Vietnam.

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam

At A Glance Population 90.5 million (July 2011 est.) Median age / life expectancy 27.8 / 72.18 Official Language Vietnamese Currency Vietnamese Dong (VND) GDP per Capita (PPP) $3,143 (2010 est.) Climate Tropical in south; monsoonal in north. North gets cold in the winter Natural Hazards occasional typhoons and flooding (May to January) Government Communist State (sort of)

What about... Hanoi Population 2.6 million (Metro 6,232,940) Capitol of Vietnam 1,001 years old The political and cultural hub of Vietnam Rich in history and fascinating in culture Energetic, chaotic and noisy full speed ahead! From street markets to fine museums and opera, wide range of activities for all budgets Excellent shopping and eating Transportation hub trains, flights, bus, etc. Low cost of living

Hanoi

Cost of Living Hanoi, Hoan Kiem District Rent Furnished 2 bedroom apartment, Hoan Kiem district US$500 HOA Fees N/A 0 Property Taxes N/A 0 Transportation Bus, occasional taxis 30 Gas Used for cooking 5 Electricity, water, trash Moderate A?C use. Space heater in winter 35 Telephone Mobi prepaid cell phone plan - 30 days 5 Internet VNPT unlimited (often included in rent) 15 Cable TV Includes HBO, Star, BBC, etc. (often included in rent) 2 Household Help Allow $150 if full-time maid is required 0 Food Groceries for two people 100 Entertainment Frequent meals out, miscellaneous expenses 150 TOTAL (At 20,500 VND to 1 USD) US$842

Property Costs Hanoi, Hoan Kiem District Rent for US$400 to US$1500 per month Old Quarter is the best area for most people convenient location and many expats, best shopping, visually and culturally intriguing West Lake (Tay Ho) best area for luxury living but have to have your own transport or rely on taxis... Top-end apartments can cost as much as US$2500 per month in West Lake district Foreigners can't buy property or condominiums at this time, but things are changing constantly

What about... Hoi An Population 75,800 UNESCO World Heritage Site - an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century A small but expanding expat population Excellent shopping, beautiful beaches, huge selection of restaurants to suit all income levels Low cost of living Beautiful beaches, world-class golfing

Hoi An

Cost of Living Hoi An Rent Furnished 2-bedroom house US$400 HOA Fees N/A 0 Property Taxes N/A 0 Transportation Motorbike rental and gasoline 59 Gas Used for cooking 5 Electricity, water, trash Moderate a/c use 44 Telephone Mobi prepaid cell phone plan - 30 days 5 Internet VNPT unlimited 15 Cable TV Includes HBO, Star, BBC, others 2 Household Help Allow $100 if full-time maid is required 0 Food Groceries for two people 100 Entertainment Frequent meals out, miscellaneous expenses 200 TOTAL (At 20,500 VND to 1 USD) US$830

Property Costs Hoi An No apartments or condominiums in Hoi An... Most houses rent for around US$350 rent per month - US$200 monthly at the low-end, under US$1,000 monthly for top-end You could also rent a room in a house or guesthouse A full-time housekeeper will cost about US$100 per month Flooding is an issue important to pick a house on higher land away from the river Foreigners can't own property, yet...

What about... Nha Trang Population 350,375 (Metro about 500,000) Beach resort town in a beautiful setting Many activities in and around the city (diving, snorkeling, sailing, Vinpearl, hot springs, jogging, golf) Good shopping and markets Easy to get around town by foot, bicycle, motorbike, taxi... Large expat population and many amenities to serve them (western restaurants, etc.) English widely spoken and understood

Nha Trang

Cost of Living Nha Trang Rent Furnished 2-bedroom house US$390 HOA Fees N/A 0 Property Taxes N/A 0 Transportation Motorbike rental and gasoline 54 Gas Used for cooking 5 Electricity, water, trash Moderate a/c use 39 Telephone Mobi prepaid cell phone plan - 30 days 5 Internet VNPT unlimited (often included in rent) 15 Cable TV HBO, Star, BBC, etc. (often included in rent) 2 Household Help Allow $122 if full-time maid is required 0 Food Groceries for two people 98 Entertainment Frequent meals out, miscellaneous expenses 146 TOTAL (At 20,500 VND to 1 USD) US$754

Property Costs Nha Trang Two-bedroom unfurnished apartments start at around US$125 per month Serviced apartments with kitchens start at US$300 per month, including housekeeping, internet, cable TV, and water/sewer/trash Top-end houses rarely exceed US$1,000 per month Lots of new developments may result in lower rental prices Foreigners can't own property at this time

Vietnam Pros Beautiful scenery mountains, beaches, countryside, architecture Lowest cost of living in Southeast Asia English widely spoken and understood Delicious and varied cuisine Friendly and welcoming to westerners Stimulating, energetic, and lively Lots of sunshine and mild temperatures (the north can get quite chilly in winter a plus for those who like four seasons) Easy to stay long-term without frequent visa runs

Vietnam Pros

Vietnam Cons Humid with hot summers (cold and humid winters in the north) Heavy traffic on poorly maintained, inadequate streets; little traffic enforcement, few traffic lights or stop signs Noisy can be overstimulating Scams (especially in Hanoi and Saigon) Foreigners often charged more than locals Difficult language to learn Rapidly developing country are they doing it right? Rules change frequently

Vietnam Cons

Residency No retirement visa yet. Laws change frequently Visas valid for one to three months At this time, maximum visa is for three months, extendable twice (nine months total). However, they may be renewed for many, many more times at the discretion of immigration. A trip to any other country and a return to Vietnam entitles person to a new visa no problems. Use an agent... Six-month or longer tourist visas may be possible Permanent residency visa may be possible

Medical Care Very inexpensive by western standards Most illnesses and trauma can be handled well in the urban centers (Hanoi, Danang, Saigon) Minor illness and trauma can be handled in Nha Trang and other smaller cities Complicated illnesses best treated elsewhere Medical care still developing in smaller towns Excellent & affordable dental care Prescriptions not required - prices are very low and quality usually is good

Medical Care

Taxes Taxes only assessed for income earned through a Vietnamese source if a resident of Vietnam for 183 days or longer (e.g. if you hold employment in Vietnam) No sales taxes, low duties on imported items No property taxes (if you or your spouse is Vietnamese and can own property here) No double-taxation treaty with the U.S.

Accessibility Must have a visa prior to entering the country Vietnam has daily flights from the U.S. and Europe through Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and some international flights to Danang Easily accessible from other Asian cities through budget carriers Air Asia and JetStar Airways. Good domestic air transport, train network and open bus travel... Present system of roads is overtaxed too many vehicles makes for slow going

Accessibility

Retiree Benefits Vietnam does not have a formal retirement program for foreigners at this time

Recreation Thousands of miles of coastline with innumerable beaches, islands and bays Mountainous interior hiking, wildlife watching, caves, waterfalls, coffee plantations, vineyards, lakes, hill-tribe villages... Peaceful countryside with small villages and rice paddies... Vibrant culture museums, shopping, eating, friendly locals and growing expat communities... Stunning scenery and handsome people - a photographer's dream

Recreation

Is Vietnam for you? Perfect for beach bums (of all ages!) and outdoor enthusiasts Have good physical health, as medical care is still developing Lowest cost of living in Southeast Asia Local people very welcoming to westerners a good place to live if you're single Perfect for foodies... Good country for families with children Vietnamese love kids Elders are very respected

Is Vietnam for you?