Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Thinking of retiring in Vietnam?

Check it out first. Visit Vietnam and see what it’s like today. Here are some contacts to get you started.

United Airlines has daily direct flights to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) from San Francisco via Hong Kong, for about USD1550. If you join their “Silverwings Plus” (frequent flyers club for over 55, USD225 for a Life Time Membership) you can get a round trip ticket to from San Francisco to Saigon for about USD1029 “Off Peak,” USD1137 “Shoulder” and USD1244 “Peak.”

Probably the most experienced tour agent for U.S. vets is Tony Nong at Ann Tours. He is a Vietnamese-American who left in 1975 and came back here in about 1994. He has arranged a lot of individual and group tours for returning VETS. Click on this link for Tony’s contact info.

Al DeMatteis heads Delta Construction & Equipment Company, building factories, hotels, hospitals, etc. with about 22 construction management projects underway now.

Rick Mayo-Smith is an investment banker and property developer who has developed the Furama Hotel on China Beach, near Danang, and the Nam Hai Resort in Hoi An, about 45 minutes drive from Danang Airport, with beautiful condos and villas. Click on this link for info on Rick and his company, Indochina Capital, and one of Asia’s newest and most exciting luxury resorts, The Nam Hai.

James Michener, who was a helicopter pilot based in Phan Thiet in the late 1960s, has retired in Vientiane, Laos for the last 15 years, although he returns regularly to visit Vietnam. He heads up AmCham Laos.

If you like golf, you could visit Danao Properties’ www.vietnamgolfresorts.com and consider either the oceanside Phan Thiet Ocean Dunes Golf Club, designed by Nick Faldo or the cool, mountain-top Dalat Palace Golf Club.

In addition to these AmCham members, you should visit the following web pages for important information about traveling to and living in Vietnam.

Here’s some updated information with lots of details on Travel to Vietnam.

Is is possible for you to retire in Vietnam? Only you can decide. The above is some information to help you get started. We can’t answer all your questions, especially about special interests and hobbies, but the AmCham web site will provide many contacts that will help you get get the information you need for an intelligent decision.

And nothing works like a visit to Vietnam to see for yourself.