Where’s Best to Live in Vietnam?

Where’s Best to Live in Vietnam?

All right, today we are talking about the best expat city in Vietnam, otherwise known as my top 10 cities for expats or foreigners to live in Vietnam. Obviously, this is all IMO in my opinion. Is there really a best or just the best for you? I don’t know. Maybe it’s just the best for me. Either way, I’m going to give you my complete rundown of the pros and cons of each of the cities I’ve lived in or spent extended amount of time in in Vietnam. So, if you’ve never been to Vietnam, you’ve probably heard this myth about Vietnam, right? Everyone talks about this that everyone moving to Vietnam ends up in one like magical place like Vietnam is some kind of paradise or sort of Babylon and there’s one best city out there like Dr. Zeus’s solo that it’s Saigon or Daang or the one beach town your buddy won’t shut up about or maybe it’s Plecu or Quon. But here’s what I’ve actually learned over almost a decade of traveling and living here. The best city for you might be hiding in plain sight because other expats are overlooking it up in the mountains, down by the rice fields, or smack in the middle of the Saigon heat and chaos. I’ve spent the better part of the last decade exploring this country. And today, I’m counting down my top 10 picks for the best cities to live in in Vietnam. You’re an expat, a remote worker, or maybe a future retiree. Some of these are wellknown, others you’ve probably never heard of. the most livable, underrated, and life-changing cities for last. So, let’s start small at first. Number 10, Macho, way up in the north. Peaceful, underrated, almost forgotten. It’s a few hours outside of Nimbin, which is itself a few hours outside of Hanoi. Tucked in the hills of Huabin Province, just a few hours from Hano from Hanoi. Macho is more rice terraces than rental market. But if your dream life includes sipping green tea on a stilt house balcony and waking up to roosters and mist, you know, mopeds, not jackhammers, this is it. Dirt roads, country life. I actually hid out here when my wife was pregnant with our first baby. So, it was during lockdown and it was serene, gorgeous. There were literally double rainbows as we worked on our laptops in front of the rice fields. The rent was only $300 a month. We stayed in a beautiful homeay where they cooked for us. Sometimes you can get less. This is not a social hub, but it’s going to restore your soul. Number nine, a little bit similar, is Ninbin. This is known as Vietnam’s inland howong Bay. The cinematic limestone cars. This is the type of country I came here to climb in. Green patties, temples tucked into caves, hiking. Unlike the Instagram crowds of How Long Bay or the organized tour boats, this is still lowkey. It’s the place digital nomads rarely post about, but are dreaming of. And rent is even cheaper than Daang or Natrang. You can easily stay here for 400 bucks. I’ve met trekking guides, bloggers, and minimalist freelancers who come here on the weekends from Hanoi, but it feels like a world apart. It’s a great place to lay low and create and get some work done and just vibe with nature. Number eight, the highly rated Sappa. Cool weather, French villas, and mountain trails. Sappa is Vietnam’s artist getaway. It’s kind of the postcardy place up north that everyone knows. And now that the roads get there, it’s easier to access. I know a fashion photographer who lives up there, has a rustic cabin she goes to half the year. And the sunrises honestly look fake cuz they’re so photoshopped when you see them on Instagram. But it’s cold, it’s cheap, it’s magnetic, and it has a lot of tourist access for real because it is quite built up. Now, number seven is a bit of an odd one. It’s H Highong City and Catba on the island. So, it’s kind of this massive port town meets an island escape. Hiang doesn’t really show off, but it gets stuff done. It’s home base to all of the shipping containers, the hub by China, and I know a lot of expats who actually work here in logistics, import, exports, and supply chains, and they get paid very well, like high six figures. But the city itself is is gritty, if not authentic. Ha, on the other hand, green, beautiful, gorgeous, an island away, full of deep water soling and some of the best rock climbing in the world, not to mention fresh squid and cheap beer. And your rent, get a palapa hut on the beach, 12 bucks a night, max in the city, you’re going to find hotel rooms for under $20. Next up is number six. That’s Dalat. Is it my favorite? No. It’s the city of Eternal Spring. It’s up in the highlands. It kind of reminds me of Canada. The lat is like all pine forests, evergreens, French villas, and quirky weird architecture. It’s cool all year round. It’s romantic. It’s a little bit strange. It was once home to my favorite YouTuber in all of Vietnam, Max Oi Mac McFarland. And it’s still a favorite among creatives and a kind of off the-beaten path expat. There’s even a really surprising food scene cuz it produces the best wine, chocolate, and coffee from Vietnam in those gorgeous hills. and rent, you’re easily looking at that 250 to 500 range. You’re going to trade the beach for fresh air and probably become a wine snob in the process or at least get used to the campfire life. Number five is Natrang, the original beach town. Russian expats salty air and beach club vibes. Nang used to be much more popular than Daang, believe it or not. And now it’s probably the quieter, more chilled alternative a little farther down the coast. But if you want an oceanfront city with real infrastructure, this is a solid option. There’s healthcare, there’s international supermarkets, and there’s long-term rentals with sea view for $4 to $600 a month. It is stunning. A bit touristy, a bit wild, but a strong contender if you want the waves and the Wi-Fi. Hey, real quick. If you are actually planning a move to Vietnam, let’s talk. Don’t do it blind. There are so many mistakes, so many errors you can make. So, I made a complete move to Vietnam Master Class, a step-by-step video on housing scams, how to find your apartment, book long-term stays, and basically everything you need to know from healthcare to transport for your first 180 days in country. Just click the link in the description to watch it now. Save yourself time, hassle, and hundreds of dollars. Now, back to our list. And the serious contenders, the place that I’d actually live for the rest of my life, maybe Hanoi is for culture lovers, the history buff, the expat who wants debt. Not just the cheap beers and the beaches, though they’re not too far away either. My friend How on Earth has been there for years making documentaries, learning Vietnamese, losing himself in the back alley hems of the old quarter. Get to Hon if you haven’t yet. Hanoi is smoky, poetic, and deeply Vietnamese. From egg coffee to ancient temples, it can feel like a living museum for better or worse. Tjo is expat central. Badin and Donga are a little more specific. 350 to 700 is probably going to cover your rent, but it’s messy. Get in there. You know, that’s the magic of Hanoi. You’ll expect the unexpected. Number three is my current hometown, Daang. The beach town with the skyline, the so-called Miami of Asia. This is where I’ve lived for the last year on about $500 rent in a house, three-bedroom walks from the beach, eating miang, and making my videos. Now, I’ve got a family here, but for you, you can find a condo by the river or the beach, go for morning walks, eat a little bango or bang ku. Daang is Vietnam’s sort of digital nomad darling. It’s trending. It’s the beach city that’s always under construction and probably trying a little too hard right now, but who knows? Give it 5 years and it just might pull it off. That whole Miami moniker rent right now 350 to 550 for one. There are some international schools. It’s a growing expat community. I’d say it’s still majority Korean and Taiwanese expats. Either way, it’s home for now and I’m into the K barbecue. By the way, this month only, my membership cost the exact same price as the Move to Vietnam masterass and I’ll throw everything I’ve ever made in with it. So jump right on it at costofliveabroad.com if you want guides, downloads, courses, access to me and monthly live streams. Let’s get to our top two expat cities and what I think are really for the majority of people the best places to live in Vietnam right now in 2025. Number two, Ho Chi Min City, Saigon, the mega city. The madness, the magic, where I met my wife, where I fell in love in this country. Let’s be honest, Saigon still has the most to offer. The most period. All of the young Vietnamese people move here. The best food, the most energy, the most ambition, the most everything. It’s maxed. It’s where Vietnamese people come to live the big dream. And it’s where I made my own Vietnamese dream. I got married here. I had kids here. Yeah. I had a lot of amazing meals for under a dollar. Does the airport suck? Yes, it’s terrible. Does the new terminal leak? Uh-huh. But can you sip craft beers or have cocktails in Tao Yen watching the sunset with this gorgeous skyline? Can you live on $400 a month rent? Can you be in front of the superstars of Vietnamese TV? If you want enterprise, energy, opportunity, street food, history, nightife, you want Saigon, you got to come to Ho Chi Min City. But it’s not that cheap, though. It is definitely alive. And sometimes that’s exactly what you need. I’m glad this was my landing place and my first five years were here because you never know what’s going to happen after dark in Saigon. Them’s the facts, folks. Okay, number one surprise, big twist. Your best city. There is no best expat city in Vietnam. Don’t believe the hype. There’s only what’s best for you. Right now, Daang’s best for me before Ho Chi Minim was. I might come back. You want cooler weather and craft beer? Head to Dilat. You want walkable chaos and culture, Hanoi. You want beach life with brunch and a bunch of other expats, Daang might be your spot. You want clout cash, Saigon’s the place. Or maybe if you’re like me and you dream of living offrid in peace, you want a rock climb in Kappa or maybe over in my cho or up in Hulu. Try one, try two, try them all. And if you want my help moving to Vietnam, get in touch. costofliveabroad.com or just subscribe to my newsletter. Hit reply, email me. I reply to every single one of you as many of you already know. Thanks so much. I’m Evan A.

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In this episode @costoflivingabroad we compare the best affordable places to live and retire early in SE Asia, including a full monthly budget breakdown and discussion of the pros and cons of living in Vietnam and which city is best for expats and travelers to live in 2025.

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WATCH MORE VIDEOS:
20 Reasons Not to Retire in Vietnam https://youtu.be/JmkBaOP068E?si=S_BsmeUw40hB9uG4
Best Place to Retire in 2025 https://youtu.be/g9R9xgC_fu8?si=W4NDpZuqku6mh5OZ
Life in Vietnam on $500 https://youtu.be/R4G73dVNAug
If Not Thailand, Where to Retire? https://youtu.be/N-OcJK0mnb4?si=JkAJlKfh4zl2sxB4

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