I don't know if she's a newcomer. But it's likely she is since she knows how to head back that way. lol
I don't like life in Laos or Thailand. I can live there for two or three months max, not even half a year. But I'll need to be back to Minnesota again forever. Those who think it's peaceful there are missing the point: the people there are always backstabbing you and the government and law are not going to be on your side; they are always looking for troubles, partly to make you respect them and pay them. I'm not spending my retirement money there. It's not going to be a good retirement.
Depends how to you live there, if you go live lavishly there among the poor then you are right it's not very safe. Because you're exposing that you have money, even if the authority don't try to cheat you, the crooks will rob you eventually.
If you blend in and just try to live like a locals there, not showing you have money you should be ok. It's common sense, you can't go and live like you're rich among the poor where everyone's house is made up of straws while your house is looking like a luxurious hotel.
Some people got this idea all wrong, they think they'll go there built a very nice house, have couple of nice cars in the drive way and live like they're rich over there. If you want to live like you're rich, just stay here in the u.s and go live in a nice neighborhood..
..why go to a poor third world country and behave like that over there. You're just asking for trouble.