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Great Places to Retire Abroad for U.S. Boomers: What about Southeast Asia?

July 13, 2010 on 9:16 pm | In great places to retire | No Comments

Bruce Reznik with his water buffalo, his preffered pet as a retiree in Southeast Asia.

Bruce Reznik with his pet water buffalo at his home in Southeast Asia.

I recently discussed the financial and cultural benefits of great places to retire abroad in Southeast Asia with my good friend Bruce Reznik, an international lawyer, who is now semi-retired (meaning he works only part of the year). Bruce has some valuable advice for you about traveling to and living in this area of the world.

There are five countries that Bruce recommends as great places to retire abroad in Southeast Asia: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines. Each country has its pros and cons.

Let’s take a look at a couple of examples:

Cambodia:

Pro: Low cost of living

Con: More rudimentary accommodations

For instance: In Battambang, Cambodia, the second- largest city, the price for a 4-star hotel is about $20 a night. The average price for a comfortable apartment in Phnom Penh, the capital, ranges from $200 to $800 a month.

However, Bruce also said of Battambang:

“ It has the goods and services that one would need in general. It lacks an international courier office, so it’s tough to send things quickly. It is remote from any airport so it’s about a five hour drive to Siem Reap which is the town near Angkor Watt that has an airport, and also a five, four, six hour ride to the capital.”

Vietnam:

Pro: Similar accommodations to the U.S.

Con: It’s a little more expensive

Vietnam has accommodations that are more similar to what expatriate retirees from the United States are used to.

As Bruce says in the interview:

“I just think that because their economy is greater than the other countries that they have, perhaps, accommodations that are more reminiscence to Americans of what they’re accustomed to back home.”

Bruce compared the two countries with an anecdote:

“A friend of mine told me that he went to his mother’s home town which is in Cambodia along the Vietnamese border and it was at night. Everything was dark on his side of the border but as he looked down in the valley there were lights all over in Vietnam showing that their power system is on a much better level.”

Retirement in Southeast Asia is not for everyone. There are many other options Baby Boomers can explore when considering retirement overseas as a way to lower costs.

Check out theBaby Boomers Retirement Network for the resources and expert advice you need when choosing from the many great places to retire abroad. For more information, and to read and listen to the entire interview, go to: http://www.boomersretirementnetwork.com/audios.php.