Vietnam

Vietnam offers four types of visas:

The Tourist Visa, which is best if you are visiting for the first time. It has a 1-3 month or 90 durations and costs $25 for single entry and $50 for multiple entry. In order to obtain this visa, you must apply through the Vietnam’s online e-visa portal or the Consulate and embassy.

The Temporary Residency visa which allows for a longer stay with a duration of 1-3 years. For this visa you will need a sponsorship from either an employer or a family member and documentation such as passport, NA6/NA8 application, and sponsorship letter.

The Permanent Residency Permit which is great for those planning to live long term in Vietnam, but it does come with significantly more requirements. You will need to have lived in Vietnam, using a Temporary Residency Visa, for a minimum of three years. You will additionally need to provide documentation on employment and salary status, sponsorship by a Vietnamese citizen (Usually a family member), Health Insurance Passport, and criminal record. Once you successfully complete all requirement you obtain permanent residence and can mostly do everything a citizen can do except vote.

Probably the top reason to visit or move to Vietnam is the affordability. The average cost of living is for a single person range between 13,161,732.24VND – 16,320,547.98VND or $500 – $620 for all expenses including rent. Now, this can, of course, vary depending on where and how you are living.

Down in southern Vietnam, you will want to consider living in Ho Chi Min, or as it was formerly known, Saigon. This is the largest city in Vietnam and comes with all modern amenities, so if you enjoy living in New York City, but don’t like the daily costs, Ho Chi Min will be a good substitute. Also, you won’t be the only foreigner there as it is a popular hub for nomads and expats. Lodging such as Airbnbs and apartments will cost between $800 – $1200 per month in a good area.

There is a lot to see and do here such as there unique historical monuments and architecture. Exploring Vietnam’s history with French colonialism, one can visit the Notre Dame Cathedral. This church was constructed 1877 and completed in 1880, it was built for the French Catholics settling in Saigon. It defining features are its red color from bricks imported from Marseille and the statue of Our Lady of Peace.

Another grand monument and piece of Vietmanese culture to visit is the Emperor Jade Pagoda. Constructed in the 20th century by a Chinese business man who moved to Vietnam and built the temple for Buudism, Taoism, and Confusionism. Visitors will find a plethora of culture and customs such as the room dedicated to the worship of the Jade emporor or statues of Kim Hoa Thanh Mau and her 12 midwives who are believed to help couples who are struggling with childlessness.

If you are looking for a cultural hub, then checkout Cho Lon, Saigon’s China Town. Here, you can visit the Binh Tay Market for authentic Chinese food and produce and is geared towards locals and not tourists, as well as Chinese medicine pharmacies and the Lantern Street where people buy lanterns and all things associated with festivals. Then there is the residential area with architecture similar to that in Hong Kong, such as Hao Si Phuong, an old alley way of apartments that houses predominantly people of Chinese descent. And then finally, Cho Lon features a number of landmarks such as the Cha Tam church, also called the St. Francis Xavior Church, or temples like the Lady Thien Hau Pagoda or Nhi Phu Temple. Saigon’s China Town is a location for those who truly want to immerse themselves in uniques parts of Vietmanese culture and historical influences.

If the main reason for moving to Vietnam is affordibaility, then you will most likely want to consider Da Nang, a city in central Vietnam, praised for its low cost of living. A two bedroom apartment in a nice location will cost around $500 – $800 per month. Other major expenses such food and transportation are estimated to cost $191 and $41.5 respectively per month.

Now, just because it is cheap does not mean that it is boring, there is a lot to see and do in Da Nang. Spanning from Son Tra Peninsula to the Marble Mountains is the beautiful My Khe Beach. Visitors can paritcipate in a number of beach side activities such as volleyball, windsurfing, diving, and more, much of which is hosted venders on the beach itself.

For those who want to mix site seeing with fun attractions then Ba Na Hills would be a recommended spot. It sports a variety of interesting architecture, much of which is inspired by the French, and displays the Golden Bridge, a bridge with two large stone hands supporting its structure.