The Global Expat Hub🎥 Drone footage coming soon
Countries / Vietnam
Vietnam
Among the lowest living costs of any major destination and an energetic, fast-growing economy.
RegionSoutheast Asia
CapitalHanoi
CurrencyVietnamese dong
LanguageVietnamese
Expat saturationLow (0.1% foreign born)
Living cost · Mid-rangefrom $1,350/mo
Drone reel · 4K · muted loop
▶
🇻🇳 Vietnam from aboveVietnam in 60 secondsAerials of Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang. Replace this slot with the video element; the text stays overlaid.
Ad
MMeridian Relocation
Door to door to Vietnam.
One quote, one contact, insured all the way. Packing, customs and delivery to Ho Chi Minh City.
Get a free quote →Trusted by 40,000 families
Sample creative · fictional advertiserAd
CCasa Nova Rentals
Month-to-month homes in Ho Chi Minh City.
Furnished, utilities included, no deposit games. Move in from your phone.
Browse homes →From $900/month
Sample creative · fictional advertiserAd
⚓Anchor Tax Advisors
Two countries. One tax return.
Cross-border tax for Americans and Britons living in Vietnam. Fixed fees, no surprises.
Book a call →Licensed in the US, UK & EU
Sample creative · fictional advertiserYour moveSets your plan and the listings on flights, hotels, rentals, furnishings, moving and retirement.
Your plan for Vietnam checklist · timeline · cost breakdown
Affordable move$6,900estimated first-year setup · about 33 weeksMid-range move$13,650estimated first-year setup · about 28 weeksLuxury move$39,200estimated first-year setup · about 20 weeksRetirement move$19,850estimated setup incl. visa, insurance and advice · about 48 weeks
Estimates for one adult before ongoing rent and living costs; couples and families scale up. Tap a plan for the full breakdown.
Vietnam by the numbers editorial estimates in US dollars
Worth of the dollar$1 ≈ ₫26,2001 Vietnamese dong ≈ 0.0038¢ · snapshot, changes daily · Current rate ↗
Utilities · 85 m² flat$70/moElectric, water, sewer & garbage
Home internet$12/moBroadband, typical plan
Wi-Fi & connectivity score78/100Median fixed broadband ≈ 150 Mbps
Internet reliability74/100Usually fine; keep a mobile-data backup
English day-to-dayBasicHow far English gets you
Remote-work time zoneHard for USHard for US, partial EU (early)
Phone & eSIM$6/moLocal plan · travel eSIM ≈ $10/10 GB
Walkability of cities52/100Mixed; a car or rides for most trips
Air quality36/100Hanoi often unhealthy in winter; Ho Chi Minh City moderate; Da Nang cleaner
Healthy food & food safety58/100Improving food-safety enforcement; pesticide residue and street-food hygiene are concerns
Severe weather & hazards60/100 riskTyphoons and flooding on the central and northern coasts, Mekong floods
Drive on theRightLeft-hand-drive cars · Licence & vehicles →
Time zoneICT (UTC+7)ICT (UTC+7); 12 hours ahead of New York in winter
Literacy96%Adult literacy rate
Cost to give birth$200–500Public $200–500 / private $1,500–4,000
Rural landLand is state-ownedper acre · Land is state-owned; use rights only, foreigners cannot hold land
Beauty of cities80/100Architecture, setting, upkeep and green space
Petrol / fuel$0.90/L≈ $3.41 per US gallon
Doctor visit$20Basic clinic visit, paid privately
Emergency room$120Uninsured visit, before treatment
Dentist$20 / $30Check-up & cleaning / one filling
Life expectancy74 yrsAt birth
Unemployment2%National rate
Remote work & digital nomadsToleratedNo nomad visa; 90-day e-visa renewals widely used, remote work tolerated
🌤️ Climate
Tropical south, subtropical north with a real winter in Hanoi. Central coast typhoons Sep–Nov.
Winter · Jan17°C63°F
Spring · Apr24°C75°F
Summer · Jul29°C84°F
Autumn · Oct25°C77°F
Mean temperatures for Ho Chi Minh City.
🌧️ Rain & snow
Rainfall about 1,800 mm (71 in) a year.
Snow Rare, far northern mountains only.
⚖️ The law
Official legislationGovernment legal documents portal ↗
OverviewLaw of Vietnam on Wikipedia ↗
Driving On the right. Licence rules →
🏛️ Taxes
Property tax Non-agricultural land tax 0.03–0.15%; negligible.
Local & regional income tax None.
🎓 University
Not free; public $1–2k/yr, international programmes $3–8k.
📱 Phone & eSIM
Carriers Viettel, Vinaphone, MobiFone.
Average cost Local SIM or eSIM with generous data about $6/month; a 30-day travel eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, Saily and similar) around $10 for 10 GB.
🎁 Schemes to attract expats
- 90-day multiple-entry e-visa for all nationalities
- Investor and Temporary Residence cards
- Low flat costs rather than tax schemes
Figures are national averages for planning, not quotes; big cities run higher. Tax schemes change often and carry conditions. Verify before you rely on them.
Official sources for Vietnam embassies, warnings, law and reference
US Embassy in Vietnam↗All embassies and consulates in Vietnam↗US State Department travel advisory↗UK FCDO travel advice↗Government legal documents portal↗Law of Vietnam (Wikipedia)↗Vietnam on Wikipedia↗Vietnam Tourism (official tourism board)↗World Health Organization country profile↗Numbeo cost-of-living data↗
Government, intergovernmental and reference sites only; no reviews or opinion. Links open in a new tab.
Ratings & warnings independent
Visa informationTypes, step-by-step application, where to applyPassport renewalOfficial renewal links and timingLiveability scoreThe rating and what drives itSafety ratingCrime, stability and what the number meansTravel warningsState Department and UN advisories, liveRegional information & cuisineWhere to live and what you'll eatCommunity & meetupsFinding your people
Follows your Mid-range tier partner listings match your budget
FlightsGateways, routes and fares for your research tripHotels & accommodationWhere to stay while you scout, with videoRental propertiesNeighbourhoods, prices and how renting worksFurnishings & home setupFurniture, appliances, utilities and internetMoving & shippingGetting your life across the oceanRetirementVisas, costs and where retirees settle
Services & daily life one labelled partner per page
Airport taxis & transfersOfficial cabs, apps, rail links and faresTransportationGetting around, driving and licencesTrains, buses & ticketsIntercity travel and where to bookSchoolsInternational, bilingual and local optionsChild care & nanniesNurseries, nannies, au pairs and costsUniversitiesDegrees, fees and student visasPets: vets, boarding & relocationBringing animals, finding a vet and careLanguage classesLearning before and after you landBest restaurantsWhere locals and expats actually eatHospitals & healthcare accessHow to see a doctor, hospitals, insuranceBanking & money transferAccounts, transfers and currencyTax & legal helpResidency, treaties and who to hireJobs boardRoles open to foreigners, updated weeklyCoworking & remote workWork rights, spaces and freelancing
Rated & officialPartners in three tiersOne labelled partner
Life in Vietnam faith, wellbeing, shopping and play
✨
Interested in where astrology says you should live?Click here for more info on astrocartography and Vietnam.
Click here →🕊️ Religious servicesChurches, mosques, synagogues, temples and more🧘 Wellness & spiritualityYoga, retreats, meditation, spas and practitioners🛍️ Retail recommendationsWhere to shop for clothes, tech, homeware and gifts🧺 Groceries & marketsSupermarkets, local markets and what things cost🥾 Recreation & tour guidesOutdoors, sport, day trips and licensed guides📱 Phone & eSIMCarriers, eSIMs, plans and what they cost⛴️ Boats & ferriesFerry routes, marinas, boat rental and ownership🏖️ Beaches, lakes & riversSwimming, water quality and the best spots🚗 Vehicles & driving licenceRent or buy a car, and how to get a local licence🖼️ Art galleries, museums & librariesWhat's free, what costs, and where to start Holidays & festivalsNational holidays, closures and the festivals worth planning around
Holidays & festivalsNational holidays, closures and the festivals worth planning aroundJobs board · Vietnam
Search for jobs for free, or post a job for $100 USD.
Roles open to foreigners in Vietnam: remote work you can do from Ho Chi Minh City, and in-person jobs with employers who hire from abroad. Free for job seekers, always. Employers pay a flat $100 per listing, live for 60 days.
Latest listings. Example listings shown until the first real posts go live.
Example · Senior Software Engineer (React / Node)Northwind Labs · Remote, US or EU hours
$95,000–130,000USD
Example · English Teacher (adults & business)International Language Centre · Ho Chi Minh City · in person
₫58,000,000–₫84,000,000/moVND