@Wayne ****

Don't worry cowboy, guess being called a freeloader hit home. Just ask your local Thai .. he / she would agree. I had business in Chiang Mai, employed people, paid taxes and was part of the Rotary club. Travelled with several high position Thai politicians to meetings with village leaders. Bought and installed various equipment for several Lana villages, only accessible with the help of the army. Little boy, seems like you locked your profile and I can assure you I would love to tell you face to face. The facts are, life for the xpats are in the flux of change.

Many expats living in Thailand would not pay any taxes on their pension income in their home countries, plus many have sold their assets, some maybe bought houses in their wife's name and many transferring money from their respective home country bank into Thai bank account. With Thaksin in power and the reenactment of existing tax laws, they will all have to pay tax. The Thai government recently issued 10, 000 baht to the tune of 4,5 billion, benefitting 14,5 million Thai nationals. Having own business in Chiang Mai, I am sure the Thai government is not interested in "comforting" a few thousand potential tax cheaters, calling themselves xpats that are not ! Immigrants as some may think they are, but rather working towards creating an Asian multi country visa, headed by Thailand and Vietnam. Your time of free-loading is over .. Thaksin is back, approved

by the King !

Lived in all 3 cities, DaNang your best choice.

Hanoi can be bad, not sure about Saigon. I live in Hoi An, close to DaNang, close to the ocean so clean and fresh. I had business in Chiang Mai some years ago, very heavy in those areas.

Forget Thailand. Different policies every week. Cheaper, better and a lot easier in Vietnam. Yes, you are restricted to a 90 day visa, then a trip to the border starting in the morning, back for supper. Traveling in a comfortable visa bus. Efficient and easy. Lived here now for one year under the 90 day visa policy, never any issues.

Two issues, does the new draft include retroactive income ..? And many countries do not tax overseas pensioners (Canada is NR5) that live permanently outside their countries and have no tangible "attachments" in their home countries. Too many articles on this subject to be viewed as mere musings. Thaksin daughter is now the PM and his main interests are focusing on additional revenue for the rural population. Come November/December, this will be clear as mud.

@Graham *****

Been in and out of Thailand too many times to count, never exchange one word, think these comments are generated by old-timers embedded in Thailand with the wife owning the house.

The world outside the American continent is beautiful, more interesting and far more developed. For starters, try Pudding in Shanghai or Singapore .. or Dubai.

@Steve ******

90 day visa single or multiple if we are talking about Vietnam visa

@Will ****

Unlimited .. done 8 so far, never any issues, both land and air.