Moving to Vietnam: the complete guide
Vietnam pairs a very low cost of living with fast growth and a young, energetic culture. The move hinges on the work permit and the residence card, and on importing goods correctly. Here is the honest brief.
Who Vietnam actually suits.
Vietnam suits people moving for work with an international company or school, founders and investors, and remote earners drawn by a very low cost of living, fast internet, great food, and a young, fast changing society. Ho Chi Minh City is the commercial engine, Hanoi the political and cultural capital, and Da Nang a growing coastal favourite. English is common in business and tourism but far from universal day to day.
It is a place that rewards adaptability. Traffic is intense, bureaucracy can be opaque, and the residence framework is built around employment and investment rather than lifestyle, so most long stay movers arrive with a job, a business, or a clear sponsor. There is no dedicated digital nomad visa, so remote workers should map their legal basis carefully rather than relying on tourist entries.
People who settle well secure the work permit and temporary residence card early, learn enough Vietnamese to be polite and practical, and lean on international clinics and schools where they need certainty.
The three main bases feel quite different. Ho Chi Minh City is the fast, commercial heart with the largest expatriate community and the most international jobs. Hanoi is the political and cultural capital, a little more traditional and seasonal, with cool, damp winters. Da Nang on the central coast has grown fast as a calmer, beach side alternative popular with remote workers. Most movers choose between these three, since they hold the international schools, hospitals, and services that make a long stay comfortable.
The realistic routes to live in Vietnam.
Vietnam's long stay routes are built around employment and investment, handled by the Immigration Department and the labour authorities. These are the routes most movers use.
An employer sponsors a work permit based on your qualifications and experience, which then supports a temporary residence card that lets you live in Vietnam for the permit period.
- Basis
- Sponsored job
- Permit
- Work permit first
- Card
- TRC follows
- Valid
- Up to 2 years
For people who invest in or own a company in Vietnam, with the visa class and residence length scaled to the size of the investment.
- Basis
- Company investment
- Class
- Scaled to capital
- Card
- TRC possible
- Note
- Tiered by amount
Spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens or of permit holders can obtain a dependent visa and temporary residence card under family rules.
- Basis
- Family tie
- Visa
- Dependent class
- Card
- TRC possible
- Path
- Renewable
An electronic visa or short tourist entry can bridge the setup period, but it is not a basis for working or long term residence. Most movers convert to a work or investor basis quickly.
- Basis
- Short visit
- Work
- Not permitted
- Use
- Bridge only
- Note
- No nomad visa
Bringing your household goods into Vietnam.
Vietnam allows foreigners relocating for work to import used personal and household goods, and the process runs through the General Department of Vietnam Customs with a licensed agent. The key documents are usually your passport, your work permit, and your temporary residence card, together with a detailed valued inventory and the bill of lading.
Personal effects belonging to expatriates relocating with the right paperwork are commonly admitted with relief from import duty within reasonable quantities, but the exemption depends on having the work permit and residence card in place, so timing matters: shipping before your permit exists can complicate clearance. New goods, commercial quantities, and certain electronics can attract duty and scrutiny.
Restricted and controlled items are taken seriously, including certain used goods, publications, cultural and religious materials, and weapons. Pets can be imported with vaccination and health certificates and an import permit. Vehicles are heavily restricted: right hand drive vehicles are banned, and importing a car is costly and bureaucratic, so almost all movers buy or rent locally rather than shipping a vehicle.
What life costs, and how to switch it on.
Vietnam is one of the cheapest countries in the region for a comfortable life. Rent, food, transport, and domestic help cost a fraction of Western levels, especially outside the central districts of the big cities, while international schools and imported goods are where budgets climb. A modest foreign income goes a long way.
Healthcare splits sharply between basic public facilities and a growing tier of international standard private hospitals and clinics in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang, where most expatriates carry private insurance and pay for quality and English speaking care. Banking is accessible once you hold a temporary residence card and work permit: local banks will open accounts, mobile payment apps are everywhere, and cash is still king in markets and smaller venues.
International schools are concentrated in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, with growing options in Da Nang, and fees, while real, sit below comparable schools in the West. Internet is fast and cheap, a major draw for remote earners, though working legally still requires a proper visa basis. Day to day life runs on motorbikes and ride hailing apps, and learning even basic Vietnamese earns goodwill and makes markets, landlords, and neighbours far easier to deal with.
Your first month checklist
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Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move to Vietnam?
As an indicative range for 2026, a 2 to 3 bedroom move into Vietnam by shared container runs roughly 4,000 to 9,000 US dollars from North America or Europe and less from within Asia, before packing, insurance, customs handling, and delivery to Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. Many movers ship a partial load and buy furniture locally because it is so affordable.
Do I pay duty on household goods when moving to Vietnam?
Expatriates relocating for work can commonly import used personal effects with relief from import duty within reasonable quantities, but only once your work permit and temporary residence card are in place. New goods and commercial quantities can attract duty. Verify the current rules with a licensed customs agent before shipping.
Does Vietnam have a digital nomad visa?
No. Vietnam does not offer a dedicated digital nomad visa. Long stay residence is built around employment, investment, or family ties, supported by a work permit and temporary residence card. Remote workers should plan a proper legal basis rather than relying on tourist entries.
Can I import a car into Vietnam?
It is rarely worth it. Right hand drive vehicles are banned, and importing a left hand drive car is expensive and heavily bureaucratic. Almost all movers buy or rent a vehicle locally, or rely on motorbikes, taxis, and ride hailing apps.
How long does shipping to Vietnam take?
From North America or Europe, a shared container is usually six to ten weeks door to door including the sailing to Cat Lai near Ho Chi Minh City or Hai Phong near Hanoi and customs clearance. From within Asia it is faster. Clearance depends on your permit and card being ready.
Which city in Vietnam is best for newcomers?
Ho Chi Minh City has the largest expatriate community and the most international jobs, Hanoi offers a more traditional capital with distinct seasons, and Da Nang on the central coast is a calmer, beach side choice popular with remote workers. All three hold the international schools and hospitals that make a long stay comfortable.
Moving to Vietnam from your country.
Corridor guides with the costs, customs detail, and visa routes specific to each origin. Grouped by region.