Vietnam Retirement Destination

Just do it.   The experience alone is Appreciation with
heaps of AAA's, (not necessarily) Actually Alarming Acts.

Research it well to get the gist.   Saves a lot of Grief, but
as a seasoned traveller you might know the ropes already
and have an open mind to living without stress..?

You'll be badgered about your budget, but I have proven
you can (easily) live on US$500 (or less).  Bin there, dunnit.

Avoid the cities and tourist traps (as if I need tell you!), fly
under the radar as required workwise & etc... (or not) and
you'll find your own design for utopia. 

Heaven on Earth for me, but I think laterally anyway...   

Thanks Bazza for your encouragement.By the way,what do you think of living in DaNang?From what i have read it is more affordable than HCMC and Hanoi,ect.Also,a really nice place to live in retirement too.

I recommend living anywhere in VN except Hanoi or Saigon, which are too expensive, too busy.  Mind you, I do enjoy visiting Hanoi every few years or so.    I lived outside Nha Trang for over 13 years and loved it. For me, the climate in Nha Trang is more pleasant then in Danang.  Come over, have a look around and see which place suits you.

arthow wrote:

... .I lived in Panama a few years as an expat but didn't really like it there for long term living ....

I am curious about what you experienced as negatives about Panama. I have heard it is getting more expensive around Panama City, and crime rates are high for much of Latin America, but I've never spoken to anyone who lived there.

For retiring in Asia, Vietnam, Thailand and Philippines are all good choices.

Panama i had found to be very hot&humid,getting expensive,and rather boring for me.I am not at this stage in my life a real party guy but like to live in a place that has a rich culture.The food in Panama i found not that great over all.Panama City,is loud,congested,expensive,sort of dirty, rather ugly and no real feel to it that appealed to me.I realize that Vietnam can be humid also but lots of beaches(Panama City not really).I also lived for a time in the highlands (Boquete) wich was much cooler there and somewhat beautiful with an expat community of a 1,000 or more but really not much to do there also.Yes,Panama i simply found to be getting very over priced and catching up with the rest of Central America as far as crime too now day's.

You might like to check out Dalat, a pleasant city in the VN central highlands. It's very scenic, surrounded by pine forests and waterfalls. It has a regular, year round rainfall, so is also surrounded by vegetable and flower farms. It can get too wet and miserable for some, even a Belgium friend who sold his Dalat house and moved down to Nha Trang to get some warmth. It is a very pleasant place to escape the Nha Trang summer heat, which is something we did for a week each year.

Thanks Ralph, i believe that i really need to explore as much as Nam has i can before i make a decision to relocate there .Perhaps at least two trips but from what i am reading it sounds like my kind of place.Dalat seems a bit like Boquete,Panama where i spent several months when i lived in Panama.It is really kind of beautiful(lots of rainbows) but i found boring also for the most part.

Sort of off topic for the gent. But on your way here if your a climate guy like me stop off at Lake Chapala Mexico. Spring like weather year round., largest lake in a ll of Mexico, elevation of 5,000 feet, rains only at night and is ended by the time you have your cup of morning Joe.
As the other poster have said the larger cities to me are the pits. Especially HCMC. However it does produce 95% of the GDP of Vietnam. I simps love DaNang. Nice wide streets, great area. Like the other poster said, a tad warmer than NhaTrang. And NT has been overtaken by the Russians and the Chinese. But you will love Lake Chapala I am sure. Much easier to simulate there than here. Cultures are more suitable to Western cultures than here.

And Mexico has a huge drug cartel problem plus now the Trump Administration is not making it any easier on relations for Americans there.I have been to Mexico many times but now day's think i will pass on consideration living there thanks.
       I just hope the overwhelming of the Chinese and Russians don't happen to Danang.I hear first hand that they have pretty much ruined Pattaya ,Thailand for just one example.

re #9:
QUOTE
And NT has been overtaken by the Russians and the Chinese.
UNQUOTE

Yes, there are a lot of Russians and Chinese, but all of them are no that bad. There are Western Russians and Asian Russians, and the Asian Russians are OK and also regard the other lot as loud, rude and obnoxious.  As for Chinese, there are rude peasants who are noisy and obnoxious, and young, educated city folk, who are not a problem at all. I overhear the latter chatting at the swimming pools and they are just normal, pleasant middle class people.

Yeah,i realize one shouldn't stereo type but as they say it only takes one apple to spoil the barrel.There are lots of Chinese and Russian and i am sure they can come across overwhelming at times too.

Dalat has a mostly pleasant climate and beautiful surroundings, but I think you'll find the cultural offerings there fairly limited like your Boquete experience. You might feel a bit closed-in, plus it'll take you a while to go anywhere else (even if the trip can be stunning, especially down to the east coast).

I live in Saigon and love its vibrancy, despite the year-round heat and humidity (not too bad in the slightly cooler dry season from December-ish to April-ish). Hanoi gets cold in winter and even more hot and humid than Saigon in summer (too far from the sea for any cooling air flow, and worse air pollution due to the neighbouring mountains that trap the air).

I enjoy going to Hanoi for its more 'stately' Vietnamese 'purity'. It's the cradle of Vietnamese culture, and it's also where the government sits and Party orthodoxy holds sway. Saigon is more of a hybrid of Vietnamese, Khmer (Cambodian) and Western influences and is culturally far more dynamic -- not to mention that it's the economic dynamo of the country.

Interestingly, most of the expats I know who move from Saigon to Hanoi regret the move, and most who move from Hanoi to Saigon don't want to go back.

All that said, the upcoming economic powerhouse of Danang may present the best of both worlds. The climate is mostly agreeable next to the sea, though it does suffer from the occasional typhoon. It has a very go-getter provincial government that's trying to attract talent worldwide and all over Vietnam with financial investors, academics and project developers. Plus, the picture-postcard city of Hoi An is nearby for lovely architecture, great food and a sense of what things used to be like (if you ignore the persistent touts and other tourist crap).

But yes, as others have recommended, have a bit of a look around before you pin yourself down. Even after that, you can always move. A wonderful luxury problem to have...

Cheers!  Yet another accurate assessment!!   

Thanks robvan,now i am even more interested in visiting Vietnam and go from there.The only thing you left out is the cost of living there?Especially since i will be on a $1200 monthly budget if i was to relocate there. I get by here on the states with almost twice that amount but i also have a part time job here.I am now at an age where i really don't want to work that much loner period.Vietnam sounds very inviting and perhaps affordable enough to make the leap.I hear out of the 3 cities(Hanoi,Saigon,) that Danang is presently to more affordable for living.
      Also,what about my health care options there?Is it practical to self insure?Here in the states i have V.A. Health care but realize i can't use it while in Nam.

Much of this confirms my thoughts but of course there is a lot of extra information that will allow me to make a choice. I have had two visits to Vietnam and have come down to two choices of places to spend my Aussie pension, one of which I have never visited (but I will do in a month or so).
  Vung Tau appears to be close enough to Saigon to benefit from cheaper flights to Aus, and provides access to the sea which is good for someone who has spent a long time close to the coast. Not that I take part in any water sports, I just like being close to it.
  I spent a few days in Da Nang trying to look at accomodation and unfortunately things didn't go as anticipated. I intend to return there to have another look, then decide where to move starting from July.
I had a lengthy conversation with a really nice, helpful guy who sells bus tickets at Saigon airport and told him about Da Nang and Vung Tau being my main considerations. He suggested adding De Lat but, after further thought (confirmed by the passage above) that seems a place for an extended visit.
  Once again, thank you so much for the information and I would appreciate any additional information on my two main choices (Vung Tau and Da Nang)
I believe both places have strong ex pat communities. I have UK origins with forty years in Aus and the last two years teaching Maths in English to Chinese senior students in Nanjing where my close friends came from all over but mainly from the US and Germany.

I wouldn't worry.  There is plenty of work.  Every.  Where.

..even if yu don't wantit...     

Hi, I think Robvan summed up the experience very nicely.

I have been living in Vietnam for most of the past 10 years; 1 year in HCMC the remainder in Hanoi.

Cost wise, it depends on where you live of course. The most popular area for expats is Tay Ho (West Lake), followed by Ba Dinh, which is near Tay Ho. Hoan Kiem is also popular, but it's where most tourists end up going and staying during their holiday. I currently rent a 4 bedroom, 5 story house in Ba Dinh for $550 (USD) per month. It has 2.5 baths, a large kitchen and living room. You can get cheaper, although not much cheaper, and also a great deal more expensive. My house is not fancy, but it is clean, fairly new and I have great landlords, which is VERY important. It's also on a quiet dead end lane, so it's very quiet. I think electricity would average out around 50 - 60 dollars per month. Depends on how much you use you air conditioner in the summer. Cable is around 20 dollars per month. Fruit and vegetables are quite inexpensive as are meats, namely pork, and chicken. Beef is more pricey if you go for imported. Local is cheaper but tougher than nails. They kill it today and eat it tomorrow.

I have holidayed often in Da Nang and I like it very much.

As has already been recommended, it's best you take some time and come here and take a look around and get a feel for the place. Traffic in both Hanoi and Saigon is a nightmare, but you get used to it. I'm 70+ and drive my motorbike around without any problem. Well, EVERYONE has had an accident of some sort, including me, but nothing major.

I teach English part-time and have been doing so since I came here. It's a good way to meet people, learn about the culture and the additional income is handy as well. All part of keeping active and engaged.

There are those that come and hate it, and those that come and love it. Which will you be? You better come and find out for yourself.

Good luck!

Thanks tctaft,actually i would be looking for one bedroom APARTMENT and not a house to rent and of course hope to find a good landlord.I would prefer my place to be modern (mostly furnished)and in a good location also.I would most likely get a scooter there too.Any idea what this kind of apt might run me in particular Da Nang?

If you have Facebook, go on there and join Da Nang- Hoi An expats page. You will find plenty informations regarding all your questions.

Thank you Chris!

Everyone talks about Russians in Vung Tau, yet expats seem to be mostly Aussie men when I go, I also saw 3 Aussie pubs last week, judging by their names: Matilda, Down Under, Antipodes.

You can search for apartments online to get an idea of prices, but you have to search in Vietnamese. Start studying, it will help a lot!

Without the squiggle marks, cho thue =  for rent or for lease, can ho = apartment, so try
cho thue can ho Vung Tau
You will see sites like batdongsan, chotot, muaban (literally buysell), etc
Also note names are written as single syllable words, so Da Nang, Da Lat, etc not Danang, Dalat.

Use Chrome browser too for translation help.

Hi, can anyone please provide guidance on what visa type / residence options are available for retiring in Vietnam. Thank you

I might be a bit late now with this reply, seeing as your last post was in February, but I'd be a bit wary about Vung Tau over Saigon. Yes, it's close to Saigon but not *that* close in case of emergency, and culturally it's very limited. Lots of ageing Aussie expats with young Vietnamese wives, if that's your scene, and a pleasant environment by the sea if you ignore the Russian tourists and oil-drillings off the coast. I know several wonderful people who live there and love it, but they can't convince me.

The Ho Tram strip further east along the coast from there is the new frontier, though beyond the cancerous casino development it doesn't have the (limited) backup of a small city like Vung Tau yet.

Rob