Long-Stay Visa Options for Americans

Option 1: 90-Day E-Visa with Visa Runs

How It Works

1. Apply for 90-day e-visa online at evisa.gov.vn ($25 single, $50 multiple entry)
2. Enter Vietnam and stay up to 90 days
3. Before day 90, exit to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, or another country
4. Apply for a new 90-day e-visa while abroad (3-5 days processing)
5. Re-enter Vietnam with new visa
6. Repeat every 90 days

Costs Per 90-Day Cycle

Annual cost: 4 visa runs/year = $500-1,200

Pros

• Simple and legal
• No sponsor required
• Flexible (leave anytime)
• Opportunity to explore neighboring countries

Cons

• Disruptive every 3 months
• Costs add up
• No long-term legal residence
• Immigration officers may question frequent entries (rare, but possible)

Popular Visa Run Destinations

• Bangkok, Thailand: $80-120 flight from SGN/HAN, 2-3 nights, tourist-friendly
• Siem Reap, Cambodia: $50-80 bus from HCMC, visit Angkor Wat
• Vientiane, Laos: $60-100 flight, quiet and cheap
• Singapore: $100-150 flight, more expensive but good for errands/shopping

Option 2: Temporary Residence Card (TRC)

Path A: Work Permit & TRC

Requirements:

• Job offer from a Vietnamese company
• Company sponsors your work permit
• Work permit leads to TRC (usually 1-2 years)

Feasibility in Quy Nhon:

• Teaching English: Possible if you have a TEFL/TESOL and bachelor's degree. Schools in Quy Nhon may sponsor, but options are limited. See teaching English guide.
• Remote work for US/foreign company: Does NOT qualify. You need a Vietnamese employer to sponsor you.
• Other jobs: Very rare for foreigners in Quy Nhon (small market, limited English, few multinational companies)

Pros: Long-term legal status, can open bank accounts, own property (condo), stability

Cons: Must maintain employment, tied to sponsor, difficult to find jobs in Quy Nhon

Path B: Marriage to a Vietnamese Citizen

Requirements:

• Married to a Vietnamese citizen
• Marriage registered in Vietnam
• Spouse acts as TRC sponsor

TRC duration: 3-5 years, renewable

Pros: Long-term, stable, no work permit needed

Cons: Only viable if genuinely married

Path C: Business Investment & TRC

Requirements:

• Start or invest in a Vietnamese company
• Capital requirement: varies by business type (typically $50,000+)
• Requires local Vietnamese partner (foreigners can't own 100% in most sectors)
• Company sponsors your TRC

Pros: Long-term legal status, can generate income

Cons: Expensive, bureaucratic, requires local partner, ongoing business obligations

Feasibility: Complex and costly. Usually only viable for serious entrepreneurs, not retirees looking to extend their stay.

Path D: Investor/Real Estate (No Longer a Direct Path)

Owning Vietnamese property does not automatically qualify you for a TRC. You still need a sponsor (work, marriage, or business).

Option 3: Rotate Between Countries

Some expats and retirees avoid visa runs by splitting time across multiple Southeast Asian countries:

• 3 months in Vietnam (e-visa)
• 3 months in Thailand (60-day visa + 30-day extension, or multiple entries)
• 3 months in Cambodia (e-visa or visa on arrival, extendable)
• 3 months elsewhere (Malaysia, Philippines, back to Vietnam)

Pros:

• Variety, explore multiple countries
• Avoid constant visa runs to one country
• Legal and simple

Cons:

• No "home base"
• Constant moving
• Can't keep a long-term apartment in one place

Does Vietnam Have a Retirement Visa?

There have been proposals and discussions about introducing one, but as of November 2026, no such visa exists.

What About a 5-Year Visa?

Vietnam offers a 5-year visa to:

• Overseas Vietnamese (Viet Kieu)
• Spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens
• Certain investors and entrepreneurs with significant capital and projects approved by the government

For typical American expats/retirees: Not accessible unless married to a Vietnamese citizen or making a major business investment.

Summary: Your Long-Stay Options

Practical Advice

If You're Retiring

Best path: 90-day visa runs. Accept that you'll travel to Thailand/Cambodia every 3 months. Build it into your lifestyle (combine with sightseeing).

Alternative: Split time—6 months Vietnam, 6 months elsewhere (Thailand, US, etc.).

If You're Working Remotely

Best path: 90-day visa runs or country rotation. Working remotely for a US/foreign company does NOT qualify for a Vietnamese work permit.

Caution: Technically, working in Vietnam on a tourist visa is a gray area. Most digital nomads do it, but it's not officially legal. Keep a low profile.

If You Want True Long-Term Residence

Best path:

• Get a teaching job and work permit (if qualified)
• Marry a Vietnamese citizen
• Start a legitimate business

Reality check: For most American retirees without a Vietnamese spouse or business, long-term residence in Vietnam is not straightforward. Visa runs are the default.

Legal Considerations

• Overstaying: Do NOT overstay your visa. Fines start at ~$25/day and can lead to deportation and bans.
• Frequent entries: Immigration officers may question very frequent entries (e.g., 5+ years of constant 90-day entries). Rare, but possible. Having proof of funds and a clean record helps.
• Working on a tourist visa: Technically illegal. Remote work for foreign companies is a gray area—most do it, enforcement is rare, but it's not officially allowed.

Summary

Next: Learn about healthcare and insurance or see our retirement guide.