Moving to Vietnam from United Kingdom

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from United Kingdom to Vietnam, you would find that Vietnam is 61.3% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £55,958 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly ₫924,665,154 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Hanoi averages 82°F vs 60°F in London, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

How your spending power changes when you relocate from United Kingdom to Vietnam.

What does your salary buy?

£55,958 ₫924,665,154

To maintain the same standard of living in Vietnam

Calculate with your salary →

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 77.3% less

Groceries

pay 37.2% less

Transportation

pay 57.7% less

Housing

pay 78.9% less

Childcare

pay 61.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 75.8% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 GBP = 35206.18 VND (July 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?

Real numbers on people moving from United Kingdom to Vietnam, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
1,178 ↑ 5% vs 2015

people born in United Kingdom 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

How United Kingdom and Vietnam stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

GB
1.0
VN
1.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GB
2.4
VN
17.7

United Kingdom 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

GB
$6,606
VN
$690
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GB
31.7
VN
8.3

Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom 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

GB
13.0
VN
52.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GB
4.2t
VN
4.3t

United Kingdom 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

GB
41.4
VN
21.7
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GB
14.3%
VN
18.1%

United Kingdom performs better than Vietnam across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

GB
4.1%
VN
1.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GB
$54,100
VN
$13,700

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GB
81.9 yrs
VN
75.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GB
3.8
VN
14.8

United Kingdom performs better than Vietnam across all family life metrics.

Data: HM Revenue & Customs, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months London Hanoi
Jan–Mar 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) 71°/62°F (22°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) 88°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) 90°/78°F (32°/26°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) 79°/66°F (26°/19°C)
View all months
Month London Hanoi
Jan 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) 68°/58°F (20.0°/14.6°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) 70°/61°F (21.3°/16.2°C)
Mar 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) 74°/66°F (23.5°/18.7°C)
Apr 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) 82°/71°F (27.7°/21.9°C)
May 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) 89°/76°F (31.7°/24.5°C)
Jun 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) 93°/79°F (33.8°/26.3°C)
Jul 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) 92°/80°F (33.3°/26.5°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.8°C)
Sep 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.7°C)
Oct 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) 85°/72°F (29.6°/22.4°C)
Nov 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) 79°/67°F (26.3°/19.2°C)
Dec 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) 72°/60°F (22.1°/15.4°C)

Data: Met Office Met Office, Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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 Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Vietnam

Visa Free
United Kingdom passport holders can enter Vietnam without a visa.
Vietnam passport

Vietnam passport holder visiting United Kingdom

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

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 United Kingdom?

Generally yes: Vietnam runs about 53% cheaper than United Kingdom on average, though it depends heavily on the city.

How much money do I need to move to Vietnam?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a £55,958 comparable salary, that's around ₫231,166,288 in Vietnam for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

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 United Kingdom and Vietnam.

Is Vietnam safe for expats?

United Kingdom performs better than Vietnam across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Vietnam is 1.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in United Kingdom.

How is healthcare in Vietnam compared to United Kingdom?

Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 8.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Vietnam, compared to 31.7 in United Kingdom. Vietnam scores 68 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).

What's the weather like in Vietnam compared to United Kingdom?

The average high temperature in Hanoi is 82°F, compared to 60°F in London. Hanoi receives around 64.1 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.

What language do they speak in Vietnam?

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

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At a Glance

GB VN
Population 67,791,400 103,808,319
Currency British Pound Sterling (£) Vietnamese Dong (₫)
Languages English Vietnamese
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +44 +84
Time zones 9 1
Emergency number 999 113