Vietnam has climbed eight spots in HSBC’s Expat Explore Survey rankings to secure the 10thposition overall in 2019, being one of the best countries to live in as an expat.
Of the 33 countries and territories being ranked, Vietnam has trailed behind other developed nations including Switzerland at the top spot that offers the complete expat package, then Singapore (2nd), Canada (3rd), Spain (4th), and New Zealand (5th).
In terms of the living criteria, expats rank the overall living in Vietnam at 12th, with fulfillment stays at 6th, cultural, open and welcoming communities at 9thand easy of settling in at 6th.
In terms of aspiring, Vietnam has secured the 3rdspot overall, as expats are rather happy with the disposable income offered by their employers here (ranked 7th). Expats also say the economic stability (ranked 6th) in Vietnam together with the work/life balance (6th) are the major factors for keeping them here.
The survey also shows that when it comes to making friends in Vietnam, expats rank the country at the 4thspot, beating even Singapore which stays at the 13thplace for this particular superiority.
According to the survey, Vietnam overall is a great choice for experienced expats thanks to the country’s colourful culture and friendly locals.
Vietnam has always been an attractive destination for those eager to visit the famous Halong Bay and soak up its beauty on the emerald waters. The appeal of Vietnam has expanded greatly in the last few years and in particular, serial expats are setting their sights on the magnificent landscape, lively culture and positive work life balance. This has seen Vietnam rank as one of the most popular choices for expats who already have experience living abroad.
Most expats moving to the country say they were able to quickly adjust to the way of life there, feeling at home within the first few months of arriving. This is largely due to Vietnamese communities being welcoming and encouraging expats to get involved with their impressive calendar of cultural events leading to many strong friendships being formed within a short amount of time.
Expats are also pleasantly surprised by the benefits of working in Vietnam. Many receive salary increases which, given the relatively low cost of living, provides them with far more spending power to enjoy everything the country has to offer. With improved work life balance, it is no surprise that expats find more time to invest in making new friends.
The 2019 Expat Explorer survey is a global survey completed by 18,059 expats across the world. The research was conducted online by YouGov in March and April 2019. League tables are calculated using responses to 27 of the questions asked in the research. A minimum sample of 100 expat respondents including at least 30 expat parents is required for a country to be included in the league tables.
