Moving from United States to Vietnam
A complete relocation guide for United States citizens looking to move to Vietnam — visa pathways, taxes, salary purchasing power, rent, healthcare, safety, and the local nomad community.
Visa pathways
- DN (Business) Visa (Work) — Requires Vietnamese sponsor.
- Work Permit + TT Visa (Work) — PR after 3 years of work residency. · path to PR
Tax implications
Vietnam taxes residents on worldwide income with a top marginal personal income tax rate of 35%.
Brackets are quoted in VND. Social-security / payroll contribution: 11%.
See full tax comparison →Salary purchasing power
A salary earned in United States stretches roughly 3.3× further in Vietnam on a like-for-like basket.
Cost-of-living index: United States 100 → Vietnam 30.
Compare full purchasing power →Savings forecast
Holding the same lifestyle as in United States, you'd save approximately 70% of your monthly spend by relocating to Vietnam. On a $4,000/mo budget that's about $2800/mo, or $33,600/year.
Rent comparison
Healthcare
Private consult: ~$30-60 USD
Limited for foreigners — public hospitals overcrowded and English rare. Private hospitals essential for expats.
Safety
NoodlePants safety score: Vietnam 72/100 vs United States 68/100.
Nomad community
Active NoodlePants members are checked in across Vietnam. Browse cities, neighbourhoods, and meetups on the Vietnam country page.
Explore Vietnam →Discord groups
Join the NoodlePants Discord — region-specific channels for Vietnam and other top destinations.