Retire in Vietnam

To retire in Vietnam most foreigners stay on 90-day e-visas, as there is no retirement visa. Social security pensions are not taxed, and prices run at about 30% of the US.

What it takes, what it costs, and where retirees settle, from Vietnam's law and official data. Checked on Oct 8, 2026.

Limestone islands and boats in Ha Long Bay

Retiree visa: None
Price level: ~30% of the US
Tax on a foreign pension: 0%
Travel advisory: Level 1 of 4
Health spending: $197/person
US tax treaty: None

Do you qualify?

Vietnam has no retirement visa and no visa based on a pension or savings. Most retirees come on the e-visa, which any passport holder can request online from outside Vietnam for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, with no proof of income. To stay longer you leave Vietnam and apply for a new e-visa; a temporary residence card comes only through investment, work or a family tie.

E-visa: documents and fees

Retiring in Vietnam, topic by topic

Visa

E-visa requirements

Documents, government fees and the other routes to residency.

Healthcare

Healthcare for retirees

The hospitals retirees use, what insurance covers, and Medicare abroad.

Money

Banking, pensions and tax

How US, UK and Canadian pensions reach a local bank, and what you report at home.

Budget

Cost of living

Official prices and a budget built from your own rent.

What it costs

Household prices in Vietnam run at about 30% of US levels. Rent is the line nobody publishes officially, so the cost of living page builds your budget from your own rent.

Build your budget

Official poverty line, per person, per month, 2026

Urban areasVND 2,000,000 (about $80)

Rural areasVND 1,500,000 (about $60)

Decree 07/2021; Decree 351/2025. Checked Oct 8, 2026.

Where retirees settle

Ho Chi Minh City

Largest city, about 14 million people (2024)
In the south, 13 m above sea level
FV Hospital and Family Medical Practice

Hanoi

Capital, about 8.7 million people (2024)
Vinmec Times City and Family Medical Practice

Da Nang

Central coast city, about 2.8 million people (2024)
19 m above sea level
Vinmec Da Nang, Hoan My Da Nang and Family Medical Practice

Hoi An

Provincial city, about 122,000 people (2008)
13 m above sea level
Nearest listed hospitals in Da Nang

Wikidata; FV Hospital; Family Medical Practice; Vinmec; Hoan My. Checked Oct 8, 2026.

Vietnam compared

Visiting Vietnam first

Most people spend a few weeks in Vietnam before they apply for anything. Two things to sort out for that trip:

Kiwi.com

Flights to Vietnam

Compare routes and dates before a scouting trip.

Airalo

eSIM for Vietnam

Mobile data from the day you land, without a local SIM.

Partner links: we may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you. How this works.

Retiring in Vietnam: questions

Is Vietnam safe for retirees?

The US State Department rates Vietnam Level 1, exercise normal precautions.

Do I pay tax in Vietnam on my pension?

No, for pensions from a social insurance system. Vietnam lists retirement pensions paid under its social insurance law, or the foreign equivalent, as non-taxable income; the source does not single out private or employer pensions from abroad. US citizens still file a US return.

Does Vietnam have a retirement visa?

No. Retirees usually stay on the e-visa, valid up to 90 days with multiple entries for $50, and apply for the next one from outside Vietnam.

Can I retire in Vietnam on Social Security?

Social Security can be paid by direct deposit into a Vietnamese dong account, and pensions from a social insurance system are not taxed in Vietnam. Prices run at about 30% of US levels.

Where do retirees live in Vietnam?

Mostly Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang and nearby Hoi An. Ho Chi Minh City has FV Hospital, Hanoi has Vinmec Times City, and Da Nang has Vinmec and Hoan My hospitals.

Retire in Vietnam

Do you qualify?