February 20Feb 20 Photo courtesy of VN ExpressFor the fifth year, Vietnam has been recognized as the most affordable country for expats, according to a survey by InterNations, reported by French newswire Journal du Net (JDN). With petrol priced at approximately €0.70 ($0.83) per liter and meals available for under €1, Vietnam attracts European expats seeking affordable living combined with cultural richness. The survey revealed high satisfaction, with 89% of expats content with the cost of living and 87% finding their income supports a comfortable lifestyle.Get today's headlines by email Vietnam offers particularly low prices across food, housing, transport, and leisure. The weak Vietnamese dong against the euro further boosts purchasing power, making Vietnam an appealing choice for budget-conscious Europeans. Street food like pho and banh mi, costing between €1-3, highlights Vietnam's affordable culinary scene.Accommodation is also accessible, with budget hostel dorms starting at around €5 per night. Mid-range hotels range from €8-20, catering to various travelers. Transport is inexpensive too; public transit passes are about €7 monthly, taxi fares under €0.50 per km, and petrol remains cost-effective.Vietnam also offers value in experiences. A two-day Ha Long Bay cruise costs around €100, including meals and activities, while a trek in Sa Pa is about €60, covering guide services and lodging. These factors position Vietnam as a top destination for affordable yet enriching expat experiences, reported VN Express.Key TakeawaysVietnam ranked most affordable for expats for the fifth year.Low costs across living expenses and experiences enhance appeal.Weak local currency boosts foreign purchasing power.Join the discussion? Adapted by ASEAN Now · VN Express · 20 Feb 2026
February 20Feb 20 Popular Post Could you imagine what would happen to Thailand if / when Vietnam announces a Thailand style retirement visa?
February 20Feb 20 Popular Post 19 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:Could you imagine what would happen to Thailand if / when Vietnam announces a Thailand style retirement visa?No doubt. With all the apartment/condo construction going on in various foreigner oriented areas (in Da Nang) , it almost seems like they are prepping for it. The healthcare still need some improvement (more MDs and hospitals) but they built a nice new international hospital (Vinmec) in 2017 and the prices (which you can see the price for absolutely everything in the following link) are much lower than even the Government Hospitals here in BKK.https://www.vinmec.com/static/uploads/bang_gia_benh_vien_da_khoa_vinmec_da_nang_en_74ca673f0f.pdf
February 20Feb 20 8 minutes ago, Airalee said:No doubt. With all the apartment/condo construction going on in various foreigner oriented areas (in Da Nang) , it almost seems like they are prepping for it.The healthcare still need some improvement (more MDs and hospitals) but they built a nice new international hospital (Vinmec) in 2017 and the prices (which you can see the price for absolutely everything in the following link) are much lower than even the Government Hospitals here in BKK.https://www.vinmec.com/static/uploads/bang_gia_benh_vien_da_khoa_vinmec_da_nang_en_74ca673f0f.pdfI agree. I have no doubt they are gearing up for it. Phu Quoc, Vietnam's equivalent of Thailand's Phuket, being a big draw card. When the day comes, there will be a lot of empty condo's in tourist areas in Thailand over the following years.
February 20Feb 20 40 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:How much does beer and woman cost in Vietnam ?I paid 35 baht for a beer in a nice air conditioned bar when last there.
February 20Feb 20 5 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:I agree.I have no doubt they are gearing up for it. Phu Quoc, Vietnam's equivalent of Thailand's Phuket, being a big draw card.When the day comes, there will be a lot of empty condo's in tourist areas in Thailand over the following years.I have never been to Phu Quoc but hear it’s nice.What I noticed in Da Nang and Hanoi was how much cleaner and aesthetically pleasing it was in general. I guess “charming” would be a good word. Great footpaths on the main roads but a bit sketchy on all the small ones. They really need to get rid of motorbike parking on pathways.Customer service in all areas (hotels, restaurants, hospitals, delivery drivers, laundry service etc) is much much better too.
February 20Feb 20 15 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:I paid 35 baht for a beer in a nice air conditioned bar when last there.BM2 would have found a cheaper beer
February 21Feb 21 Popular Post On 2/20/2026 at 12:21 PM, Airalee said:I have never been to Phu Quoc but hear it’s nice.What I noticed in Da Nang and Hanoi was how much cleaner and aesthetically pleasing it was in general. I guess “charming” would be a good word. Great footpaths on the main roads but a bit sketchy on all the small ones. They really need to get rid of motorbike parking on pathways.Customer service in all areas (hotels, restaurants, hospitals, delivery drivers, laundry service etc) is much much better too.I've posted this in another thread. Check it out. Be sure to stop the video when the camera pans onto the drink menu, then compare the prices to Thailand prices, and don't forget, those prices are on a great beach, with free hammocks. Yes, free, something Thailand would never consider for tourism, something complimentary, or free. 🙂Oh, and the Vietnamese build a Guinness World Record cable car. What's Thailand ever build to attract tourists? I've been on this cable var and to the island. A great experience.
February 21Feb 21 On 2/20/2026 at 12:26 PM, Nick Carter icp said:BM2 would have found a cheaper beerNot about cheap for me. Just about a pleasant environment and good vibe. There are cheaper places, they are called "Bia Hoi." Wow, the beer there is so cheap. If you don't believe me, see the signs for yourself in the below video. Here's one from Hanoi, but they are all over the country.
February 22Feb 22 10 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:I've posted this in another thread. Check it out.Be sure to stop the video when the camera pans onto the drink menu, then compare the prices to Thailand prices, and don't forget, those prices are on a great beach, with free hammocks. Yes, free, something Thailand would never consider for tourism, something complimentary, or free. 🙂Oh, and the Vietnamese build a Guinness World Record cable car. What's Thailand ever build to attract tourists?I've been on this cable var and to the island. A great experience.Yup..cheap drinks beachside with free lounges. I might have gotten a complimentary bucket of ice once in Thailand….but had to pay ฿1 for a strip of toilet paper in the bathroom at a mall in Chiang Mai. Prices in Vietnam (just one year ago) were far cheaper than even mentioned in the article. I saw plenty of 6-10,000 Dong Bahn Mi sandwiches, 8000 Dong coffees, 5,000 Bia Hois.Most Thais I have met have never been to Vietnam. Whoever is running the show here in Thailand might want to take notice of all the positive tourism statistics coming out of Vietnam and realize that they (Thailand) are being left behind to the point that they won’t catch back up.
February 23Feb 23 On 2/20/2026 at 7:27 PM, Nick Carter icp said:How much does beer and woman cost in Vietnam ?Didn't do a short or long time the last time I went, but I did chat with a very beautiful bar girl for a while, and the drinks cost the same for her as it did for me.
February 23Feb 23 On 2/22/2026 at 1:49 AM, Airalee said:5,000 Bia Hois.Fond memories of those cheap Bia Hois. What a laugh. A mixture of students, low paid workers, pensioners, and tourists seeing what's it all about, and all get quite drunk on super cheap beer. The atmosphere in those places is great. They are like a Vietnam version of German Oktoberfest, but every day of the week. 🙂
February 23Feb 23 10 hours ago, Watawattana said:Didn't do a short or long time the last time I went, but I did chat with a very beautiful bar girl for a while, and the drinks cost the same for her as it did for me.A lot of the bars there have freelance hookers, but not like in Thailand where the freelancer gets a lady drink commission. There are bars where the hooker is just a regular customer, looking for "a customer" so no lady drink prices. So, no bar fine, no lady drinks, so no need to take her out of the bar to go to another bar. Everyone wins.
February 24Feb 24 10 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:A lot of the bars there have freelance hookers, but not like in Thailand where the freelancer gets a lady drink commission.There are bars where the hooker is just a regular customer, looking for "a customer" so no lady drink prices.So, no bar fine, no lady drinks, so no need to take her out of the bar to go to another bar. Everyone wins.Thanks, makes sense.
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