Photo: NKSTTSSHNVN · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

🇻🇳 Vietnam

Hanói

Hanoi is Vietnam most characterful capital: a chaotic old quarter, unbeatable street food and minimal costs.

7.6Zabel scoreHow we score →

€700–1,000/month90 Mb average, very cheap fibreSubtropical with four seasons: humid summer, cool grey winter

Score breakdown

Cost of living

10.0

Cost of living

Weight 25%

Internet & work

8.0

Internet

Weight 15%

Safety

8.0

Safety

Weight 15%

Nomad community

6.0

Community

Weight 15%

Weather

5.0

Climate

Weight 10%

Paperwork & visa

6.0

Bureaucracy

Weight 20%

What it really costs

Prices checked on the ground by Zabelers. Each line shows when it was last verified.

Accommodation

300–500 €

Studio in Tay Ho

2026-09 · portales locales

Groceries

120–180 €

Monthly single basket

2026-09 · Numbeo

Restaurant

1,5–3 €

Street pho

2026-09 · precios locales

Transport

~50 €

Monthly motorbike rental

2026-09 · alquileres locales

Coworking

70–120 €

Monthly desk

2026-09 · webs de coworkings

Where to live

Tay Ho

Junto al lago del Oeste, zona expat

Good for: Calm, cafes and the lake

The catch: Pricier and less local

Ba Dinh

Zona administrativa y residencial

Good for: Balance of price and location

The catch: Less nightlife

Old Quarter

Casco antiguo de calles gremiales

Good for: Food and atmosphere

The catch: Constant noise

Where to work

Coworkings

ToongCadena vietnamita de coworkings de diseño
Good network and meeting rooms

Cafés with wifi

Blackbird CoffeeCafé tranquilo con enchufes
Fine for long sessions

Time zone: ICT (UTC+7)

What living here is really like

Editorial synthesis of public experiences

The first impact is price: eating for two euros and paying for the region fastest, cheapest internet; motorbike traffic is the culture shock.

Síntesis editorial · First stay

Best part:: Food, prices
Worst part:: Chaotic traffic

Sources: Numbeo Hanói

Editorial synthesis of public experiences

Over months winter air quality comes up, which many residents handle with a purifier; in exchange the monthly savings are hard to match.

Síntesis editorial · Long stay

Best part:: Savings
Worst part:: Air quality

Sources: IQAir Hanói

Day to day

Internet: Viettel or FPT fibre 150 Mb for ~€9/month
Safety: Very safe personally; the real risk is traffic
Healthcare: Good international clinics (Family Medical); consultation ~€50
SIM / eSIM: Viettel 30 GB for ~€6
Best season: October to December and March-April; avoid July humidity
Community: Established expat community in Tay Ho; smaller nomad scene than Da Nang

Living here legally

Visa

Vietnam offers a 90-day multiple-entry e-visa; there is no specific nomad visa

Check your visa →

Tax

Tax resident after 183 days; progressive income tax up to 35%

Flights & connections

Noi Bai (HAN) flies direct across Asia; Europe with one stop

Lisbon vs. similar cities

City	Zabel score	Monthly budget	In short
Da Nang	7.9	700–1.100 €	Da Nang has beach and clean air; Hanoi more culture and food
Ho Chi Minh	7.9	800–1.200 €	Ho Chi Minh is more modern and busy; Hanoi more traditional and cheaper

Transparency

Last checked: 2026-09-26

Official sources

Prices are checked against the dated sources shown. Editorial experience summaries cite their public sources; verified Zabeler accounts are identified separately. Official procedures always take precedence.