Vung Tau (pronounced “voong tao”) was Vietnam’s first established seaside resort. Sun worshippers have been coming here to relax and unwind since 1870. In a country with 2,021 miles of coastline, that is an impressive distinction.
Today, Vung Tau is increasingly sought out by expat retirees, including a sizable percentage of foreign single women. They are attracted by the very low cost of living the good life in this pretty beach resort town.
Vietnam in general is making a name for itself as one of the world’s most affordable places to retire. Vung Tau is not the most affordable location in Vietnam, but it is one of the most affordable places in the world to live well. A couple could retire comfortably in Vung Tau on as little as $1,000 per month or even less. With a budget of $3,000 per month, you could enjoy a legitimately luxury-standard lifestyle.
Vung Tau appeals for other reasons, as well. The infrastructure is the best in Vietnam. The roads are in good condition, and there are several new divided highways, a rarity in this country. The many parks are clean, shady and pleasant, some with well-maintained exercise equipment available at no charge for anyone’s use.
Petty crime is rare in Vung Tau, and violent crime is almost nonexistent. Residents don’t bother to lock up their motorbike helmets. This is a laid-back town with a total population of 245,000, including 4,000 to 5,000 expats.
Vung Tau is located about 78 miles southeast of Ho Chi Minh City on a narrow peninsula that extends into the South China Sea. The air is clean, and a constant cross-breeze cools the warm temperatures. Seafood lovers come to feast, surfers flock to the area to take advantage of the waves and kite flyers, joggers and other outdoor enthusiasts enjoy almost perfect weather year-round. Vung Tau sees an average of 2,400 hours of sunshine annually, making this one of the sunniest spots in Southeast Asia.
Vung Tau has everything you need for day-to-day living, along with enough foreigners and welcoming locals to support an active social life. Most foreigners live in the lower half of the peninsula near Back Beach or Front Beach or in the central business district neighborhoods that are convenient to the ocean, shopping and restaurants. Of the two major beaches, Back Beach is far busier, with hundreds of beach chairs and umbrellas set up for vacationers.
Although Vung Tau is not a large city, you’ll find more than enough to keep you busy here. The beach is the main draw. Thanks to the constant sea breezes, this is an excellent spot for kite flying, and the city hosts an annual International Kite Festival. Last year teams from 26 countries and territories came to compete in the five-day event.
The coastal location and consistent breezes also create ideal conditions for surfing, parasailing and parasurfing. The waves along Back Beach provide about 150 good surfing days each year. The best waves are during the winter months. The Vung Tau Beach Club offers surfing lessons and rents and sells equipment.
At the far end of Back Beach, just a few minutes from the city center, is the 36-hole Vung Tau Paradise Golf Club. The links are attractively landscaped with Norfolk pines, flowering trees and natural lakes. Another good way to connect with fellow expats is through the Vung Tau Hash House Harriers, an eclectic bunch of people of all ages from many countries and backgrounds that sponsors organized runs every Sunday.
There are indoor activities to enjoy around town, too. You can watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters at the two major multi-screen cinemas or pass the afternoon in one of the dozens of bars and cafes where expats mingle, drink Vietnamese coffee or beer and play pool. Bars and cafes also serve as meeting places for expats before and after soccer games, yoga, belly dancing classes or visits to one of several gyms in town. Especially popular is Mathildas, which organizes motorbike rides for expats every Wednesday morning. For more diverse entertainment options, including opera, art galleries and orchestras, Ho Chi Minh City is less than two hours away.
One important reason the cost of living in Vung Tau is so low is because the cost of renting is a global bargain. The least expensive housing option is a serviced room. These come with private bathrooms and a small kitchenette. A serviced room wouldn’t suit everyone, but it can be a great option for an extended, getting-to-know-the-city visit as well as for affordable accommodation while you’re trying to find something more permanent. A serviced room can rent for as little as $300 per month, usually including housekeeping.
Unfurnished apartments in expat areas near the beach start at about $400 per month. Furnished condominiums start at about $600 per month, with an upper range of around $1,000 monthly for newer units with ocean views. Two- or three-bedroom furnished houses in the nicest areas start at around $500 per month. You could rent a large, luxury home for around $1,200 monthly or a top-end furnished villa with a swimming pool and expansive ocean views for $2,500 to $3,000 per month.
Kathleen Peddicord is the founder of the Live and Invest Overseas publishing group.
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A Coastal Resort Retirement for $1,000 Monthly originally appeared on usnews.com
