Vietnam

VNM

Vietnam is a fast-growing Southeast Asian middle-income economy with a low cost of living that attracts retirees, remote workers, and digital nomads despite the absence of a dedicated long-stay visa programme. Most foreigners enter on temporary residence cards via employment, business investment, or family of a Vietnamese national. Vietnam does not permit dual citizenship for naturalisation applicants except in narrow exceptional cases. Tax residency triggers at 183 days; resident individuals pay progressive rates up to 35%.

→ If you hold a Vietnam passport, see the Vietnam nationality guide

Passport Rank

#88

Visa-Free

destinations

Country Details

Capital: Hanoi
Currency: Vietnamese đồng (VND)
Languages: Vietnamese
Population: 100,340,000
Tax System: Residence Based
Dual Citizenship: Not allowed
Naturalisation: 5 years
Schengen / EU: No
Climate: Tropical / subtropical
English Proficiency Rank: #60

Indices

Cost of Living

Safety

Healthcare

Quality of Life

110

Tax Summary

Tax System: Residence Based
Territorial Taxation: No — worldwide income taxed for residents
Naturalisation: 5 years of legal residency
Dual Citizenship: Not allowed

Cost of Living by City

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Monthly cost of living per major city in USD: rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass
City	Rent 1BR centre	Rent outside	Groceries	Utilities	Transit pass
Ho Chi Minh City	$700	$450	$240	$80	$12
Hanoi	$530	$360	$220	$70	$10

Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.

Climate

Hanoi

17°J

19°F

21°M

25°A

28°M

30°J

29°A

28°S

26°O

23°N

19°D

Rainfall range: 20–275 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)

Ho Chi Minh City

27°J

28°F

29°M

30°A

30°M

29°J

28°J

28°A

28°S

28°O

28°N

27°D

Rainfall range: 5–325 mm/month · Daylight 12h (winter) to 13h (summer)

Visa Categories & Immigration Authority

Major Visa Categories

Tourist eVisa
Business DN
Investor DT1
Investor DT2
Investor DT3
Investor DT4
Work LD
Student DH
Family Sponsorship TT
Diplomatic

Authority: Vietnam Immigration Department
Official Portal: immigration.gov.vn
Phone: +84 24 39381018
Email: [email protected]

Naturalisation Details

Residence Years: 5
Language Test: Yes (Vietnamese basic)
Civic Test: No
Oath Required: Yes
Dual Allowed: No
Fee: $130
Processing: ~12 months

International Schools

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International schools by city, curriculum, and annual tuition
School	City	Curriculum	Tuition (USD/yr)
International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC)	Ho Chi Minh City	IB	$18,000–$35,000
United Nations International School of Hanoi (UNIS)	Hanoi	IB	$20,000–$38,000

Daily Life Logistics

Internet

95 Mbps median

75% fibre coverage

eSIM: Viettel, VNPT VinaPhone, MobiFone

Safety

GPI Rank

#41

Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)

Common Risks

⚠Xe om (motorbike taxi) drivers agree a price then demand more on arrival
⚠Fake or rigged taxi meters running 3–10x the correct fare
⚠Money switching — a high-denomination note swapped for a lower one during payment

Examples of areas to avoid: District 4, Ho Chi Minh City — nightlife area with elevated petty theft and tourist scams, Bui Vien Walking Street area, Ho Chi Minh City — highest reported rate of bag-snatching by motorbike, Long Bien night market surroundings, Hanoi — pickpocketing hotspot after dark