Expat Life in Vietnam

Expat life in Vietnam is a topic that concerns more than one person; indeed, without having exact figures, a multitude of foreigners live in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. An expat community is also developing in Danang, the country’s third city.

They have settled there for various reasons and form a strong expat community. This is rather localized in the Tay Ho district in Hanoi, next to the large West Lake. While in Saigon, the preferred neighborhoods are more diverse.

So if you have decided to take the adventure and come to live for a period in Vietnam, know that you are not the first—you will be following in the footsteps of several thousand people who made the decision before you.

This is a great advantage because settling is made easier by the fact that the country has adapted and offers numerous services that will make your life easier.

What budget to live in Vietnam? What employment for a job in Vietnam? Here in this article are tips and suggestions drawn from various expat experiences in Hanoi to help you best handle your new life; or simply get an idea of what expat life in Vietnam is like, and more specifically in Hanoi.

We will first address practical aspects of life in Vietnam before discussing socio-cultural points. Don’t hesitate to consult various travel guides to gain even more knowledge.

Arrival in Vietnam, Visa and Accommodation

Visa

Whether you already have a job or not, you will need to resolve a first issue before arriving in Vietnam: that of the visa.

In the first case, if you have a job, know that you are not authorized to work in the country without a work visa, so we recommend that you approach your employer to carry out the necessary procedures. If you don’t find solutions, you can also contact us; we can try to guide you toward professional people in this field.

If you arrive without a job, the best thing is to apply for a three-month visa on the spot, which is very easy to obtain (see our visa section).

In 2021, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the rules have been turned upside down; contact the French embassy in Vietnam for updated information.

Accommodation

Once you have obtained your visa, you will surely ask yourself the question of where to live. The solutions are multiple and depend on the situations and desires of each person.

Here are therefore some general advice and observations:

• The rental offer is quite wide in Hanoi for expats; there are many options: room in a shared house, co-living, apartment, serviced apartment…

All price ranges are available; a room in a shared house should cost you around 150 dollars; it is possible to find a fully equipped studio starting from 250 dollars. If you are looking for a house or large apartment you will find them too but the price will obviously be higher.

To find these offers, you can go to Facebook groups like “Hanoi massive housing and visa” or to specialized sites like “https://livinghanoi.com/“

• Generally landlords offer you a lease of at least three months, so before committing we recommend you visit the places. You can very easily during your first days/weeks in Hanoi take a hotel room.
• Here too you will find all rates depending on your needs and financial possibilities.
• Location: this also depends on you. Most expats are found in Tay Ho, which gives you the guarantee of finding many foreigners like yourself, but you could very well choose to live elsewhere; the prices will be lower and the experience even more authentic! Your place of work will undoubtedly influence this—study your home-to-work commute carefully.

Don’t hesitate to take some time to find your accommodation. It is obviously an important element for a good living experience here!

What to Pack?

A consideration you will certainly face when preparing your move to Vietnam! Packing your suitcase and managing priorities.

The first tip we can give you is to pay close attention to the weight of your luggage in the hold when you buy your plane ticket. Choose one airline over another depending on the weight and number of bags allowed, even if it costs a few euros more.

Obviously think first of all about the essentials, which are, nowadays, rather of an electronic nature: Computer, Phone, headphones, chargers…

Here are some other practical items not to forget: (all of this can be found in Vietnam but it will save you from having to repurchase):

• Sun protection (Hat, sunglasses, creams)
• Mosquito protection
• French book
• Warm clothes, winter is cold in the north of Vietnam
• Shoes, flip-flops
• Non-perishable Western food
• Small first-aid kit (details here)…

Medical Care and Insurance

For a stay with complete peace of mind, we recommend that you take out insurance that will guarantee you reimbursement for medical care and free repatriation if necessary. Chapka Assurance, our partner, offers this type of insurance.

For minor medical care (gastroenteritis, cold) you can see a Vietnamese doctor; it’s not really expensive, but you will have difficulty making yourself understood; you can have someone accompany you who speaks Vietnamese.

For dental care, treatments are much less expensive than in France; for example, for a scaling, count on about 6 euros!

The French hospital in Hanoi provides an understandable service for French speakers but more expensive. (Count on about 80 euros for a consultation; better to have insurance!)

In general, we recommend you go to a private hospital; public hospitals are inexpensive, but the welcome conditions are limited (more people in the room, rather gloomy decor…).

Work

Obviously, if you arrive here with a job, you are not too worried about this topic.

If not, don’t worry too much; Hanoi is a very dynamic city that offers many opportunities in various sectors.

Here are some predominant areas of activity:

• Language teaching: Many English teachers live in Hanoi, either as independents, in a language study center, or at university. French teachers are rarer.
• Tourism: Many travel agencies are based in Hanoi and are interested in employing native speakers from the origin countries of travelers.
• Information technology: As in many capitals, the need for IT skills is strong, although this sector is more developed in Ho Chi Minh City. A good level of English will be necessary.

Food

In Vietnam, it is certain that you will have no difficulty feeding yourself. We will not go into detail about food in Hanoi, since we dedicate a complete section to it with numerous articles on Vietnamese cuisine.

Prices for eating out are really affordable as long as you eat Vietnamese food. You can therefore feed yourself at a reasonable price and in a fairly healthy way. It is worth noting that there are many vegetarian buffets of excellent quality.

If you opt for a Western meal, the price increases quickly. About 250,000 Vietnamese Dong for a pizza, 150,000 for a hamburger!

A good number of expats also cook at home to prepare dishes from their own country. It is easy to find more or less everything you need in numerous supermarkets and markets; it will just take some time to get used to finding food on Vietnamese store shelves!

Some products such as fresh cream, cheese, or even wine are more expensive than in France.

Getting Around

On this topic, it can be said that there are two categories of expats in Hanoi. Those who move around by public transport, taxi, Grab, and those who have chosen to drive a scooter.

• For those who travel by bus, taxi, Grab:

Bus lines are very numerous and serve the entire city. The price is low: 7,000 dong per trip (about 25 cents euro). Sometimes you will need to take connections to reach your destination, and the lines close around 9 PM.

Taxis and Grab are therefore a good complementary service, at a moderate price. Whatever the time, you will quickly find a taxi driver or scooter rider to take you to your destination.

• For those who move around by scooter

You will easily find vehicles for sale at low prices. Pay close attention to the general condition of the vehicle. It may be useful to have someone who knows a bit about vehicles accompany you to get their advice.

As for driving, it is certainly chaotic, but slow—be careful, don’t get stressed, and take your time.

Many expats choose the scooter because it’s true that you save a lot of time getting from one point to another compared to public transport.

Learning the Language

It is a fact that very few expats are able to speak Vietnamese. Mastering this language is difficult; it is a tonal language which makes learning it challenging. Even knowing the words, it is impossible to make yourself understood. However, grammar and conjugation are simple.

We can only advise you to try to learn Vietnamese if you stay even just a few months here. This allows for better immersion in Vietnamese life and culture.

Moreover, if it seems to you that you are not making progress, you are still learning the basics of a new language. A new way of thinking.

For lessons, there are many mobile or online applications. There are also student associations that offer their services for free, independent teachers, or study centers. For French people learning Vietnamese, the most well-known is the French cultural space.

Don’t get discouraged when you try to communicate with a Vietnamese person and they don’t understand you. Try patiently and you will manage to understand each other. Vietnamese people particularly appreciate communicating with a foreigner in their native language!

To prepare your move to Vietnam well, you can already acquire some basic Vietnamese by consulting our dedicated section!

Your first lesson in learning Vietnamese with Horizon Vietnam Travel! This will be very useful for your time as an expat in Vietnam!

Making Friends, Social Bonds

As for expat life in Vietnam, a question that worries when you are about to live in a new city and leave your social fabric.

Even here Hanoi has its strong points; it is a large dynamic city that mixes a heterogeneous and open population. There are many people to meet. You will find numerous groups on social networks that propose outings together, physical activities, cultural events…

Depending on what you like to do (play sports, play music, take photos, see exhibitions). You will undoubtedly find companions to share your activity with.

Take your time; meetings will happen naturally and inevitably, as long as you are willing.

Culture – Outings

Sports and cultural events are found practically every day. Once again, social networks will be of great help to you in staying informed about the week’s outings.

You will find film screenings, art exhibitions, openings, themed evenings in bars, various festivals…

As an introduction during your first days, take a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake during the weekend. Indeed, the area is pedestrian for the entire weekend. It is an opportunity for multiple gatherings of games, concerts, markets, dances…

A great advantage of expat life in Vietnam is that you never get bored. The environment is different from what we were used to in France; everything is a discovery. Particularly in Vietnam, where even after several years you find yourself surprised by some incongruous situations.

Climate and Pollution

An essential element to consider during an expat life in Vietnam is the climate; you will find a detailed article here. The climate in Hanoi is subtropical, so it is obviously hotter and more humid than in France. The periods we generally prefer here extend from September to May. During this period, it is hotter than in France at the same time of year, and temperatures remain mild.

As anywhere, you cannot give an ideal period; the climate changes from year to year and appreciation varies depending on the person.

On the other hand, it must be admitted that pollution is a nuisance that bothers almost everyone. Unfortunately, Hanoi is a large city that suffers from its rapid development; pollution peaks are frequent. It is recommended to wear a mask and adjust your physical activity during these periods.

During your expat life in Vietnam, you can check this site to see the evolution of the pollution index in Vietnam.

Conclusion

So, we hope this article has clarified for you the topic of expat life in Vietnam. It should be useful to you if you wish to spend a fairly long period in Vietnam.

Finally, there is one important and fundamental point that we have not discussed. The Vietnamese people are a welcoming people accustomed to mutual help. You will always find someone to give you a hand. The Vietnamese will be delighted to be able to help you.

Although it is not our profession to address expat life, we will be happy, within the limits of our abilities, to help you. So don’t hesitate to contact us if necessary.

Moreover, if you also want information on expat life in China, consult the article from our partner!