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Vietnam’s economic rise is causing ripples around Asia, especially in Thailand. Any mention of the “V word” in Bangkok causes hand-wringing and furrowed brows among the city’s business executives. Vietnam is on track to overtake Thailand by the end of the decade to become Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy. Last week, Hanoi signed a new deal with Apple to expand production of smart-home devices in Vietnam – the latest in a series of big-money technology-sector deals.
 
Meanwhile, many Chinese tourists have been holidaying in Hạ Long Bay, Da Nang and Phú Quốc this year, rather than Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. This trend is likely to be temporary; besides, losing low-spending tour groups can be seen as a sign of Thailand’s increasing maturity as a destination. Even so, Bangkok’s business community needs its government to come up with a big idea to kick-start a slowing economy, attract new investment and deliver a much-needed injection of confidence.

Thailand’s prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, recently spoke about the “nightmare” of Vietnam surpassing his country. Though he deserves credit for addressing the elephant in Bangkok’s boardrooms, his administration is short on flagship projects. Somewhat surprisingly, it backed a controversial scheme to build a Panama/Suez-style canal through the country’s Kra Isthmus. This centuries-old idea, which has evolved from being about an actual canal into a proposal to construct a so-called land bridge, is probably a placeholder until strategists and policy wonks can come up with something better. 
 
To fully understand the depths of Thai leaders’ despair requires some historical context. The country has long been one of the region’s top dogs: decades of Cold War-era investment and infrastructure from the US military arrived at a time when neighbours Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam struggled with various conflicts. Thailand’s good fortune – or clever diplomacy – created a comfortable consumer class and an era of complacency. Any early warning signals that did go off this century were drowned out by an influx of Chinese money. Fifty years after the Vietnam War ended, Thailand has slipped behind in manufacturing and is becoming more and more reliant on tourism. Bangkok might host a Formula 1 race in 2028 – something that Hanoi failed to achieve amid a corruption crackdown – but there’s little to rev up interest outside of the Thai capital. 
 
The previous Pheu Thai-led government staked its future and that of the country on legalising casinos. It botched the public-consultation process and ended up losing everything, including power, but I have been surprised in recent months by the level of support that the idea still has among business owners. No one is pro gambling per se – far from it. They just want to see their government acting and creating momentum. The casino idea elicited plenty of overseas interest; corporate lawyers and dealmakers were busy travelling to Macau, Singapore and the Philippines to do due diligence on behalf of major foreign financiers. However, because of the Thai government’s refusal to take a gamble, political flip-flopping and a revolving cast of prime ministers, those investors will be looking elsewhere.
 
Thailand’s next election could happen as soon as March and it’s likely to be fought on the economy. All of the leading parties will need to think hard and bring grand ideas to the table that can deliver real change to make the country richer and less indebted. Now is not the time to become bogged down in idealism. Elitist debates about democracy or constitutional reform might win fans abroad but usually meet heavy resistance at home. Instead, parties need to inspire hope and start talking up the country on the campaign trail. Thailand continues to enjoy incredible advantages and has a huge head start over its neighbours that might never be closed even when Vietnam’s economic output eventually surpasses it. A prosperous Vietnam is good for a rising region still troubled by conflict – and it doesn’t need to come at Thailand’s expense.
 
James Chambers is Monocle’s Asia editor. You can read his lesson in cross-border communication in Southeast Asia here. Visiting and need big plans for Bangkok yourself? Check out our City Guide. 

Samsung Electronics has been leading display innovation for years — most notably by pioneering the world’s first commercialization of cadmium-free quantum dot materials. This groundbreaking technology has since become the cornerstone of achieving precise color reproduction and exceptional picture quality. Touted as the next-generation material, it has also drawn attention not just in the TV industry, but also in other sectors like medical devices and solar cells.

With the introduction of QLED TVs, Samsung has redefined the television landscape, integrating this innovative quantum dot technology into its products. By leveraging the properties of these ultra-fine quantum dots, QLED displays achieve a broader color gamut and higher brightness, elevating picture quality to levels that traditional LED TVs cannot match.

What sets Samsung QLED TVs apart from conventional LED TVs? Samsung Newsroom had the opportunity to meet with researchers Kevin Cha and Jang Nae-won from the Visual Display Business and disassemble a Samsung QLED TV to reveal the secrets behind its stunning performance — literally behind the screen.

1. Operating Module: The Brain of TV

1) Rear Cover

The back panel of a TV serves more than just a structural frame; it protects internal components and effectively manages heat. It houses speakers for audio support and facilitates easy device connections, improving the overall user experience.

2) Main PCB (Printed Circuit Board)

The main PCB acts as the brain of the TV, overseeing functions such as power supply, remote control reception and SmartThings connectivity. This critical component controls the entire system, ensuring the television operates smoothly.

3) TV Tuner

The TV tuner is responsible for receiving and converting broadcast signals for display on the screen. The rise of streaming services and increased use of external device connections has led many users to prefer smart monitors without tuners. However, by definition, a “television” must include this component.

4) AI Processor

At the heart of the Samsung QLED TV is the Q4 AI Processor chip. This advanced component manages AI functionalities such as picture and audio optimization and AI assistants. By automatically adjusting both image and sound based on the surrounding environment, the AI processor makes the viewing experience more immersive.

5) Speakers

Speakers are more than simple output devices. With high-resolution audio and a room-filling sense of space, Samsung QLED TV speakers greatly enhance the viewing experience.

2. Panel

1) Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Layer and Color Filter

The panel’s structure comprises several intriguing components. The liquid crystal layer and color filter are essential parts of the panel’s basic structure. The liquid crystal layer controls light passage, while the color filter separates colors and creates images at a pixel level. The PCB, which is attached to the panel, precisely controls each pixel, fine-tuning the image.

2) Optical Sheet

The optical sheet concentrates light from the backlight, ensuring a brighter and more uniform image across the display. By gathering light, it elevates the general brightness of the display.

3) QD (Quantum Dot) Layer

The next step reveals the QD layer, perhaps the most important, core component of Samsung QLED TVs. The layer actually utilizes quantum dot materials to convert light sources. This ensures more precise and vibrant colors than conventional technologies, resulting in lifelike visuals. The QD materials in this layer are certified No-Cadmium, enabling safer quantum dot TVs that do not contain harmful substances.

4) Diffuser Plate

This diffuser plate scatters light emitted from the backlight and spread it evenly across the panel to eliminate excessively bright spots and maintain natural illumination.

5) Blue LED Backlight

Samsung QLED TVs use a bright and efficient blue LED backlight. When paired with the QD layer, this backlight produces highly pure colors and achieves greater light efficiency than traditional white LEDs in standard LCD TVs, leading to enhanced overall luminance.

3. Three Key Requirements for a Real Quantum Dot TV

To qualify as a real quantum dot TV, three conditions must be met: the presence of a QD layer, sufficient quantum dot concentration and a blue backlight. Once a TV meets all three conditions, it can be considered a real quantum dot TV.

Samsung QLED TVs are the only models in the world to satisfy these criteria, earning the ‘Real Quantum Dot Display’ certification from TÜV Rheinland, a prominent international certification body based in Germany. This recognition underscores the excellence of Samsung’s QLED technology.

4. Striking Difference Between QLED and LCD

The differences between Samsung QLED and traditional LCD TVs are evident even to the naked eye, but especially striking when measured with professional tools.

For Samsung QLED TVs, the wavelengths of red, green and blue colors exhibit narrow bandwidths and distinct peaks in their emission spectrum, resulting in meticulous color representation. Viewers can see natural visuals and exceptional picture quality with rich, deep colors.

In contrast, LCD TVs without QD layers display generally lower peaks, a wider bandwidth in green as well as multiple peaks in red, hindering accurate color reproduction. To compensate, these TVs often require multiple layers for color correction, ultimately reducing light efficiency.

The in-depth teardown reveals that Samsung QLED TVs are built with sophisticated technology that goes beyond basic explanations. Every component that manages light works in harmony, culminating in breathtaking image quality. The QD layer, in particular, significantly enhances the richness and vibrancy of colors. The intricate technology behind these displays makes a substantial difference in overall picture quality.

At IFA 2025, Samsung Electronics showcased its technological prowess by establishing a “Real QLED Zone,” promoting the concept of “Buy Real, Not Fake.” Samsung QLED TVs represent the pinnacle of cutting-edge technology, pushing the boundaries of premium viewing experiences. With Samsung’s QLED TVs, viewers can truly appreciate the remarkable difference that quantum dot technology delivers.

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