Moving to Vietnam from Malawi

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Malawi to Vietnam, 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 ↓

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

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2012

per 100,000 people per year

MW
1.8
VN
1.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MW
20.2
VN
17.7

Vietnam performs significantly better than Malawi across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MW
$125
VN
$690
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

MW
0.5
VN
8.3

Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malawi leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

MW
43.0
VN
52.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MW
0.2t
VN
4.3t

Malawi performs better than Vietnam across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MW
0.1
VN
21.7
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MW
17.5%
VN
18.1%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MW
5.0%
VN
1.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MW
$1,700
VN
$13,700

Vietnam generally does better on employment & economy, though Malawi leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MW
72.4 yrs
VN
75.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MW
33.4
VN
14.8

Vietnam performs significantly better than Malawi across all family life metrics.

Data: Malawi Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lilongwe Rain: 50.7 in/yr (1289 mm)
75° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lilongwe Hanoi
Jan–Mar 78°/61°F (25°/16°C) 71°/62°F (22°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) 88°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/45°F (22°/7°C) 90°/78°F (32°/26°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/57°F (27°/14°C) 79°/66°F (26°/19°C)
View all months
Month Lilongwe Hanoi
Jan 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C) 68°/58°F (20.0°/14.6°C)
Feb 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C) 70°/61°F (21.3°/16.2°C)
Mar 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C) 74°/66°F (23.5°/18.7°C)
Apr 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C) 82°/71°F (27.7°/21.9°C)
May 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C) 89°/76°F (31.7°/24.5°C)
Jun 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C) 93°/79°F (33.8°/26.3°C)
Jul 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C) 92°/80°F (33.3°/26.5°C)
Aug 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C) 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.8°C)
Sep 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C) 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.7°C)
Oct 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C) 85°/72°F (29.6°/22.4°C)
Nov 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C) 79°/67°F (26.3°/19.2°C)
Dec 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C) 72°/60°F (22.1°/15.4°C)

Data: Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malawi 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.

Malawi passport

Malawi passport holder visiting Vietnam

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

Vietnam passport holder visiting Malawi

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

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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Vietnam has 21.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Vietnam safe for expats?

Vietnam performs significantly better than Malawi across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Vietnam is 1.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Malawi.

How is healthcare in Vietnam compared to Malawi?

Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Malawi leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 8.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Vietnam, compared to 0.5 in Malawi. Vietnam scores 68 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malawi: 48).

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

The average high temperature in Hanoi is 82°F, compared to 75°F in Lilongwe. Hanoi receives around 64.1 in of rainfall per year, while Lilongwe gets 50.7 in.

What language do they speak in Vietnam?

The official language in Vietnam is Vietnamese. In Malawi, the official languages are Chewa and English.

Share this

At a Glance

MW VN
Population 20,794,353 103,808,319
Currency Malawian Kwacha (MWK) Vietnamese Dong (₫)
Languages Chewa, English Vietnamese
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +265 +84
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 113