The most expensive area in Ho Chi Minh City is District 1, specifically around Dong Khoi Street, which is a premier, high-end retail, hotel, and luxury residential district with rents among the highest in the world. Other highly affluent, high-cost areas include the villa-heavy Thao Dien (District 2) and the modern, planned community of Phu My Hung (District 7).
District 1 also contains most of the city's corporate and financial businesses. Many are located in the Nguyen Hue Street area and up north towards the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon. Because of all this, District 1 is generally the most expensive area of Ho Chi Minh City.
You can retire in Vietnam once you meet the following criteria: You are officially retired in your home country. You have valid health insurance. You are financially independent and can support yourself and your family during your allowed stay in Vietnam.
Best Areas for Expats to Live in Ho Chi Minh City (2025)
What's considered wealthy in Vietnam?
In particular, there has been a steady increase in Vietnamese high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNIs). Specifically, the benchmark for HNIs is accumulating a net worth of over USD 1 million. In contrast, the benchmark for UHNIs is having a net worth of over USD 30 million.
Vietnam's Budget Airline Founder Is Southeast Asia's Only Woman Billionaire. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, CEO of VietJet Air, has an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion.
Ho Chi Minh City has no shortage of excellent hotels. You might opt to stay at the heart of the city in District 1. Alternatively, you might want to take in the vibrancy of District 2 & Binh Thanh. District 3 is a more relaxed substitute, while further afield are even more chances for tranquility and seclusion.
They are Pham Nhat Vuong, chairman of Vingroup, Tran Dinh Long, chairman of Hoa Phat group, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, CEO of Vietjet Air, Tran Ba Duong, chairman of Thaco, Ho Hung Anh, chairman of Techcombank and Nguyen Dag Quang, chairman of Masan Group.
To answer this question, yes, $1000/month is a strong income in Vietnam, especially for the locals. The average salary in Vietnam is approximately $320 per month, so if you earn $1000, you are earning in the top 10-15%. Let's look at what $1000/month can afford: Housing (1-bedroom apartment in city centre): $300-500.
Vietnam's most expensive city is Ho Chi Minh City, followed by Hanoi. Even in these two places, a couple can enjoy a comfortable, middle-class lifestyle for less than $1,300 per month. Many Westerners who live in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City get by spending around $500 per month, but it's a no-frills lifestyle.
District 1 and nearby District 3 contain most of Saigon's tourist attractions. If you only plan to visit for a few days or even a week, D1 or D3 are the best places to stay in Ho Chi Minh City.
Among the problems when living in Vietnam that a foreigner might face, the language barrier muts be at the top of the list. Only a few Vietnamese people know foreign languages, including international languages ββsuch as βEnglishβ, but foreigners can try learning some basic sentences to help them get around easily.
While that's technically true, having a million Vietnamese dong does not make you wealthy. At the time of this writing, for example, 1 million Δα»ng is worth about $43 U.S. dollars. That is roughly the amount that a tourist would spend per day vacationing in Hanoi.
Can I collect social security and live in Vietnam?
If you are a United States citizen, you may continue to receive payments while outside the U.S. You must be eligible for payments and you must be in a country where we can send payments. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must meet one of the conditions for payment described in the next section.
The golden visa has a term of 5-10 years, with the possibility of extension. The investor visa has a term of 10 years, with a roadmap to become a permanent resident after 5 years. The 'Talent Visa', aimed at highly skilled professionals in rapid growth sectors, has a term of 5 years, with a simple renewal process.
