Becoming a Digital Nomad in Vietnam: What You Need to Know to Get Started

Vietnam has no “digital nomad” visa: you live there working remotely on a 90-day e-visa, while the right to work, taxes and health coverage are handled separately^[1]. This article follows the order in which you will encounter these topics, from visa to settling in. You will learn which route to choose, what it really allows, when you become subject to Vietnamese tax, and what to check for the city and housing.

The essentials at a glance

• Vietnam has no digital nomad visa; the practical route is the 90-day e-visa, single or multiple entry^[1].
• The official e-visa fees are 25 USD (single entry) or 50 USD (multiple entries)^[2].
• The e-visa does not formally authorize professional activity in Vietnam^[3].
• Working for Vietnamese clients without a work permit is in principle illegal^[4].
• From 183 days of presence, you can become a Vietnamese tax resident^[5].
• In private hospitals, payment is made at admission, with no automatic direct billing^[6].
• A deposit of one to two months’ rent is common, on top of the first month paid in advance^[7].
• A home fiber connection of 100 to 500 Mb/s is common in Hanoi^[4].

Visa and right of stay: what actually exists for remote work

There is no visa category dedicated to digital nomads or remote work in Vietnam^[1]. The practical route for a remote worker is the 90-day e-visa, which does not explicitly authorize working for clients abroad: it is a gray area that the authorities tolerate without having formalized it^[1].

Applying for the e-visa

The e-visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days, single or multiple entry^[8]. The official fees are 25 USD for a single entry and 50 USD for multiple entries^[2]. A foreigner can submit the application personally, without going through an intermediary^[8].

The procedure consists of correctly filling in the form^[9], then paying the processing fee^[10]. The result arrives by e-mail^[11].

For a longer stay

A foreigner holding a work permit valid for at least 12 months can apply for a temporary residence card, valid from 6 months to 5 years^[1]. A remote worker can access it through an Employer of Record that becomes their Vietnamese employer, but the costs of this arrangement make it an expensive option^[1].

If you are married to a Vietnamese national, you can obtain a TT visa (temporary residence visa) valid for one or more years^[12]. This visa allows lasting residence without a work permit, but not working for a Vietnamese company without an additional permit^[12].

Status for working: foreign employee, freelancer, Vietnamese clients

Working remotely for a foreign employer is tolerated in practice, without being governed by law^[4]. The line not to cross: working for Vietnamese clients without a work permit is in principle illegal^[4].

Employee of a foreign company

If you remain a French employee, your employer faces what is known as a permanent establishment risk: the Vietnamese tax authorities could consider that the permanent presence of an employee creates a local tax obligation for the company^[13]. Talk to your employer before you leave.

Freelancer

Working as a freelancer with Vietnamese clients without a work permit is theoretically illegal under the Vietnamese Labor Code^[4]. In practice, this permit is very hard to obtain without a local sponsor, and it is impossible to open a business bank account^[14]. The most common solution is to keep a structure in your home country (a French micro-enterprise, or freelance employment via a portage company) while living in Vietnam on an e-visa renewed every 90 days^[14].

Tax and tax residence

You are a Vietnamese tax resident if you stay 183 days or more, either within the calendar year or over 12 consecutive months from your arrival, or if you have a permanent residence in Vietnam (a registered residence or a rented home under a fixed-term lease)^[5].

Tax residents are taxed on a progressive scale from 5% to 35%, while non-residents pay a flat rate of 20% on Vietnam-sourced income^[15]. A visa, whatever it is, tells you nothing about your taxes, and that is the most common mistake^[2].

A simple, free step: keep a count of your days of presence in each country (a spreadsheet, or photos of your passport stamps)^[4].

If you hold French citizenship, the 183-day rule is often cited, but it is only one of four French criteria for tax residence (domicile, main home, main professional activity, economic interests)^[13]. A France–Vietnam tax treaty helps you avoid paying tax twice on the same income^[16]. Your tax situation depends on your circumstances, so have it reviewed by an expert before you leave.

Health and Insurance

Vietnam has a two-tier health system: public hospitals are accessible but limited for foreigners, while international private clinics in major cities offer good quality care^[6]. International health insurance is strongly recommended^[6]. It is not mandatory for work visas, but some long-term residence permits may require proof of medical coverage^[17].

If you are enrolled in the French social security system, be aware that it does not cover care in Vietnam: there is no bilateral agreement covering routine treatment^[12]. French expats can join the Caisse des Français de l'Étranger (CFE)^[17], which can be supplemented with private insurance for outpatient costs and extra charges^[6].

On health risks, there is no widely available preventive vaccine against dengue: protection against mosquitoes is essential^[6].

Arrival Steps: Address, Digital ID, Bank, Phone

Register your temporary residence: go to the local police station with your landlord, your rental contract, and your passport^[18]. Landlords who rent to a foreigner must declare the contract and register your details with the local ward police^[7].

For banking, the vast majority of Vietnamese banks refuse to open an account for someone on a short 15- to 30-day tourist visa^[18]. It's best to have a visa of at least 3 months, and ideally 6 months or more^[18]. This account gives you access to local payment apps, MoMo and ZaloPay, which are essential for daily life^[19].

Housing

Start with a short-term furnished rental: it's convenient on arrival but more expensive. Visit in person, then sign a contract that matches the actual length of your stay^[20].

In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, landlords most often require a deposit of one to two months' rent, on top of the first month paid in advance^[7]. Ask for it to be stated in writing who pays the agency commission^[7].

Another option: coliving, typically between 350 and 900 USD per month depending on comfort^[7].

Cost of Living by City

Housing and dining habits account for most of the difference between two comparable budgets^[20]. In expat neighborhoods, prices have risen 25% to 40% since 2020, and the expat market costs 30% to 50% more than the local market^[12].

As a rough guide, a digital nomad can live comfortably in Da Nang for €800 to €1,200 per month^[19]. In Ho Chi Minh City, add 20% to 30% to these amounts^[21]. These benchmarks change with rents and exchange rates.

Internet, SIM Cards, and Coworking

In Hanoi, home fiber of 100 to 500 Mb/s is common at a modest price^[4], and coworking spaces advertise connections of 100 Mbps and up^[22].

Plan for a backup, such as a data SIM from a different carrier than your fiber provider^[4], and test your home's speeds during your actual working hours^[23].

Cities and Regions

• Da Nang: the easiest place to start, with the sea, lighter traffic, and Hoi An nearby^[24].
• Ho Chi Minh City: the big business city, the most lively, with a budget 20 to 30% higher^[21].
• Hanoi: the capital, more traditional, with an established expat community^[21].

Transportation

In the big cities, Grab covers most trips; install the apps before you arrive, and only rent a motorbike with a valid motorcycle license, otherwise no insurance will cover you^[24].

Between cities, flights connect Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City quickly. The North–South train is an alternative, but the Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City journey can take up to 30 hours^[25].

Language, Integration, and Community

Speaking Vietnamese isn't essential in cities where many expats live, such as Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi, but the basics make everyday life easier^[21].

Allow 4 to 6 weeks to build a first circle of 8 to 12 regular contacts^[26]. Go to the same coworking space regularly, say yes to invitations, and take the initiative to organize activities^[26].

Pitfalls, Scams, and Points of Caution

• Visa and the right to work are two different things: the e-visa does not formally authorize professional activity, and the regulations may change^[3].
• Only one portal is valid for the e-visa: evisa.gov.vn, a .gov.vn domain; everything else is a reseller^[27].
• E-visa fees are not refunded if the application is rejected^[8]: check the information before you pay.
• Overstaying is punished with escalating fines, and beyond one month possibly with deportation^[27].
• Extensions are rarely granted on an e-visa: the practice is to leave and apply for a new e-visa, with no guarantee that repeating this will be accepted indefinitely^[27].
• The 183-day threshold can make you a Vietnamese tax resident^[5].
• In private hospitals, payment is made upon admission, with no automatic direct billing to insurers^[6]. Without insurance, a single hospitalization can cost several thousand euros^[14].
• Housing: get it written into the contract who pays the agency commission^[7].

Steps, in Order

• 1. Choose your path: a 90-day e-visa, or a residence permit through an employer or spouse.
• 2. Settle the tax question before departure: count your days and get advice.
• 3. Take out international health insurance.
• 4. Apply for the e-visa on the official portal, well before departure.
• 5. Book a furnished short-term rental, then visit in person.
• 6. On arrival: register your address, get a local SIM, and install the transport apps.
• 7. Open a bank account once your address is registered; with a 90-day e-visa, approval depends on the bank, case by case.
• 8. Sign a suitable lease, then join the local community.

These landmarks help you choose your path and prepare for departure. They do not replace the details of each procedure, from the visa to residence registration, nor a budget set out item by item, nor choosing a neighborhood in each city: to truly settle in, these are the points where you need to go further.