South-East Asia
Living in Vietnam
Photo: Islands and boats in Hạ Long Bay · Taewangkorea, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
A long, fast-growing country on the South China Sea with a cooler north, tropical south and low living costs. Editorial
The numbers
Main city climate26° to 31°CColdest and warmest month averages, Ho Chi Minh City · 2020
Average temperature27.5°CHo Chi Minh City (whole country 24.7°C) · 2020
Price level30%Of US prices for everyday goods and services · 2024
Average spending$778Per person per month (international $, PPP) · 2025
Income per person$18,100GDP per person a year (international $, PPP) · 2025
Unemployment1.5%Of the labour force · 2025
HomicidesUnknownPer 100,000 people a year
Life expectancy74.7 yearsAt birth · 2024
Clean air25 µg/m³Average fine-particle pollution (WHO guideline: 5) · 2023
Forest47%Of the land area · 2024
City dwellers39%Of people live in cities and towns · 2025
Tax revenueUnknownOf GDP
Language and getting around Editorial
- Languages: Vietnamese. Limited English in daily life.
- Public transport: Limited: daily life mostly needs a car or taxis.
- Geography: Has a coastline, with mountain areas. Capital: Hanoi.
Moving to Vietnam
Visa and residence rules depend on your nationality, job, studies and family, and they change often. Start with the government's own website: evisa.gov.vn.
Sources
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per person (PPP) | 18,088.49 international $ | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Unemployment | 1.52 % of labour force | 2025 | World Bank WDI (ILO estimate) |
| Intentional homicides | Unknown | – | World Bank WDI (UNODC) |
| Political stability and absence of violence | 0.12 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Government effectiveness (public services) | 0.18 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Life expectancy at birth | 74.74 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Health spending per person | 197.19 US$ per person | 2023 | World Bank WDI (WHO) |
| Tax revenue | Unknown | – | World Bank WDI (IMF) |
| People living in cities and towns | 38.83 % of population | 2025 | World Bank WDI (UN) |
| Forest area | 47.12 % of land | 2024 | World Bank WDI (FAO) |
| Fine-particle air pollution (PM2.5) | 24.78 µg/m³, annual mean | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Price level of household goods and services | 0.3 ratio, United States = 1 | 2024 | Calculated: PPP conversion factor (private consumption) / official exchange rate, World Bank WDI |
| Average household spending per person | 778.4 international $ per person per month | 2025 | Calculated: household consumption (PPP) / population / 12, World Bank WDI |
| Average temperature, whole country 1991-2020 | 24.7 °C | 2020 | World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CRU TS 4.08, 1991-2020) |
| Average temperature, main city | 27.5 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Coldest month average, main city | 25.7 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Warmest month average, main city | 30.7 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Rainfall, main city | 1,372 mm per year | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
Data checked 2 November 2026. National averages hide differences between cities and regions. Climate figures for Ho Chi Minh City are 2001–2020 averages.
You may also like