When you’re thinking of moving abroad the choices feel endless. It’s so exciting to take the leap and choose a new place to call home. However, there’s a lot of anxiety and questions that naturally come with moving to a new country. Will I like it? Is the lifestyle good? Is the food nice? Will I make friends? Is it safe?
These questions are totally normal so our foreign Where in Vietnam team members are here to share their experiences with you. Some of us moved here because our partners were offered a new job opportunity, some of us wanted to learn more about a foreign culture, some of us entered as tourists and fell in love with the country – whatever the reason, there’s so much to share with you so we’ll do our best to give you the nuts of bolts of what to think about before you decide to move to Vietnam.
So let’s do this: Why should you choose Vietnam as your new home base?
In this article:
Culture
Vietnamese culture is truly something special. There’s a vibrant blend of history, influences, and unique traditions that create a rich experience for you to observe and participate in. Family, community, and ancestors hold a deep place in the hearts of the Vietnamese people, shaping everyday life and making festivals incredibly exciting. There’s loads of new holidays and celebrations that will surround you too: from the Lunar New Year, called Tết which is the biggest holiday of the year, to smaller holidays like Mid-Autumn festival, there’s so much to learn about!
Despite historical challenges that tend to dominate global narratives about the country, the resilience and adaptability of Vietnamese culture shines bright. This is a country where things are done in its own unique way too. Expect to shift your daily life practices and fall in love with the new way of doing things, no matter what country you’re from!
While English is more common in the big cities, learning Vietnamese is the ultimate sign of respect here. It’s a tonal language so it can be challenging if your native tongue is non-tonal, but your efforts will really pay off. Think of all the people you’ll get to meet and stories you’ll hear by being able to better engage with the local community. We’ve fallen off the wagon from time to time with our lessons but it’s never too early or too late to brush up on your Vietnamese. Language Exchanges are popular here.
Vietnam is a country that is full of pride and unique identity and we love it here.
What to consider before moving:
- Am I open to learning more about a foreign culture?
- Will I want to respect local culture by participating in it or will I just seek familiar comforts?
- Will I want to learn Vietnamese?
Food & Drinks
How do we describe thee? Let us count the ways: Sensational! Balanced! Textured! Fresh! Creative! Abundant! Diverse! DELICIOUS!
Yes, you’re probably already familiar with the iconic bowl of Phở, but do you know there are over 3,000 standard Vietnamese dishes you can experience across the country? Each region is famous for certain dishes. For instance. Hanoi is famous for its Chả Cá, a spiced and herby fish dish. Bánh Xèo, a prawn and pork pancake, is synonymous with the Central Region. Then there’s Bún Thịt Nướng, a dry BBQ noodle dish heaped with fresh veggies, herbs and nước chấm. Veggie dishes (‘Chay’ in Vietnamese) are also common but not popular. Many dishes are also gluten-free and good for the dairy adverse – although there is a fondness for condensed milk and fresh milk across the country.
Beyond traditional and street food dishes, Vietnam’s F&B scene is absolutely BOOMING! New restaurants, cafes and bars are constantly opening. Where in HCMC and Hanoi teams are absolutely overwhelmed with the amount of invites we get! Michelin entered Vietnam in 2023 too so there are multiple restaurants with Michelin stars.
Should we also mention that there’s an abundance of fresh fruit & veggies here? You’ll find fresh produce stalls all over the country. Fresh juices and coconuts are very popular here and will only set you back less than a dollar.
Expect higher prices on foreign products: Yorkshire Gold Tea, Candy, Cheese…these are all accessible but are all more expensive because of import taxes.
Also, Vietnamese has some of the best coffee and cafe culture you’ll find anywhere in the world. Come and see for yourself.
What to consider before moving:
- Am I ready to eat the best food ever?
- Do I like to dine out?
- Do I want easier access to fresh fruit & vegetables?
- Can I embrace a country that loves coffee and cafe culture?
Community
Moving to a foreign country can be intimidating. Finding your own community can take time but a very doable thing if you’re willing to put time and effort into it. In the two big cities, Hanoi and HCMC, you’ll find active foreigner communities (Tay Ho in Hanoi; Thao Dien in HCMC) that will ease the adjustment period and provide you a level of home comfort. We see this happen a lot – a foreigner moves here, decides to just hang out with work people or people from their home country, and that’s their Vietnam experience. But we encourage you to grow your community outside this bubble too! There are so many communities you can get active in: participate in creative workshops, join a local sports club or team, or create a new club that you wish existed.
That being said, the foreigner community is very friendly and welcoming. There’s a commonality that *everyone* is far from home and their family. While this means the foreigner community can feel transient at times, and each year brings a new batch of tearful goodbyes, it’s a beautiful experience to have a community of international people you will now get to visit around the world.
What to consider before moving:
- What are some interests and hobbies that will help build my community?
- How can my support network help during the transition period?
Jobs
Alright, let’s say that you already know you want to go to Vietnam but aren’t sure what you’re going to do for work – here’s some advice we have!
Teaching
Working in a school is a very common job for foreigners in Vietnam, but not all schools are created equal. Language centers will accept little to no teaching experience as long as you have a Bachelor’s Degree and you’re a native English speaker, while International Schools require more formal accreditation from a home country and experience. Teaching can provide a nice work/life balance as Vietnam is a country with many public holidays. There’s lots of research you can do online and we definitely recommend vetting any school before accepting a position. Salaries vary across the board.
Digital Nomad
Yes you can technically be a digital nomad in Vietnam but there’s no specific visa for this. If this is your path, then you will need to leave the country every 90 days to renew a tourist visa.
Logistics & Supply Chain
Many of your favorite products are manufactured in Vietnam which means there’s a lot of corporate jobs available in these industries.
Diplomatic & Embassy Work
With Embassies and Consulates in Hanoi and HCMC, you’ll find such a rich tapestry of people from all over the world.
Design & Furniture
Similar to the above point, a lot of your favorite clothing and furniture are made right here in Vietnam so you’ll find a lot of foreign outposts in Vietnam.
Construction
As the country grows, so does the infrastructure. New buildings and housing development are common around the country. We’ve met people who specialize in glass, cement, architecture and development projects.
Entrepreneurship
Business is booming in Vietnam and there’s always an opportunity for your next business venture. There are more stringent procedures for foreigners setting up businesses in Vietnam, but it’s totally possible and encouraged. Vietnam’s market is constantly growing so if you have an idea, go for it!
Like any country, there are so many different job opportunities for you to consider (IT! Marketing! Admin!) but the trickiest thing to acquire is the coveted TRC (temporary resident card). This allows you to stay in the country for 2 years so be sure to understand the conditions of your TRC! Marriage is a common route for people who want to be able to bring their partner into the country with them (these people are sometimes referred to as ‘trailing spouses’ – Where in Vietnam was started by two trailing spouses!)
What to consider before moving:
- Will I have the required paperwork and experience to get a job in Vietnam?
- Do I have a verified job that will allow me to move to Vietnam?
- If I’m a trailing spouse, how would I like to spend my time?
- Have I ever wanted to change careers or acquire a new skill?
Adventure & Travel
Vietnam’s scenery is absolutely stunning. There are so many travel opportunities within the country. The landscape features everything from beautiful beaches and winding rivers to lush countryside, emerald-green rice paddies and towering mountains. Hoi An, Dalat, Phu Yen, Ha Giang, Quy Nhon, Phuong Na, Phu Quoc…these are all places you must visit for once-in-a-lifetime experiences!
Vietnam can act as a springboard too to visit other nearby countries such as Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore,Indonesia and The Philippines. Taiwan and Japan are also nearby!
What to consider before moving:
- Do I have enough pages in my passport to visit all the countries I want to visit?
- Where will you want to visit first in Vietnam?
Expand your Wardrobe
While access to all the fast-fashion outlets might decrease when you move to Vietnam, do not fear. Access to tailor-made clothing is a favorite for everyone! Fabric markets can provide endless inspiration and you’ll find tailors in all major cities.
What to consider before moving:
- Do I have a Pinterest account so I can search for inspiration?
Perspective
Being able to consider moving to a country where you can experience all the benefits here is a great privilege and honor. We all entered Vietnam without knowing what to expect and each of us has had different key takeaways. Some of us have had the privilege to pivot careers, reconsider what “home” means, to take space to reflect on better understand what we want in life…and the list goes on and on. These perspectives are priceless. Yes, you can experience this by literally moving anywhere, but Vietnam seems to have a special power over its guests. We know not everyone experiences the same Vietnam so we feel very fortunate to call this country home.
What to consider before moving:
- Am I ready for the experience of a lifetime?
Want to know about Vietnam in much deeper detail? Download our FREE Vietnam Starter Pack to understand what it would be like to live in Vietnam
