Learn more about living in Vietnam
Vietnam is a young and energetic country that offers a high quality of life at almost unbelievably low prices. Although Vietnam has been a unified country since 1975, it still remains a sum of its many parts… busy malls, towering skyscrapers, and nightclubs blasting music into the early hours in Ho Chi Minh… a cool climate, pine tree forests, tranquil lakes, flower gardens, and European-style architecture in Dalat… tree-lined boulevards, international restaurants, and grand French colonial mansions in Hanoi…
Vietnam has something for everyone. The land is rich and varied, the cities are vibrant, and the culture is fascinating. There are so many things to see and do here that every day presents something new, unexpected, and exciting. Find out more here.
Vietnam
During 2023, we took a trip to Asia and one of our ports of call was Vietnam. We only had limited time so therefore we visited only Hanoi, Halong Bay, and Cat Ba Island.
Hanoi is home to roughly five million people, all of whom ride motor bikes it seems. Bikes block the sidewalks, horns blare, riders whizz by from all directions, and the exhaust fumes bring tears to your eyes. Crossing the road is often a nightmare, as the traffic does not stop for anything. It was somewhat exhausting.
Our Hanoi housesit was a wonderful, much needed contrast. We switched crowded, busy, downtown Hanoi for a verdant, clean, quiet residential neighbourhood just a short Grab (the SE Asian version of Uber) ride away. We are not sure who enjoyed Phoebe’s twice daily walks more, us or her. The complex was enormous with an extensive ‘green’ eco trail just steps from our front door. What little traffic there was, obeyed the speed limits and it had street crossings too. It was hard to believe we were still in the same city!
We also had a very pleasant surprise here; the owners had a weekly maid and a cook who would come in and prepare meals for the family. Both of these ladies had already been paid and we were urged to take advantage of having our own cook, which we did in full. We arranged to have our own private cooking sessions. All we had to do was pay for the ingredients—which Dao picked up and bought with her—then watch and listen very carefully and eagerly consume the results. Vietnam is known for its great food and with that we wholeheartedly concur.
One of the reasons for going to Vietnam was to tick one more item off of our bucket list, a trip to Halong Bay. Sadly, because we were there in shoulder season, it looked nothing like the posters we had seen. Rather than warm and sunny with blue, blue water it was cool, wet and rainy. However, it made for a very surreal two-day trip cruising through this amazing bay.
After that we spent a few days on Cat Ba Island, so that we could also do a cruise on Lan Ha Bay, which we actually preferred, as it wasn’t quite as overrun with other boats. Plus, they had the best egg coffee we had the entire time we were in Vietnam.
Visa requirements for short-term stays
Temporary Visas
North Americans require a visa to visit Vietnam. One option is to apply for an online E Visa, which allows stays of up to 30 days. The other is to apply for a tourist visa via a Vietnamese embassy or consulate. The duration of such visas is at the discretion of consular officials.
If you wish to apply for a tourist visa, your passport must not expire for at least the next six months. Go to the National Web Portal on Immigration’s official website, upload the data page of your passport that has your passport photo, complete the application, and pay a $25 fee.
Long-Term Visas
Unfortunately, there are no long-term visas available for Vietnam other than for employment or business investment. These are very difficult to get and typically only last for a year without the guarantee of renewal.