Moving to Canada from Vietnam

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Vietnam to Canada, you would find that Canada is 3.5 times more expensive than Vietnam overall. A ₫1,970,055,297 salary in Vietnam would need to be roughly CA$205,321 in Canada to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and French. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ottawa averages 52°F vs 82°F in Hanoi, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

₫1,970,055,297 CA$205,321

To maintain the same standard of living in Canada

Calculate with your salary →

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 5.2 times more

Groceries

pay 2.3 times more

Transportation

pay 3.7 times more

Housing

pay 4.6 times more

Childcare

pay 2.3 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 4.8 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 VND = 0.0001 CAD (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 Vietnam to Canada, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2023
6,605 ↑ 21% vs 2022

people moved from Vietnam to Canada · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Canada?

Top countries of origin for Canada's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

VN
1.5
CA
2.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

VN
17.7
CA
4.7

Vietnam generally does better on safety, though Canada leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

VN
$690
CA
$7,646
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

VN
8.3
CA
25.0

Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada 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

VN
52.0
CA
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

VN
4.3t
CA
14.0t

Vietnam generally does better on environment, though Canada leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

VN
21.7
CA
42.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

VN
18.1%
CA
3.7%

Canada performs significantly 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

VN
1.6%
CA
5.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

VN
$13,700
CA
$55,800

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

VN
75.5 yrs
CA
83.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

VN
14.8
CA
4.4

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

Data: General Department Of Taxation - Ministry Of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Ottawa Rain: 37.1 in/yr (943 mm)
52° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Hanoi Ottawa
Jan–Mar 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) 64°/45°F (18°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/78°F (32°/26°C) 75°/55°F (24°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 79°/66°F (26°/19°C) 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C)
View all months
Month Hanoi Ottawa
Jan 68°/58°F (20.0°/14.6°C) 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C)
Feb 70°/61°F (21.3°/16.2°C) 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C)
Mar 74°/66°F (23.5°/18.7°C) 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C)
Apr 82°/71°F (27.7°/21.9°C) 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C)
May 89°/76°F (31.7°/24.5°C) 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C)
Jun 93°/79°F (33.8°/26.3°C) 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C)
Jul 92°/80°F (33.3°/26.5°C) 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C)
Aug 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.8°C) 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C)
Sep 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.7°C) 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C)
Oct 85°/72°F (29.6°/22.4°C) 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C)
Nov 79°/67°F (26.3°/19.2°C) 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C)
Dec 72°/60°F (22.1°/15.4°C) 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C)

Data: Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration, Meteorological Service of Canada Meteorological Service of Canada

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Vietnam and Canada. To live, work, or study long-term in Canada, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Canada's immigration authority.

Vietnam passport

Vietnam passport holder visiting Canada

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

Canada passport holder visiting Vietnam

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

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 Canada than Vietnam?

Day-to-day costs in Canada run about 93% higher than Vietnam on average; specific cities can swing further.

How much money do I need to move to Canada?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a ₫1,970,055,297 comparable salary, that's around CA$51,330 in Canada for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Canada?

With 42.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Canada can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Vietnam and Canada.

Is Canada safe for expats?

Vietnam generally does better on safety, though Canada leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Canada is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.5 in Vietnam.

How is healthcare in Canada compared to Vietnam?

Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 25.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Canada, compared to 8.3 in Vietnam. Canada scores 91 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Vietnam: 68).

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

The average high temperature in Ottawa is 52°F, compared to 82°F in Hanoi. Ottawa receives around 37.1 in of rainfall per year, while Hanoi gets 64.1 in.

What language do they speak in Canada?

The official languages in Canada are English and French. In Vietnam, the official language is Vietnamese.

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At a Glance

VN CA
Population 103,808,319 38,232,593
Currency Vietnamese Dong (₫) Canadian Dollar (CA$)
Languages Vietnamese English, French
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +84 +1
Time zones 1 6
Emergency number 113 911