A French citizen can stay in Vietnam for 45 days without a visa, then apply online for a 90-day e-visa on evisa.gov.vn, for USD 25 or USD 50. It is the simplest way to try out life there before settling. For a long stay, you need a work visa, an investor visa or a residence card.
4 good reasons to live in Vietnam
- 1
A reasonable cost of living: rent, meals and transportation remain much cheaper than in France, especially outside Ho Chi Minh City.
- 2
Flexible visas for a trial run: 45 days visa-free for French citizens, then a 90-day multiple-entry e-visa, with no proof of savings required.
- 3
A 3,000 km coastline: Da Nang, Hoi An, Quy Nhon: beach towns where you can live year-round.
- 4
Solid connectivity: fiber and 4G/5G are widespread: remote work is realistic in the big cities.
01Where to live in Vietnam?
Vietnam offers very different settings from north to south. Da Nang draws remote workers and families for its beach and relative calm; Hoi An for its easygoing pace of life; Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City for jobs and city life.
Explore our city guides
02Visas & paperwork
For a first stay, there is no need to plan ahead: the 45-day exemption is enough. Beyond that, the e-visa is applied for online, without going through the embassy.
| Situation | Solution | Duration | Official fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trying out the country (French citizens) | Exemption | 45 days | Free |
| Staying longer | E-visa | up to 90 days | USD 25 / USD 50 |
| Working locally | LĐ visa + work permit | up to 2 years | case by case |
| Living there year-round | Temporary residence card | 1 to 10 years | USD 145 to 165 |
Sources: diplomatie.gouv.fr, evisa.gov.vn, Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC. Checked on September 23, 2026.
03Cost of living
The budget depends mostly on the city and the housing. Our guides break down each expense one by one, with prices recorded and dated.
BudgetCost of living in Vietnam in 2026: the real budget19 min04Housing
Rent is the biggest item in the budget. Our guides explain where to look, how to view places and what housing costs depending on the city and the neighborhood.
05Health and insurance
The big cities have private hospitals and clinics used to treating foreigners. Plan for health insurance suited to a long stay before you leave.
06Money and banking
Cash, QR code payments, a local account, transfers from France: what you need to know to manage your money locally.
07Working remotely
Cafes, coworking spaces and connectivity: what you need to work remotely from Vietnam in good conditions.
08Daily life
Cultural codes, traffic, common scams: the points to know to live day to day with peace of mind.