Australian man sells home to enjoy comfortable retirement in Vietnam

Falling in love with Vietnam

Health problems forced Thompson to retire earlier than planned, giving him an opportunity to focus on enjoying life and travelling.

“I worked hard for 50 years until my health started to deteriorate,” the Australian retiree told Tuoi Tre News.

He said he had originally planned to continue working until his early 70s, but a doctor advised him to stop working when he was 65.

“Then I met a girlfriend, who is Australian and had already travelled to Vietnam several times," he said.

“We decided to take a holiday together and came to Vietnam, which I fell in love with straight away.”

Growing up, he had only seen Asia on television, particularly Japan, while Vietnam remained largely unfamiliar to him.

“My mind had always seen Japan as the center of Asia," Thompson said.

“So coming to Vietnam was a really pleasant surprise.”

They stayed in Vietnam for four weeks, visiting Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Nha Trang, a popular site in Khanh Hoa, and Ho Chi Minh City.

“My favourite was Hoi An," he said.

He recalled that not long after he returned to Australia, he had Vietnam in his head, prompting him to go back a couple of months later on his own.

Living comfortably on pension, bank interest

He has been living in Vietnam for three and a half years, including two and a half years in Hoi An.

The Australian retiree moved to Khanh Hoa Province just a year ago, after returning to Australia to sell his house.

He said he was living comfortably on his pension and the interest earned on his bank savings.

He also spoke about his friendship with Minh Mai, who introduced him to the coastal area of Doc Let in Khanh Hoa, where he now happily resides.

During his second trip to Vietnam in May 2023, he met his long-term friend Mai in the Song Cau area in Dak Lak Province, over 100 kilometers from Khanh Hoa.

“She offered to take me to Doc Let and let me stay for a few days at her homestay," he recollected.

“Well, a few days turned into 10 as I fell even more in love with Vietnam, particularly this quaint little fishing village, with its friendly people and beautiful beach.”

After returning to Australia on May 31, 2023, he packed up his belongings and boarded a plane back to Vietnam in July that year, this time planning to stay long-term.

“I wasn’t happy living in Australia due to the sky-high cost of living," Thompson said.

He added his two trips to Vietnam had been such enjoyable experiences that they inspired him to make the country his new home.

“Sitting in an apartment in Brisbane wasn’t giving me what I wanted from my life, but travelling around Vietnam certainly had made me smile every day," he said.

“So I made the move.”

Wish to live out his days in Vietnam

He hopes to spend the rest of his life in Vietnam, expressing optimism about more flexible visa policies and continued good health.

Since moving to Vietnam, his health has improved.

“In Vietnam, there is no long-term visa that applies to people like me," he said.

The Aussie recounted that when he first started coming to Vietnam in 2022, he only got a 30-day tourist visa.

“Fortunately, that has since been extended to 90 days, and there are currently no restrictions on how many times I can renew that visa," Thompson said.

“Ideally, a retirement visa would be fantastic, but so far, these are only rumours.

“I don’t take anything from Vietnam except photographs and breaths of fresh air. In return, I leave only footprints and spend money here."

Now, he has to leave the country at least once every 90 days before applying for a new 90-day visa.

“I don’t mind doing this at all, but it would be nice to have greater certainty about my future living here," the man said.

In Australia, he felt he was becoming an old man, he shared, adding that he was relying on social services for help with cleaning, meals, and social activities.

“Since moving to Vietnam, I believe I have turned back the clock by about 10 years," Thompson remarked.

“I no longer need regular doctor’s appointments."

He plays pickleball and enjoys learning about a different culture every day.

He hopes to make Vietnam his permanent home, provided his health holds up and visa regulations allow him to remain in the country.