There seems to be a growing interest in retirement in this land of smiles and tropical weather. Many expats come to Vietnam with high hopes of retiring here only to find that they did not factor in the difficulty of settling down in a different country. This holds true not just for Vietnam but for most countries that are different from the retirees' homeland. Before any serious moves take place, one should take the time to live in the country for a while and by live, we mean live in a house or apartment and not a hotel. There are many beautiful areas in Vietnam and some of the beaches along the coast are world class. Before actually moving full time to Vietnam you should also take the time to read as much about the country as possible and form a base for yourself in which to set out and explore.

You will find most Vietnamese people very friendly and helpful and if you show a genuine interest in the country, you will find people ready and willing to get to know you and they will be very helpful in establishing yourself in the country. You will find very little hostility and the Vietnamese are well known for their hospitality, despite all the odds that they have faced for such a long time. They display a real 'can do' spirit you will find intoxicating.