Bangkok vs Ho Chi Minh City: Best SE Asia City for FIRE?

Saigon is meaningfully cheaper: roughly $1,200-1,500/month for a comfortable expat lifestyle in District 1 or District 2 (Thao Dien). Bangkok runs ~$1,700-2,200/month for a comparable setup in Sukhumvit, Thonglor, or Asok.

Biggest gaps: rent ($500-700 in Saigon for a modern 1BR vs $900-1,500 in Bangkok), dining out (Vietnamese street food is world-class at $2-4/meal vs Thai street food at $3-5), and domestic transport.

Bangkok's premium reflects better infrastructure — BTS/MRT subway coverage is vastly better than Saigon's (which still relies on scooters and the limited metro). If you value being able to live without owning transport, Bangkok's transit network is worth the cost difference for some retirees.

Thailand dramatically improved its visa options for FIRE retirees between 2023-2024. The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) gives 5 years of renewable stays for remote workers, retirees, and cultural learners with a ~$14K bank balance requirement. The LTR visa gives 10 years for higher earners ($80K income or $1M assets). Both are clean, legal, long-term paths.

Vietnam's visa situation is older and messier. Tourist visas are now 90-day e-visas, and most expats extend via in-country runs or border hops to Cambodia. There's no equivalent of Thailand's DTV or LTR. The long-term path is a 2-year Temporary Residence Card tied to employment or business ownership, which most retirees don't qualify for.

For someone wanting clean residency without visa hacking: Bangkok wins.

Bangkok is genuinely world-class. Bumrungrad International and Samitivej Hospitals regularly rank among the top 10 internationally; medical tourism is a Thai economic pillar. Costs for expats: ~30-40% of US prices for comparable quality. Most expats pay cash or use international insurance ($100-300/month under 60).

Ho Chi Minh City's healthcare is improving fast but not at Bangkok's level. FV Hospital and Vinmec International are the main international-grade options. Serious medical issues usually route to Bangkok or Singapore (~2 hour flight). Retirees with chronic conditions or near-term healthcare needs should weigh this heavily.

Bangkok has a large, mature, multigenerational expat community — Americans, Europeans, Japanese, Koreans, plus increasing LatAm and African presence. English works well in expat zones; Thai is necessary outside. The coworking and FIRE-focused community is established but less dense than Chiang Mai.

Saigon's expat scene is younger, scrappier, more entrepreneurial — a lot of remote workers and founders building Vietnamese-facing businesses. English proficiency among locals is lower than in Bangkok but improving rapidly. Social onramp is fast for outgoing people — the Saigon nomad scene is tight-knit.

Thailand has traditionally used a remittance-based system: foreign income not brought into Thailand the year it's earned wasn't taxed. This changed in 2024 — foreign income remitted the same year is now taxable. The LTR visa still provides favorable treatment in specific cases.

Vietnam taxes worldwide income for tax residents (183+ days/year) at progressive rates up to 35%. Foreign tax credits are available but the system is more administratively complex than Thailand's.

Banking: both require in-country accounts for daily life. Bangkok is easier for expats — several banks (Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn) have DTV/LTR-friendly account opening. Saigon bank account opening is possible but more bureaucratic.