My wife and I have toyed with the idea (actually I think she is praying for it) that upon retirement we would move to Vientiane. I found this site, I hope the information is fairly up to date. If not, I hope with the help of the Admin., we can rectify that.

http://www.retire-asia.com/retire-vientiane-laos.shtml

http://www.retire-asia.com/vte-dcp.jpg

The information is quite long and I don't have time to read them all, but some of the things I passed through seems accurate enough.

Thinking too far ahead are we. You haven't been to Vientiane yet, what if you don't like it?   
:)

Then I guess, maybe, I will we will move to Antarctica. Hahaha. Who knows what the future holds? Only God, and He isn't tell me a thing.

:)

As long as you're both together then retirement anywhere will be very enjoyable.

Good idea. Cost of living is cheaper. Vientiane is a nice and small city compare to Bangkok with 11 million people. I think you can retire and live on just $1,500 a month. rentsbuy.com
;)


wrote on 19^th Apr, 2011 at 7:47am:

My wife and I have toyed with the idea (actually I think she is praying for it) that upon retirement we would move to Vientiane. I found this site, I hope the information is fairly up to date. If not, I hope with the help of the Admin., we can rectify that. http://www.retire-asia.com/retire-vientiane-laos.shtml http://www.retire-asia.com/vte-dcp.jpg

At what age are you planing to retire? If you don't mine me asking.
:)


wrote on 19^th Apr, 2011 at 9:04am:

Then I guess, maybe, I will we will move to Antarctica. Hahaha. Who knows what the future holds? Only God, and He isn't tell me a thing. :)

That site seemed accurate to me.  I appreciated this part:


Quote:

One solution is to have a Lao wife or local partner and try to integrate into a local village community, because for many foreigners it's the ordinary Lao people that are the main attraction of this unique country. This does not mean 'going native', as the British once referred to their 'colonials' who began 'fraternising' with the locals in Africa and India! It's quite possible to maintain a Western style and standard of living, in harmony with Lao neighbours and friends. Although most Lao are poorly educated in the conventional sense, they have an inner understanding of people and emotions, and generally accept foreigners' odd habits graciously and with good humour.

That's a pretty good description. I know the main reason I like Vientiane is because I feel comfortable there, even with people constantly staring at me.

Sometimes in Thailand you get the feeling the people are staring at you because they dislike you. In Vientiane it just feels like curiosity.

Also, I doubt you'd be judged as much if you were walking around with a dark skinned girl there. Not so in Thailand. I've been asked many times by middle/upper class Thais what kind of girls I like...then they either outright say "do you like dark girls", or "oh, most farang like dark skin".

That's funny JSEA. For me I don't mine about skin color. There's less discrimination in Vientiane for sure. Laos is known for lay back attitude and friendly people.  
:)

Yeah I know, too bad they would only offer me $500/month to "work" there.

$500 is closer to a volunteer stipend than a salary.

JSEA wrote on 20^th Apr, 2011 at 4:14pm:

Yeah I know, too bad they would only offer me $500/month to "work" there. $500 is closer to a volunteer stipend than a salary.

$500 is not bad, but $1,000 would be nice. How much they pay in Thailand? Old Man was also a teacher and start low and he make up to $2,000 a month.
;)

About 1100USD/month before tax, and the cost of living here is pretty much the same as Vientiane. Beer is a little more expensive, that's all really.

Also you can find decent apartments for $150/month here pretty easily. In Vientiane they all seem to start at $200.

Teaching illegally I can make about $1500/month here.

Anyway, I was really bummed :(, I would have moved to Vientiane for $800/month, but they wouldn't budge.

You are right cost of living is similar in Vientiane and Bangkok. But they pay more in Thailand. I think foreigner teacher in Thailand get pay more then the locals.

You should try to negotiate with them say you got pay $1,100 in Thailand, but will take $800 in Vientiane or you already ask them. Paying $150 in rent and make $1,100 a month sound very good.
:)


JSEA wrote on 20^th Apr, 2011 at 5:36pm:

About 1100USD/month before tax, and the cost of living here is pretty much the same as Vientiane. Beer is a little more expensive, that's all really. Also you can find decent apartments for $150/month here pretty easily. In Vientiane they all seem to start at $200. Teaching illegally I can make about $1500/month here. Anyway, I was really bummed :(, I would have moved to Vientiane for $800/month, but they wouldn't budge.

Exactly, $150 rent out of $1150/month is very good. Most Thais make about 8000-10000 ($240-$300) baht or less each month.

It's a pity that the cost of living is so high in Vientiane, yet the pay doesn't make up for it. I can understand Lao people living on $100/month because they have family homes, and share food, etc. But as a foreigner I don't have that option :(.

Its true, but its getting better in Laos. Laos is developing. Thailand is way way ahead.
:)


JSEA wrote on 20^th Apr, 2011 at 6:02pm:

Exactly, $150 rent out of $1150/month is very good. Most Thais make about 8000-10000 ($240-$300) baht or less each month. It's a pity that the cost of living is so high in Vientiane, yet the pay doesn't make up for it. I can understand Lao people living on $100/month because they have family homes, and share food, etc. But as a foreigner I don't have that option :(.

A friend of mine teaching at the International School in Vientiane is now getting over US$4,000 a month after having taught there for many years.

Who was offering you $500 a month?  Must have been a 'Micky Mouse' school, right?

The schools I know would be offering at least $1,000 for qualified, experienced teachers.

Old Man

You should hook JSEA up Old Man. Not many foreign teacher will except $500 a month salary.
:)


wrote on 20^th Apr, 2011 at 7:51pm:

A friend of mine teaching at the International School in Vientiane is now getting over US$4,000 a month after having taught there for many years. Who was offering you $500 a month?  Must have been a 'Micky Mouse' school, right? The schools I know would be offering at least $1,000 for qualified, experienced teachers. Old Man

wrote on 20^th Apr, 2011 at 7:51pm:

A friend of mine teaching at the International School in Vientiane is now getting over US$4,000 a month after having taught there for many years. Who was offering you $500 a month?  Must have been a 'Micky Mouse' school, right? The schools I know would be offering at least $1,000 for qualified, experienced teachers. Old Man

It was a non-profit that seemed legit (I still think it is), but the "job" is really a volunteer position.

I looked into VIS, but they want teachers with IB experience. I have B.S. and a CELTA, so they won't even consider me. I'm kinda stuck because going back to the US is the last thing I want to do right now, but that's the only way I could get a teaching certification. If I did that, I'd rather teach Information and Communications Technology anyway, which is even harder to find jobs for in Laos.

llX wrote on 19^th Apr, 2011 at 3:01pm:

At what age are you planing to retire? If you don't mine me asking. :) wrote on 19th Apr, 2011 at 9:04am: Then I guess, maybe, I will we will move to Antarctica. Hahaha. Who knows what the future holds? Only God, and He isn't tell me a thing. :)

I'm 45 now, I think 60 would be good. Yet I will take a penalty on my Social Security (if it still exist then). My 401K is looking good. Going to bump it up a bit next year.

JSEA wrote on 21^st Apr, 2011 at 2:05am:

wrote on 20th Apr, 2011 at 7:51pm: A friend of mine teaching at the International School in Vientiane is now getting over US$4,000 a month after having taught there for many years. Who was offering you $500 a month?  Must have been a 'Micky Mouse' school, right? The schools I know would be offering at least $1,000 for qualified, experienced teachers. Old Man It was a non-profit that seemed legit (I still think it is), but the "job" is really a volunteer position. I looked into VIS, but they want teachers with IB experience. I have B.S. and a CELTA, so they won't even consider me. I'm kinda stuck because going back to the US is the last thing I want to do right now, but that's the only way I could get a teaching certification. If I did that, I'd rather teach Information and Communications Technology anyway, which is even harder to find jobs for in Laos.

In that case,  and if you really would prefer to live and work in Laos, I'd suggest you take a job for $500 and supplement it with private teaching while keeping your eyes open for better permanent positions which will surely come along.

If you could get 10 hours a week private teaching at $10 and hour (the minimum rate for private teachers) that would bring your monthly earnings up to $900.

You do have a TEFL qualification and experience so when you get integrated into the expat teaching community here you will be able to eventually find a school that needs someone on the spot to fill a vacancy.

Trying to do these things from long distance is not the best way.  Much better to be on the spot.  I have dropped into 6 countries now with hardly any money, not knowing the language, not knowing any people, no job, nowhere to stay, etc. and have always survived and eventually prospered.  It just takes a bit of courage and endurance.

I don't see why you shouldn't be able to do the same.

Old Man

That's how I got started here in Bangkok, just took the plunge. The problem is now I have decent work here (hopefully I'll be teaching computer, and maybe science/math classes in an AP program in May). I've also made a lot of friends. So as much as I love Vientiane, I'd need to know for sure I could make more than $500/month before moving there mainly because I used my small savings to get this far already (thanks to student loans and a crappy economy I wasn't able to save that much while working in the US).

I also wasn't sure how much private teaching would be available in Laos. I didn't think there were that many people there who could afford $10/hour English teachers.

Is Vientiane like Bangkok where you can use the ground pounding method of job search? Just walk into every school possible with a resume and photograph to see if they'll hire you?

JSEA wrote on 21^st Apr, 2011 at 5:52pm:

Is Vientiane like Bangkok where you can use the ground pounding method of job search? Just walk into every school possible with a resume and photograph to see if they'll hire you?

Yes, it is like that.  There are many private schools in Vientiane and it's easier for them to hire teachers on the spot than deal with hiring from outside the country.

Old Man