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Living in Vietnam While Your Business Runs in Singapore

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Imagine collecting dividends from your Singapore business while living by the beach in Da Nang or enjoying café mornings in Ho Chi Minh City. For a growing number of Singaporean business owners, this is not just a retirement fantasy. It is becoming a practical lifestyle strategy.

Vietnam offers something many retirees look for but rarely find in one place: lower living costs, proximity to Singapore, and a dynamic environment where you can still stay connected to business and regional opportunities.

The key is to align three things early: your visa pathway, your business structure, and your retirement budget.

Why Vietnam appeals to Singapore business owners

The biggest advantage is cost of living. Compared with Singapore, everyday expenses in Vietnam are significantly lower, particularly for housing, food and domestic help.

Many expats report living comfortably in major cities such as Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang on about SGD 1,100 to SGD 2,500 a month, depending on lifestyle choices. For a Singaporean used to paying several thousand dollars just for rent and basic living expenses, that difference alone can stretch retirement savings dramatically.

Lifestyle is another major draw. Vietnam offers a vibrant café culture, excellent street food, warm weather and a growing international community. Cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An and Nha Trang have developed strong expat neighbourhoods, making it easier to build social networks.

Healthcare is also improving quickly. Private hospitals and clinics in major cities now offer international standard care for routine treatment. With international health insurance, many retirees simply return to Singapore or another regional medical hub for more complex procedures.

Visas: no retirement visa, so what are the options?

Vietnam currently does not offer a dedicated retirement visa. Long stays typically rely on a combination of other visa categories.

Common pathways include:

Tourist or e-visas

Multiple entry e-visas can allow stays of up to 90 days. However, frequent exits and re-entries eventually become inconvenient, especially for retirees who want stability.

Business (DN) visa

This visa is sponsored by a Vietnamese company and can typically last between three and twelve months. It can be renewed if the business relationship continues.

Investor (ĐT) visa

For those who invest in or establish a Vietnamese company. Depending on the investment size, you may receive residence of one to five years and qualify for a temporary residence card.

Spouse or family visa

If you marry a Vietnamese citizen, you can apply for a residence card that typically lasts up to three years at a time.

For Singaporean business owners, the investor or business route usually makes the most sense. It ties your presence in Vietnam to real economic activity rather than relying on endless visa runs. Immigration rules do evolve, so professional legal or immigration advice is usually worth the cost.

What does living in Vietnam actually cost?

Planning in Singapore dollars makes the numbers easier to visualise.

A modest but comfortable lifestyle in a modern Ho Chi Minh City development such as Vinhomes Grand Park might look something like this.

Rent

  • Around SGD 470 to SGD 670 a month for a furnished one bedroom apartment in a modern development.

Food and groceries

  • Roughly SGD 270 to SGD 470, depending on how often you eat out versus cook at home.

Health insurance

  • International coverage can range from SGD 100 to SGD 340 a month, depending on age and coverage level.

Utilities and internet

  • Usually around SGD 55 to SGD 110 monthly.

Leisure, transport and travel

  • Another SGD 135 to SGD 340 for cafés, restaurants, ride hailing and occasional domestic travel.

Altogether, a comfortable lifestyle can land around SGD 1,800 to SGD 2,300 per month including rent. This is often far lower than maintaining the same lifestyle in Singapore.

Living more simply in smaller cities can reduce the cost further, while luxury districts and international school lifestyles can push expenses higher.

Healthcare, support and ageing

Image sourced from VietNamNet

Healthcare planning becomes more important as you age abroad.

Private hospitals such as FV Hospital and Vinmec in Ho Chi Minh City charge consultation fees that typically range between USD 60 and USD 110, roughly SGD 80 to SGD 150, excluding tests or medication.

Many retirees adopt a hybrid approach:

  • Use Vietnamese private hospitals for routine consultations
  • Maintain international health insurance
  • Return to Singapore or another regional medical hub for major procedures

Domestic help is another quality of life advantage. Part time housekeeping may cost around SGD 215 to SGD 320 a month, while live in helpers or carers remain significantly cheaper than Singapore rates. For retirees planning long term, this can make ageing in place far more manageable.

Strategy for Singapore business owners

For entrepreneurs, retirement in Vietnam is not just about lifestyle. It is also about structuring income properly.

The first major question is tax residency. Vietnam may treat you as tax resident if you spend more than about 183 days a year in the country. Certain foreign sourced income may not be taxed unless remitted locally, while income generated inside Vietnam may be taxable.

This is where coordination between a Singapore tax adviser and a Vietnamese accountant becomes important.

One common strategy is to keep the core company in Singapore, continue receiving dividends in SGD, and remit only the amount needed for monthly living expenses.

Another is to establish a genuine Vietnamese business entity, such as a consulting or property related venture, which supports an investor visa while diversifying income locally.

In practice, the most sustainable approach is simple. Treat Vietnam as a lifestyle base rather than a pure tax strategy. When the numbers make sense and the lifestyle fits, retirement becomes less about escaping work and more about redesigning how you live.

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