Vietnam
Data updated Aug 29, 2026
Overall Score
68.2
Excellent
Avg. Rent (1BR)
$401
-76% vs US Avg
Safety Index
59.2
COL Index
26.6
Vietnam is the right call for a specific type of person: someone under 55 who can tolerate real bureaucratic friction in exchange for a very low cost of living, has an income below $3,000 a month and wants it to go far, and is comfortable living in a country where English gets you through tourist areas but breaks down fast everywhere else. Retirees seeking a genuinely easy life often find Southeast Asia more demanding than expected here. The country works best for FIRE types and remote workers who are mobile, unbothered by visa runs, and willing to actually engage with a place that operates on its own terms.
The numbers are real. A single person can live on roughly $830 a month all-in, with about $400 going to a one-bedroom apartment in a city center like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and the remaining $430 covering food, transport, utilities, and entertainment. Street food lunches run 50,000 to 80,000 dong, around $2 to $3. A local beer costs under a dollar. The marketing around Vietnam focuses on those headline numbers and stops there. What it skips is that Western-standard housing in expat-heavy districts like Tay Ho in Hanoi or District 2 in Saigon runs $700 to $1,200 a month, that imported goods carry steep markups, and that air quality in both major cities is genuinely bad enough to affect daily life and drive up health spending for anyone with respiratory sensitivities.
The practical friction is real and consistent. Vietnam does not have a retirement visa. The standard path is a one-year business or investor visa, a tourist visa requiring exits every 90 days, or a DT visa requiring proof of significant investment. Banking is a persistent headache: opening a local account as a foreigner requires a work permit or business registration in most cases, which forces many expats to run entirely on foreign cards and absorb ATM fees. Healthcare at the international clinic level in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City is functional and cheaper than the US, but serious cases get evacuated to Bangkok or Singapore, which means travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is not optional. Traffic fatality rates are among the highest in Asia, and motorbike accidents are the most common serious health event expats face. Internet is genuinely fast, ranking in the top 10 globally for fixed broadband as of mid-2026, which makes it a legitimate remote work base on that dimension.
For US expats, Vietnam offers no special tax treaty with the United States, which matters. Americans owe US taxes on worldwide income regardless of where they live. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion lets you exclude up to $126,500 of earned income for 2024 if you meet the physical presence or bona fide residence test, and most expats in Vietnam qualify via physical presence given the 330-day requirement. Passive income, dividends, and capital gains do not qualify for the FEIE. Vietnam taxes foreign residents on Vietnam-sourced income at progressive rates up to 35%, and on foreign-sourced income if you are considered a tax resident, defined as spending 183 days or more in the country in a calendar year. In practice, many expats on rolling tourist visas stay under the 183-day threshold intentionally, though this approach creates its own complications around visa status and long-term residency.
Recommended Destinations in Vietnam
Best for Retirees
Best for Geoarbitrage
Best for Remote Workers
- Capital
- Hanoi
- Official Language
- Vietnamese
- Time Zone
- UTC+07:00
- Region
- Asia
- Population
- 97,338,583
- Healthcare Index
- 61.3
- Internet Speed
- 343.05 Mbps
- Climate Zones
- tropical, subtropical
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Explore data visually
ποΈ Top Cities in Vietnam
Explore cost of living, walkability scores, and expat ratings for individual cities in Vietnam.
CoL Index: 34
Est. Total: ~$720/mo
CoL Index: 39
Est. Total: ~$1,050/mo
CoL Index: 37
Est. Total: ~$980/mo
CoL Index: 32
Est. Total: ~$590/mo
CoL Index: 36
Est. Total: ~$900/mo
CoL Index: 35
Est. Total: ~$770/mo
CoL Index: 36
Est. Total: ~$721/mo
CoL Index: 32
Est. Total: ~$510/mo
CoL Index: 37
Est. Total: ~$670/mo
CoL Index: 36
Est. Total: ~$1,164/mo
CoL Index: 41
Est. Total: ~$1,000/mo
CoL Index: 42
Est. Total: ~$1,000/mo
CoL Index: 36
Est. Total: ~$770/mo
CoL Index: 34
Est. Total: ~$770/mo
CoL Index: 36
Est. Total: ~$800/mo
CoL Index: 27
Est. Total: ~$1,000/mo
CoL Index: 34
Est. Total: ~$597/mo
CoL Index: 47
Est. Total: ~$844/mo
CoL Index: 27
Est. Total: ~$573/mo
CoL Index: 27
Est. Total: ~$765/mo
How far does $1,500 go in Vietnam?
With a monthly budget of $1,500, you can live comfortably in Vietnam. After accounting for an average rent of $$401, you have approximately $1,099remaining for daily expenses.
Calculate your FIRE timeline with these costs βπ° Cost of Living in Vietnam
Relative to New York City (NYC = 100). A lower number means it's cheaper.
Relative to New York City (NYC = 100). A lower number means rent is cheaper.
Relative to New York City (NYC = 100). A lower number means groceries are cheaper.
Relative to New York City (NYC = 100). A lower number means eating out is cheaper.
Cost Comparison Notes:
Summary of cost of living in Vietnam: The estimated monthly costs for a family of four are $1,554.9 (40,940,647.9β«), excluding rent. The estimated monthly costs for a single person are $430.8 (11,341,777.7β«), excluding rent.
π Grocery & Family Costs
Family Costs
Can I afford to live in Vietnam?
Comfortable (1.0Γ): balanced baseline lifestyle. Adjusts day-to-day costs only β rent is unaffected.
Vietnam
You could save
2,169/mo
Monthly Costs
Attractiveness Scores
Based on national averages. City-level costs may vary. Browse cities in Vietnam β
βοΈ Healthcare System
Our Top Pick for Nomads: SafetyWing
Flexible, subscription-based health cover for remote workers in Vietnam.
Get Covered with SafetyWing βLooking for more options? Check Ekta.
An estimation of the overall quality of the health care system. Higher is better.
Quality & Affordability:
Quality varies. Private hospitals generally offer higher standards, shorter waits, and better facilities than the public system. Popular medical tourism destination.
Insurance Insights:
Expats typically use private health insurance to access preferred private facilities. US insurance generally not accepted.
π Visa & Residency Pathways
π Visa Services
Ready to apply for a Vietnam visa?
Get help with your application β tourist, long-stay, and residency visas processed online.
General Overview
Available Visa Types:
Process & Requirements:
Vietnam's visa system is in a state of positive transition, but it remains 'complex' for true long-term residency. In 2023, the government introduced a 90-day e-visa, which was a significant improvement for tourists and short-term visitors. However, for those looking to stay longer, the options are still primarily tied to employment or investment. The most common route is the work visa, which requires sponsorship from a Vietnamese employer and a work permit issued by the Department of Labor. This process can be bureaucratic and time-consuming.
For investors, there are DT-series visas, but these require a significant capital investment into a Vietnamese company. While there's growing discussion about a digital nomad or remote work visa, a formal program with a clear application process has not yet been established. The lack of a straightforward retirement or passive income visa means that many long-term expats rely on business visas or back-to-back e-visas, which does not provide long-term stability. The official Vietnam Immigration Department portal provides some details (URL: https://xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/).
Residency & Citizenship Notes:
The pathway to permanent residency in Vietnam is 'difficult' and rarely granted to foreigners. To be eligible, an applicant must have resided in Vietnam continuously for at least three years and have a stable income, but the category of eligible applicants is very narrow. It is typically reserved for those who have made special contributions to Vietnam or are sponsored by a family member who is a Vietnamese citizen. It is not a standard pathway available to the majority of long-term expat workers.
Naturalization is even more 'difficult' and exceptionally rare. An applicant must have resided in Vietnam for five years, be able to speak Vietnamese, and demonstrate knowledge of Vietnamese culture. The most significant barrier is that the applicant is generally required by law to renounce their original citizenship, as Vietnam does not typically recognize dual nationality for foreigners who naturalize. The combination of strict criteria and the renunciation requirement makes Vietnamese citizenship almost unattainable for most expats.
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Detailed Visa Options
𧳠Tourist & Short-Stay Information
Extension Notes
Holders of an e-visa can have their stay extended after entering Vietnam by applying through the Vietnam Immigration Department or a local sponsoring agency. The rules and procedures can be complex.
Official Source: View Source
General Visa Notes
US citizens must have a visa to enter Vietnam. The easiest method is to apply for an e-visa online before travel, which is valid for up to 90 days and can be for single or multiple entries. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
Official Source: View Source
π΄ Retirement / Passive Income Visa
This country does not have a dedicated retirement visa, but the following notes provide guidance on pathways for retirees.
Income Notes
Vietnam does not have a specific retirement visa program. Foreigners sometimes use long-term tourist or business visas, but these do not constitute a formal retirement residency path.
Official Source: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/trang-chu-ttdt
Health Insurance Notes
Vietnam does not have a formal retirement visa program. It is highly advisable for foreigners staying long-term on other visa types to purchase comprehensive private health insurance, as they are not eligible for state-sponsored healthcare programs.
Official Source: https://lanhsuvietnam.gov.vn/
π» Digital Nomad Visa
Income Notes
Vietnam does not have a digital nomad visa. Remote workers typically enter on a 90-day tourist e-visa. This visa does not legally permit work, so nomads operate in a grey area. Staying long-term requires 'visa runs'βleaving and re-entering the country every 90 days.
Official Source: View Source
π Investor Visa
Investment Details
Investment Options & Notes
There are four tiers of investor visas. The lowest tier that grants a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) is the DT4, requiring an investment of at least VND 3 billion (approx. $118,000 USD) into a Vietnamese business. Higher investment tiers (DT1, DT2, DT3) grant longer-term TRCs. Source: Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam.
Path to Citizenship
Citizenship Notes
After holding a TRC for 5 years and meeting strict conditions, one can apply for Permanent Residency. After 5 years of PR, one can apply for citizenship. The process is very long and complex, and requires fluency in Vietnamese. Dual citizenship is generally not permitted. Source: Law on Vietnamese Nationality.
π‘οΈ Safety & Stability
An estimation of overall safety level. Higher is better.
An estimation of the overall level of crime. Lower is better.
World Bank political stability estimate, rescaled to 0-100. Higher is better.
π¦ Taxation & Finance
π¦ Tax Snapshot
FEIE Interaction
FTC Utility: medium
Vietnamese PIT rates reach 35% at the top bracket (now applying above VND 1,200 million/year under the new PIT Law effective for the 2026 tax year, up from VND 960 million), exceeding the US top federal rate of 37% only marginally. The simplified 5-bracket structure and wider bands generally reduce effective tax rates for low- and middle-income earners, which may modestly reduce creditable Vietnamese tax at those levels. For higher earners taxed at 30-35% in Vietnam, FTCs can offset meaningful US tax. No US-Vietnam tax treaty exists, so FTC calculations rely entirely on domestic US foreign tax credit rules under IRC Section 901.
Presence Day Count Notes
Vietnam's domestic tax residency threshold is 183 days in a calendar year or 12 consecutive months from the first date of arrival. US expats using the physical presence test for FEIE must be present outside the US for 330 full days in any 12-month period. Vietnam's 183-day rule runs on a calendar-year basis, so partial-year arrivals may benefit from the 12-consecutive-month alternative threshold.
FBAR Trigger Notes
FBAR filing required if aggregate value of foreign financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any point during the calendar year. Vietnamese dong accounts, including local bank and investment accounts, count toward this threshold. Vietnam does not participate in FATCA automatic exchange but some Vietnamese banks do report to the IRS under FATCA registration. US expats should track all VND-denominated accounts and brokerage accounts.
401k/IRA Treatment
Pension Income
Foreign pension income received by Vietnamese tax residents is taxable under the progressive PIT schedule. Effective for the 2026 tax year (new PIT Law 109/2025/QH15, passed 10 December 2025), the schedule was simplified from 7 to 5 brackets: 5% up to VND 120 million/year, 10% to VND 360 million, 20% to VND 720 million, 30% to VND 1,200 million, and 35% above (previously the top 35% rate applied above VND 960 million/year). No specific pension income exemption exists in Vietnamese law. The monthly personal deduction also rose from VND 11 million to VND 15.5 million, and the dependent deduction from VND 4.4 million to VND 6.2 million, effective 2026.
Locally TaxedSocial Security
No US-Vietnam totalization or tax treaty exists. US Social Security payments received by a Vietnam resident are treated as foreign pension income and subject to Vietnamese PIT at the new progressive rates effective for the 2026 tax year (5%/10%/20%/30%/35%, simplified from the prior 7-bracket schedule).
Locally TaxedRoth Distributions
No US-Vietnam tax treaty exists. Roth distributions may still be considered taxable income under Vietnamese law if the individual is a tax resident. Vietnam tax authorities do not recognize the US concept of after-tax Roth contributions, so distributions could be fully taxable under the new 5-bracket PIT schedule effective for the 2026 tax year.
Locally TaxedUS 401k/IRA Distributions
Vietnam has no tax treaty with the United States. US 401(k) and IRA distributions received by a Vietnam tax resident would be treated as foreign-sourced income subject to Vietnamese PIT. Resident individuals are taxed on worldwide income. Effective for the 2026 tax year, the progressive schedule was simplified from 7 to 5 brackets (5%/10%/20%/30%/35%, with the top rate now applying above VND 1,200 million/year rather than VND 960 million). Distributions would likely be classified as other income and subject to this progressive schedule up to 35%. No specific exemption or reduced rate applies absent treaty relief.
Locally TaxedCapital Gains Tax
Securities transfers taxed at 0.1% of gross transfer proceeds (not gain). Real property transfers taxed at 2% of gross sale price. The 20% rate applies to net gains where cost basis can be established for securities; in practice most securities gains use the 0.1% gross proceeds method. Corporate capital gains included in CIT at 20%.
Vietnam does not have a standalone capital gains tax. Gains from securities sales are taxed at either 0.1% of gross transfer value or 20% of net gain. Real property gains are taxed at 2% of gross transfer proceeds. Both rates apply to residents and non-residents alike for Vietnam-sourced gains.
Dividend Tax Rate
Dividends paid by Vietnamese companies to individual residents and non-residents are subject to a 5% PIT withholding at source. This rate applies to dividends from shareholdings in joint-stock companies. Dividends from business partnerships may be treated differently. No additional tax is levied at the individual level beyond withholding.
withholding
Rate: 5.0%
5% PIT withholding on dividends paid to individuals, both resident and non-resident. Applies to dividends from Vietnamese companies.
Tax Treaties Notes:
No US-Vietnam tax treaty. Tax residents (183+ days/year) pay income tax globally.
Retiree Tax Benefits:
No specific breaks. Retirement visa requires proof of income.
Cost Savings vs. U.S.:
Very affordable (e.g., $1,000/month in Da Nang). Healthcare improving.
Recommended services for Vietnam
Recommended Partner
Fidelity βRecommended Partner
IBKR βRecommended Partner
bordr βRecommended Partner
My Expat Taxes ββοΈ Climate & Environment
Climate Zones:
Our proprietary index measuring annual average PM2.5 concentration. Lower is better (0-5 is good).
Our proprietary index for drinking water quality and sanitation. Higher is better.
Seasonal Variations:
Vietnam's climate varies from north to south. The northern regions have four distinct seasons, with hot summers and cold winters. Average summer temperatures range from 22Β°C to 27.5Β°C, and winter temperatures range from 15Β°C to 20Β°C. The southern regions have a tropical climate with a narrow temperature range, from 28Β°C to 29Β°C in summer and 26Β°C to 27Β°C in winter. The rainy season typically occurs from May to October, while the dry season is from November to April.
π Quality of Life
Cultural Amenities:
Museums & Cultural Institutions
Vietnam has a rich cultural heritage, with numerous museums showcasing its history and traditions.
The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi provides insightful exhibits on the diverse ethnic groups and their customs.
Performing Arts
Vietnam is known for its traditional music and dance, including genres like ca trΓΉ and water puppetry.
The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi offers captivating performances of this unique traditional art form.
Cultural Festivals
Vietnam celebrates various festivals, such as the Lunar New Year (TαΊΏt), which is the biggest traditional festival.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated in September, is a significant cultural event for children and families.
Culinary Culture
Vietnamese cuisine includes dishes like pho (noodle soup), banh mi (sandwich), and spring rolls.
The country's food reflects its agricultural heritage and regional influences.
π Infrastructure & Connectivity
Our proprietary ranking of public transit accessibility and reliability.
Internet Reliability:
Vietnam offers good internet infrastructure with improving speeds and reliability, increasingly popular with digital nomads for its affordability.
Speed & Quality: Fixed broadband averages 90-100 Mbps with fiber expanding rapidly in cities. Viettel, VNPT, and FPT provide competitive services.
Availability: Good in major cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, decent in tourist areas, variable in rural regions.
Cost: Very affordable at $8-20 monthly for good speeds, exceptional value for money.
Reliability for Remote Work: Generally reliable in urban areas with improving infrastructure. Mobile networks provide good backup. Growing digital nomad scene in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang with increasing coworking options.
Transportation Network:
Vietnam has rapidly developing transportation infrastructure, though quality varies between urban and rural areas.
Roads: Highway system connecting major cities with ongoing expansion, but rural roads often in poor condition.
Rail: North-south railway line connects major cities, with urban rail systems in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Domestic Travel: Growing domestic aviation market connecting major cities, with extensive bus services throughout the country.
Recommended services for Vietnam
Recommended Partner
Traveling Mailbox βRecommended Partner
US Global Mail βRecommended Partner
HideMy.Name βRecommended Partner
Veepn βFrequently Asked Questions about Vietnam
Click any question to expand the answer.
π Related Reading
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