to many different cities by train, plane, boat and bus. I love visiting there. It's really developing quite rapidly, as the difference between my 1st and 3rd time was rather significant. It's a great time. I recommend doing a food tour wherever you visit.
I've never seen farangs handing out money to kids like in those photos, and have never been asked for money by beggars in Vietnam. Rather strange to see those photos.
Definetly more scams in Vietnam compared to other countries. Just stay alert. Also dont get made when you get ripped off 100k dong...it's not that much baht.
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"We are mostly interested in food, culture, and photography rather than a bar scene or hanging out with mostly tourists."
Then I reccomend Hanoi
As most people. Hanoi is neither. It's the southeast version of Los Angeles in Nam, a toilet bowl filled traffic & overlooked violence. As a tourist best is the middle, starting with Hoi An. Check-in in Saigon, northern Vietnam, the predominate communist, hate-Americans' region is more busy (& having to be too alert) than fun.
The question was Saigon or Hanoi. Hoi An is not in Saigon or Hanoi.
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Thanks for all the comments folks.
The trip was great. Lots of great food and coffee, nice people, and interesting things to see and do.
When I go back, I'll adjust the time spent in the different places. Hanoi and Hue will get more, Saigon a bit less, and probably skip Hoi An all together. We'll probably head up farther north as well.
If you like trains, I really do recommend the overnight soft sleepers. Much better than the equivalent on Thai trains plus they pretty much run on time.
Bring your own food though. The Thai trains have them beat on that issue. Thanks again.
Glad you had a great time! I find Vietnam to be quite an adventure, and more enjoyable than Thailand at times. Vietnam and Thailand are quite different, but each have their own pros and cons. Hoi An is a nice place to stay for a couple nights....during a full moon is even better.
I also love the sleeper trains in Vietnam.
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"We are mostly interested in food, culture, and photography rather than a bar scene or hanging out with mostly tourists."
Then I reccomend Hanoi
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wow, very nice. congrats
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lol, great. Idiots will be idiots everywhere in the world.
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Too late for ideas now. Anyways, let us know how the trip went!
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Went to the new refurbished Emporium the other day. I was so impressed. The old food court which overlooked the park has been replaced by some pointless lifestyle shop. The new super replacement foodcourt now offers dishes at about 4 times the price, plus it has a weird system of big payment card which instead of being loaded in advance, you have to settle when / before you can leave. The cinema upstairs seems to have got more expensive too.They have done an excellent job of keeping out the riffraff, including me, from now on, and I can happily do without ever going there again.
So glad they have built more soulless shopping malls in the area.....I can visit the same outlets in many different but similar malls.
Emporium is part of a whole new cutting edge development. The city keeps evolving, prices keep rising, the culture changes. I'm sure there are plenty of other people that are not happy and will miss the way it used to be. It happens all over the world, every day.
It's nice that they are building such fancy new places (Terminal 21 also) further out of the central part of the city.
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I just saw it. Very disappointed. It looked like a direct sequel to Tokyo Drift and all I got was a bunch of superhero clowns.
That's because it is a direct sequel to Tokyo Drift
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You could say the Ban was "GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS!"
Thread is over. We have a winner.
Brilliant
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CAT says thank you for sparing them
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I'm sure they will get it figured out quickly but I wonder what "air operator certification procedures" really means. Is it related to the flight crew, the air planes, the air traffic control, airport security, or what.
Let's face it, there is too much at stake financially for them not to fix this as soon as possible.
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Looking on the other forums( that we are not allowed to link to), the place really looks great. I especially like how they integrated some of the design elements into the BTS station. Overall it looks like it will be fantastic when it is completed, and the food court will be worth a visit.
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So let us all name one good thing the Russians and the Chinese have done to contribute to Thailand. Other than it's tourism coffers, proceeds of which go directly to the treasury/trough. ONE thing. I've never heard of any philanthropy from either group. It simply isn't in their cultural makeup, much like the Thais. With exception of the Thai Muslims who I today saw raising a big fundraiser at one of the mosques here on Phuket, for the out of work.
Do tourists normally contribute anything to the countries they visit? Other than picking up some rubbish during organized clean up days, I think most tourists visit museums, do outdoor activities, eat/drink and be happy. I think most tourism is aimed at leisure, not contributing. I don't think it matters where the tourists come from.
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I'm going to boycott all Saha Mongkol Film movies for their trying to ban Fast&Furious.
Oh, wait a mo, I don't know any Saha Mongkol movies, and I don't watch the F&F franchise.
In that case, I retract my indignation and save it for some other topic.
I guess you don't watch any movies then. It's the biggest movie company in Thailand.
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I know this is a Thai website, but here are the numbers for Vietnam.
The number of Chinese tourists visiting Vietnam in the first two months of this year dropped 40.3 percent from a year earlier, while the respective plunges of the Hong Kong and Russia markets were 51 percent and 25.7 percent. -
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I cant believe some posters in this thread would actually choose violence towards the driver as an acceptable means. Sad really
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They just will not grasp the nettle. Excuses. Talk. The root cause of all Thailands problems Is corruption in every sector.
Corruption? It's just farmers burning rubbish.
Rubbish? Not so much. Burning is the preferred method after harvesting rice, corn and sugar cane.
So you wouldn't call that rubbish? It's just unwanted stuff (rubbish) that they need to get rid of. Sorry, I'm American and tried to use your British vocabulary.
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They just will not grasp the nettle. Excuses. Talk. The root cause of all Thailands problems Is corruption in every sector.
Corruption? It's just farmers burning rubbish.
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I guess it really just depends on what the operator actually must do. If company A is contracted to operate the new left extension, does that mean they just have to staff the stations, sell the tickets (which must work with the original operator's tickets), and guard the platforms? Or does it mean they have to maintain their section of track, maintain trains, etc?
I'm sure there is a contract that says what they must and cannot do. I don't really know how this stuff works, but it seems strange to me to have 2 or 3 different companies operating different sections of the same line. It seems like some miscommunications could mean disaster.
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Great news.
Will I be able to buy more with the new 100 baht than with the old style notes?
No, it is 100 baht.
And thanks to inflation, you're actually be able to buy less with it.
That has nothing to do with his question. The old 100 baht note is worth the same as a new 100 baht note. 100 baht.
But to address your reply, I didn't see inflation go up from Tuesday to Wednesday, so I doubt it will magically go up tomorrow when the new 100 baht notes are released.
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I predict that free trade will be anthing but! At the last minute Thailand will have some Boon Rawd influenced legislation that will keep high import duties on alcoholic beverages.The fuss about the AEC is much ado about nothing.
Remember that only 7 professions will be able to "move freely" between countries. Of those 7 professions I predict only Tour Guides and Nurses will really take advantage of this in any significant numbers. However, even though they can "move freely" between countries and their professional certifications will be cross-recognized, they will still have to get the proper visas and work permits.
Free trade. You will be able to buy products from neighboring countries more easily, but realistically, people in neighboring countries will be able to buy Thai goods more easily. I'm excited for the beer selection that will be expanding in Thailand.
Here is a link to the tarriffs : http://www.asean.org/news/item/annex-2-tariff-schedules
Thailand is at 0% and Vietnam is at 5%.
Bring your own food though. The Thai trains have them beat on that issue. 
Changing THB to Vietnamese Dong
in Vietnam General Chat
Posted
If you have dollar or euros, that's fine and easy to exchange in Vietnam. Don't change Thai baht to dollar/euro if you already have baht though. The double conversion would cost too much.
If you're just talking 10,000 or so baht, I would just change it in Bangkok and be done with it. Is it worth the time and hassle to try and save 800 baht?