Vietnam among the top countries loved by Digital Nomads globally

With the advantage of owning a long coastline, up to 3,200 kilometers with countless bays, Vietnam has become a favorite destination of many visitors globally.

The slow pace of life in Hoi An ancient town. Photo: Nguoi Hoi An

The slow pace of life in Hoi An ancient town. Photo: Nguoi Hoi An

The Outbox Development Consulting has published the latest survey made by Abrotherabroad.com, a popular blog for Digital Nomads nationwide.

Digital Nomads (DNs) often work remotely from foreign countries, coffee shops, public libraries, co-working spaces, or recreational vehicles using devices that have wireless Internet capabilities such as smartphones or mobile hotspots.

Accordingly, nine of the top ten preferred locations for digital nomads are coastal countries that are gateways to their region (major airport and international flights) and a gross national income per capita that is less than the average budget of a digital nomad.

All of the top-rated countries per region follow the coastal country pattern, with income per capita less than US$22,500 annually (except Portugal), and being the gateway to a region of the world with cheap, reliable access to nearby countries.

Besides Vietnam, other countries in Southeast Asia on the list are Thailand and Indonesia.

In addition, in Western Europe, Portugal has rated the top digital nomad location, in the Middle East, it is Turkey and in Africa, the country favored by digital nomads is South Africa.

Other regions such as Southeast Asia were rated the most popular region for DNs with 34% of the votes, followed by Central America with 16% of preferences and South America with 13%.

Best of the best 

With the advantage of owning a long coastline, up to 3,200 kilometers with countless bays, peninsulas, and beautiful and pristine beaches, along with a warm year-round tropical climate and low cost of living, Vietnam deserves to be Digital Nomads’ favorite destination.

Some popular island and coastal cities that are ideal for a “modern nomadic lifestyle” include the Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, Vung Tau, Danang, or the ancient town of Hoi An in central Vietnam.

Ideally located in the Gulf of Thailand in the southern province of Kien Giang, Phu Quoc island remains a hidden gem and a true Vietnam experience, with a rich cultural and natural heritage to explore but it is quickly adding facilities and infrastructure of the highest level. The island city has welcomed rapid development and an ever-growing list of direct flight connections.

For an ordinary meal in Phu Quoc, people can simply pick the daily caught seafood, choose a preparation method - grilled, steamed, hot pot style, or fried up with local pepper, garlic, and a mountain of Vietnamese herbs.

“We stayed in Phu Quoc island and felt better and safer there than we do at home in the UK. Amazing country and people,” William Dremmond, a UK expat said.

Hoi An ancient town is a fishing village turned into a tourist hot spot in the coastal area in Vietnam. It has been an international port since the 16th century although the serious shipping business has long since moved to the city of Danang. It is sometimes called the “Venice of Vietnam” because of the narrow canals that cut through part of the town.

The charming town is also renowned for its cultural diversity. From ornate Buddhist monasteries to the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge and from the bustling Riverside market to the tranquil old town, Hoi An has it all.

The cost of living in the town is also very suitable. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the town was named among the world’s 10 stunning holiday ideas for 2019 by Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer.

The food so darn cheap throughout the town, whether you’re picking something up from a street stall, sitting down in a restaurant, or shopping at a local grocery store - it is so darn good.

Hoi An costs tourists around US$1 for a cup of coffee, US$2 for a bottle of local beer, and US$0.3 for a bottle of mineral water. A delicious three-course evening meal for two at the weekend, including a bottle of house wine, did not cost over US$30.

HanoiTimes

Other News

Ta Xua named Asia's leading emerging tourism destination 2026

Ta Xua named Asia's leading emerging tourism destination 2026

In recent years, Ta Xua, dubbed "the paradise of clouds", has emerged as one of the mountainous destinations attracting strong interest from young travellers, particularly for its spectacular sea of clouds stretching across the mountains in the northwestern region.

Digital transformation key to preserving, promoting ethnic cultural values

Digital transformation key to preserving, promoting ethnic cultural values

Training local young people in filming, audio recording, digital storytelling, data preservation and responsible use of AI can help build a new generation of cultural custodians. This, in turn, can help transform cultural heritage into a resource for economic development while contributing to the country’s broader development.

Indigenous culture becomes tourism asset in northern highlands

Indigenous culture becomes tourism asset in northern highlands

With growing recognition of indigenous knowledge, customs and cultural values as unique assets, ethnic communities in the northern mountainous region are shifting from simply providing tourism services to becoming creators and owners of tourism products, confidently telling their own cultural stories

UNESCO ready to work with Vietnam to implement International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development initiative: Representative

UNESCO ready to work with Vietnam to implement International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development initiative: Representative

Jonathan Wallace Baker, UNESCO Representative to Vietnam, noted that the official proclamation of the 2027–2036 period as the "International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development" comes at a particularly important moment. As the international community works to accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda while beginning to consider what comes after 2030, the Decade provides a ten-year framework to strengthen the place of culture in development.

Traditional culture finds new life in contemporary Vietnam

Traditional culture finds new life in contemporary Vietnam

Under Resolution 80-NQ/TW, dated January 7, 2026, November 24 was designated Vietnam Culture Day, to be observed annually. The occasion aims to give the public opportunities to participate in, create and enjoy cultural activities, helping spread positive values and foster pride in Vietnamese culture.

Vietnam prioritises MICE tourism as strategic product

Vietnam prioritises MICE tourism as strategic product

For the MICE tourism sector in both Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam, growth can no longer be driven merely by increasing the number of events; instead, the focus must shift to enhancing the value of each event and the competitiveness of each destination.

Potential of ethnic minority women's football

Potential of ethnic minority women's football

Women’s football movements in local communities have been quietly growing, but they’ve now built up enough momentum to inspire organisers to launch the first Vietnam Ethnic Minority Women’s Football – VTV Cup in 2026.

Phong Nha - Ke Bang named among Vietnam's 11 most beautiful destinations

Phong Nha - Ke Bang named among Vietnam's 11 most beautiful destinations

According to the magazine, boat trips into Phong Nha Cave and strolls through Paradise Cave (both family-friendly) offer a tantalising glimpse of their astonishing scale, but the real adventure lies deeper within the park, where cavers wade through underground rivers and weave among stalagmites.

Tourism seeks new growth momentum under Resolution 26

Tourism seeks new growth momentum under Resolution 26

Tourism effectiveness should be measured not only by visitor numbers and revenue, but also by spending, length of stay, repeat visits, job quality, visitor satisfaction and environmental carrying capacity, said experts.

Vietnam welcomes nearly 2 million international visitors in August, up 19.7% from July and 18.4% year-on-year. (Illustrative photo: VNA)

Vietnam tourism maintains strong growth, expands international markets

The National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance reported that Vietnam welcomed nearly 2 million international visitors in August, up 19.7% from July and 18.4% year-on-year. The figure represented 63.6% of the tourism sector’s full-year target of 25 million arrivals.

First ladies of Vietnam, Myanmar visit Van Phuc silk village

First ladies of Vietnam, Myanmar visit Van Phuc silk village

Ngo Phuong Ly, the spouse of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam, said the two countries share similarities in silk weaving and can enrich their cultural heritage through exchanges and experience sharing.