Every month I sit down with founders, retirees, digital nomads, online business owners or remote workers who are quietly moving their lives (and sometimes their families) to Vietnam.
They are not moving their companies or bank accounts here. Their money is still made in Dubai, Singapore, the US, Europe, or online.
What they are they looking for? A safe, vibrant, high-quality place to actually live — without the skyrocketing costs, political noise, or safety worries that are pushing people out of so many “usual” destinations. A city where $1–2 million still buys a beachfront house instead of a 60 m² apartment. A country that feels optimistic, where things are getting better every year, not worse.
Vietnam — and especially Da Nang — has jumped to the very top of that list in the last 18 months.
Here is the 2026 ranking from someone who has lived in all five cities and helped hundreds make the move through MVP Vietnam - real estate agency.
| Rank | City | Overall Score | Safety & Stability | Cost vs Quality of Life | Family-Friendly Factor | Direct Int’l Flights | Property Market Heat | Biggest Downside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Da Nang | 9.3 / 10 | Extremely high | Best value in Asia | Top-tier schools + space | 40+ routes, growing | Still affordable luxury | Some construction zones |
| 2 | Ho Chi Minh City | 8.1 / 10 | Good | Expensive for what you get | Good schools, chaotic | 100+ routes | Very hot, low supply | Pollution & traffic |
| 3 | Hanoi | 7.7 / 10 | Very good | Reasonable | Excellent schools | Strong Connectivity, but less than Ho chi Minh City | Increasingly expensive, less supply than Ho chi Minh City | Cold, polluted winters. High traffic |
| 4 | Hoi An / Surrounds | 7.5 / 10 | Excellent | Great value | Relaxed, smaller | 45 min to Da Nang | Rising fast | Flood season & very little nightlife. Can feel overwhelmingly touristy |
| 5 | Phu Quoc | 6.8 / 10 | Good | Becoming expensive | Limited schooling | Seasonal routes | Overheated | Limited amenities or activities outside of luxury resorts. Very touristic and seasonal, not great for long-term. |
1. Da Nang – The City Everyone Ends Up Choosing
This is no longer a “maybe” destination. It’s where the plane tickets actually get booked.
Why? Because it’s the only city in Vietnam (maybe in Southeast Asia) that gives you:
- First-world infrastructure (new airport terminal opening 2026, six-lane boulevards, smooth traffic)
- Real beaches you can walk to in 10 minutes
- Clean air (AQI usually 20–50)
- Proper international hospitals and schools (APU, Singapore International School, Dewey, Green Shoots)
- A feeling that the city is going up, not sideways — new Michelin restaurants, beach clubs, marinas, golf courses opening every quarter.
- Still genuinely good value on large homes and villas, as well as very low associated expenses.
Most people I work with start with a 6 month rental to test the water, then buy or extend long-term within a year. If you’re ready to look at verified, move-in-ready homes right now, MVP Vietnam keeps the largest curated list of villas for rent in Da Nang — everything from riverside compounds to beachfront estates, all with English contracts and transparent pricing.
2. Ho Chi Minh City – Great for Business, Hard for Living
Perfect if your life revolves around deal flow, manufacturing, networking, or a non-stop social scene — HCMC is Vietnam's economic powerhouse, with over 100 international flights weekly and a massive expat community (50,000+ strong) that makes settling in quick and easy. The cost of living stretches your dollar far (comfortable solo setup: $1,500–$3,500/month), and the food scene — from street pho to rooftop fine dining — is world-class and diverse.
Harder if you have kids, value quiet evenings, or want to breathe easy: Traffic is legendary (2-hour commutes aren't rare), pollution hits AQI 150+ regularly, and noise from construction and nightlife is constant. Families often opt for District 7's greener pockets, but even there, the urban chaos feels relentless compared to quieter spots up north.
3. Hanoi – Culture & Seasons (With a Catch)
Fantastic food, history, and energy — Hanoi's old quarter buzzes with lakeside cafes, street markets, and a cultural depth that's unmatched in Vietnam. It's a strong gateway to North Asia (direct flights to Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing), with excellent international schools and a reasonable cost of living ($1,200–$2,800/month for comfort).
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The catch? Winters (Dec–Feb) bring bone-chilling damp (8–12°C) and some of Southeast Asia's worst pollution, with AQI spiking to 200–300+ from crop burning and inversions — earning it the "world's most polluted city" title multiple times in early 2025. Many families keep a small apartment here for heritage trips and fly south to Da Nang when the smog settles in.
4. Hoi An & Central Coast – The Weekend House Fantasy
Everyone falls in love with Hoi An's lantern-lit streets, rice paddy views, and UNESCO charm — it's a slow-living dream with great value ($1,000–$2,200/month) and a growing expat pocket in beachside areas like An Bang. The countryside bike rides to pottery villages and fresh seafood markets add that authentic, relaxed vibe families crave.
Few commit full-time, though: Flooding hits hard in Oct–Nov (sewage backups and mosquito swarms are real), healthcare and schools are limited (most head to Da Nang for anything serious), and the 30–45 minute drive to Da Nang's airport feels like a chore for frequent flyers. Most people that wants a peaceful escape — would choose resorts such as Fusion Villas, Furama or Ocean Resort that's located between Da Nang and Hoi An.
5. Phu Quoc – Beautiful Postcard, Expensive Reality
Stunning beaches and lush jungles make Phu Quoc a tropical idyll, with a diverse expat crowd (Europeans, Aussies, Asians) gathering in Duong Dong for meetups and a laid-back island rhythm. Infrastructure is booming — new roads, water plants, even light metro plans — and it's safe with gated resort communities offering pools, gyms, and security.
The reality bites for long-term: Groceries and flights cost 40–60% more than the mainland (imports jack up everything), power cuts and water shortages persist in peak season, and the expat scene thins out off-season (May–Oct), leaving limited non-touristy activities like cultural dives or family outings. It's paradise for a 1–2 month reset, but isolation wears thin for year-round living.
The Simple Truth in 2026
If you want the highest possible quality of life for your money, the safest environment for your family, and a city that feels like it’s on the way up — Da Nang wins by a mile.
The people moving here aren’t chasing “cheap”. They’re buying lifestyle, stability, and future appreciation at prices that have already disappeared in Thailand, Bali, and Portugal.
The window is still open — but it won’t stay that way forever.
When you’re ready to explore actual properties or just want an honest shortlist without the sales pressure, drop a line to MVP Vietnam. We’ve been doing this quietly (and full-time) since 2019.