Moving to Vietnam from Alaska

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Alaska to Vietnam — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Alaska to Vietnam, you would find that Vietnam is 59.6% cheaper than Alaska. A $75,000 salary in Alaska would need to be roughly ₫897,726,610 in Vietnam to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Vietnamese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Hanoi averages 82°F vs 49°F in Juneau, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Alaska to Vietnam.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 ₫897,726,610

To maintain the same standard of living in Vietnam

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 82.8% less

Groceries

pay 60.8% less

Transportation

pay 38.9% less

Housing

pay 83.1% less

Childcare

pay 32.0% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 80.6% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 26312.4 VND (June 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Alaska to Vietnam, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
3,335 ↑ 5% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Vietnam · UN DESA

Who's moving to Vietnam?

Top countries of origin for Vietnam's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Alaska to Vietnam.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

AK
31.9%
VN
2.1%

Vietnam performs significantly better than Alaska across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

AK
90.8%
VN
74.0%

Alaska performs better than Vietnam across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

AK
5.0%
VN
1.6%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

AK
$75,882
VN
$13,700

Vietnam generally does better on employment & economy, though Alaska leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

AK
76.6 yrs
VN
75.5 yrs

Alaska performs better than Vietnam across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Juneau Rain: 92.2 in/yr (2342 mm)
49° / 38°F

Avg. annual high / low

Hanoi Rain: 64.1 in/yr (1628 mm)
82° / 70°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Juneau Hanoi
Jan–Mar 38°/28°F (3°/-2°C) 71°/62°F (22°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 56°/42°F (13°/6°C) 88°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 61°/49°F (16°/10°C) 90°/78°F (32°/26°C)
Oct–Dec 42°/33°F (5°/0°C) 79°/66°F (26°/19°C)
View all months
Month Juneau Hanoi
Jan 35°/26°F (1.4°/-3.2°C) 68°/58°F (20.0°/14.6°C)
Feb 37°/28°F (2.6°/-2.4°C) 70°/61°F (21.3°/16.2°C)
Mar 41°/30°F (4.9°/-1.1°C) 74°/66°F (23.5°/18.7°C)
Apr 49°/35°F (9.5°/1.8°C) 82°/71°F (27.7°/21.9°C)
May 57°/42°F (13.8°/5.7°C) 89°/76°F (31.7°/24.5°C)
Jun 62°/48°F (16.9°/9.1°C) 93°/79°F (33.8°/26.3°C)
Jul 63°/51°F (17.4°/10.8°C) 92°/80°F (33.3°/26.5°C)
Aug 63°/50°F (17.0°/10.1°C) 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.8°C)
Sep 57°/46°F (13.7°/7.7°C) 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.7°C)
Oct 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.9°C) 85°/72°F (29.6°/22.4°C)
Nov 40°/31°F (4.3°/-0.3°C) 79°/67°F (26.3°/19.2°C)
Dec 37°/28°F (2.6°/-2.3°C) 72°/60°F (22.1°/15.4°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Vietnam. To live, work, or study long-term in Vietnam, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Vietnam's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Vietnam

Visa Online (e-Visa)
United States passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Vietnam.
Vietnam passport

Vietnam passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Vietnam passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Vietnam than Alaska?

Yes — Vietnam is on average about 55% cheaper than Alaska. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Vietnam?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₫224,431,652 in Vietnam on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Vietnam?

Usually fine from major cities in Vietnam. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Vietnam compared to Alaska?

Vietnam performs significantly better than Alaska across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Vietnam compared to Alaska?

The average high temperature in Hanoi is 82°F, compared to 49°F in Juneau. Hanoi receives around 64.1 in of rainfall per year, while Juneau gets 92.2 in.

What language do they speak in Vietnam?

The official language in Vietnam is Vietnamese. In Alaska, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

VN
Population 710,231 103,808,319
Currency United States Dollar ($) Vietnamese Dong (₫)
Languages English Vietnamese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +84
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 113