Moving to Vietnam from France

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from France to Vietnam? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from France to Vietnam, you would find that Vietnam is 60.7% cheaper than France overall. A €67,000 salary in France would need to be roughly ₫764,000,000 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 60°F in Paris, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between France and Vietnam.

What does your salary buy?

€67,000 → ₫764,000,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Vietnam

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 82.8% less

Groceries

pay 48.2% less

Transportation

pay 61.7% less

Housing

pay 59.4% less

Childcare

pay 36.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 72.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 29012.05 VND (October 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.

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Vietnam cost about 45% less than cities in France.

France

Paris ★ 64%
Cannes 64%
Antibes 61%

Vietnam

Hanoi ★ 32%
Hai Phong 29%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from France to Vietnam.

Living there in 2020
215 ↑ 5% vs 2015

people born in France 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

The numbers behind daily life in Vietnam compared to France.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

FR
1.3
VN
1.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

FR
4.7
VN
17.7

France performs better than Vietnam across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

FR
$6,868
VN
$690
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

FR
32.8
VN
11.1

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

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

FR
10.0
VN
52.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FR
4.0t
VN
4.3t

France performs better than Vietnam across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

FR
48.9
VN
23.7
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

FR
21.4%
VN
18.1%

France generally does better on infrastructure, though Vietnam leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

FR
7.5%
VN
1.5%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

FR
$48,986
VN
$5,066

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

FR
83.0 yrs
VN
74.7 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FR
3.4
VN
12.0

France performs better than Vietnam across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2011–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (2016), General Department Of Taxation - Ministry Of Finance (2016). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Paris Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
60° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paris Hanoi
Jan–Mar 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) 71°/62°F (22°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) 88°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) 90°/78°F (32°/26°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) 79°/66°F (26°/19°C)
View all months
Month Paris Hanoi
Jan 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) 68°/58°F (20.0°/14.6°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) 70°/61°F (21.3°/16.2°C)
Mar 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) 74°/66°F (23.5°/18.7°C)
Apr 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) 82°/71°F (27.7°/21.9°C)
May 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) 89°/76°F (31.7°/24.5°C)
Jun 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) 93°/79°F (33.8°/26.3°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) 92°/80°F (33.3°/26.5°C)
Aug 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.8°C)
Sep 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.7°C)
Oct 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) 85°/72°F (29.6°/22.4°C)
Nov 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) 79°/67°F (26.3°/19.2°C)
Dec 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) 72°/60°F (22.1°/15.4°C)

Data: Météo-France Météo-France, Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between France 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.

France passport

France passport holder visiting Vietnam

Visa Free
France passport holders can enter Vietnam without a visa.
Vietnam passport

Vietnam passport holder visiting France

Visa Required
Vietnam passport holders need a visa to enter France.

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 France?

On average Vietnam is about 61% less expensive than France, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Vietnam?

Budget about ₫191,000,000 for 3 months in Vietnam (based on a €67,000 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: 23.7 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?

France performs better than Vietnam across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Vietnam is 1.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.3 in France.

How is healthcare in Vietnam compared to France?

Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 11.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Vietnam, compared to 32.8 in France. Vietnam scores 68 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Hanoi is 82°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. Hanoi receives around 64.1 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.

What language do they speak in Vietnam?

The official language in Vietnam is Vietnamese. In France, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

FR VN
Population 68,720,337 101,598,527
Currency Euro (€) Vietnamese Dong (₫)
Languages French Vietnamese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +33 +84
Time zones 14 1
Emergency number 112 113