Retire in Vietnam – A Good Alternative To Thailand?

Vietnam is a popular choice for expats, retirees, and digital nomads because of the country’s diverse culture, warm climate, inexpensive cost of living, and easy access to other parts of Southeast Asia.

It has also captured the eyes of many western retirees as an alternative to Thailand.

According to International Living’s list of the world’s top retirement destinations in 2021, Vietnam rated 10th.

This article will discuss how much it costs to retire in Vietnam. We’ll give you some numbers and costs. Along with some of the challenges and important information, a retiree or digital nomad will have to know when living or retiring in Vietnam.

Here are the top 5 reasons why Vietnam might be a good alternative to Thailand.

The following locations are ideal for retirees and digital nomads since they have a laid-back ambiance and a slow pace of life.

Da Nang: Da Nang is a great spot to retire in Vietnam. It is Vietnam’s most valuable city and provides a perfect living environment for the elderly.

The city is clean and lovely, and its beaches are among the cleanest, safest, and most appealing in Southeast Asia.

Despite its fast expansion, this area remains tranquil.

Wide highways, pathways for pedestrians, and the Han River running through the center produce stunning views and a moderate temperature, contributing to Danang’s allure.

The standard of Living is excellent, while the cost of living is low.

The retirees may easily travel from Da Nang to Hue, Hoi An old town, and My Son sanctuary.

Da Nang is also a great place for digital nomads, with countless cafes and good internet connections.

Nha Trang: The perfect location for retirees is one where they are able to enjoy themselves. Nha Trang, a seaside city in Vietnam, is a top choice for retirees based on that criterion.

This coastal city is home to many attractive attractions, including Ponagar Tower, Mineral Spring, the Institute of Oceanography, Long Son Pagoda, Bao Dai Palace, and many more.

Phu Quoc: Phu Quoc is a haven for foreign retirees in Vietnam.

Phu Quoc is well-known for being a tranquil place, like a beautiful pearl in the center of the sea.

A peaceful, mild environment with numerous lovely beaches such as Sao Beach, Ganh Dau Beach, Long Beach, Ong Lang Beach, and Thom Beach, excellent for retirees to rest on the sand.

Hue: People’s lives in Hue’s old city are relaxed, peaceful, and thoughtful.

In addition to the tombs and temples, the terrain here boasts historic residences and tree-lined lanes that provide a sense of tranquillity.

Every day in the late afternoon, listening to the great Thien Mu bell, drinking delicious tea, strolling into old ruins, sitting and telling stories in the historical country would be wonderful experiences.

Furthermore, Hue cuisine is well-suited to the tastes of the elderly.

Last but not least, one of our top five cities to live and retire in Vietnam is Hoi An.

Hoi An: The weather is severe in central, but Hoi An benefits from turning away from the sea, so the climate is relatively pleasant.

The quiet areas of the ancient town and the highlight of Hoi An will create an atmosphere suited for the elderly.

This location still has that renowned rural environment, yet the living conditions are adequate for a pleasant existence.

The Japanese picked the Dien Ban region and Hoi An as the locations for senior resorts.

This demonstrates that spending your golden years in this city is a wise idea.

For some retirees, Hoi An may be too touristy. Still, it’s pretty lively, with many restaurants and cafés, and is close to other beaches.

The Vietnamese people are kind and welcoming. Because Vietnam is a diverse country, so are Vietnamese values and beliefs and their language and culture.

But they all have one thing in common: they love to smile and are really interested in getting to know their foreign visitors.

Although they are physically classified as Southeast Asians, numerous years of Chinese control have pushed the Vietnamese closer to East Asians, particularly their northern neighbours, the Southern Chinese.

“I was in Vietnam during the war and have been back four times since. I lived in Hanoi part-time, and my wife is Vietnamese. From my experience, Vietnamese people are some of the friendliest people on earth.”

Nelson, a retired US expat

Whether Vietnamese people are friendly is up to you, but we can confidently say they were among the friendliest and most welcoming we’ve encountered while travelling throughout Southeast Asia.

Vietnamese food is deliciously regional, with savoury broths in the north, spicy noodles in the south, and delicious meals and specialties found only in one town or town throughout the country.

The cuisine is fresh and nutritious, with diverse tastes skillfully mixed to produce one-of-a-kind meals.

The country is also known for its coffee, which is robust, rich, and cultivated locally and is a source of pride for the Vietnamese, who are its largest customers.

If you’re a foodie on a budget, Vietnam is a great place to try new things and save money.

We love the Vietnamese noodle soup, known as Pho. Thumbs up if you love this dish and Vietnamese coffee.

As a regional travel hub, Vietnam is a must-visit destination. Due to the abundance of low-cost airline options, airports in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City offer direct, nonstop flights to all major worldwide destinations, including Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, or Malaysia. Also, flights to the United States are presumably available again once borders reopen.

In contrast to budget airlines like VietJet, Pacific Airlines, and Bamboo Airways, full-service carriers like Vietnam Airlines are available at a reasonable price.

Travelling within the country is even easier. Direct flights connect major cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hanoi and buses, trains, and even boats to popular islands.

Vietnam is a low-cost nation to live in. Most products cost less than half of what you’d spend in the West and anywhere from 5% to 25% less than what you’d pay in many other Southeast Asian nations.

According to International Living, Vietnam’s inexpensive cost of Living is a big lure.

When we visited Vietnam, the low cost made sightseeing, shopping, dining, and drinking all the more tempting.

Dive into a bustling, casual restaurant and pay $1 for an ice-cold can of beer and $2 for banh mi, the country’s wonderful, omnipresent pork sandwich on a breadstick, and you’ll have one of our all-time favourite meals — ever.

Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s most costly city, followed by Hanoi. The cost of living as a couple in these two cities is less than $1,300 per month.

In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, many Westerners get by on $500 a month, but it’s a simple life.

If you’re looking for the ultimate in luxury, a monthly budget of roughly $4,000 will get you a huge, furnished house with a lake or park view, five-star dining, and regular cruises and sightseeing tours around Vietnam.

The cost of living outside of the capital cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will be significantly lower.

All utilities, housekeeping, food, dining out every day, and even occasional massages are included in a monthly budget of roughly $800 to $1100 in any of these places.

The beach is just a short walk away in all of these communities, and you can even buy a house with an ocean view.

With a monthly budget of $3,500 to $4,500, you may rent a contemporary villa with a private pool and live like royalty while dining and drinking at the city’s most renowned restaurants.

Of course, your lifestyle will dictate how much you need to spend.

“The low cost of living plays a major factor, and the deliciously cheap street food helps as well. Most digital nomads and entrepreneurs prefer to establish a base in Ho Chi Minh City, while expats and retirees prefer locations like Hanoi and Ho An”.

Author Shannon O’Donnell

According to O’Donnell, you can get a lovely 1-bedroom western-style room anywhere in the country for $400 a month, practically any place in the country.

• If you want to stay or retire in Vietnam for an extended period, you should thoroughly research the visa requirements to comply with the law.
• First, learn about the culture and, if possible, learn Vietnamese.
• Understanding the local culture and conversing with local people will simplify your life in the new area.
• Vietnam ranks 104th out of 195 nations regarding healthcare accessibility and quality. In general, the quality of healthcare services in Vietnam falls short of Western countries.
• The fees or taxes associated with relocating abroad are complicated. As a result, foreign nationals considering retiring in Vietnam should consult with a knowledgeable lawyer or a tax specialist.
• Before planning to retire in Vietnam, foreigners should visit the country several times to better understand the country.
• Lastly, traffic congestion and weak environmental regulations contribute to air pollution in Vietnamese cities. However, if you do not want to live in the city, rural or seaside destinations provide more nature for retirees.
• The easiest method to decide whether or not Vietnam is a good long-term destination for you is to plan a longer visit whenever feasible. At the same time, it should be viewed through the eyes of a long-term resident rather than a visitor.