Vietnamese culture and opportunities attracting Western expats

Would-be expats looking to experience a major lifestyle change are increasingly choosing Vietnam.

Southeast Asia is becoming a popular escape route for Westerners looking for an alternative to the growing political and economic chaos in their home countries. Getting to grips with a totally unfamiliar culture is a challenge, as is the back-to-basics lifestyle chosen by many older expatriates as a necessity rather than an option, but the rewards outweigh any initial problems.

Right now, Vietnam is increasingly popular as a hub for entrepreneurs as well as for professionals seeking a total change of lifestyle along with an interesting new job. Modern-day Vietnam is now one of Southeast Asia’s major success stories for its combination of economic revival and vibrant culture. Its two major conurbations, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, are major tourism destinations as well as hubs for thriving expat communities.

Historic Hanoi is favoured for its unique link to Vietnamese culture and its cooler weather, whilst the modernity of Ho Chi Minh City is home to international companies as well as many expat-owned businesses. For those wanting to start a business in Vietnam, it’s essential to have the correct documentation rather than winging it and hoping you’ll be able to stay under the radar. A work permit is mandatory and fines are steep. Arriving on a three-month visitor visa and using the time to find a job is recommended, with teaching English a favourite occupation for native speakers. Many expats move on to start their own businesses once they’ve found a trustworthy Vietnamese sponsor.

Vietnam’s cost of living is extremely low, as are rents, especially in more rural areas. Beachside Da Nang is another expat favourite as well as a hub for digital nomads, with many preferring its lifestyle to that in the two major cities. For tourist-related businesses aimed at Russian visitors, Nha Trang is the place, boasting a pretty beach and relaxed vibe. Vung Tau’s slow pace of life and its comparative proximity to Ho Chi Minh City is popular with older expats, some of whom have relocated from Thailand due to increasingly illogical visa regulations.