Asia · SEA
Vietnam
Vietnam is one of the strongest value-for-money bases for remote workers: everyday costs are very low, internet is fast, and the food and café culture make daily life easy. The trade-offs are busy, noisy cities, air pollution, and visa rules that have changed often, with no dedicated nomad visa. The country runs a long way north to south, so the right season depends on the region: the central coast sees typhoons and flooding from September to November, Hanoi is grey and drizzly from January to March, and the south is driest from November to April. Much of the country closes for about a week around Tet (Lunar New Year, in late January or February), so avoid arriving then.
Nomad quick facts
$800/mo
$1280/mo
307.4 Mbps
1.738 (#52 of 190)
Limited
Nov–Apr
Not available
83.8 / 100
Score breakdown
Very low cost of living, fast internet in the main cities, excellent food, rich culture and history.
Busy and noisy cities, air pollution, visa rules that change often, tourist scams.
Cost of living in Vietnam
Vietnam remains one of Southeast Asia's strongest value destinations for nomads, combining low everyday costs with good internet, abundant local food and a well-established cafe culture. Da Nang is particularly appealing for its beaches and comfortable apartments, while Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City offer more urban energy at somewhat higher costs. Prices are rising as the nomad scene grows, but Vietnam still delivers an unusually high standard of living for the money.
Estimated monthly cost
Single
$800/mo
Couple
$1,280/mo
Cost score inputs
Livingcost
93/100
WB PLI
28.9
Score blends a nomad-realistic monthly cost estimate (built from livingcost.org data, adjusted for short-term nomad spending like furnished housing, coworking, and eating out) with the World Bank's Household Consumption Price Level Index, a broader cross-country cost benchmark. Countries without World Bank price-level data are scored on the livingcost estimate alone. Prices displayed in USD.
The nomad cost estimate reflects a realistic single/couple monthly budget, not a bare local cost of living — actual spending still varies with lifestyle and location within a country.
Sources: livingcost.org · World Bank Household Consumption Price Level Index · Independent nomad cost estimates
Internet in Vietnam
Vietnam features exceptionally high download and upload speeds that handle heavy bandwidth demand, though latency is slightly higher than regional leaders like South Korea.
Download speed
307.4 Mbps
Upload speed
120.8 Mbps
Latency
52.0 ms
Blends download speed (Ookla Speedtest Global Index) with upload speed and latency (Cloudflare Radar). Speeds are scored between 10 Mbps (0) and 200 Mbps (100); latency counts the opposite way — lower is better. A missing metric doesn't penalize a country, it's scored on whatever data is available.
A national average — city and neighbourhood speeds vary, especially outside major hubs.
Get an eSIM for arrival →Sources: Ookla Speedtest Global Index · Cloudflare Radar
Safety in Vietnam
Vietnam is generally safe, with violent crime against foreigners rare; the main risks for nomads are petty theft, bag snatching and scams in busy tourist areas, particularly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Global safety rank
#52 of 190
Peace Index score
1.738 (lower = safer)
WJP Rule of Law rank
#48 of 143
WJP Rule of Law score
0.78 (higher = safer)
Gallup Law & Order rank
#5 of 119
Gallup Law & Order score
93 (higher = safer)
Blends three published safety indices: the Global Peace Index, the WJP Rule of Law Index (Order & Security factor), and the Gallup Global Law and Order Index. Places the Global Peace Index doesn't cover use our own estimate, based on regional peers and crime data. Each is rescaled 0-100 and combined with weights favoring GPI and Gallup slightly over WJP. Not every country is tracked by all three — the blend adjusts to whichever are available (weights are renormalized) rather than penalizing a country for a missing source, though a country tracked by fewer sources carries lower confidence.
As this is national average data, be aware that safety varies significantly by city and region within a country.
Get nomad insurance →Sources: Global Peace Index (Institute for Economics & Peace) · WJP Rule of Law Index (World Justice Project) · Gallup Global Law and Order Index
Tourism & infrastructure in Vietnam
Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City pair cheap, energetic city living with standout street food, while lantern-lit Hoi An and cool, mountain-town Da Lat sit just a short trip away. Vietnam's north-to-south sprawl lets nomads chase entirely different climates and landscapes within one country.
Happiness rank
#45 of 147
Quality of life rank
#82 of 89
Tourism development rank
#52 of 119
Within-city transit
Limited
Between-city transit
Moderate
Varies sharply by region — the north has four seasons, the south is tropical year-round, with a wet central belt.
Best months: Nov–Apr
Vietnam's urban transit remains limited: bus networks are underused and the new Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City metros have only a single line each. Most people rely on motorbikes, ride-hailing (Grab) and taxis. Intercity travel is cheap and plentiful via sleeper buses, trains and budget airlines, though chaotic traffic limits walkability.
A weighted blend of published indices: the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index (weighted highest — the strongest predictor of appeal), Numbeo's Quality of Life Index, the World Happiness Report, Gallup's day-to-day enjoyment data, the EF English Proficiency Index, and a public transit assessment covering both within-city and between-city transport. Not every country is scored on all six — the blend adjusts to whichever are available rather than penalizing a country for a missing one.
Sources: WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index · Numbeo Quality of Life Index · World Happiness Report · Gallup · EF English Proficiency Index · Public transit assessment
Vietnam visa and entry rules for digital nomads
Tourist entry — USA passport
E-Visa required — 90 days
Tourism Visa Note
Apply online at evisa.gov.vn — $25 USD single-entry or $50 multiple-entry, ~3–5 business days to process.
Working remotely in Vietnam on tourist entry
Foreigners need a work permit or exemption to work, and using an e-visa for work is a violation carrying a VND 15-20 million fine and deportation. Remote work for a foreign employer is not addressed. Source
Staying longer
E-visas cannot be extended or renewed inside Vietnam. A new e-visa requires leaving and re-entering. Source
Border runs and re-entry
No published cap on visa runs or days per year. A new e-visa must be approved before exit. Same-day returns draw attention from officers; a night outside the country is advised. Source
Digital nomad visa
No dedicated digital-nomad route
Other long-stay options
Business visas are sometimes used for longer stays, but require a local sponsor.
Visa and entry requirements can change. Check the latest information from official government sources before travelling; eligibility, documents and permitted activities depend on your nationality and personal circumstances.
Tax & residency in Vietnam
Tax-residency timing
183 days
How the day count works
At least 183 days in a calendar year or in 12 consecutive months counted from the first day of presence; the first tax period can use that 12-month period.
Other residency triggers
A registered permanent or temporary residence, or residential leases totalling at least 183 days in a tax year, can also establish residence.
Remote work before residence
May be taxable. Income for work physically performed in Vietnam may be Vietnam-source and taxable even when paid from abroad.
If you become tax resident
Residents are generally taxable on income from inside and outside Vietnam.
What this usually means for nomads
A stay of at least 183 days in a calendar year or first 12-month period can create tax residence, and qualifying long-term residence arrangements can also matter. Pay for work physically performed in Vietnam may be taxable before residence even when paid abroad. A long stay, qualifying residence registration or a residential lease totalling 183 days can increase the risk.
Tax rules can change and depend on your residency status, income structure, time spent in the country and applicable tax treaties. This information is general only and is not financial or tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional before relying on it.
Top cities for nomads in Vietnam
Da Nang is the usual first choice, pairing a beach with a modern city at a calmer pace than Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Hoi An is next door, though it floods in October and November.
Top nomad pick; beach + modern city, affordable, great weather.
Largest & most energetic; biggest expat scene, nightlife & jobs.
Capital; culture, history, street food; busier & traditional.
Cool-climate mountain town; cheap, pine forests, laid-back.
UNESCO old town; lantern-lit canals, An Bang beach nearby, small nomad scene.
Big beach resort city; cheap, sunny, but patchy wifi & thin nomad community.
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