UK-to-destination family route

Moving to Vietnam from the UK: 2026 family guide

Vietnam’s 45-day visa exemption makes a research visit straightforward for many British passport holders. It does not answer how the family will work, study or stay. Start with the sponsor and residence pathway, then match Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang to schools, healthcare and everyday travel.

Build the route plan Explore Vietnam

Research last verified 2 September 2026

🇬🇧StartUnited Kingdom

🇻🇳SettleVietnam

Vietnam Airlines publishes direct London Heathrow services to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Frequency varies, and Da Nang or another base usually needs an onward domestic flight or a one-stop international itinerary.

One move, two connected plans

Finish the UK departure work while you build the Vietnam arrival

A family move can fail on either side. Keep tax, healthcare, accounts and the departure date moving in step with immigration, school, housing and insurance at the destination.

Plan A · leave well

Close the right UK loops

Work through tax residence, HMRC reporting, NHS and prescriptions, pensions and investments, the family home and provider access. Keep the evidence together.

Open the UK departure hub

Plan B · arrive legally

Build a workable life in Vietnam

Confirm the long-stay route for every family member, then line up school, healthcare, housing, money and the first local registrations.

Open the Vietnam country guide

The route at a glance

What changes between Britain and Vietnam

Use these as planning anchors, then verify live entry and airline rules close to travel.

Time difference

Vietnam is 6–7 hours ahead

Six hours during British Summer Time; seven when the UK is on GMT.

Everyday currency

Vietnamese đồng (VND)

Large đồng figures are normal; compare like-for-like totals and keep clear transfer records.

Short visit

Up to 45 days visa-free

For eligible British citizen passports and permitted activity; not a work or residence route.

Longer visit option

E-visa up to 90 days

The official e-visa can allow multiple entries, but it still does not replace work or residence permission.

Entry is not residence

The visa exemption and e-visa are entry tools—not a plan for family residence

Current FCDO guidance says a full British citizen passport should have at least six months left and two blank pages. Eligible British citizens can enter visa-free for up to 45 days. Vietnam’s official e-visa can cover up to 90 days with multiple entry, but employment and long-term family residence need the relevant work and immigration basis.

1
Use the same passport for the application, entry and exit; a passport change can require a visa or residence-document transfer.
2
For an e-visa, select an approved entry and exit point and check every detail against the passport before travel.
3
From 15 April 2026 Vietnam has encouraged a digital arrival card at Ho Chi Minh City’s airport; check the current rollout before departure.
4
Confirm the principal worker’s permit or exemption and the residence-card path before assuming dependants can accompany them.
5
Ask the Vietnamese immigration authority how spouse and child documents must be authenticated and translated for the specific case.

Make permission concrete

Three conversations to have before the move becomes expensive

Write down the official answer, the source and the date. A route that works for the principal applicant may still leave a gap for a spouse or child.

Make the sponsor explain the whole family route

An employer may handle parts of a work permit or residence application, but the family still needs a written map of who qualifies, which documents are needed, how long approval lasts and what happens if employment ends.

Separate legal permission from school acceptance

A school place does not itself create residence rights for the adults. Confirm the immigration basis first and ask the school what it can genuinely support.

Protect the passport trail

Keep copies of the passport used for every visa and residence application. Plan renewal early because changing passports can affect the documents tied to the old number.

Continue with the family visa guide

Compare principal routes, dependant status, work rights and renewal questions in more detail.

Family visas in Vietnam

Flights and family time

Direct London flights serve the two largest hubs; Da Nang changes the calculation

Vietnam Airlines publishes non-stop London Heathrow routes to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with flight times from roughly 11 hours 45 minutes. Limited weekly frequency makes date flexibility and disruption planning important. For Da Nang, compare a protected domestic connection with a one-stop international route.

Vietnam stays on UTC+7; the UK time difference changes by one hour when Britain changes its clocks.
Keep the immigration address, sponsor contact and first accommodation available offline for arrival questions.
If self-connecting, allow for immigration, baggage collection and a terminal change rather than using a minimum airline connection as a family plan.

The school handover

Choose the city and school together, especially for exam years and learning support

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City offer the widest international-school choice; Da Nang has fewer options. British, IB and other curricula exist, but admissions, fees, learning support and subject continuity vary by campus.

1
Ask the UK school for recent reports, curriculum coverage, exam details, attendance, safeguarding and support records.
2
Confirm year placement, language support, additional-needs provision and whether a child can join mid-year.
3
Compare all compulsory fees and the refund policy before paying a seat deposit.
4
Test the school journey in local traffic and heavy rain before committing to a home.

International schools in Vietnam

The money handover

Build a careful GBP-to-VND bridge and expect document checks

Vietnamese banking and foreign-exchange rules make source-of-funds and purpose records important. Account access depends on the bank and immigration status. Keep a compliant UK route running while local arrangements are established.

1
Tell UK providers the new residence and check whether cards, investments and savings can continue.
2
Compare transfer margin and fees, and retain evidence for salary, savings, school fees and major purchases.
3
Use separate everyday and emergency access, with both adults able to reach essential funds.
4
Research UK departure tax and Vietnamese tax residence together if work or income crosses the two countries.

Cost of living in Vietnam

Pack evidence, not guesswork

Build one secure family document pack

Keep originals safely, encrypted copies available to both adults and a small offline arrival folder. Verify whether the exact application needs an original, certified copy, translation, apostille or other authentication before ordering it.

Shipping belongings Moving pets

Immigration and family

Passports, full birth and marriage records, sponsor evidence, approval notices and any legalised, consular-certified or Vietnamese-translated versions required by the route.

Employment and qualifications

Degree and professional evidence, experience letters, police or health records if required, plus copies of the employer’s submissions and receipts.

School and health

Reports, exam-course details, vaccination records, clinical summaries, generic prescription names and insurer pre-authorisation evidence.

Belongings and pets

Detailed inventories, serial numbers, shipping insurance, customs evidence and Vietnam-specific pet health and import paperwork.

The first week

Four arrival tasks that protect the rest of the move

Do the time-sensitive legal and access work first. Furniture, memberships and a perfect routine can wait.

01
Save British Embassy Hanoi and British Consulate-General Ho Chi Minh City details; use Vietnamese authorities for immigration decisions.
02
Check that every entry stamp or digital record matches the approved stay and raise errors promptly through official channels.
03
Complete residence, work and local address processes with the sponsor before their deadlines.
04
Set up reliable mobile access and retain the UK number needed for account security until replacements have been tested.

Continue your research

Turn the route into a family shortlist

These country guides take the next decisions deeper without repeating the UK departure work.

Best places for familiesCompare cities, areas and everyday access HealthcareHospitals, insurance and family care UK departure checklistPut home-side tasks in a sensible order

Common questions

Questions about moving from the UK to Vietnam

Can British citizens live in Vietnam for 45 days without a visa?

Eligible British citizens can currently enter visa-free for up to 45 days for permitted activities. That is a short-stay entry permission, not a right to work or a long-term residence plan.

How long is a Vietnam e-visa valid?

Vietnam’s official e-visa can be issued for up to 90 days and can permit multiple entry. Check the approved dates, passport number and entry points carefully; it does not by itself authorise employment.

Are there direct flights from the UK to Vietnam?

Vietnam Airlines publishes direct London Heathrow services to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Frequencies vary, while Da Nang and other bases usually need a connection.

Is Vietnam six or seven hours ahead of the UK?

Vietnam stays on UTC+7. It is six hours ahead during British Summer Time and seven hours ahead when the UK is on GMT.

Can a work permit holder bring a spouse and children?

A valid work and residence basis can support a family route in some circumstances, but eligibility and evidence depend on the exact status. Obtain current confirmation from Vietnamese immigration and the sponsor.

Should documents be legalised before leaving Britain?

Some work and family applications require UK documents to be legalised and then handled according to Vietnamese requirements. Confirm the exact chain before ordering it; not every document or application uses the same process.

Which Vietnamese city is easiest for international schools?

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have the deepest choice. Da Nang can suit some families but has a smaller market. Compare actual places, curriculum, support, fees and commute rather than choosing on city reputation alone.

Can the British Embassy arrange Vietnamese residence?

No. Vietnamese authorities decide entry and residence. British diplomatic missions provide consular support within their published remit, not Vietnamese visa approvals.

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