Country Guide · 2026

Move to Vietnam: Visas, Costs and the Real Logic of Relocation

Ho Chi Minh City from $600/month, Da Lat (mountain climate, 20°C year-round, no tropical heat) from $400/month. e-Visa 90 days with no in-country renewal — exit required for the next period. Long-term stay without exit only via business visa DN with a company sponsor or TRC.

📅 Updated 2026 ⏱ 6 min read

$600–1,000

Budget / month

Tropical

Climate

Below Average

English

eVisa

Primary Visa

e-VisaTRC (Temporary Residence Card)Business Visa (DN)Investment Residence

Overview

Why Choose Vietnam

Vietnam wins on budget, food and internet speed. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi offer dense expat infrastructure. Da Lat and Hoi An are budget alternatives with better climate.

e-Visa 90 days has no in-country renewal — you need to exit for the next period. Opening a local bank account requires a temporary residence permit.

Visas

Visa Routes in 2026

Conditions change regularly. Verify current requirements on official government sources before applying.

Visa	Duration	Key Requirements	Who It's For
e-Visa	90 days, single/multiple entry	Standard	Tourism, testing the country
TRC (Temporary Residence Card)	Up to 1–2 years	Business, sponsorship or investment	Extended stay
Business Visa (DN)	Up to 12 months	Sponsor company required	Work or freelance with a contract
Investment Residence	Up to 5 years	Investment in the economy	Entrepreneurs/investors

Cost of Living

Cost of Living in Vietnam

Comfortable Month

$600–1 000

solo scenario

Rent

$250–550

1BR in the city

Food & Dining

$100–250

mixed eating style

Transport

$30–80

local + ride-hailing

Excludes insurance, visa fees, flights and setup costs.

Top Cities: Ho Chi Minh City · Hanoi · Da Nang · Hoi An · Da Lat · Nha Trang

Analysis

Pros & Cons

Pros

Da Lat: 1BR from $250–400/month, 20°C year-round without tropical heat
Internet in major cities: 100–200 Mbps for $10–15/month — among the fastest in SEA
Street food: bánh mì $1–2, phở $2–3, café lunch $3–5
Hoi An, Da Nang — beach + nomad infrastructure at lower cost than Bangkok

Cons

e-Visa 90 days — no in-country renewal; re-entry is a separate procedure
Local bank account for foreigners: requires a temporary residence permit + bureaucracy
Language barrier: English rarely spoken outside tourist streets
Ho Chi Minh City traffic: unsignalled intersections — stressful for newcomers

Data

About Vietnam

World Bank data (2023). Use as planning context — verify current figures before making decisions.

Ready to Choose a Country?

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How This Page Is Checked

Editorial teamRelocate to Asia Editorial Team

Last checkedMay 2026

Methodofficial sources, country data and manual editorial review

This page supports relocation planning. It is not legal, tax, medical or financial advice.

How We Verify Data Report outdated information

Official Checks

Official Sources To Verify Before You Pay

Use these official pages for stay length, renewal logic, income proof, permitted activity, dependants and document checks before paying for housing, flights or services.

Vietnam Immigration: eVisa Portal Official immigration portal for Vietnam eVisa applications. Vietnam Tourism: Official eVisa Guide Official tourism guide summarising the 90-day eVisa route. Vietnam Immigration: eVisa New Portal Notice Official immigration notice for eVisa domains, 90-day validity and entry conditions. Vietnam Immigration: Foreigner eVisa Application Official application instructions and fee logic for foreign eVisa applicants. Vietnam Tourism: eVisa Extended To 90 Days Official tourism update on 90-day multiple-entry eVisas. Vietnam Tourism: eVisa Border Gates Update Official update on eVisa entry and exit border gates. Vietnam Immigration: eVisa Country List PDF Official PDF list of countries allowed for eVisa issuing. Vietnam Immigration: eVisa Port List PDF Official PDF list of ports allowed for eVisa entry and exit. Vietnam Immigration: eVisa Status Search Official status check page for issued or pending eVisa applications.

stay length extension income insurance dependants permitted work

How To Evaluate A Move To Vietnam

Vietnam should be judged by the whole relocation picture: visa fit, cost pressure, healthcare, city choice, documents and the length of stay you actually want.

90-Day eVisa: No Extension, No Nomad Route

The eVisa allows 90 days with multiple entries. There is no official digital nomad route. Exit-and-re-entry chains work in practice, but border questions appear after several consecutive entries.

What This Means For Budget And City Choice

Da Lat: $400–600/month with a consistent 20°C climate. Hoi An: $500–700. Ho Chi Minh City: $700–1,000. Internet runs 100–200 Mbps for $10–15/month — one of the best value connections in Asia.

Who Should Be More Careful

Anyone planning to stay beyond 6 months: there is no official one-year path. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi traffic is dense and motorbike-heavy — a real adjustment for those used to European cities. Central Vietnam flooding runs from September through November.

Can I stay in Vietnam longer than 90 days?

Officially only through a work permit or business visa with local sponsorship. Many remote workers use border runs, but this draws scrutiny after several consecutive entries.

Which city is best?

Da Lat for climate and quiet. Hoi An for lifestyle. Ho Chi Minh City for infrastructure, business connections and international flights.

What To Verify Before Moving To Vietnam

Vietnam should not be judged only by rent, weather or a good short trip. A relocation decision needs legal stay, a realistic monthly budget, healthcare access, city fit and a fallback plan if rules or costs change.

Visa And Length Of Stay

Start with the route that actually fits your income, work type and family situation. If daily life looks attractive but legal stay depends on short entries or vague renewal assumptions, it is a temporary test, not a durable relocation plan.

Budget Without Wishful Thinking

Use a normal month, not the cheapest possible month: neighborhood, deposit, internet, phone, transport, insurance, visa costs, flights and emergency buffer. In a low-cost country, one bad housing or visa assumption can erase the savings.

Healthcare, Language And City Fit

For a solo remote worker, weak English or uneven healthcare may be manageable. For a family, retiree or anyone with recurring medical needs, those details become primary filters. Judge the country through the city where you would actually live.

When To Choose Another Direction

If the status is not confirmed by official rules, your income does not fit, the budget has no buffer or the exit plan is unclear, compare another country before spending money. That is not pessimism. It is basic risk control.

What To Check Before Paying

Before a housing deposit, visa fee or long flight, open the official entry source, check the update date, document requirements and work restrictions. If the rule is ambiguous, do not build the whole move on that ambiguity.