Moving to Vietnam from Cook Islands

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Cook Islands to Vietnam — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Cook Islands to Vietnam, and you’d need to navigate life in Vietnamese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Cook Islands and Vietnam stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2012

per 100,000 people per year

CK
3.5
VN
1.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CK
17.6
VN
17.7

Cook Islands generally does better on safety, though Vietnam leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

affects wait times and access to care

CK
13.4
VN
8.3
Health coverage index United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access

CK
46
VN
68

Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cook Islands leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CK
18.2
VN
21.7
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

CK
64.8%
VN
74.0%

Vietnam performs significantly better than Cook Islands across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CK
13.1%
VN
1.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CK
$15,600
VN
$13,700

Cook Islands generally does better on employment & economy, though Vietnam leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CK
77.1 yrs
VN
75.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CK
15.9
VN
14.8

Cook Islands generally does better on family life, though Vietnam leads in infant mortality.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Cook Islands 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.

Vietnam passport

Vietnam passport holder visiting Cook Islands

Visa Free
Vietnam passport holders can enter Cook Islands without a visa.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Vietnam?

With 21.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Vietnam can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Cook Islands and Vietnam.

Is Vietnam safe for expats?

Cook Islands generally does better on safety, though Vietnam leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Vietnam is 1.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.5 in Cook Islands.

How is healthcare in Vietnam compared to Cook Islands?

Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cook Islands leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 8.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Vietnam, compared to 13.4 in Cook Islands. Vietnam scores 68 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cook Islands: 46).

What language do they speak in Vietnam?

The official language in Vietnam is Vietnamese. In Cook Islands, the official languages are Cook Islands Māori and English.

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At a Glance

CK VN
Population 8,128 103,808,319
Currency New Zealand Dollar (NZ$) Vietnamese Dong (₫)
Languages Cook Islands Māori, English Vietnamese
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +682 +84
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 113