Moving to Vietnam from Brunei
What to Expect
Considering a move from Brunei to Vietnam? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Brunei to Vietnam, you would find that Vietnam is 30.9% cheaper than Brunei overall. A BND96,811 salary in Brunei would need to be roughly ₫1,136,523,797 in Vietnam to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Vietnamese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Brunei and Vietnam.
What does your salary buy?
BND96,811 → ₫1,136,523,797
To maintain the same standard of living in Vietnam
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 45.7% less
Groceries
pay 47.6% less
Transportation
pay 18.3% more
Housing
pay 52.3% less
Childcare
pay 13.0% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 62.2% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Get free moving quotes to Vietnam
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Vietnam compared to Brunei.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Brunei performs better than Vietnam across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Brunei generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vietnam leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Brunei generally does better on environment, though Vietnam leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Brunei generally does better on infrastructure, though Vietnam leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Brunei generally does better on employment & economy, though Vietnam leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Brunei performs better than Vietnam across all family life metrics.
Data: Ministry of Finance, Revenue Division, Brunei, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Bandar Seri Begawan | Hanoi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 88°/74°F (31°/23°C) | 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 90°/75°F (33°/24°C) | 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 90°/78°F (32°/26°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/74°F (31°/23°C) | 79°/66°F (26°/19°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bandar Seri Begawan | Hanoi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.3°C) | 68°/58°F (20.0°/14.6°C) |
| Feb | 87°/74°F (30.7°/23.3°C) | 70°/61°F (21.3°/16.2°C) |
| Mar | 89°/74°F (31.9°/23.5°C) | 74°/66°F (23.5°/18.7°C) |
| Apr | 90°/75°F (32.5°/23.7°C) | 82°/71°F (27.7°/21.9°C) |
| May | 91°/75°F (32.6°/23.7°C) | 89°/76°F (31.7°/24.5°C) |
| Jun | 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.4°C) | 93°/79°F (33.8°/26.3°C) |
| Jul | 90°/73°F (32.3°/23.0°C) | 92°/80°F (33.3°/26.5°C) |
| Aug | 90°/74°F (32.4°/23.1°C) | 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.8°C) |
| Sep | 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.1°C) | 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.7°C) |
| Oct | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) | 85°/72°F (29.6°/22.4°C) |
| Nov | 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.2°C) | 79°/67°F (26.3°/19.2°C) |
| Dec | 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C) | 72°/60°F (22.1°/15.4°C) |
Data:
Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department,
Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Brunei 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.
Brunei passport holder visiting Vietnam
Visa Free
Vietnam passport holder visiting Brunei
Visa FreeData: 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 Brunei?
On average Vietnam is about 42% less expensive than Brunei, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Vietnam?
Budget about ₫284,130,949 for 3 months in Vietnam (based on a BND96,811 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Vietnam?
Connectivity is usually fine (Vietnam: 21.7 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Vietnam offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Vietnam safe for expats?
Brunei performs better than Vietnam across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Vietnam is 1.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Brunei.
How is healthcare in Vietnam compared to Brunei?
Brunei generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vietnam leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 8.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Vietnam, compared to 19.1 in Brunei. Vietnam scores 68 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Brunei: 78).
What's the weather like in Vietnam compared to Brunei?
The average high temperature in Hanoi is 82°F, compared to 89°F in Bandar Seri Begawan. Hanoi receives around 64.1 in of rainfall per year, while Bandar Seri Begawan gets 114.7 in.
What language do they speak in Vietnam?
The official language in Vietnam is Vietnamese. In Brunei, the official language is Malay.
