@Adam *****

I've secured visas for a variety of Thai ladies in my 20 years here for UK/US/SCHENGEN. They are all cumbersome. My point is Thailand is losing out to Vietnam which is far simpler yet T/land has just introduced another obstacle- TDAC when they should be making it easier.

Then Thailand wonders why people are flocking to Vietnam where things are much simpler. Thailand always overcomplicates things unnecessarily. A simple thing like a re-entry permit demands one double sided application form with photo + copies of 3 pages of your passport (which the officer is holding in his hand) - all of which has been provided six times a year, in my case, for TWENTY consecutive years!

Thais are incapable of doing ANYTHING simply. Just been to get a re-entry permit for the 20th SUCCESSIVE year. Despite holding my passport in his hand, I had to also give him copies of annual permission to stay/various copies of passport pages. They have had the SAME information from me SIX times a year for 20 years. Do they understand what Data Bases are?

Thailand's gift to Vietnam keeps on giving.

TDAC - the greatest boon to Vietnam's rising tourist figures.

TDAC - the best thing to happen to Vietnam in years.

Update on TDAC. For ex-pats, I think you can now put TH as country of origin; + no need for return flight information. Their help-line link does not work!

I'm an ex-pat & live here full time. I did a test run to prepare for my Spanish holiday. There is a help-link that doesn't work!

Further to my earlier comment; I just tried a dry run by putting in false information. I now risk criminal proceedings as the link to make changes does not work! You have to put in a return date which will be impossible for all ex-pats going on holiday then returning to their home! What is the point of buying a re-entry permit?

This new imposition, especially for ex-pats who have already provided this information a zillion times AND paid for a re-entry permit, will do wonders for Vietnam's tourist trade.