by Daniel Nardini
What rather shocked me was seeing an article on a possibility for American seniors to retire to of all places Vietnam! The writer explained that Vietnam is cheap, has a great variety of cuisine and shopping places, cheap housing, and an international atmosphere in the major cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. I can remember when the United States fought a war in this country, and now it is being hailed as a “stable” place for those who find it hard to live in America. Fine, the article is accurate about the country being cheap to live in for Americans, and having lots of places to shop, cheap housing, and something of an international atmosphere in its major cities. There is no question that Vietnam is one of the more stable countries in Southeast Asia.
Problem is that there should be more to a place being cheap, having excellent shopping facilities and being stable. What about freedom of speech? What about freedom of peaceful assembly? What about freedom of religion? What about freedom of the press? What about the right to seek redress for past grievances? None of these things exist in Vietnam. I am not sure about many Americans, but I would not be able to live in this type of environment personally speaking (especially since I am a writer). However, it is up to any and all individuals where they want to go and if they want to retire to Vietnam.
Americans are also thinking of retiring to Central American countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. While these countries do have freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion, they are not exactly the safest places to be either. Yes, things are cheap in these countries, but violence and gang violence in particular are extremely serious problems. This is why hundreds of thousands of people have been fleeing these countries within recent months. Nicaragua is far more stable than these Central American countries, but freedom of speech and freedom of the press are not exactly guaranteed by the current government.
One country in Central America which might fit the bill for many Americans is Costa Rica. Having all of the above, and stability and being far less expensive than the United States, it has worked for tens of thousands of Americans who have settled there. Again I am not going to tell people where to go and where to retire to, but all I can say is that it never hurts to exercise common sense, and maybe even visit the target country or countries to find out if they are right for you. And for those advertising either Cuba or North Korea as possibilities for retirement, I would definitely give these two places a second or even third thought.
About That Retirement Plan
by Daniel Nardini
What rather shocked me was seeing an article on a possibility for American seniors to retire to of all places Vietnam! The writer explained that Vietnam is cheap, has a great variety of cuisine and shopping places, cheap housing, and an international atmosphere in the major cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. I can remember when the United States fought a war in this country, and now it is being hailed as a “stable” place for those who find it hard to live in America. Fine, the article is accurate about the country being cheap to live in for Americans, and having lots of places to shop, cheap housing, and something of an international atmosphere in its major cities. There is no question that Vietnam is one of the more stable countries in Southeast Asia.
Problem is that there should be more to a place being cheap, having excellent shopping facilities and being stable. What about freedom of speech? What about freedom of peaceful assembly? What about freedom of religion? What about freedom of the press? What about the right to seek redress for past grievances? None of these things exist in Vietnam. I am not sure about many Americans, but I would not be able to live in this type of environment personally speaking (especially since I am a writer). However, it is up to any and all individuals where they want to go and if they want to retire to Vietnam.
Americans are also thinking of retiring to Central American countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. While these countries do have freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion, they are not exactly the safest places to be either. Yes, things are cheap in these countries, but violence and gang violence in particular are extremely serious problems. This is why hundreds of thousands of people have been fleeing these countries within recent months. Nicaragua is far more stable than these Central American countries, but freedom of speech and freedom of the press are not exactly guaranteed by the current government.
One country in Central America which might fit the bill for many Americans is Costa Rica. Having all of the above, and stability and being far less expensive than the United States, it has worked for tens of thousands of Americans who have settled there. Again I am not going to tell people where to go and where to retire to, but all I can say is that it never hurts to exercise common sense, and maybe even visit the target country or countries to find out if they are right for you. And for those advertising either Cuba or North Korea as possibilities for retirement, I would definitely give these two places a second or even third thought.