Dubai has many attractive policies to attract wealthy expats. (Photo: AP) He said he had no way back. The businessman’s super-rich foreign friends did the same, sending sales of luxury properties in Dubai skyrocketing. “In Dubai there is only one strategy: do business as usual. The philosophy is simple: Make sure everyone is vaccinated and everything is open. Of course that appeals to me,” Reech, president of a series of real estate and fintech companies, told the AP. As vaccines are being distributed unevenly around the world, disease outbreaks have prompted many countries to extend their lockdowns. As a result, the number of foreign visitors to the luxury real estate market in Dubai skyrocketed. It’s the few places in the world where they can go out to dinner, shop, and meet face-to-face to discuss business. Soaring demand caused the price of villas and townhouses here also to increase rapidly, with 230% in the first quarter of this year. Prices in some first-class areas have increased by as much as 40%, according to Property Finder, one of Dubai’s largest real estate websites. Up to 90 properties worth $2.7 million/unit were changed hands in April, while the whole year of 2020 there were only 54 similar transactions. Many people take advantage of investment to sell for profit. Analysts say this trend will continue until prices get too high and profits dwindle. Low bank interest rates and families’ desire for more space have led many wealthy people in big cities like New York and Paris to look for suburban mansions. But there are other compelling elements in the home of long-haul airline Emirates and the world’s tallest tower. Since reopening to visitors last summer, Dubai is establishing itself as an attractive tourist destination for visitors amid the pandemic. Without mandatory quarantine for many days, foreign tourists are allowed to party in bustling bars and beaches, take selfies at Dubai resorts, while many helicopters are ready to serve their needs. request to return home. The influx of tourists contributed to the outbreak of COVID-19 cases in Dubai in January this year, prompting the British government to decide to postpone flights here. But the UAE, with its young population and low mortality rate, has endured relatively well during the pandemic. This country of 9 million people has used 10.6 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, mainly from Sinopharm. This global financial hub is seen as an oasis in the volatile Middle East. Dubai benefited from the wave of capital flight. Homeowners in the Palm Jumeirah area, which saw a 43 percent increase in transactions in April, are home to Afghan warlords and political elites from countries like Nigeria, Syria and Lebanon. They all want to find a safe place to keep their money. Now, a large portion of the wealthy clientele of this man-made archipelago and Dubai’s luxury villas come from Europe, India, China and Russia, who are looking for a better life. in an epidemic situation. In March, the Palm archipelago saw an expensive home sale, when a Swiss family bought the city’s second most expensive beachfront villa for $ 30.2 million. Last month, a European family bought their third most expensive home for $28.6 million. Although there are many questions about the effectiveness of the Sinopharm vaccine, Dubai allows people to choose, including the Pfizer/BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines. In order to be vaccinated, residents need a residence visa – something the city government readily grants to investors and luxury home buyers. Considering buying land in Dubai to build his dream home, Reech ordered the Pfizer vaccine shortly after being granted citizenship. In England, he said he had to wait four months for his turn. Many other initiatives are being taken by Dubai to attract wealthy expats, such as remote work visas, retirement visas, and renewable “golden” visas. To build the image of a cosmopolitan city, the UAE also revised its strict Islamic law to allow unmarried couples to live together and allow non-locals to apply foreign laws on divorce and inheritance.

The island nation of Maldives is a tourist attraction. (Source: business-standard) The Maldives Islands have decided entry ban for people from South Asian countries; including India, in an effort to prevent the spread of the acute respiratory infection pandemic COVID-19 . The Maldives Ministry of Tourism on May 12 said: “The Maldivian government has decided to temporarily stop issuing tourist visas to visitors from South Asian countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.” The ban also applies to passengers who transit more than 24 hours in these countries and who have been to these countries within the past 14 days. Meanwhile, guests from other countries are still allowed to go to the Maldives resort islands if available negative PCR test within 96 hours before entry, but do not have contact with local people. Previously, the Maldives has reopened tourist resorts from July 2020 after 3 months of closure against the epidemic. But the country has recorded a record high number of new infections per day (1,500 cases on May 11), while a month ago, this number was less than 100 cases / day.

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.

Get married through the brokerage center Many foreign brides are “invisible people”. After many years of suffering from an abusive husband, not allowed to leave the house and often starved, Lyly (character has been renamed) – the 30-year-old Vietnamese bride has decided to leave her bad husband. Lyly said her ex-husband, a driver about 60 years old, often beat her when he was angry, drunk or losing money. “I don’t know where the market is, where the bus station is. I have no money and no friends. I ask him for money to spend in the house, but he always asks” What do you need money for? For another guy? “, She shared about her difficulties. Once, he didn’t buy anything for her and their son for a week. Lyly said she took her son away at least 3 times but returned because her husband promised to change. However, Lily continued to suffer violence. He even starved her mother and daughter. Desperate, Lyly turned to the police. Thanks to her shelter, she was referred to lawyer June Lim, who represented her to carry out free divorce proceedings. Lyly has sole custody of his son – who is a Singaporean, 6 years old this year. After the divorce, Lyly’s ex-husband canceled her long-term relative visit visa. However, she was fortunate enough to be sponsored by a friend to be able to stay. “If no one helps, I don’t know what to do,” she said. Not only Lyly, many foreign women married to Singapore face a wide range of issues from domestic violence to poverty and uncertain futures in Singapore. These women seem “invisible and have no voice” because of their immigration status, limited rights, lack of protection by law and difficult access to social welfare. Many people lack understanding of the rights and benefits they enjoy, feel helpless in need of help because they do not know where to go for help. This is partly due to their limited social network in Singapore. They are often financially dependent on their husbands. Some people suffer from marriage violence or conflict for fear of leaving their children if their husbands cancel their long-term relative’s visas upon divorce. Member of a matchmaking company in Singapore. Photo: The Straits Times The government gave “fulcrum” A spokesman for the Lawyers Association Pro Bono said that it is very important that the Singapore Government publicizes its stance on the immigration status of foreigners after divorce. This is a “thoughtful and tolerant” approach by the government of this country, she said. In addition, a spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior (MHA) told The Straits Times that widows, spouses or divorced Singapore citizens have the right to custody of children under the age of 21. They are allowed to live in Singapore on a long-term visitor visa until the child reaches 21 years of age. Although the former Singaporean spouse cancels the visa extension, they can still be sponsored by another Singapore citizen or permanent resident over the age of 21. At the age of 21, children can sponsor foreign parents to stay. Since December 2018, the Pro Bono Lawyers Association and Ms. June Lim – CEO of Eden Law Firm – have started the LEAF Project (Empowerment and Legal Support for Foreign Spouses). . The LEAF project is now part of a Family Justice Assistance program that helps noncitizens or Singapore permanent residents with marriage matters. The project aims to provide free assistance to a spouse who is a foreigner who meets a number of conditions, for example with a per capita monthly income of S $ 950 or less. They decided to start this pilot scheme because foreign spouses with children in Singapore are a “particularly vulnerable” group. They often depend on their partner for all aspects of their life. They may not have anyone to help them in the face of home violence or a broken marriage. In many cases, they also do not have any other friends or relatives in Singapore, they just have to look to charities like LEAF to stay. To avoid unfortunate things from happening, the Singapore Department of Family and Social Development has introduced a marriage support program for couples of different nationalities to help them have a strong marriage foundation. The program offers classes that teach English or Mandarin for the brides, give instructions on how to communicate, deal with conflicts in a multicultural setting, as well as tips on living in Singapore. Source: Straits Times, Sixth Tone

China is now the country with the largest number of foreign tourists in the world. The number of outbound tourists from mainland China was 129 million. In 2016, the total overseas consumption of Chinese tourists reached 261 billion US dollars, and the per capita consumption of tourists was 6,000 yuan. Among them, half of the overseas consumption of Chinese tourists came from shopping .

The tourist destinations of Chinese tourists are still concentrated in Asia. Whether it is distance or cultural identity, Chinese tourists prefer Asian countries. In the past, Japan and South Korea were the most popular tourist destinations for Chinese tourists. In recent years, various countries in Southeast Asia have also become Chinese tourists. Frequent tourist countries,

Vietnam, Thailand’s tourism industry rises, but Vietnam cancels visa exemption from China

Vietnam and Thailand are both Southeast Asian countries that Chinese tourists like very much in recent years, but these two countries have very different attitudes towards Chinese tourists. As a Buddhist country, Thailand’s domestic culture is relatively tolerant, so there is rarely any slaughter or slaughter. For the situation of tourists.

However, Vietnam has repeatedly reported news about Chinese tourists. For example, the customs beat Chinese tourists for not paying tips. When such Chinese tourists were disappointed with Vietnam’s tourism industry, Vietnam cancelled the visa-free policy for China. This makes Chinese tourists very dissatisfied, so the number of Chinese tourists going to Vietnam in the past two years has decreased.

However, this country “secretly” opened visa-free access to China, bluntly welcomes Chinese tourists, and the president said that it is not allowed to slaughter Chinese tourists

When Vietnam cancelled the visa exemption for China, a Southeast Asian country came out and said that it welcomes Chinese tourists very much, and does not understand why some people would reject Chinese tourists. This country is the Philippines. The Philippines is an archipelago country in Southeast Asia, and the domestic scenery is still very good, but because of the lack of publicity and insufficient tourist equipment, the number of tourists has not been enough.

The cancellation of visa exemption in Vietnam made the Philippines aware of the opportunity. Not only did the Philippines “secretly” open visa exemption to China, even their president gave a speech, welcoming Chinese tourists and expressing the need to crack down on customer slaughter. It is absolutely not allowed to cheat Chinese tourists, otherwise they will be sentenced to deportation.

The Philippines’ behavior has also won the favor of many Chinese tourists, and the number of tourists has increased greatly. In contrast, Vietnam, Chinese tourists accounted for more than one-third of Vietnam’s international tourists. Vietnam, which lost Chinese tourists, suffered heavy losses in the tourism industry. Although Vietnam wants to make up for its losses by opening up the visa-free policy to various European countries, Japan, South Korea and other countries, the effect is limited. What do you think of this? Welcome to leave a comment below to discuss

She shared in English: “I asked him for money to spend in the house, but he always asked:” What do you need money for? Let another guy? “.

Once, he didn’t buy anything for her and their son for a week.

Desperate when there was nothing to eat in the house, she called the police for help. She talked about the violence she had endured. “I don’t know where the market is or where the bus station is. I have no money, no friends ”.

She had taken her son away three times but then returned because her husband promised to change each time. However, he continued to beat her. In the end, Lyly decided “that’s more than enough”.

Currently, she is working as a kitchen assistant. “My son is too afraid of him. All times of violence affect the boy “.

Many foreign brides do not dare to speak up when being abused by their husbands.

Thanks to her shelter, she was referred to lawyer June Lim, who represented her to carry out free divorce proceedings. Lyly has sole custody of his son – who is a Singaporean, 6 years old this year.

A spokesman for the Lawyers Association Pro Bono said that it is very important for the Singapore Government to publicize its stance on the immigration status of foreigners after divorce. This is a “thoughtful and tolerant” approach by the government of this country, she said.

After the divorce, Lyly’s ex-husband canceled her long-term visit visa, but a friend at the church helped her to sponsor her to continue living in Singapore.

“If I don’t have people to help me, I don’t know what to do,” said the woman.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior (MHA) told The Straits Times that those who are widowed or divorced from a Singapore citizen and have custody of children under the age of 21 are “essentially” allowed to live. stay in Singapore on a long-term visit visa until the child reaches 21 years of age.

“This allows them to take care of the Singaporean here,” said a MHA spokesperson.

These foreigners can also be sponsored for living in Singapore by another Singaporean or another permanent resident who is 21 years of age or older. That means when the child turns 21 years old, he / she can further sponsor his / her parent for a long-term visitor visa.

Foreign wives often keep quiet when they are abused by their husbands, the spokesman said, because husbands often threaten to cancel their wives’ visas and deny them custody if they divorce.

In addition, whether or not a foreigner has permanent residency in Singapore will be one of the main judicial considerations when deciding who the child will live with after divorce.

In December 2018, the Pro Bono Lawyers Association and Ms. June Lim, CEO of Eden Law Firm, started the Leaf Project (Empowerment and Legal Support for Foreign Spouses). .

This pilot project aims to provide free assistance to a spouse who is a foreigner who meets certain conditions, for example with a monthly per capita income of S $ 950 or less.

Lawyers Association spokesman Pro Bono said the association decided to start a pilot plan with foreigners with Singaporean children because it is a “vulnerable” group.

They often depend on their partner for all aspects of their life. They may not have anyone to help them in the face of home violence or a broken marriage.

“They face the risk of being repatriated if the partner cancels the visa extension.”

“This problem is especially frustrating when they have Singaporeans, the children will have to leave the country or separate from the mother – often the main caregiver.”

She also said that many foreign wives cannot afford to hire a lawyer. They are also ineligible for legal aid programs because they are not a Singapore citizen or permanent resident.

In addition to divorce and related issues, these wives face the risk of domestic violence, she added.

In many cases, there are many foreign wives who do not have Singaporean friends. So they turn to charities and religious groups to find a native to sponsor their long-term visa.

Watch more video: The Korean court ruled in favor of the Vietnamese bride

Dang Duong(According to The Strait Times)

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