Moving to Vietnam from Hong Kong
What to Expect
Considering a move from Hong Kong to Vietnam? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Hong Kong to Vietnam, you would find that Vietnam is 72.2% cheaper than Hong Kong overall. A HK$590,000 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly ₫541,000,000 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.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Hong Kong and Vietnam.
What does your salary buy?
HK$590,000 → ₫541,000,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Vietnam
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 64.6% less
Groceries
pay 59.1% less
Transportation
pay 74.6% less
Housing
pay 81.6% less
Childcare
pay 57.6% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 80.3% 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.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Vietnam compared to Hong Kong.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than Vietnam across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Vietnam performs significantly better than Hong Kong across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Hong Kong performs better than Vietnam across all infrastructure metrics.
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
share of people below the poverty line
Hong Kong 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
Hong Kong performs better than Vietnam across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2016–2022), United Nations SDG Indicators (2011), Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong (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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Hong Kong | Hanoi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 90°/78°F (32°/26°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 79°/66°F (26°/19°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Hanoi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 68°/58°F (20.0°/14.6°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 70°/61°F (21.3°/16.2°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 74°/66°F (23.5°/18.7°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 82°/71°F (27.7°/21.9°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 89°/76°F (31.7°/24.5°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 93°/79°F (33.8°/26.3°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 92°/80°F (33.3°/26.5°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.8°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.7°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 85°/72°F (29.6°/22.4°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 79°/67°F (26.3°/19.2°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 72°/60°F (22.1°/15.4°C) |
Data:
Hong Kong Observatory,
Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong 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.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting Vietnam
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Vietnam passport holder visiting Hong Kong
Visa RequiredData: 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 Hong Kong?
On average Vietnam is about 72% less expensive than Hong Kong, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Vietnam?
Budget about ₫135,250,000 for 3 months in Vietnam (based on a HK$590,000 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?
Hong Kong performs better than Vietnam across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Vietnam is 1.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in Vietnam compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Hanoi is 82°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Hanoi receives around 64.1 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in Vietnam?
The official language in Vietnam is Vietnamese. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
