Moving to Vietnam from Minnesota

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Minnesota to Vietnam, you would find that Vietnam is 59.1% cheaper than Minnesota. A $75,000 salary in Minnesota would need to be roughly ₫1,045,628,634 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 56°F in Saint Paul, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 ₫1,045,628,634

To maintain the same standard of living in Vietnam

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 79.4% less

Groceries

pay 49.1% less

Transportation

pay 37.0% less

Housing

pay 77.3% less

Childcare

pay 65.0% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 76.1% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 26312.4 VND (June 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
3,335 ↑ 5% vs 2015

people born in United States 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 Minnesota.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

MN
33.9%
VN
2.1%

Vietnam performs significantly better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

MN
91.0%
VN
74.0%

Minnesota performs better than Vietnam across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MN
4.3%
VN
1.6%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

MN
$68,478
VN
$13,700

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

MN
79.1 yrs
VN
75.5 yrs

Minnesota performs better than Vietnam across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Saint Paul Rain: 28.5 in/yr (724 mm)
56° / 38°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Saint Paul Hanoi
Jan–Mar 32°/16°F (0°/-9°C) 71°/62°F (22°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 69°/50°F (21°/10°C) 88°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/60°F (26°/16°C) 90°/78°F (32°/26°C)
Oct–Dec 43°/27°F (6°/-3°C) 79°/66°F (26°/19°C)
View all months
Month Saint Paul Hanoi
Jan 25°/9°F (-4.1°/-12.6°C) 68°/58°F (20.0°/14.6°C)
Feb 30°/14°F (-1.3°/-9.9°C) 70°/61°F (21.3°/16.2°C)
Mar 42°/26°F (5.5°/-3.6°C) 74°/66°F (23.5°/18.7°C)
Apr 58°/39°F (14.7°/3.9°C) 82°/71°F (27.7°/21.9°C)
May 70°/50°F (21.2°/10.0°C) 89°/76°F (31.7°/24.5°C)
Jun 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) 93°/79°F (33.8°/26.3°C)
Jul 83°/65°F (28.5°/18.1°C) 92°/80°F (33.3°/26.5°C)
Aug 81°/62°F (27.1°/16.8°C) 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.8°C)
Sep 72°/53°F (22.2°/11.7°C) 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.7°C)
Oct 59°/40°F (14.8°/4.7°C) 85°/72°F (29.6°/22.4°C)
Nov 42°/28°F (5.6°/-2.4°C) 79°/67°F (26.3°/19.2°C)
Dec 28°/14°F (-2.5°/-10.1°C) 72°/60°F (22.1°/15.4°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Vietnam

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

Vietnam passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Vietnam passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

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 Minnesota?

On average Vietnam is about 47% less expensive than Minnesota, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Vietnam?

Budget about ₫261,407,158 for 3 months in Vietnam (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Vietnam?

From major Vietnam cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Minnesota and Vietnam are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Vietnam compared to Minnesota?

Vietnam performs significantly better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Hanoi is 82°F, compared to 56°F in Saint Paul. Hanoi receives around 64.1 in of rainfall per year, while Saint Paul gets 28.5 in.

What language do they speak in Vietnam?

The official language in Vietnam is Vietnamese. In Minnesota, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

VN
Population 5,303,925 103,808,319
Currency United States Dollar ($) Vietnamese Dong (₫)
Languages English Vietnamese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +84
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 113