S-Shaped Land of Contrasts and Culture
Without employment, long-term stays are managed through rolling 90-day e-visas with brief border exits to Cambodia, Laos, or Thailand. This approach is cheap (flights from $30–80, or land crossings for even less) and has worked reliably for years. It is technically not a proper long-term solution, but in practice Vietnam is tolerant of this approach for most nationalities. With a company or school sponsorship, a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) provides 1–2 years of legal stay.
Yes. Dependents can obtain visas tied to the primary holder's visa type. Spouses of work permit holders can generally get 1-year multiple-entry visas. Children require their own visas. The process is straightforward via a Vietnamese embassy or consulate abroad, or through a local visa agent. Dependent visas do not grant independent work rights.
Yes, with sector restrictions. Foreigners can own 100% of many types of businesses in Vietnam. The simplest structure is a Representative Office (a liaison office, not a profit center), which costs around $500 USD and takes 2–3 weeks to set up. A fully foreign-owned LLC (FDI company) is more complex but allows full commercial operations. Some sectors remain restricted or require Vietnamese partners (real estate trading, media, education). Owning a company also gives you business visa sponsorship rights.
Yes. RMIT Vietnam awards the same Australian degree as RMIT Melbourne — the diploma is identical and internationally recognized. It is RMIT's largest overseas campus, with campuses in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Fees are $8,000–12,000 AUD per year — significantly cheaper than studying in Australia while receiving the same accredited qualification. It is QS-ranked and accredited by ACQUIN (Germany).
Vietnam's public schools are academically rigorous and achieve surprisingly high international assessment scores — PISA results in math and science consistently exceed the OECD average, outperforming many European and Western nations. Schools are free and highly disciplined. The main limitation for expat children is that all instruction is in Vietnamese. For families committed to long-term residency, Vietnamese public school integration can work well for young children who learn languages quickly.
Yes, at higher international student fee rates ($2,000–8,000 per year). Admission to Vietnamese-medium programs requires language proficiency. An increasing number of programs are offered in English — particularly at VNU, HUST, and FPT University. Foreigners apply directly through each university's international admissions office. The academic quality of Vietnam's top public universities has been improving steadily.
Since the Housing Law amendment of 2015, foreigners can purchase apartments and houses in Vietnam — but not land, as all land in Vietnam is state-owned. Foreigners receive 50-year ownership rights (renewable), restricted to certain designated buildings and projects. The purchase process is complex and requires a reputable real estate agent and property lawyer. Condo titles (so hong/pink book) for foreigners are restricted to buildings that have received foreign ownership approval — verify this before committing. Ownership rights are not transferable in the same way as in Western countries.
Both are excellent but serve different preferences. Da Nang is a beach city: quieter, cleaner air, excellent internet, very affordable, easy to get around, great quality of life for longer stays — the top choice for many nomads who want to settle in for months. Ho Chi Minh City offers big-city energy: the best and most diverse food scene in Vietnam, more networking and business opportunities, more international flights, but also more traffic, pollution, and noise. Many experienced Vietnam-based nomads split time between both cities.
Facebook groups are the most reliable source — search for the expat group specific to your target city. Airbnb is useful for the first 1–2 weeks while you search in person. Most expats find their best apartments through Facebook groups or word of mouth from other expats. Real estate agents typically charge 1 month's rent as commission — factor this into your budget. Always view a property in person before signing any lease, and clarify electricity billing arrangements upfront.
Show up to the same coffee shop or phở stall daily — relationships build through repetition. Join a language exchange (CLB tiếng Anh), a coworking space (Toong, Dreamplex), motorbike clubs, or expat-local hybrids on Facebook. Accept invitations to nhậu (drinking sessions with food); 'một, hai, ba, dô!' (cheers) cements friendship.
For HCMC tech/finance bubbles, no — but you'll plateau socially. For everyday tasks (markets, motorbike repairs, landlords, hospitals outside private chains), yes. Tones are the hard part; budget 6–12 months for survival fluency. Apps: Duolingo, Drops, plus a tutor on italki (~$8–15/hr).
Vietnam has high traffic-fatality rates — most foreign deaths involve motorbikes. Wear a real helmet (not the local plastic shell), avoid riding at night/in rain, and practise in quiet areas first. Technically you need a Vietnamese A1 licence; rental shops rarely check. Insurance often won't pay out without it.
HCMC and Hanoi: a comfortable expat life runs ~$1,200–2,000/month (modern 1BR ~$500–900, eating out daily, Grab everywhere). Da Nang and Hoi An ~30% cheaper. Street food meals 30,000–60,000 VND ($1.20–2.40); a Western restaurant main 250,000–500,000 VND. Tipping isn't expected but appreciated (10% in upscale spots).