Living in Vietnam?

Travel Info
Hi,
Is Vietnam government stable enough so I can safely retire there?
Where is a good place for me to retire in this wonderful country?
I am French. What are the Visa options? Can I get a 'retirement' visa?
Is it safe to retire in Vietnam?
Cheers!

Travel Tips

I'm speaking from the standpoint of "safe" and "affordability" rather than from "legal" point of view. Though born in Vietnam, I'm now a US citizen and don't know much about the legal part of it.

As a visitor to Vietnam, you can get long-term visa to stay there for long period of time, either as a tourist or as an employee there. During my last visit there (last month), all major cities are full of tourists, and there have been so many improvements to make it safe for tourists/visitors, especially in Hanoi and Saigon. For example, around the main district in Saigon, there are many securities guarding the streets and assisting tourists to get around, much more so than I have ever seen in other Asian countries (maybe except Thailand.) So if you are to stay in the most populous cities (Saigon, Hanoi, Haiphong, Danang, or Nhatrang) with occasional visits to the rural parts of the country, it is pretty safe.

In term of affordability, housing cost would be your top concern, especially if you would like to stay in the top-notch facilities, 5-star-hotel-likes :-). Such would cost you around $1500 USD or more a month. If you don't mind the 2/3-star-hotels, it would cost you around $500-$600 USD a month, much more affordable, IMO.

Food is very affordable there, as many other expenses. Main remaining concern is on health insurance and medical-related expenses, as it is still lagging compared to other services.

Best wish!

Others
I think Vietnam is a fairly good place to retire! Though the country is not as developed as the other countries, not as clean and green as Singapore, it seems that Vietnam has not yet to have any reputation for terrorism!!!

About where to live in Vietnam?! Obviously, it would be in the South, especially in Ho Chi Minh City! It has the mildest weather among the other parts of Vietnam: there has never been any flood and drought is unlikely to happen. The living standard in HCMC is high and there are many facilities there: good hospitals and clinic, well-equipped department (espcially in Ward 7). The southern people are also famous for their hospitality and friendliness... The food is easy to have...
Hanoi is also ok, but the weather is not as mild as Vietnam, if it is not to said that Hanoi's weather is very terrible!

About the visa, I think it would be better if you search for the information on the Internet by yourself, cuz we probably don't know well about your own situation!
dont you think the viet namese have had enough of you french?!!??! anyway you cant live in viet nam.. no foriegners can!... how 'bout dien bien phu!?!