Complete Guide to Moving to Vietnam (2026)

Vietnam has gone from backpacker stopover to one of the fastest-growing expat destinations in the world. A bowl of pho for $1.50, a modern apartment in Ho Chi Minh City for $500 a month, fiber internet that outperforms most US connections, and a street food culture that puts Michelin-starred restaurants to shame. The cost of living runs 60–70% lower than the United States across nearly every category, and the quality of daily life — food, weather, community, energy — is among the best in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam’s economy has been growing at 6–7% annually. Internet speeds rank in the global top 30. The government has been steadily liberalizing visa policies. And the country’s 100 million people are famously welcoming. For digital nomads and remote workers in particular, Vietnam now delivers everything Thailand promised a decade ago — at half the hype and a fraction of the cost.

This guide covers everything you need to plan a move to Vietnam in 2026: visa options, cost of living by city, healthcare, internet infrastructure, where to live, culture, taxes, and an honest assessment of the trade-offs. Explore the full Vietnam country profile for real-time data and scores, or keep reading for the deep dive.

Visa Options for Vietnam

Vietnam’s visa system has been evolving rapidly. The government has progressively liberalized entry requirements over the past three years, though there is still no dedicated digital nomad visa. Here are the main pathways for long-term stays in 2026.

E-Visa (90 Days)

The e-visa is the simplest entry point. Available to citizens of all countries, it grants a single-entry or multiple-entry stay of up to 90 days. The application is entirely online, costs approximately $25, and processing takes 3 business days. Multiple-entry e-visas allow you to leave and re-enter Vietnam during the 90-day window. This is the go-to option for testing the waters, and many nomads chain 90-day stays with brief trips to neighboring countries in between.

Business Visa (DN / DT)

For stays beyond 90 days, the business visa is the most common route for remote workers and freelancers. The DN visa is issued to people working for foreign companies with operations or partnerships in Vietnam. Business visas grant stays of 3 to 12 months and can be renewed. Obtaining one typically requires a sponsoring company or a visa agency that can arrange a letter of introduction from a Vietnamese business entity. Many expats use visa agencies — the cost runs $200–$500 depending on the duration.

Work Permit

If you are employed by a Vietnamese company, you will need a formal work permit. The employer handles the application. Requirements include a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), a health certificate from a Vietnamese hospital, a criminal background check, and relevant work experience documentation. Work permits are valid for up to 2 years and are tied to the sponsoring employer. The process takes 2–4 weeks.

Digital Nomad Visa Status

Vietnam does not yet offer a dedicated digital nomad visa as of 2026. The government has discussed a remote work visa category — the Ministry of Public Security circulated proposals in late 2025 — but no launch date has been announced. The visa landscape is evolving rapidly, and a formal program could appear within the next 12–18 months. For now, the e-visa and business visa remain the primary pathways for remote workers. Check our visa checker tool for the latest requirements.

Cost of Living

Vietnam’s three main expat hubs offer distinctly different experiences at uniformly low prices. All three are remarkably affordable by any global standard, but lifestyle and atmosphere vary considerably.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): The economic engine of Vietnam. A modern one-bedroom apartment in District 1 (central business district), District 2 (Thao Dien — the primary expat neighborhood), or District 7 (Phu My Hung — planned, family-friendly) runs $400–$700 per month. A Vietnamese-style street meal costs $1.50–$3. A cappuccino at a specialty café costs $2–$3. Total monthly budget for a comfortable life: $800–$1,400.

Hanoi: Vietnam’s capital is older, more traditional, and culturally richer. Rent is comparable — a one-bedroom in the Old Quarter or Tay Ho (West Lake) district runs $350–$600. Total monthly budget: $700–$1,200. Hanoi has four distinct seasons (a rarity in Southeast Asia), which means genuinely cold winters (10–15°C in January) and hot, humid summers. The food scene is arguably even better than Saigon’s — bun cha, pho, and egg coffee originated here.

Da Nang: Vietnam’s digital nomad darling. A mid-sized coastal city with a beautiful beach right in the center, modern infrastructure, and a growing but manageable expat scene. Rent for a one-bedroom: $300–$500. Total monthly budget: $600–$1,100. Da Nang offers the rare combination of beachfront living, reliable internet, and ultra-low cost of living. The nearby town of Hoi An (30 minutes south) adds charm and history.

Healthcare

Vietnam’s healthcare system has improved significantly in recent years, particularly in the major cities. The setup is a two-tier system: public hospitals that are affordable but often crowded and basic, and private hospitals that offer international-standard care at prices far below Western countries.

Most expats use private hospitals and clinics. In Ho Chi Minh City, FV Hospital and Vinmec International Hospital are JCI-accredited and provide care comparable to top Western facilities. A standard doctor consultation costs $30–$60. An MRI runs $100–$250. Dental work is 60–80% cheaper than US prices: a root canal costs $50–$150 versus $700–$1,500 in the US.

Private health insurance for expats costs $500–$1,500 per year for comprehensive coverage, depending on age and plan level. Pacific Cross Vietnam, Liberty Insurance, and international providers like Cigna Global and SafetyWing are popular choices. For a deeper look at coverage options, see our expat health insurance guide.

Public hospitals in major cities are functional but can be chaotic — long wait times, language barriers, and basic facilities are common. Most expats maintain private insurance regardless of whether they qualify for the Vietnamese social health insurance system through a work permit.

Internet & Remote Work Infrastructure

Vietnam’s internet quality is one of its strongest selling points for digital nomads. The country ranks in the top 30 globally for average broadband speed, with fiber connections of 50–100 Mbps being the baseline, not the exception.

Home internet: Fiber broadband from providers like Viettel, VNPT, and FPT is widely available. Plans start at approximately $10 per month for 100 Mbps and go up to $15–$20 for 200–300 Mbps. Many modern apartments in expat-heavy areas include internet in the rent. Mobile 4G/5G coverage is excellent in cities, with unlimited data plans costing $5–$10 per month.

Coworking spaces: Saigon has a mature coworking ecosystem. Dreamplex, Toong, CirCO, and The Hive offer hot desks from $80–$150 per month and dedicated desks from $150–$250 per month. Da Nang’s scene is smaller but growing, with spaces like Enouvo and Hub Hoi An. Hanoi has Toong, UP Co-Working, and several newer spaces. Vietnam’s café culture also supports remote work beautifully — many cafés have reliable Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and a culture of lingering over Vietnamese drip coffee for hours.

Where to Live

Ho Chi Minh City is for energy and business. Ten million people, millions of motorbikes, and a pace of life that never truly stops. It has the strongest nightlife, the largest selection of international restaurants, the most coworking spaces, and the biggest expat community. District 2 (Thao Dien) is the established expat hub; District 7 is planned and family-friendly; District 1 is the buzzing center.

Hanoi is for culture. The capital is older, slower, and architecturally stunning — French colonial buildings, ancient temples, and the chaotic beauty of the Old Quarter. The food scene is arguably superior to Saigon’s. The trade-offs: air quality can be poor in winter months (November through February), and the humidity is oppressive in summer.

Da Nang is for beach and balance. A mid-sized city with a gorgeous coastline, modern infrastructure, and a growing but still-intimate nomad community. It is the Goldilocks option for people who want beach access, low costs, and reliable internet without the intensity of Saigon or Hanoi.

Hoi An is for charm. Thirty minutes south of Da Nang, this UNESCO-listed town draws expats who want a quieter pace, stunning architecture, world-class tailoring, and a riverside food scene. The trade-off is a much smaller international community and fewer modern amenities.

Culture & Daily Life

Motorbike culture: Vietnam runs on two wheels. Motorbikes are the primary mode of transport for the vast majority of the population, and traffic is a controlled chaos that takes adjustment. Most expats outside central Saigon end up riding motorbikes; those in the city center rely on Grab (Southeast Asia’s ride-hailing app) which is cheap and widely available. Traffic is the single biggest safety risk for foreigners in Vietnam — wear a proper helmet and ride defensively.

Food scene: Vietnamese cuisine is, without exaggeration, among the best in the world. The cuisine is lighter and fresher than Thai food, with an emphasis on herbs, broths, rice noodles, and grilled meats. A bowl of pho costs 30,000–50,000 VND ($1.20–$2). A banh mi costs $0.60–$1.20. A full meal at a local restaurant runs $2–$4. The regional variety is immense — northern subtlety (Hanoi), central spice (Hue, Da Nang), and southern sweetness (Saigon). Vietnamese coffee culture is world-class: ca phe sua da (iced coffee with condensed milk) and egg coffee (a Hanoi specialty) are daily rituals.

Language barrier: Vietnamese is a tonal language with six tones, and it is genuinely difficult for English speakers. The good news: you do not need Vietnamese for daily survival in the major expat areas. In Saigon’s Districts 1, 2, and 7, in Da Nang’s tourist areas, and in Hanoi’s Tay Ho, you can get by with English plus Google Translate. That said, learning basic phrases dramatically improves your experience. Vendors give you better prices, locals open up, and you access the real Vietnam beyond the expat bubble.

Expat communities: Saigon has the largest and most diverse international community, with significant populations from the US, UK, Australia, South Korea, and across Europe. Da Nang’s nomad scene has exploded since 2022. Facebook groups like Saigon Expats, Digital Nomads Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang Digital Nomads (30,000+ members) host regular meetups, coworking events, and social gatherings.

Taxes

Vietnam operates a territorial-ish tax system that works in favor of most expats and remote workers. If you are not employed by a Vietnamese company and your income originates from outside Vietnam, you generally owe no Vietnamese income tax. This applies to most digital nomads and remote workers on e-visas or business visas who work for foreign clients or employers.

If you do work locally, Vietnam’s personal income tax rates are progressive, ranging from 5% to 35%. Tax residency kicks in at 183 days per year, but the practical enforcement on foreign-sourced remote work income remains minimal. That said, always consult a tax advisor familiar with both Vietnamese law and your home country’s obligations. Americans owe US taxes on worldwide income regardless of where they live — the FEIE can help, but it does not eliminate the filing requirement.

For a detailed breakdown, see our digital nomad tax guide.

Pros and Cons

The case for Vietnam

• Extraordinary value: One of the cheapest countries in the world with a genuinely high quality of life. $800–$1,400 per month covers a comfortable life in Saigon.
• World-class food: Vietnamese cuisine is consistently ranked among the best globally, and it costs almost nothing.
• Excellent internet: Fiber speeds that rival or exceed most Western countries, at $10–$20 per month.
• Safety: Low violent crime, safe for solo travelers and women. One of the safest countries in Southeast Asia.
• Welcoming people: Vietnamese people are genuinely warm, curious about foreigners, and eager to connect.
• Geographic diversity: Mountains, beaches, cities, rice paddies — all within a single country.

The honest trade-offs

• Air quality: Saigon and Hanoi both suffer from moderate to poor air quality, particularly during certain seasons. AQI regularly hits 100–150 in Hanoi during winter.
• Bureaucracy: Government processes can be slow, opaque, and inconsistent. Visa rules change without warning. Patience is mandatory.
• Heat and humidity: Southern Vietnam is hot and humid year-round (28–35°C). Northern Vietnam has brutally hot summers. Air conditioning is not optional — it is survival.
• No digital nomad visa: The lack of a formal remote work visa means long-term stays require creative visa strategies or employer sponsorship.
• Language barrier: Vietnamese is difficult, and outside expat zones, English proficiency drops quickly.
• Traffic: Chaotic, motorbike-centric traffic is the number one safety concern. Exercise extreme caution on the roads.

Ready to explore further? Visit the Vietnam country page for detailed scores, or use our comparison tool to see how Vietnam stacks up against Thailand, Indonesia, or Colombia.