Vietnam has been on the digital nomad radar for years, and for good reason. The combination of fast broadband, genuinely affordable living costs, excellent food, and a 90-day e-visa that covers most nationalities makes it one of the most practical remote work bases in Southeast Asia. Whether you plan to stay a month or rotate through cities for a year, this guide covers everything you need to get set up and productive.
The Visa Situation
The most common route is the e-visa, which is now valid for 90 days and available to citizens of most countries including the US, UK, EU, Australia, and Canada. Apply at the official Vietnam Immigration portal (evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn) - the fee is $25 and processing takes three to five business days. You get a single-entry or multiple-entry option; take the multiple-entry if you plan any border hops.
Vietnam does not currently offer a formal digital nomad visa, so most remote workers use the 90-day e-visa and extend or do a short border run. Extensions are possible through an immigration agent or travel agency for approximately 1,000,000 VND (around $40), though the rules shift periodically. The most reliable method for longer stays is a brief trip to Cambodia or Laos and re-entry on a fresh 90-day stamp.
For stays beyond three months, a business visa sponsored by a local company is the formal route, though it requires paperwork and a Vietnamese employer of record. Most nomads find the 90-day e-visa plus periodic exits adequate.
What It Actually Costs
Vietnam is affordable but not dirt-cheap compared to a decade ago. Here are realistic monthly budgets:
Budget nomad (shared accommodation, street food, local coworking): $700 to $1,000 per month in Da Nang or Hoi An; closer to $1,000 to $1,400 in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
Comfortable (private apartment, mix of restaurant meals, reliable coworking membership): $1,200 to $1,800 in smaller cities; $1,500 to $2,500 in HCMC.
Comfortable-plus (serviced apartment, regular cafe meals, gym membership): $2,000 to $3,500 across most cities.
A furnished one-bedroom apartment rents from around 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 VND per month ($200 to $400) outside central Hanoi and HCMC. Central districts push toward $500 to $800. A banh mi costs 20,000 VND ($0.80). A proper sit-down lunch at a local restaurant runs 60,000 to 120,000 VND ($2.50 to $5). A craft beer in a Western-style bar is 60,000 to 80,000 VND.
For apartment and hotel availability across Vietnamβs nomad hubs, search accommodation on Booking.com.
The Coworking Scene
Vietnam has a mature coworking ecosystem concentrated in its three main nomad hubs.
Ho Chi Minh City has the densest supply. Toong Coworking (multiple locations including Dong Khoi and Nguyen Dinh Chieu) charges around 4,200,000 VND per month ($170) for a hot desk. Dreamplex (three locations in HCMC) runs at approximately $180 to $220 per month and is popular with longer-term residents for its community events and reliable infrastructure. Base Camp on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia is a reliable mid-tier option at roughly $120 per month.
Hanoi has a growing scene. Toong operates in Hanoi too. Circo Coworking in the Truc Bach area is a well-regarded option at around 3,000,000 VND per month. Up Coworking on Xuan Dieu is popular with the lakeside crowd. Day passes across Hanoi run 100,000 to 200,000 VND ($4 to $8).
Da Nang is the leanest market with the best value. Enouvo Space on Vo Nguyen Giap is a standout with fast fiber, sea views, and monthly rates from around 2,500,000 VND ($100). CoGo Coworking and The Hab both operate in the Son Tra and My Khe areas at similar price points. Day passes in Da Nang are often free with a coffee purchase at the better cafes.
Internet and Connectivity
Vietnamβs fixed broadband infrastructure is genuinely good. Most coworking spaces run 100 to 500 Mbps symmetric fiber. Some premium spaces like Dreamplex advertise 1 Gbps. In practice you will see 50 to 200 Mbps on a shared connection during business hours, which is more than enough for video calls, large file uploads, and cloud work.
The main SIM card providers are Viettel, Vinaphone, and Mobifone. Viettel has the best nationwide coverage including rural areas; pick it up at the airport or any phone shop for around 100,000 VND ($4). A 30-day data plan with 30 to 60 GB costs 200,000 to 300,000 VND ($8 to $12). Prefer to sort it before you land? eSIM for Vietnam via Airalo is the convenient option. Speeds are typically 20 to 80 Mbps on 4G, and 5G is available in central areas of Hanoi, HCMC, and Da Nang.
Hotel and cafe WiFi quality varies significantly. Never rely on accommodation WiFi for critical calls - always have your SIM card as backup and know which coworking space is nearest.
Which City to Base In
The short answer: Da Nang for quality of life, HCMC for professional networking and urban energy, Hanoi for culture and cooler weather.
Da Nang suits nomads who want beach access, low living costs, and a calm working rhythm. The coworking scene is smaller but tight-knit. The biggest trade-off is fewer evening options and a less international dining scene compared to HCMC. See our Da Nang best hotels guide for neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood accommodation recommendations.
Ho Chi Minh City is the best choice for networking, startup events, and anyone whose work overlaps with Southeast Asian business. It is louder, more congested, and pricier, but the energy and infrastructure are unmatched. District 1 and District 3 have the densest concentration of coworking and cafes. Check our Ho Chi Minh City best hotels guide for neighbourhood options and detailed information.
Hanoi sits between the two in feel - more European in layout, cooler from November to March, and a better base for exploring northern Vietnam. The Old Quarter is atmospheric but noisy; Tay Ho (West Lake) is the residential nomad hub. For accommodation options in Hanoiβs key neighbourhoods, see our Hanoi best hotels guide.
Hoi An is a popular short stay for its charm, but the internet infrastructure is patchier than the three main cities and it can feel tourist-heavy in peak season. For accommodation recommendations in Hoi An, check our Hoi An best hotels guide.
Practical Setup
Flights: Search and compare flights to Vietnam before committing to a base city β prices vary significantly by arrival airport (Hanoi, Da Nang, or HCMC).
Banking and money: Most ATMs accept Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro. Fees are typically 50,000 to 80,000 VND per withdrawal. Wise and Revolut work well for currency conversion. Cash is still king in local restaurants and markets.
Transport: Grab (the regional Uber equivalent) covers taxis and motorbike taxis across all major cities. A short Grab car ride costs 30,000 to 80,000 VND. Monthly motorbike rentals from 1,200,000 to 2,000,000 VND are popular for Da Nang and Hoi An day-to-day movement.
Healthcare: Major cities have international hospitals. HCMC has the strongest English-language medical provision (FV Hospital, Vinmec). Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is essential.
Power: Vietnam runs on 220V, 50Hz, Type A/C outlets. Most modern devices handle this automatically - check your charger specs.
Community
The Vietnam nomad community is active on Facebook (search βDigital Nomads Vietnamβ and city-specific groups). Meetup.com lists regular events in HCMC and Hanoi. Some coworking spaces like Dreamplex and Enouvo Space run their own community Slack channels, which are useful for accommodation leads and local recommendations.
Vietnam rewards those who go a little deeper than the tourist surface. Learning five or ten Vietnamese phrases, eating at local places, and renting in residential neighborhoods rather than tourist zones all improve the day-to-day experience significantly.
Visa rules and prices change. Always verify current e-visa requirements at the official Vietnam Immigration portal and check coworking prices directly before committing to a space.