Sitting in a living room decorated with purple flower pots, Georgian Manana Natchkebia, 59, recalls her 30-year anniversary of low-cost Aeroflot flights. When she was 20 years old, Manana Natchkebi was a worker in a factory in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia. Her salary ranges from 300-400 rubble / month and she does not have to pay rent due to her living in the dormitory of the factory. On holidays, many people travel, Manana has another hobby, which is to fly to the Russian capital Moscow to shop. She loves buying French perfumes and fashion clothes. At that time, imports were not much in Georgia, so women like fashion like Manana often flew to the Soviet Union to satisfy their shopping needs. Fortunately, the airfare between Tbilisi and Moscow is quite cheap, only 37 rubles / way, an affordable price and not much higher than the train price. Facing the exit of the old Tbilisi airport, a mural paying homage to visitors was sculpted from the Soviet era. Photo: lemonde.fr In today’s Georgia, the former Soviet generation is now in its 50s but still remember the low-cost Aeroflot flights 30 years ago. “That day, we really liked Moscow. We often come here for a few days to visit the capital, watch movies, listen to good music to go to Mausoleum of Lenin because we are all Communist Party members. Once, we flew from Tbilisi to Moscow and vice versa within 24 hours to attend a party, watch a concert or get a haircut… ”, Manana recalls. According to the memory of former pilot Kakha Chachava, 60, during the 1970s and 1980s, many Georgians took an Aeroflot flight to Moscow for 37 rubles. “There are at least 10 flights a day between Tbilisi and Moscow, and that number goes up to 14 in the summer,” Kakha recalls. Not only Georgians but many people in the former Soviet republics are fond of Aeroflot flights of 37 rubbles. The Soviet Union invented cheap flights, symbols of modern capitalism, long before easyJet or Ryanair appeared. There are many things in common between Aeroflot flights and those on today’s low-cost airlines: Fewer business class seats, basic amenities, no side meals, and staff not always comfortable. . American historian Steven Harris, who is about to release a book about Aeroflot, observed: “Strangely, since the 1990s, Aeroflot has pioneered the provision of cheap flights. Service is reduced to a minimum so that people can buy the lowest fares “. In the Soviet Union, the number of non-commuter passengers increased significantly, from 8 million (out of 203 million in total) in 1958 to over 100 million (out of 257 million in total). 1976. The development of air traffic goes hand in hand with the development of tourism. Erik Scott, Professor of History of Soviet Studies at the University of Kansas (USA) explains: “In the post-Stalin era, the Soviet government gave people many opportunities to travel and a quality of life. better. Flights allow more people to travel ”. In 1990, Aeroflot entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest airline, with a network of more than 1 million kilometers of domestic routes connecting 3,600 towns and cities. Convenient air traffic also promotes trade and cultural exchange. Director Lana Gogoberidze, 92, who has worked with famous Russian film director and screenwriter Andrei Tarkovsky regularly flies to Moscow. “At that time, I had to go to Moscow to attend presentations or support the crew in front of the censorship committee,” said Lana. In addition, she also took advantage of meeting friends and enjoying the cultural life in Moscow. But it all ended in 1991, the time that marked the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Flight 37 rubble is suspended after restructuring Aeroflot. Since then, the Tbilisi-Moscow route has also reflected tensions between Russia and Georgia amid the separatist conflict of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In June 2019, Moscow banned all direct flights to Georgia after a violent anti-Russian demonstration in Tbilisi. This is the most serious crisis since the 2008 war. Today, Georgian youth love to travel in Berlin (Germany), Prague (Czech) Amsterdam (Netherlands), Barcelona (Spain) or Paris (France) on flights of low-cost airlines like Wizz. Air of Hungary, Pegasus Airlines of Turkey. But for Georgian elders who adore the Soviet Union, they still remember the phrase “37 rubble”, about Aeroflot’s low-cost flights. “It is a nostalgia for our youth,” Mrs. Manana Natchkebia emphasized.

Photo: VNA After a trip to Vietnam, Kara Williams, a former reporter, magazine editor and now a freelance writer, understood clearly why the Southeast Asian nation has become an attractive destination with foreigners, especially retired people like. This American writer talked about his trip to Vietnam and outlined 8 reasons that many foreigners fall in love with the S-shaped country as follows: My first visit to Vietnam last year was miraculous. From the moment my husband and I arrived at the Ho Chi Minh City airport, I was fascinated by the energy of this sweltering urban center, from late night bars to bustling outdoor bars as well as hundreds. the motorcycle stops every time the red light turns on, which requires great courage and fast speed to cross streets with heavy traffic. Then, in the coastal city of Hoi An, I was amazed at the well-preserved AQ and its centuries-old houses, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. We order exotic and delicious food from the night market stalls by pointing at the photo menu, walking the countryside by bike, learning about the rice fields and how to make rice paper, taking a taxi to the beach white sand sea …. This colorful country trip less than a week was too short for us. Before I left Vietnam, I vowed to come back here one day. I remember telling my husband, “You can spend a lot of time here”. I am not alone. With its rich culture, tropical weather, low living standards and many opportunities to visit in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is a popular destination for people to move here. Many retirees are also interested in Vietnam. In fact, Vietnam ranks 10th on International Living magazine’s list of the best places in the world to retire in 2021. Here are the reasons why people consider spending their retirement years in Vietnam. Living expenses International Living magazine points out that Vietnam’s exceptionally low cost of living is a major attraction. In the book In A Better Life for Half the Price (a better life at half the price), author Tim Leffel said, Vietnam is “one of the most valuable places in the world for tourists, especially for tourists. especially in terms of accommodation and food “. Hence, this is a place of great value for the people who live there. Leffel said, when referring to apartments anywhere in Vietnam, “you can find beautiful rooms with reasonable prices in the range of 300-800 USD / month”. Indeed, Neil Varden, CEO of CabinZero who moved from England to Ho Chi Minh City 3 years ago, also said that the cost of living here is very good. “Honestly, I can live like a king without spending a lot of money,” says Varden. Low prices make sightseeing, shopping, and dining in Vietnam more attractive. Immerse yourself in a crowded, affordable restaurant and pay only $ 1 for a cold beer, $ 2 for a sandwich – one of my all-time favorites. Which brings me to … Opportunities to travel Once Vietnam is where you live, going anywhere in Southeast Asia is easy. There is a wide range of flights on low-cost airlines so you can often travel to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos or Malaysia. Traveling in Vietnam is also quite simple, with flights between cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Hanoi, plus a system of buses, trains and even ships to the islands. favorably like Phu Quoc. Food Everywhere, not only Vietnamese food is extremely cheap, but also at restaurants. During my trip to Vietnam, we enjoyed all the typical dishes of Hoi An, from bread to white rose cake, tall. We also tried a variety of other dishes, including pho, spring rolls and Vietnamese pizza – which included meat, eggs, and vegetables on a rice paper roll, all folded to taste. Vietnamese black coffee is also great, though I haven’t tried egg coffee yet. I also couldn’t resist the baguettes and rolls of breakfast buffets. If you are a foodie, love to try new dishes and pay a little money, Vietnam will not disappoint you. Human I agree with Neil Varden’s view that Vietnamese people are very friendly. In fact, wherever we go, we meet smiling faces, people willing to help us. I found it to be really true at the hotel we stayed in in Hoi An, where gentle manners and hospitable nature are what the receptionists and restaurant staff always show off. My English speaking tour guide is knowledgeable and happy to answer all my questions about her life in Vietnam. Phil Minett, an Australian, came to Vietnam for a short vacation in March 2020 with the aim of seeing if this could be a place where he could settle permanently. After that, the border was closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a year later, Phil was still in Vietnam. While living in a very local 10-story building in Ho Chi Minh City, Phil said he saw the generosity and friendliness of the neighbors around him. Lots of places to live Da Nang seems to be a suitable place for many foreigners, with a series of cafes (with fixed internet), golden beaches, high-rise apartments and beautiful scenery because 3 sides have mountains. around. The south of Da Nang has two world-class golf courses, the further south is the colorful city of Hoi An – where it might be too crowded with some retired people. However, it’s still quite vibrant with many restaurants, cafes, close to many beaches and a slew of tailor-made shops – if tailoring at the right price makes you feel like it. Ho Chi Minh City is an attractive place if you like a historic urban center. The capital Hanoi is located in the north of Vietnam, not as warm as Ho Chi Minh City. Some smaller cities that foreigners can consider are Da Lat, Nha Trang, Vung Tau and Phu Quoc, International Living magazine writes. Weather Vietnam’s monsoon tropical weather also attracts many people, especially those who want to say goodbye to winter in North America. However, this weather is not for everyone. Temperatures in Vietnam can reach 37.7 degrees or more in some regions during the hottest months and humidity is present everywhere in the country. The seasonal climate changes depending on whether you are inland or coastal, north or south. Please see the website of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism for more information on weather. History and Culture From ancient temples and pagodas to 20th century war history, Vietnam offers plenty of fun for retirees who want to open their minds to exploring cultural and historical events. in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. There are countless opportunities to take part in cultural tours and classes to learn how to weave a sleeping rug from a dry reed or to trade in a floating market in the Mekong Delta. Museums detail Vietnam’s invaded history and you can even travel through the Cu Chi Tunnels, a hidden underground system. Of course, it is possible to experience the national culture by simply walking through a neighborhood, eating local food, watching families play in the park or watching a show at a local theater. Once again, Vietnam offers you many opportunities to do just that. Development future After retiring, Jefferson Saunders moved to Vietnam in 2016. Before that, Saunders had come to Vietnam many times. Like many others, though attracted by the friendliness of the Vietnamese and the cost of living here, this man is increasingly interested in watching the development between the old and the new. This emerging market has “higher education, better income, internet, more travel with serious investments pouring in”. The 70-year-old and married man said that Vietnam’s major cities now have many Western-style clinics and hospitals. In addition, there are many high-end hotels in the cities. The challenge of living in Vietnam Unlike some other countries, like Mexico, Vietnam does not have a “retirement visa”. So it is difficult for retired people who do not work in Vietnam to stay here for a long time. There are tourist visas that require you to leave Vietnam every 90 days, the rules depend on which country you are in. Then there is a visa category for foreigners working in Vietnamese companies, as well as investment visas for people working in Vietnam or investing in certain companies. “Applying for a visa is not easy because the rules are always changing,” said Neil Varden. Pollution is also an issue in cities in Vietnam, partly due to the flow of cars and motorcycles and limited environmental policies, Leffel writes in A Better Life For Half The Price.