Vietnam

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in South East Asia. The country covers an area of 331,210 square kms, and has a population of around 94 million, of which 86% are from the Viet or Kinh ethnic group.

Climate

The shape of the country, with its vast differences in latitude and topography give it a highly diverse climate, which can vary quite significantly from place to place. The Winter (or dry season) runs through November to April. Average annual temperatures are generally higher on the plains than in the mountains, and far higher in the South than North of the country.

Currency

Vietnamese Dong (VND)

Communications

Generally good in main urban centres, but less reliable in rural areas. The international code is +84 and the internet code is .vn

Healthcare

Vietnam has made excellent progress since the 1990’s in the area of Healthcare. Whilst not quite up to the standard of Thailand or Malaysia as yet, you will be able find to quality services in the major cities, especially Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi.

Despite these improvements we would highly recommend that you have travel or health insurance, particularly if you are planning a long stay or retirement.

Capital: Hanoi

The 1,000 year old Vietnamese capital offers a wonderfully diverse contrast of tree lined boulevards and colonial architecture mixed in with gritty laneways full of unexpected surprises. Situated on over 20 lakes, the city is home to almost 8 million people. The Expat population is estimated to be around 10,000 with many calling the Tay Ho district home. Whilst rents are a little higher in Tay Ho than elsewhere in the city, they still remain incredibly cheap by global standards.

Getting there

Hanoi (Noi Bai) International Airport is some 15km’s from the city centre. A new International Terminal (T2) was opened in 2015. Whilst there are currently no direct flights between Australia and Hanoi, there are a number of indirect options, with the most popular obviously being through the country’s largest city, Ho Chi Minh City. Other popular airport hubs include Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.

Transport

Transport in the city is dominated by motorbikes, but there are plenty of buses and taxi’s available. The Reunification Express, which travels all the way down to HCMC, runs from the Main Railway, and there are currently plans to build 2 metro lines, the first due to be completed by 2018, and the second in 2021.

Key Retirement Locations

Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon (SGN)

Vietnams largest city, with over 8.5 million residents, HCMC offers the visitor and resident a highly charged and truly vibrant lifestyle experience. The huge range of cuisine, entertainment, accommodation choices and general buzz, make this the city of choice for the largest number of expats in the country. Its direct air links to Australia (through both Jetstar and Vietnam Airways) is also a major plus, as is the best medical facilities available in the country.

Vung Tau

The beachside town of Vung Tau is only 2 hours by road, or 90 minutes by fast ferry/hydrofoil to the metropolis of HCMC. For those retirees seeking a quieter less frantic lifestyle, Vung Tau provides the perfect mix of beaches, highly affordable ’cost of living’ within easy access to a major city, which offers the best healthcare and transport links in Vietnam.

Da Nang (DAD)

Regarded as Vietnam’s most livable city, Da Nang is home to over 1 million people. It offers a wonderful beachside lifestyle, cheap cost of living, excellent range of accommodation, cuisine, entertainment, and shopping. Healthcare is good, and an International Airport, with great regional links is only a short distance from the city centre.

Other favourites

Hoi An

Only around 30 minutes from Da Nang is the delightful town of Hoi An, with its UNESCO Heritage World sites, beautifully preserved streets and superb laid back lifestyle. Home to a small but growing population of expats, Hoi An allows its residents to live amongst the old world, whilst still within easy reach of a modern city and all its conveniences.

Nha Trang

Arguably Vietnams favourite beachside location, this city offers stunning views over the bay, an excellent mix of highly affordable accommodation, great range of food and entertainment options, lively expat community and both good healthcare and transport links.

Lifestyle

VIETNAM LIFESTYLE

Retiring to Vietnam

There is a vast array of information about Vietnam on the internet, but it is difficult to take all the pieces of the puzzle and put them together to create a full picture. When considering retirement to another country, you want everything to go smoothly and know your finances are being managed in a way which maintains your retirement lifestyle.

You also want to know that you have a team you can work with to make your dream a sustainable reality. Vietnam offers a broad range of lifestyle choices, and Retire to Asia recommends that you explore the country to see and feel what’s right for you. Sometimes retirees will begin their retirement in major expat locations, such as Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang or Hanoi before moving into lesser known rural areas.

Better quality of life in retirement

The cost of living in Vietnam is significantly cheaper than in Australia, and is one of the most cost effective in all of South East Asia. Quite simply, your money goes so much further, providing you with the opportunity to have a quality of life which is typically only available to the wealthy in Australia. This is one of the key motivations for retiring to Asia.

The exact savings will vary on where you decide to retire, and the type of lifestyle you choose to live.

For example, it is generally cheaper to live in Vung Tau than in Ho Chi Minh. Similarly, your average grocery bill will be less if you buy local products rather than foreign imported foods. However, all things being equal, the ‘cost of living’ savings when compared to Australia are very significant.

Comparing the cost of living in Vietnam to Australia

In this table, Retire to Asia compares the average percentage saving a retiree can expect on a range of products & services in popular Thai locations with the cost of those products & services in Sydney:

Item	Ho Chi Minh	Da Nang
Consumer Price	-54%	-54%
Meal for 2 (3 Courses)	-71%	-81%
Beer (Domestic)	-85%	-85%
Coffee	-38%	-34%
Bottle of Water	-88%	-90%
Groceries (Local)	-50%	-55%
Transport (Local – Various)	-90%	-90%
Utilities (Electric/Water/Garbage)	-59%	-60%
Mobile (Pre-Paid)	-87%	-87%
Internet (Unlimited Cable/ADSL)	-75%	-78%
Cinema Ticket	-75%	-76%
Rent	-74%	-78%

Source: Numbeo

Settling into your new lifestyle

Whilst it’s exciting to retire to a dream location, either temporarily or permanently, there are a number of tasks that need to completed, and arrangements that need to be made.

Retire to Asia provide a broad range of services to assist you with this exciting move. These services include the following:

Simple and easy retirement visas

Retire to Asia assist with the application for you visa and help you through the process.

Access to the best healthcare, insurance and financial services

Retire to Asia provides advice and through our partner network, ensure your needs are met at the most cost effective price.

Assistance with travel and relocation arrangements

Retire to Asia can assist and guide you through the requirements to move not only yourselves, but also your possessions, and any pets you may have.

We’ll help get you settled with our ‘Welcome to Vietnam’ service

Retire to Asia provides contacts for local clubs, guidance on property, information on local doctors, dentists, mobile phones and the internet.

Ongoing management of your finances to ensure peace of mind

Retire to Asia’s financial group will ensure your retirement savings provide you with a reliable income stream. We assist with budgeting and keep you updated to changes to superannuation that may impact you. Retire to Asia can also manage your investment portfolio and even assist with opening a Thai bank account.

We’re always here to help

Retire to Asia provides ongoing support and advice over the phone, or through our website and newsletters. We are here to assist you.

Want to get started?

Contact Retire to Asia on 1800 961 377 or email us at info@retiretoasia.com.au. We’ll answer your questions and take you one step closer to making your dream lifestyle a reality.

Healthcare

VIETNAM HEALTHCARE

When it comes to healthcare in Vietnam, medical facilities and equipment have improved significantly over the past 25 years. Whilst still shy of Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, quality healthcare is available, especially in the major cities, such as Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi. It is however very important to have good medical insurance in place before you move to the country.

Public Healthcare in Vietnam

Whilst there has been a major improvement in Healthcare, Expats living in Vietnam will find that the standards of public hospitals do not match that of those found in Australia (or other parts of the region). Public hospitals in Vietnam are generally underfunded and poorly equipped, plus Doctors and medical staff working at public hospitals will generally only speak Vietnamese.

The quality and availability of healthcare is especially poor in rural areas, and in some of the most remote parts of the country healthcare is non-existent.

Private Healthcare in Vietnam

In complete contrast to the Public system, the standard of private hospitals in Vietnam is excellent. Private hospitals located in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City are staffed by doctors from the Western Doctors, as well as Vietnamese doctors who have trained overseas.

Private hospitals tend to cater for the needs of expats far better, and they accept international health insurance.

The cost of visiting specialists such as dentists and dermatologists varies considerably, but are generally lower than the rates charged in Western countries.

Importantly Doctors and medical staff at private hospitals in Vietnam often speak English and/or French.

Pharmacies in Vietnam

Pharmacies in Vietnam are well stocked and easy to find, especially in big cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. They’re usually located on any major shopping street or in malls.

Buying medicine over the counter without a prescription is straightforward, but expats should be aware that many of the drugs sold in Vietnamese pharmacies can be counterfeit or may have expired. Always check the date on the packaging before making a purchase.

Heath Insurance

Once again we would stress the importance of having good quality health insurance in place BEFORE you go to Vietnam.

Questions about healthcare in Vietnam?

Contact Retire to Asia on 1800 961 377 or email us at info@retiretoasia.com.au. We’ll answer your questions and take you one step closer to making your dream lifestyle a reality.

Visa

VIETNAM VISA

Currently Vietnam does not offer a retirement visa program in the same way that Thailand and Malaysia does, however many expats have been living comfortably in the country for many years under the existing visa arrangements.

3 Month Tourist Visa

The most common method of staying long term in Vietnam is to simply acquire a 3 month Tourist visa and do a ‘visa run’ outside the country upon its expiry. Many expats take this as an opportunity to take a short holiday elsewhere in the region. It is also possible to extend your visa within Vietnam (thereby avoided the need to travel).

The cost to obtain a visa does vary. It can be obtained directly through the Vietnamese Embassy (usually the most expensive option), or through a reputable agent. At the time of writing both Vietnam Visa Easy and Vietnam Visa Pro are highly regarded, but feel free to contact us with any questions.

1 Year Business Visa

In addition to the tourist visa, there is also a 1 year multiple entry Business Visa available. This obviously has the benefit of removing the need for visa runs/90 day renewals (and you don’t need to actually conduct any business activity) but it does have a higher processing fee (usually between US$420 and US$600 depending on the agent), plus a further US$180 at immigration upon entering the country.

How do I find out more information?

Contact Retire to Asia on 1800 961 377 or email us at info@retiretoasia.com.au. We’ll answer your questions and take you one step closer to making your dream lifestyle a reality.

Property

VIETNAM PROPERTY

Introduction to Property in Vietnam

Foreigners are not allowed to own land, as land is theoretically collectively owned by the people of Vietnam, but regulated by the State.

Foreigners who are residents in Vietnam are permitted to purchase dwelling houses. They can own a house but not the land on which it is built. They have the option to lease the land from the State. As an example, a leading foreign estate agent in Vietnam, Chesterton, is marketing a 50-year lease scheme, which is effectively almost a sale.

Under this scheme, the buyer acquires a right to the apartment for 50 years, and the right to renew the lease at the term´s expiry without payment of additional rent.

A foreign investor may also invest in Vietnamese real property by forming a joint venture company with a local partner, or a wholly foreign-owned company, or by forming a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) company or one of its variants.

What are the costs involved?

The following is a list of taxes and fees that the owner or landlord should take note of when planning to purchase or sell property in Vietnam.

The Buyer pays 5% VAT (Value Added Tax), a 0.5% Property Registration Fee and VND 20,000 Registration of Title fee.

The Seller pays Notary fees of VND1 million + 0.06% of the property value over VND1 Billion

Try before you buy

Generally, our view is that unless you are certain, we’d highly recommend renting for some time before jumping into the property market. Most people enjoy the flexibility of moving to a number of locations before perhaps deciding to settle on one.

Want to know more about property in Vietnam?

Contact Retire to Asia on 1800 961 377 or email us at info@retiretoasia.com.au. We’ll answer your questions and take you one step closer to making your dream lifestyle a reality.