You are 100 % Correct. I talked to thousands upon thousands of retired workers who have millions upon millions of dollars that they want something to do with and Vietnam is not a topic of conversation because of their poor visa or non existent retirement policies. Our millions of dollars only go where we are wanted, welcome, safe and hassle free. Great video. Obviously Vietnam is not ready.
@@venkateshdharurkar2100 It is a very important issue actually. I have met many great great Vietnamese people here in the US that I love so dearly and have seen so many videos and streams of Vietnam and it’s very sad that allot of people will never enjoy the Vietnamese people in Vietnam or the beautiful country it self. I’m sure there is a reason why the government doesn’t allow foreigners to stay longer. I completely respect it but that doesn’t mean I cannot comment about it. I wouldn’t dare comment about it in Vietnam because my comments would not be valuable since it’s a communist country. I write boldly because I can think for myself and I am not restricted by any political or religious beliefs be it western or eastern ideologies. I write openly and boldly but I mean no harm or disrespect to anyone or any government. I only wish to express myself in a way that many others have in regard to the content of this video.
Ok, Vietnam will developer day by day. We no need fast due to rich not for all. Vietnam want Living with happiness. Look usa million people living in tent on street look as animals.
@@GiangHoang-hd8ukAt least homeless in USA have a welfare services, hospital and shelter provided by the government. What does Vietnamese government have to offer to the homeless in Vietnam? It's only the Vietnam officials can get rich fast. The rest of the people are 3rd rate class citizens 😂
long lines at the airport, scams as soon as you hit the curb, no mass transit, not walkable, lousy weather, air pollution, food safety, trash everywhere, high prices for 5 star hotels and resorts compared with Thailand and Malaysia
Concur fully! I'm an American expat living in Thailand on a long term retirement visa, and heard great things about Vietnam. The Vietnam visa process was PONDEROUS, and upon arrival, I left a day early.
Good. Too many retirees and ""digital nomads""" (guy who spends $1 a day on coffee but spends 6 hours at the coffee shop) will ruin Vietnam. Vietnam is good as it is.
Vietnam is not a communist country, it has no communism nor socialism, it's all capitalism with a lot of corruption in the government, just like India.
Every country in S.E. Asia gives EU visitors free stay on arrival including Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia. First thing it irritates me is Visa requirement. International travellers dont like to visit Visa required countries. Plus Vietnam tries to fleece tourists. I have experienced both in Vietnam. It is one country i just visited once.
I finally took the plunge and moved to Danang for six months. I was shocked when i got extorted by the police TWICE! I asked my local friends what the heck was going on..they said "oh, we all know you have to feed to pigs" This was a huge redflag for long term stay or doing business. 99% of my experience was fantastic..and the people and businesses i interacted with were so professional and polite. But corrupt cops shaking down tourists is worse than embarrassing.
Same thing happened to me when my Vietnamese wife got pulled over driving car in Saigon - she had to pay equivalent of $200 for “making an illegal u-turn” or lose her license and car on the spot - no ticket or receipt of course… I was about to sign papers to purchase a nice apartment in Nha Trang couple of days later, but I realized that I rather go somewhere else than coping with BS like this (usually I don’t take stuff like this quietly, but my wife asked me to stay completely out of it). Nevertheless Indonesia is probably worse. I like Vietnam, but the chaos at the immigration at SGN airport is always a turn off - I pay the extra $ to either fly in business class on VietnamAirlines or pay the “expeditor fee”. Besides the corruption problems, the insane traffic in Saigon and the visa/immigration topics, tourism is a no brainer - the beautiful country, the awesome people and the food speak for themselves.
As an American, I’d love to come visit Vietnam. I’m even looking for a country to retire to. The problem is that I can go to Thailand, that I can go to Malaysia. I can go to these two countries to visit without having to apply for a visa. I get a visa on entry. These countries also have something called a retirement visa, like the Philippines, Thailand, even Cambodia..
@@fishbait007 I don’t care about politics these concepts are out of my control. I follow the rules of the country I reside. I respect their culture. I spend money to support the country that graciously allows me easy entry. I would just like easier entry into Vietnam and options for retirement, which currently don’t exist IMHO.
World economy is in a downward free fall and it's only going to get worse. It's just not Vietnam . All by design. Debt based system never ends well. Few understand this
I went to sapa for 5 days. I was the only tourist in all attractions excluding the mountain. It be like walking Disneyland, and the park was empty except for you.
I hate to bring up the Elephant in the room, these issues have a lot to do with the Government interference unfortunately. While the other countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia have different government structures which is far easier to setup its marketing and branding identity to tourism.
Thank you for bringing the visa issue up. I visited Vietnam 3 times in the last 10 years but trying to get a visa has always been my iffy question wheather I should visit Vietnam at all. Plus those bad taxi drivers at the Da Nang Airport that pretended to be both Grab Drivers and Taxi drivers at the same time...SMFH.
Mr. Ken, I think you should present this speech to the government house. Lack of tourism, business failures and the scams in Vietnam I am surprised you did not blame the Chinese !!!
The first timg on arrival is the horrible treatment at immigration long lines and unfriendly staff Scammers at the airport I live in Vietnam 6month a year and love the people Singapore Changi 4 took 4 minutes from arrival at immigration hall i was out great system, Vietnam has the talent to do the same but don't care about tired travellers
I just came back from Hanoi and I noticed how tourism has been affected there, I went to a 5 star hotel and we were only 5 people staying there, I felt sad for Vietnam because is such a beatiful country and I would have loved to stay longer.
You are spot on!!!!! Being a 68 year old Australian.....I was very keen to spend X-mas in VN. But having to supply a photo...as an elderly person with little IT knowledge....and all the rest....I decided to visit Indonesia instead! My 5000 AUD spending money, including locally spend money on accommodation, will be very welcome....I'm sure of that. Sorry Vietnam.....get your act together!
I’m laughing. I’m a very young 52 years old from the US but I really struggle with IT shit. I had to at least have a friend provide emotional support during my application process for an E - Visa. To be fair, there were no issues and I was granted my 90 day visa 3 business days later. I’m now living in Da Nang. Side note - my asthma in the States was all but non - existent. It’s been raging since I got here. 😢
All Vietnam needs to do is copy Cambodia’s “ER retirement visa model (the quickest, easiest, lowest cost 1-year, multiple-entry visa in ALL of southeast Asia) and then MILLIONS of dollars would flood into the country from all of those foreigners 55 and older, benefitting not only the gov’t, but the entire business sector as well as mom & pop hotels, stores and restaurants.
Excellent video - probably my favorite of yours. I am a retiree from the USA and have been considering moving to Vietnam. But due to some stories I have heard about the visa process, I have been altering my plans to reconsider Thailand or the Philippines instead. I really prefer Vietnam as I was stationed there (Monkey Mountain - Son Tra, near Da Nang) during the war and fell in love with the beauty and the people of Vietnam. I hope the government of Vietnam realizes how hard they make the process to move there and decides to make it easier. Most beneficial to me would be a Retirement Visa. And by the way, I have been in the 20% for a long time. Great channel and you always pass on valuable and interesting information.
The tourism industry and investment in Vietnam will be reduced to 45% by 2030, due to visa restrictions and terrible customer service from law firms that do not respond to emails or messages. We have received about 45 formal complaints from investors who email law firms in Vietnam and never receive responses.
@@name128ewa Tourism increases economic activity. The influx of tourists drives up local businesses' demand for services and products, creating jobs, increasing revenue, and reducing poverty. Direct benefits include those created by tourism-related activities such as accommodation, transport, and attractions. In other words ou are a moron !!
Japan previously had a complicated "red tape process" to enter the country about a decade ago. Former Prime Minster Shinzo Abe removed those barriers and tourism has since taken off. Vietnam can look at Japan as a case study.
Good video and excellent points. Vietnam is one of the most difficult places to enter as an American of any country in the world I've visited. On my first entry I was hassled at customs. They were trying to get me to pay hundreds of dollars for something made up. Luckily when I showed them I had almost no cash, they let me pass through. Not a great first impression. I love Vietnam and travel there often, but they don't make it easy. And I've never seen Vietnam travel advertised in the US. Most Americans have no idea how beautiful the country is and the wide diversity of places to visit.
@@name128ewa Absolutely wrong. Vietnam has a terrible language problem. The VAST majority do not speak english. You cannot learn from someone who is not a good teacher and not a native speaker who can inspire!! You seriously are hurting Vietnams people with this lousy thought pattern.
Do something about the scams would be a start! I visited Hanoi for a few days earlier this year. Within hours of my arrival, a scam was attempted by a guy telling me my sandals were coming apart and needed glueing and he just happened to be carrying a bottle of super-glue (how fortunate for me eh?). I knew there was nothing wrong with my sandals as I had only purchased them the week before so I told him to p*ss off and stop bothering me. It just soured my day and my experience of Vietnam.
Vietnam's 3 month visa sucks, but it's still much better than its 30-45 day visa last time. Anyway, Vietnam's delicious cuisine, breathtaking scenery and friendly people are absolutely irresistible. Its delicious street food including Pho, Bun cha, Bahn mi; and spectacular scenery of HaGiang loop, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay; as well as unforgettable Son Doong Cave, Hoi An and Golden Bridge are incomparable. Unlike any other country, exotic and beautiful Vietnam with its rich culture and long standing history, is absolutely worth visiting again and again. Every year, my family and I always come back to Vietnam, particularly the amazing ancient town Hoi An. In fact we have already booked a flight to Vietnam for a 3 month vacation to escape the winter blues.
I as an American can get a 90 day visa. My wife is a Fijian can only get a 2 week visa. Therefore we go to Cambodia for a long term stay and just visit Vietnam for short visits. Vietnam healthcare is wonderful, but when my wife can only stay two weeks, hospital surgery becomes infeasible.
Considering that South Korea is Vietnam's #1 source of tourists, and the fact that the Korean Won has continually lost value over the last few years, it's no surprise that tourist numbers are dwindling. Many SOKO's have chosen cheaper destinations like the Philippines recently. The same can be said about Japanese tourists to Guam and Hawaii. It all has to do with the long-term erosion of purchasing power.
Extremely well presented! Vietnam has been on my bucket list. for quite some time BUT after watching this video, I think I will just return to Thailand or go to one or two of the near by countries. I am too old to go through any hassle!
I believe the Vietnamese Government focuses on quality rather than quantity of foreigners. It's like making a great Pho! In the long run, quality will win over quantity! My mantra is slowly but surely. NO RUSH!
Ken you’re so correct. So many people that enter vietnam through immigration they seem to never say anything not even Welcome to Vietnam. Why they took away 1 year visas for Americans. They used to do 1 year visas. Why the change. Maybe there is a reason ? Not know. Many visitors tell me they feel they’re not welcome when coming through immigration.
A six month visa would be a game changer. They should eliminate the 30 and 60 day visas completely and just issue a visa for 180 days. The economy would completely change as people would spend more money and stay longer and it would be a boon to long term stays and investment.
Vietnam is better compared to Philippines in attracting tourist. The only difference is that tourist in the Philippines stay longer and spend more. This is because PH has no land boarders. Tendency is that, only tourist willing to spend and stay longer come to travel. But, dont take in a hurry. Thailand, Malaysia and Bali takes decades before they stablished as tourist hotspot
Retired Canadian here. I travelled Vietnam this year from Hanoi to Ho Chi Min City, and I must say I prefer other countries in that area over Vietnam. The VISA problem, along with scams and unsanitary conditions ensures that I will not return to Vietnam. I will be buying a condo in another country and will travel all the other countries but Vietnam is on the bottom of my list.
Ironically, it is much more expensive to fly to Saigon from Malaysia and direct flights are lesser, comparing both factors with flying to Bangkok from the same destination. Couldn't comprehend why.
After being scammed from the point I checked into a HCMC hotel, the hotel check-in receptionist stole all my USD currency in my passport holder, to our dinner table food bills overcharged by items not ordered, scammed in the city market square when buying Viet coffee, my friend lost his camera place in a decent Aircon souvenir shop while checking products. just too to lust here. We all told our families and friends to avoid these places as too stressful for vacations. Too any scams and thefts incidents to elaborate here. Every visitors came back with at least few scams incidents.
Thanks for sharing & totally agree with you regarding the present state of Vietnam tourism - government visa scam, long queues at airport ,poor hospitality service even in the international branded hotel - we had a horrible experience with the check in staff and the management of Intercontinental Phu Quoc .Anyone want to book this hotel best to avoid it
Vietnam doesn’t depend on it entirely manufacturing is a big part of economy but tourism is a big deal and the more tourists the more money Vietnamese make that’s a good thing
I've always known that tourism in vietnam has dramatically gone down since covid started. Knowing how Vietnam is, you would know they will cover up anything that will not benefit the country.
Applied for tourist visa for the whole family, everyone except one of my kids. No reasons given after multiple follow up on their official site. We had to rebook our flight and ordered an expensive urgent tourist visa to remedy. Come on Vietnam
No it’s pretty good you can go to any restaurant hotel coffee shop and they don’t have a problem letting you use their facilities. There are also free washrooms in the city centre sponsored by the big banks . Washrooms are generally clean as well but always carry toilet paper in case they don’t have . Germany is a country that hasn’t figured out the whole toilet thing .They are few and far apart and have to pay money to use them .
The working holiday visa is a great idea, I took advantage of the Japan-Australia one in the late 90s which allowed me to stay for 18 months in Japan working and travelling, learning the language and culture, and so on, which left an indelible mark on me 🙌 One thing I'd like to see is the locals in Saigon not sitting around waiting for matters out of their control to change, there are many things they can do at hẻm level, street level, neighbourhood level, community level that can make the tourist experience better without intervention from above. Interesting vid, Ken.
26 Oct 24. I am currently in Vietnam, with a 3mn tourist visa. (Currently able to reapply for same, altho must leave country & return. One can do this unlimited times - not restricted, as in some countries, to # months within a year).
I was just there for a month last Summer. These were some things that stood out for me... - The big tourist attractions like BaNa Hills, Sa Pa, etc are like the Disney World of Asia. I understand why they do it but it doesn't make sense unless the rest of the infrastructure is set up to handle that type of tourist. Way too Disney-fied now, the Vietnamese charm and amazing culture is lost. - Ha Long Bay was a horrible experience now (compared to my last visit in 2008), you are forced to go through a giant gift shop at the exit of the caves, there were boats bumping into each other for photo ops, etc. They don't even have the classic boats in the Bay like the Red Boat Fish Sauce logo. Also, the negative impact on the natural ecosystem is so great that you are no longer able to visit the floating fishing villages. - In the beautiful mountain city of Dalat, it was sad to see so much trash everywhere; even off the beaten path on the mountain roads, there was trash everywhere. - It was very annoying to deal with people in Northern Vietnam. I didn't know people do not believe in using lines. Everyone pushes their way to the front which comes off as very rude in other cultures; especially if it is a long line with a lot of people/tourists. - 100% agree about the bureaucracy. Dealing with paperwork at the airports was overly complicated and took way too long.
I am an American very interested in traveling to Vietnam to show friendship and respect. Vietnam is the country I most want to help with my tourism and retail investment.
To be fair the west is all in recession be it admitted or not, Australia, usa, UK all doing it hard, local businesses are all in a slump to some degree. But yes vietnam might make it harder, so you feel it more, but as a tourist point of view, vietnam is best by far for things to see and do.
I was in Vietnam in March for 3 weeks this year. The ETA is no big deal I really enjoyed my time there. There is plenty to see and do the only 2 problems that I can see is, not a lot of people speak English and the motor scooters park on the sidewalks making people having to walk on the side of the road in the cities. Go between January and March.
Thai food is not healthy compared to Vietnamese food. It is hard to attract westerners (US and Europe) as it is so far away from us. We have Mexico which is right next to us. You should target Aussie, Russians and other Asians. I saw only Russian white in Phu Quc Island when visited in 2018. I just visited Malaysia and Singapore. No visa required and both countries speak English. Vietnam is too difficult to bother visiting again. Too bad as I love their food.
There's still A LOT of international tourism in a few key places...namely, Ha Giang, Da Nang, Hoi An and HCMC. Problems are: the locals/local businesses/local governments in certain areas are hostile toward foreign visitors (Ha Giang is the worst example of this) and souvenir shops haven't a clue about what tourists want to buy. Heck, most places don't even sell souvenir T-shirts, a mainstay of any tourist destination worldwide.
Excellent video and correct in everything you say. Having travelled to Vietnam a number of times and loved it, I was always put off by the visa process. Visa on arrival should be standard and as I am nearing retirement age, Vietnam is not on my radar as possible place to live permanently. Countries like Thailand and Malaysia have far better infrastructure for tourists and retirees. Even Cambodia has improved a lot in recent years. A number of my expat friends are all considering going there now. Vietnam never even makes an entry into conversations about long term stays for foreigners. Subscribed and liked.
The country needs to make it easier for people to travel to the country without compromise follow suit from Thailand and how they’re managing their tourism industry.
I like this video and I think you're onto something let us foreigners have been saying for a while I don't feel that we are welcomed they just want us for one week two weeks something like that and then get out yet throughout Southeast Asia they're taking a different approach that does welcome us. Thank you for talking about this topic
It is what it is, can’t teach an old dog a new trick. When I mentioned the problem of the scams? The local people would tell me if I don’t like, go somewhere else. Per-half, they don’t look at it as a problem, so I go to Thailand and Malaysia that is more foreigners welcomed spot.
Ken I really appreciate the information you share on RUclips. I love your country and would absolutely love to retire there. I have visited three times since I retired here in America. If you ever get a retirement visa I will be one of the first to come there and I will definitely spend money there.
Wow......Ken......great video. Thank you for making it. I can't understand why Vietnam wants to forgo the money they could be making by having a pay as you go visa ($20 or $30 a month) or some other regularly renewing visa system that would provide MILLIONS of foreign exchange directly to the government. Oh well.....other countries are getting that money.....
For the souvenirs shops... would need to have actual artisans, everyone is selling the same chinese made stuff. It hard to find actual handcraft product & nice things. It should be easier, a franchise of high quality souvenirs shops would solve that
Thanks for this update Duong. Vietnam needs to make its move NOW. Why? Thailand has changed its taxation rules for when we bring money into Thailand and now it can be taxed as assessable income. This is a BIG no no. I am currently retired in Thailand but as a result of this Thailand tax change I have decided to live in nearby countries for more than 6 months in year 2025 to avoid becoming a tax resident in Thailand. Consequently, I will spend 2 months in The Philippines and 4.5 months in Vietnam by using the 90 day tourist visa - then leave the country and re-enter visa exempt with my Italian passport for 45 more days. There are MANY upset retirees here in Thailand with this surprise Thai government change in the taxation rules, and if Vietnam were to introduce the 36-month resident visa that was requested to be evaluated by Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính back in February 2024 - this could be a GAME changer for Vietnam. Duong, can you please talk to us about the status of this initiative = Government leader made the order in Directive 08/CT-TTg ??? The Vietnam Prime Minister asked that the report be submitted to him in the second quarter of 2024 and we are now already in the final quarter of 2024.
I love Vietnam alot, its friendly and welcoming people, the chill vibes on the streets, safe environment (petty crime is prevalent everywhere in the world but Vietnam has one of the lowest *serious crime* rates). Just one thing I dont like is the immigration gates at the airports, my wife who is a Vietnamese and I have had been asked for *coffee money* twice while clearing customs. It puts quite a dent on the happiness of starting a holiday. On the topic of scams I feel its a touché topic as every country has it as well even in Singapore. But on the topic of Visas I agree with Ken and many others that Vn can do alot more to promote not only tourism but investments and retirement visas as well.
Who said it is crashing? Tourist visitors increase by 45% and approaching 2019 visitors number, and they are expecting 25 million visitors in 2025. Revenue from foreign tourists alone is reaching 30 billion $$$ this 2024. What is this guy smoking?
Vietnam is killing itself due to gov’t short-sightedness. No retirement visa is costing the gov’t millions of dollars in lost spending revenue by foreigners that COULD be living there but are denied living there longterm. Border runs are NOT sustainable. Vietnam does NOT want us. I spend ALL of my retirement dollars in FRIENDLY and WELCOMING neighboring Cambodia! Go where you’re treated best!
First of all Saigon is one of my favorite Asian cities. I have been there many times on business and as a tourist. One suggestion is for the Vietnamese government to study the Thailand tourist visa system. As a US citizen, I can go there for 60 days with a visa free entry and no fees, with a 30 day fee based extension. For Vietnam, I have to apply for a 30 day single or multiple entry fee based visa ($25 or $50)...and the web site is clunky and not clear. I have to enter my First Name with both my First and Middle name to match my passport. This not clear at all and is a common mistake where a redo is allowed, but will cost you another 3 business day delay in getting this visa. I don't mind paying this fee, but other countries are much easier to enter, so why bother with Vietnam's clunky online visa system when other alternatives are so much simpler. Been to Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore without any extra visa applications or fees. Vietnam needs to observe what is working for other countries and compete with them to get those tourist dollars to come back and enjoy all the great things about Vietnam.
Yes. With tensions between the USA and China, Vietnam's economic situation will not be any better. The Vietnamese government will have to find a solution sooner or later. People say that the government is trying to bring investors and manufacturing industries into the country. But they only stay until the workers want to work for bread. Then they look for other victims. China is already too expensive for them. And we in the West are plagued by inflation through printing money and debt. We spend money as if there were no tomorrow. It's like a dream:)
Im so Happy. Thailand awaits you all. Beautiful respectful tourists 😂 23/9 a place for African and Indian groups without a single woman. But in the morning a wonderful exercise place
We want to retire in Vietnam but it is so hard. So we are looking at Thailand. Unfortunately you gave all the reasons why we are frustrated. Great video and thanks for talking the truth.
Have you considered opening your own overseas consulate so that you can offer some innovative visa types? Do you have a copy of the Honorary Consul book by Scope?
While your points are valid, you fail to mention that more than 60% of tourists to Vietnam are from Korea, China and Japan, and the average length of stay is less than 7 days. Vietnam is still out of reach for many Western tourists because of it's confusing visa requirements, and extremely dodgy visa issuance (so many mistakes are made by immigration). Vietnam also does not have the health infrastructure to support retired westerners. In my 6 years living in Vietnam, i have seen many unfortunate westerners end up in local hospitals with chronic conditions, unable to afford decent care, and relying heavily on local friends to support them. Vietnam has a very long way to go before it can be compared with Thailand or Malaysia as a retirement destination. But yes, cleaning up the visa process and cracking down on scams would go a long way
![Diggy Graves - Red Vineyard [Official Lyric Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8Ro085T0mnQ/mqdefault.jpg)
1) get rid of scam 2) promote discount tours 3) visa friendly
You are 100 % Correct. I talked to thousands upon thousands of retired workers who have millions upon millions of dollars that they want something to do with and Vietnam is not a topic of conversation because of their poor visa or non existent retirement policies. Our millions of dollars only go where we are wanted, welcome, safe and hassle free. Great video. Obviously Vietnam is not ready.
Dear, It's a very important issue highlighted. You took bold decisions to highlight the government openly.
@@venkateshdharurkar2100 It is a very important issue actually. I have met many great great Vietnamese people here in the US that I love so dearly and have seen so many videos and streams of Vietnam and it’s very sad that allot of people will never enjoy the Vietnamese people in Vietnam or the beautiful country it self. I’m sure there is a reason why the government doesn’t allow foreigners to stay longer. I completely respect it but that doesn’t mean I cannot comment about it. I wouldn’t dare comment about it in Vietnam because my comments would not be valuable since it’s a communist country. I write boldly because I can think for myself and I am not restricted by any political or religious beliefs be it western or eastern ideologies. I write openly and boldly but I mean no harm or disrespect to anyone or any government. I only wish to express myself in a way that many others have in regard to the content of this video.
Your friends will come out of retirement and go works for Home Depot if they invest in Vietnam.
Ok, Vietnam will developer day by day. We no need fast due to rich not for all. Vietnam want Living with happiness. Look usa million people living in tent on street look as animals.
@@GiangHoang-hd8ukAt least homeless in USA have a welfare services, hospital and shelter provided by the government. What does Vietnamese government have to offer to the homeless in Vietnam?
It's only the Vietnam officials can get rich fast. The rest of the people are 3rd rate class citizens 😂
Vietnam did this to themselves during the march 2020 lock down and decided to STOP all tourism. This sent a big signal to ALL business and tourist.
long lines at the airport, scams as soon as you hit the curb, no mass transit, not walkable, lousy weather, air pollution, food safety, trash everywhere, high prices for 5 star hotels and resorts compared with Thailand and Malaysia
Concur fully! I'm an American expat living in Thailand on a long term retirement visa, and heard great things about Vietnam. The Vietnam visa process was PONDEROUS, and upon arrival, I left a day early.
Good. Too many retirees and ""digital nomads""" (guy who spends $1 a day on coffee but spends 6 hours at the coffee shop) will ruin Vietnam. Vietnam is good as it is.
@@name128ewa exactly, Vietnam doesn't need to be ruined by the western woke mind virus liberal bums.
You have the guts to quote the loopholes of a communist country. Truly appreciate 🎉
Vietnam is not a communist country, it has no communism nor socialism, it's all capitalism with a lot of corruption in the government, just like India.
Every country in S.E. Asia gives EU visitors free stay on arrival including Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia. First thing it irritates me is Visa requirement. International travellers dont like to visit Visa required countries. Plus Vietnam tries to fleece tourists. I have experienced both in Vietnam. It is one country i just visited once.
Welcome to communism. We have to check if you gonna be bringing in anti-communism 😂
@@blipblop92
Vietnam is NOT communism nor socialism, it is capitalism with heavy corruption in the government, like in India.
I finally took the plunge and moved to Danang for six months. I was shocked when i got extorted by the police TWICE!
I asked my local friends what the heck was going on..they said "oh, we all know you have to feed to pigs"
This was a huge redflag for long term stay or doing business. 99% of my experience was fantastic..and the people and businesses i interacted with were so professional and polite.
But corrupt cops shaking down tourists is worse than embarrassing.
Visa requirement for South Africans costs over $250 to get a visa. Simply too expensive.
@@knightsbridgehouse fix your country
what happened?
Same thing happened to me when my Vietnamese wife got pulled over driving car in Saigon - she had to pay equivalent of $200 for “making an illegal u-turn” or lose her license and car on the spot - no ticket or receipt of course… I was about to sign papers to purchase a nice apartment in Nha Trang couple of days later, but I realized that I rather go somewhere else than coping with BS like this (usually I don’t take stuff like this quietly, but my wife asked me to stay completely out of it). Nevertheless Indonesia is probably worse. I like Vietnam, but the chaos at the immigration at SGN airport is always a turn off - I pay the extra $ to either fly in business class on VietnamAirlines or pay the “expeditor fee”. Besides the corruption problems, the insane traffic in Saigon and the visa/immigration topics, tourism is a no brainer - the beautiful country, the awesome people and the food speak for themselves.
Hmmm, it is either bribe or have the license withheld.... Bribes are bad but people break law and bribe the cops because the alternatives are worse.
As an American, I’d love to come visit Vietnam. I’m even looking for a country to retire to. The problem is that I can go to Thailand, that I can go to Malaysia. I can go to these two countries to visit without having to apply for a visa. I get a visa on entry. These countries also have something called a retirement visa, like the Philippines, Thailand, even Cambodia..
What’s the difference? Capitalism vs communism
That's not a problem sir. That's a relief for people here
@@fishbait007 I don’t care about politics these concepts are out of my control. I follow the rules of the country I reside. I respect their culture. I spend money to support the country that graciously allows me easy entry.
I would just like easier entry into Vietnam and options for retirement, which currently don’t exist IMHO.
@@DesertCoyote-t5k The country wants your money but doesn't want you here long term.
@@fishbait007
Vietnam has no communism nor socialism, the people live in capitalism with heavy corruption like in India.
World economy is in a downward free fall and it's only going to get worse. It's just not Vietnam . All by design. Debt based system never ends well. Few understand this
I went to sapa for 5 days. I was the only tourist in all attractions excluding the mountain. It be like walking Disneyland, and the park was empty except for you.
I hate to bring up the Elephant in the room, these issues have a lot to do with the Government interference unfortunately. While the other countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia have different government structures which is far easier to setup its marketing and branding identity to tourism.
Thank you for bringing the visa issue up. I visited Vietnam 3 times in the last 10 years but trying to get a visa has always been my iffy question wheather I should visit Vietnam at all. Plus those bad taxi drivers at the Da Nang Airport that pretended to be both Grab Drivers and Taxi drivers at the same time...SMFH.
Mr. Ken, I think you should present this speech to the government house. Lack of tourism, business failures and the scams in Vietnam I am surprised you did not blame the Chinese !!!
The first timg on arrival is the horrible treatment at immigration long lines and unfriendly staff
Scammers at the airport
I live in Vietnam 6month a year and love the people
Singapore Changi 4 took 4 minutes from arrival at immigration hall i was out great system, Vietnam has the talent to do the same but don't care about tired travellers
The visa application website is a nightmare!
So true and then I tried to call and would get no answer for days.
I just came back from Hanoi and I noticed how tourism has been affected there, I went to a 5 star hotel and we were only 5 people staying there, I felt sad for Vietnam because is such a beatiful country and I would have loved to stay longer.
September 2023 i was the only person at the hotel in Panabo Philippines. I had the entire place to myself. Once there i only saw 1 other tourist.
@@ateam6486 Where is Panabo PHilippines?
You are spot on!!!!!
Being a 68 year old Australian.....I was very keen to spend X-mas in VN.
But having to supply a photo...as an elderly person with little IT knowledge....and all the rest....I decided to visit Indonesia instead!
My 5000 AUD spending money, including locally spend money on accommodation, will be very welcome....I'm sure of that.
Sorry Vietnam.....get your act together!
Nice!
Ok boomer. Vietnam attracts billions of foreign investment dollars, not your meager 5000 AUD.
I’m laughing. I’m a very young 52 years old from the US but I really struggle with IT shit. I had to at least have a friend provide emotional support during my application process for an E - Visa. To be fair, there were no issues and I was granted my 90 day visa 3 business days later. I’m now living in Da Nang. Side note - my asthma in the States was all but non - existent. It’s been raging since I got here. 😢
All Vietnam needs to do is copy Cambodia’s “ER retirement visa model (the quickest, easiest, lowest cost 1-year, multiple-entry visa in ALL of southeast Asia) and then MILLIONS of dollars would flood into the country from all of those foreigners 55 and older, benefitting not only the gov’t, but the entire business sector as well as mom & pop hotels, stores and restaurants.
Excellent video - probably my favorite of yours. I am a retiree from the USA and have been considering moving to Vietnam. But due to some stories I have heard about the visa process, I have been altering my plans to reconsider Thailand or the Philippines instead. I really prefer Vietnam as I was stationed there (Monkey Mountain - Son Tra, near Da Nang) during the war and fell in love with the beauty and the people of Vietnam. I hope the government of Vietnam realizes how hard they make the process to move there and decides to make it easier. Most beneficial to me would be a Retirement Visa.
And by the way, I have been in the 20% for a long time. Great channel and you always pass on valuable and interesting information.
The tourism industry and investment in Vietnam will be reduced to 45% by 2030, due to visa restrictions and terrible customer service from law firms that do not respond to emails or messages. We have received about 45 formal complaints from investors who email law firms in Vietnam and never receive responses.
Good. Vietnam doesn't need to rely on tourism.
@@name128ewa Tourism increases economic activity. The influx of tourists drives up local businesses' demand for services and products, creating jobs, increasing revenue, and reducing poverty. Direct benefits include those created by tourism-related activities such as accommodation, transport, and attractions. In other words ou are a moron !!
Japan previously had a complicated "red tape process" to enter the country about a decade ago. Former Prime Minster Shinzo Abe removed those barriers and tourism has since taken off. Vietnam can look at Japan as a case study.
I love your content about Vietnam. I hope we will meet soon. I have already contact your staff already 😅
Good video and excellent points. Vietnam is one of the most difficult places to enter as an American of any country in the world I've visited. On my first entry I was hassled at customs. They were trying to get me to pay hundreds of dollars for something made up. Luckily when I showed them I had almost no cash, they let me pass through. Not a great first impression. I love Vietnam and travel there often, but they don't make it easy. And I've never seen Vietnam travel advertised in the US. Most Americans have no idea how beautiful the country is and the wide diversity of places to visit.
Totally BS... Look at the video! It's stitched together. I bet he's not even in Vietnam.
@@FenceSitter-ei3cvI live here … he’s definitely in Vietnam. All videos on RUclips have editing. 🤦🏻🤣🙄
Well said, they need to stop the tea money bullshit from officials and do their job properly.
Also the English teaching industry is deteriorating as local, Filipino and South African teachers have 80% of the jobs while also lowering salaries.
It's called the free market. English teachers are over paid anyways, Filipino and South African bringing down the cost is good.
@@name128ewa Absolutely wrong. Vietnam has a terrible language problem. The VAST majority do not speak english. You cannot learn from someone who is not a good teacher and not a native speaker who can inspire!! You seriously are hurting Vietnams people with this lousy thought pattern.
Do something about the scams would be a start! I visited Hanoi for a few days earlier this year. Within hours of my arrival, a scam was attempted by a guy telling me my sandals were coming apart and needed glueing and he just happened to be carrying a bottle of super-glue (how fortunate for me eh?). I knew there was nothing wrong with my sandals as I had only purchased them the week before so I told him to p*ss off and stop bothering me. It just soured my day and my experience of Vietnam.
Is not Vietnam,is the world economy.
Vietnam's 3 month visa sucks, but it's still much better than its 30-45 day visa last time. Anyway, Vietnam's delicious cuisine, breathtaking scenery and friendly people are absolutely irresistible. Its delicious street food including Pho, Bun cha, Bahn mi; and spectacular scenery of HaGiang loop, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay; as well as unforgettable Son Doong Cave, Hoi An and Golden Bridge are incomparable. Unlike any other country, exotic and beautiful Vietnam with its rich culture and long standing history, is absolutely worth visiting again and again. Every year, my family and I always come back to Vietnam, particularly the amazing ancient town Hoi An. In fact we have already booked a flight to Vietnam for a 3 month vacation to escape the winter blues.
Agreed! Living here now. It’s not for everybody but I love it!
Vietnam was colonized By foreign invaders for thousand of years. They welcome foreign guests but don’t want no long term foreigners . It makes sense
Colonised for thousands of years? Really?
6 months visa is ideal for temporary stay without dealing with renewal. I’ll vote Ken to be next prime minister of VN to get the economy moving. 😊
How? Ken is not a member of the Communist Party. I don't think he even has Vietnamese citizenship, but American citizenship.
@@TMP-1956 It’s just a joke. We all know that Ken has dual citizenship.
You must be joking...Vietnam is a communist country....The people do not get to choose their represemtatives..
Vietnam's visa is it's weakest point.. EVERYONE is going to Thailand. Such a shame because Vietnam is amazing!
I as an American can get a 90 day visa. My wife is a Fijian can only get a 2 week visa. Therefore we go to Cambodia for a long term stay and just visit Vietnam for short visits. Vietnam healthcare is wonderful, but when my wife can only stay two weeks, hospital surgery becomes infeasible.
Vietnam is the best country! GO Thailand everyone one, leave us alone 😃
It's not good to depend on tourism because of things like Covid. Vietnam is smart to become a country where their GDP is based on manufacturing goods.
Considering that South Korea is Vietnam's #1 source of tourists, and the fact that the Korean Won has continually lost value over the last few years, it's no surprise that tourist numbers are dwindling. Many SOKO's have chosen cheaper destinations like the Philippines recently. The same can be said about Japanese tourists to Guam and Hawaii. It all has to do with the long-term erosion of purchasing power.
South Koreans have been travelling to the PHilippines since a long time ago and I heard Vietnam is cheaper than the PHilippines.
Excellent analysis. I'm a retiree in Ecuador as we speak. I would love to live in Da Nang if they could make the visa easier.
Extremely well presented! Vietnam has been on my bucket list. for quite some time BUT after watching this video, I think I will just return to Thailand or go to one or two of the near by countries. I am too old to go through any hassle!
The visa is always the #1 consideration. We do not want the hassle.
I believe the Vietnamese Government focuses on quality rather than quantity of foreigners. It's like making a great Pho! In the long run, quality will win over quantity! My mantra is slowly but surely. NO RUSH!
Ken you’re so correct. So many people that enter vietnam through immigration they seem to never say anything not even Welcome to Vietnam. Why they took away 1 year visas for Americans. They used to do 1 year visas. Why the change. Maybe there is a reason ? Not know. Many visitors tell me they feel they’re not welcome when coming through immigration.
The myth of high spending European and North American travellers 😅
A six month visa would be a game changer. They should eliminate the 30 and 60 day visas completely and just issue a visa for 180 days. The economy would completely change as people would spend more money and stay longer and it would be a boon to long term stays and investment.
Vietnam is better compared to Philippines in attracting tourist. The only difference is that tourist in the Philippines stay longer and spend more. This is because PH has no land boarders. Tendency is that, only tourist willing to spend and stay longer come to travel.
But, dont take in a hurry. Thailand, Malaysia and Bali takes decades before they stablished as tourist hotspot
Retired Canadian here. I travelled Vietnam this year from Hanoi to Ho Chi Min City, and I must say I prefer other countries in that area over Vietnam. The VISA problem, along with scams and unsanitary conditions ensures that I will not return to Vietnam. I will be buying a condo in another country and will travel all the other countries but Vietnam is on the bottom of my list.
Ironically, it is much more expensive to fly to Saigon from Malaysia and direct flights are lesser, comparing both factors with flying to Bangkok from the same destination. Couldn't comprehend why.
I agree I'm probably going elsewhere leaving every 90 days isnt good at all
After being scammed from the point I checked into a HCMC hotel, the hotel check-in receptionist stole all my USD currency in my passport holder, to our dinner table food bills overcharged by items not ordered, scammed in the city market square when buying Viet coffee, my friend lost his camera place in a decent Aircon souvenir shop while checking products. just too to lust here.
We all told our families and friends to avoid these places as too stressful for vacations.
Too any scams and thefts incidents to elaborate here. Every visitors came back with at least few scams incidents.
Thanks for sharing & totally agree with you regarding the present state of Vietnam tourism - government visa scam, long queues at airport ,poor hospitality service even in the international branded hotel - we had a horrible experience with the check in staff and the management of Intercontinental Phu Quoc .Anyone want to book this hotel best to avoid it
Thanks for confirming...what I been thinking about vietnam....i think I will adust my plans after I leave Thialand....
Dependency on tourism for your economy is the problem.
Vietnam doesn’t depend on it entirely manufacturing is a big part of economy but tourism is a big deal and the more tourists the more money Vietnamese make that’s a good thing
I've always known that tourism in vietnam has dramatically gone down since covid started. Knowing how Vietnam is, you would know they will cover up anything that will not benefit the country.
Applied for tourist visa for the whole family, everyone except one of my kids. No reasons given after multiple follow up on their official site. We had to rebook our flight and ordered an expensive urgent tourist visa to remedy. Come on Vietnam
I read that Viet Nam has the least number of public toilets for tourists compared to other SE Asian countries.
No it’s pretty good you can go to any restaurant hotel coffee shop and they don’t have a problem letting you use their facilities.
There are also free washrooms in the city centre sponsored by the big banks .
Washrooms are generally clean as well but always carry toilet paper in case they don’t have .
Germany is a country that hasn’t figured out the whole toilet thing .They are few and far apart and have to pay money to use them .
The working holiday visa is a great idea, I took advantage of the Japan-Australia one in the late 90s which allowed me to stay for 18 months in Japan working and travelling, learning the language and culture, and so on, which left an indelible mark on me 🙌 One thing I'd like to see is the locals in Saigon not sitting around waiting for matters out of their control to change, there are many things they can do at hẻm level, street level, neighbourhood level, community level that can make the tourist experience better without intervention from above. Interesting vid, Ken.
Great video, thank you!
HI Mr. Duong, I completely understand the context of your video. Way to go! Vietnam has to attract more YOUNG FOREIGNERS...Cheers
26 Oct 24. I am currently in Vietnam, with a 3mn tourist visa. (Currently able to reapply for same, altho must leave country & return. One can do this unlimited times - not restricted, as in some countries, to # months within a year).
A great commentary and I agree with your points.
I was just there for a month last Summer. These were some things that stood out for me...
- The big tourist attractions like BaNa Hills, Sa Pa, etc are like the Disney World of Asia. I understand why they do it but it doesn't make sense unless the rest of the infrastructure is set up to handle that type of tourist. Way too Disney-fied now, the Vietnamese charm and amazing culture is lost.
- Ha Long Bay was a horrible experience now (compared to my last visit in 2008), you are forced to go through a giant gift shop at the exit of the caves, there were boats bumping into each other for photo ops, etc. They don't even have the classic boats in the Bay like the Red Boat Fish Sauce logo. Also, the negative impact on the natural ecosystem is so great that you are no longer able to visit the floating fishing villages.
- In the beautiful mountain city of Dalat, it was sad to see so much trash everywhere; even off the beaten path on the mountain roads, there was trash everywhere.
- It was very annoying to deal with people in Northern Vietnam. I didn't know people do not believe in using lines. Everyone pushes their way to the front which comes off as very rude in other cultures; especially if it is a long line with a lot of people/tourists.
- 100% agree about the bureaucracy. Dealing with paperwork at the airports was overly complicated and took way too long.
I am an American very interested in traveling to Vietnam to show friendship and respect. Vietnam is the country I most want to help with my tourism and retail investment.
To be fair the west is all in recession be it admitted or not, Australia, usa, UK all doing it hard, local businesses are all in a slump to some degree.
But yes vietnam might make it harder, so you feel it more, but as a tourist point of view, vietnam is best by far for things to see and do.
Yet Japan has overtourism. It seems tourists have plently of money to travel to far off places if the conditions are right.
@@jw841 it's cheaper for an Australian to go to snow in Japan than go local, and snow in Japan soooo much better
@@msgofast plenty of Europeans and Americans going there as well.
Great information brother 👍😊❤❤
I was in Vietnam in March for 3 weeks this year. The ETA is no big deal I really enjoyed my time there. There is plenty to see and do the only 2 problems that I can see is, not a lot of people speak English and the motor scooters park on the sidewalks making people having to walk on the side of the road in the cities. Go between January and March.
Yes indeed !!
Vietnam has a lot to offer and the government has to start thinking out of the box.
Thai food is not healthy compared to Vietnamese food. It is hard to attract westerners (US and Europe) as it is so far away from us. We have Mexico which is right next to us. You should target Aussie, Russians and other Asians. I saw only Russian white in Phu Quc Island when visited in 2018.
I just visited Malaysia and Singapore. No visa required and both countries speak English. Vietnam is too difficult to bother visiting again. Too bad as I love their food.
Duong Global needs to travel the world more.
There's still A LOT of international tourism in a few key places...namely, Ha Giang, Da Nang, Hoi An and HCMC. Problems are: the locals/local businesses/local governments in certain areas are hostile toward foreign visitors (Ha Giang is the worst example of this) and souvenir shops haven't a clue about what tourists want to buy. Heck, most places don't even sell souvenir T-shirts, a mainstay of any tourist destination worldwide.
Excellent video and correct in everything you say. Having travelled to Vietnam a number of times and loved it, I was always put off by the visa process. Visa on arrival should be standard and as I am nearing retirement age, Vietnam is not on my radar as possible place to live permanently. Countries like Thailand and Malaysia have far better infrastructure for tourists and retirees. Even Cambodia has improved a lot in recent years. A number of my expat friends are all considering going there now. Vietnam never even makes an entry into conversations about long term stays for foreigners. Subscribed and liked.
The country needs to make it easier for people to travel to the country without compromise follow suit from Thailand and how they’re managing their tourism industry.
clean the water. I get traveller's diarrhea every time. That scares tourists too.
10:10 You are spot on with your comments.
I like this video and I think you're onto something let us foreigners have been saying for a while I don't feel that we are welcomed they just want us for one week two weeks something like that and then get out yet throughout Southeast Asia they're taking a different approach that does welcome us. Thank you for talking about this topic
It is what it is, can’t teach an old dog a new trick. When I mentioned the problem of the scams? The local people would tell me if I don’t like, go somewhere else. Per-half, they don’t look at it as a problem, so I go to Thailand and Malaysia that is more foreigners welcomed spot.
Ken I really appreciate the information you share on RUclips. I love your country and would absolutely love to retire there. I have visited three times since I retired here in America. If you ever get a retirement visa I will be one of the first to come there and I will definitely spend money there.
Very nice video and you are right ✅.
Everyone I meet seems to have an issue with the online 3 month visa application .
Vn just wants ur money and cares less the rest . Tourists visited vn and never come back the second time . Really bad business practice. Too bad .
I stop by to took photo of you at river front 😂
Wow......Ken......great video. Thank you for making it. I can't understand why Vietnam wants to forgo the money they could be making by having a pay as you go visa ($20 or $30 a month) or some other regularly renewing visa system that would provide MILLIONS of foreign exchange directly to the government. Oh well.....other countries are getting that money.....
I have used an agent for years because it is much easier and quicker.
For the souvenirs shops... would need to have actual artisans, everyone is selling the same chinese made stuff. It hard to find actual handcraft product & nice things. It should be easier, a franchise of high quality souvenirs shops would solve that
It is easier to get on a plane and fly to other countries Can get a 5 year visa in Japan or Thailand easily.
Thanks for this update Duong.
Vietnam needs to make its move NOW.
Why?
Thailand has changed its taxation rules for when we bring money into Thailand and now it can be taxed as assessable income. This is a BIG no no. I am currently retired in Thailand but as a result of this Thailand tax change I have decided to live in nearby countries for more than 6 months in year 2025 to avoid becoming a tax resident in Thailand.
Consequently, I will spend 2 months in The Philippines and 4.5 months in Vietnam by using the 90 day tourist visa - then leave the country and re-enter visa exempt with my Italian passport for 45 more days.
There are MANY upset retirees here in Thailand with this surprise Thai government change in the taxation rules, and if Vietnam were to introduce the 36-month resident visa that was requested to be evaluated by Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính back in February 2024 - this could be a GAME changer for Vietnam.
Duong, can you please talk to us about the status of this initiative = Government leader made the order in Directive 08/CT-TTg ???
The Vietnam Prime Minister asked that the report be submitted to him in the second quarter of 2024 and we are now already in the final quarter of 2024.
1. Easier Visa Process
2. Offer longer term stay
3. Legalize weed
I love Vietnam alot, its friendly and welcoming people, the chill vibes on the streets, safe environment (petty crime is prevalent everywhere in the world but Vietnam has one of the lowest *serious crime* rates). Just one thing I dont like is the immigration gates at the airports, my wife who is a Vietnamese and I have had been asked for *coffee money* twice while clearing customs. It puts quite a dent on the happiness of starting a holiday. On the topic of scams I feel its a touché topic as every country has it as well even in Singapore. But on the topic of Visas I agree with Ken and many others that Vn can do alot more to promote not only tourism but investments and retirement visas as well.
Who said it is crashing? Tourist visitors increase by 45% and approaching 2019 visitors number, and they are expecting 25 million visitors in 2025. Revenue from foreign tourists alone is reaching 30 billion $$$ this 2024. What is this guy smoking?
I want to come to Vietnam with my family, but the deals in Mexica and South America are more attractive.
Asia is much safer. I'd rethink those plans.
It was a great video thank you.
Agree. Visa system need to be stream line, and made easy to obtain, and reduce the high visa price.
Thank you and talk to you soon
Vietnam is killing itself due to gov’t short-sightedness. No retirement visa is costing the gov’t millions of dollars in lost spending revenue by foreigners that COULD be living there but are denied living there longterm. Border runs are NOT sustainable. Vietnam does NOT want us. I spend ALL of my retirement dollars in FRIENDLY and WELCOMING neighboring Cambodia! Go where you’re treated best!
Err ... wes, Vietnam don't want boomer s*xpats, hence the visa situation.
First of all Saigon is one of my favorite Asian cities. I have been there many times on business and as a tourist. One suggestion is for the Vietnamese government to study the Thailand tourist visa system. As a US citizen, I can go there for 60 days with a visa free entry and no fees, with a 30 day fee based extension. For Vietnam, I have to apply for a 30 day single or multiple entry fee based visa ($25 or $50)...and the web site is clunky and not clear. I have to enter my First Name with both my First and Middle name to match my passport. This not clear at all and is a common mistake where a redo is allowed, but will cost you another 3 business day delay in getting this visa.
I don't mind paying this fee, but other countries are much easier to enter, so why bother with Vietnam's clunky online visa system when other alternatives are so much simpler. Been to Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore without any extra visa applications or fees. Vietnam needs to observe what is working for other countries and compete with them to get those tourist dollars to come back and enjoy all the great things about Vietnam.
Fascinating
Thanks everything is about policy !!!!!
Yes.
With tensions between the USA and China, Vietnam's economic situation will not be any better.
The Vietnamese government will have to find a solution sooner or later.
People say that the government is trying to bring investors and manufacturing industries into the country. But they only stay until the workers want to work for bread. Then they look for other victims.
China is already too expensive for them.
And we in the West are plagued by inflation through printing money and debt. We spend money as if there were no tomorrow.
It's like a dream:)
Im so Happy. Thailand awaits you all. Beautiful respectful tourists 😂 23/9 a place for African and Indian groups without a single woman. But in the morning a wonderful exercise place
We want to retire in Vietnam but it is so hard. So we are looking at Thailand. Unfortunately you gave all the reasons why we are frustrated. Great video and thanks for talking the truth.
Have you considered opening your own overseas consulate so that you can offer some innovative visa types?
Do you have a copy of the Honorary Consul book by Scope?
While your points are valid, you fail to mention that more than 60% of tourists to Vietnam are from Korea, China and Japan, and the average length of stay is less than 7 days. Vietnam is still out of reach for many Western tourists because of it's confusing visa requirements, and extremely dodgy visa issuance (so many mistakes are made by immigration). Vietnam also does not have the health infrastructure to support retired westerners. In my 6 years living in Vietnam, i have seen many unfortunate westerners end up in local hospitals with chronic conditions, unable to afford decent care, and relying heavily on local friends to support them. Vietnam has a very long way to go before it can be compared with Thailand or Malaysia as a retirement destination. But yes, cleaning up the visa process and cracking down on scams would go a long way