Why Expatriate Families Are Choosing Vietnam as Their New Home

When Marissa Goldstein agreed to a three-month business assignment in Vietnam nine years ago, she never dreamed it would lead her family to leave the United States for good.

At the age of 39, Goldstein and her spouse came to Ho Chi Minh City aiming to procure resources for an American firm. Their intended brief visit stretched into 18 months because they developed a deep affection for the locals, customs, and way of life. Upon returning to their homeland, they felt an intense yearning for Vietnam. Initially, they divided their time between both nations to maintain their connection, yet as their attachment to Vietnam intensified, the family decided to settle permanently in HCMC.

“Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City provides an excellent quality of life at a reasonable cost for families,” according to Goldstein.

They leased an apartment in Thao Dien, a district famous for its significant foreign resident population. Their entire brood of four kids was born in Vietnam, solidifying their choice. “Here, childcare, domestic help, and medical care amount to roughly one-third the price compared to costs in the United States,” she explains.

In Boston, they paid at least $800 per person each month for car rentals, insurance, and gas. In contrast, when they moved to Vietnam, their monthly expense for two rental motorcycles was approximately $450. She values Vietnam’s tight-knit community and emphasis on family. Residing in Ho Chi Minh City provides her family with this enriching experience.
simple availability of budget-friendly trips throughout Southeast Asia
Several times each week, she brings her children to ballet, tennis, and soccer classes.

“However, rental costs and international school fees are the two expenditures that rival those in the United States,” she explains.

The initial five years proved to be a period of adaptation. The couple embarked on learning how to operate motorcycles, attended Vietnamese language courses, and grew accustomed to the regional food. Their offspring often battled illnesses attributed to the humid weather. Eventually, they embraced the local customs thoroughly, partaking in festivities like the Mid-Autumn Festival and Tet (the Lunar New Year).

One of the greatest benefits of residing in Vietnam is achieving a good work-life balance,” she remarks. “Here we have the opportunity to work from afar, explore new places, and enjoy meaningful moments with each other.

The Goldstein family from Thao Dien, HCMC, in December 2024. The photo was provided courtesy of the family.

Goldstein’s family is among an increasing group of expatriates relocating to Vietnam, attracted by its low costs.

The 2024 Expat Insider report indicates that 86% of expats view Vietnam’s cost of living favorably, which is over twice the worldwide average. About 65% said they were content with their finances due to high salaries coupled with affordable costs. Additionally, approximately 19% earn more than $150,000 annually, significantly higher than the global figure of 10%.

According to data provided by MovetoAsia, a firm focused on foreign investment and relocation, there has been an 18% rise in expatriates looking for help to relocate to Vietnam in 2024. The company’s director, Guillaume Rondan, observes that during this period—from 2023 to 2024—there was a notable movement of families with young children relocating specifically to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

He credits this development to heightened foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam. In January 2025, FDI inflows surged by 48.6%, demonstrating the nation’s growing allure to global companies and talented experts. Additionally, he points out Vietnam’s progressively more welcoming visa regulations, which enhance its attractiveness as a long-term home for foreigners.

In 2017, Adam Whiteman, aged 43, relocated with his family from Australia to Ho Chi Minh City for professional reasons, even though his children, who were eight and ten at the time, weren’t keen on leaving their friends and schools behind. Despite their reservations about moving to an unknown environment in Asia, both he and his spouse welcomed the challenge of settling into this new chapter within a span of one month..Adam started
learning Vietnamese via Duolingo
However, he quickly found out that the app’s northern dialect made communication challenging in the southern city. He had to begin anew.

The family adjusted to life in a motorcycle-filled metropolis, mastering the bustling roads. Thanks to their coworkers’ assistance, they swiftly secured accommodation and established themselves within seven days. The country’s low cost of living also appealed to them. Whiteman’s company, an international educational institution, arranged positions for both of his kids. During their leisure time, his spouse gave her time at an orphanage, whereas he followed his interest in refereeing soccer matches.

As they assimilated, the family joined in celebrating Tet, went to Vietnamese weddings, and
embraced local traditions
By the time his two-year contract ended, everyone was so attached that they chose to settle permanently in Vietnam. During a visit to Australia towards the end of 2024, his kids kept asking, “When are we returning home again?” —meaning Vietnam.

Whiteman states, “Living in Vietnam’s main urban areas is lively yet not overly stressful or intense,” adding, “This experience has proven incredibly valuable.”

Rondan thinks that four main elements—a high standard of living, abundant job prospects, affordable cost of living, and well-regarded international schools—are what keep expatriates in Vietnam.

The past five clients he has worked with sent their kids to French international schools in Vietnam. These parents felt that the educational standards were similar to those in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai; however, they opted for these Vietnamese institutions because of tuition fees that were approximately 20% less expensive.

More and more expatriates are finding Vietnam to be an appealing choice for permanent resettlement.