Spending months in Vietnam on a 90-day multiple entry tourist visa, I came to view it as potentially my favorite country thus far. The diverse offering of breathtaking landscapes, inviting beaches, thrilling motorbike excursions, delectable cuisine, low living costs, and a vibrant expat community were among the highlights. The stunning beauty of the light-skinned Vietnamese women also left a lasting impression.
Yet, dating as a foreigner in Vietnam presents considerable challenges, arguably more so than in other Southeast Asian countries. Language barriers, cultural nuances, traditional values amongst women, and restrictive visa policies can complicate relationships. Despite these hurdles, I departed with the overwhelming feeling that Vietnamese people rank among the friendliest and kindest I’ve encountered, known for their exceptional hospitality and eagerness to ensure visitors feel welcomed.
This hospitality was tangible; my landlord would often bring me homemade meals, and locals frequently assisted me with food orders at restaurants. Friendly interactions were not limited to casual acquaintances—I formed bonds with American expats, Vietnam War veterans with local wives, who shared stories of acceptance and reconciliation in post-war Vietnam.
However, it’s important for would-be suitors to tread with respect and realistic expectations in the dating realm. Vietnam may not be the best place for short-term hookups sought by some travelers. It’s a place where patience and cultural appreciation pave the way for deep, meaningful relationships and profound natural encounters.
With the right approach, however, Vietnam offers rich rewards. Vietnamese women are widely regarded as among the most graceful and beautiful in Asia. Their petite figures, striking beauty, and feminine charm attract admirers worldwide. And their devotion to family, intellect and compassionate spirits make for rewarding long-term relationships.
Overview of Dating Vietnamese Women
Compared to neighboring Thailand, Philippines and Cambodia, Vietnam poses greater difficulties for English-speaking foreigners. English proficiency remains low, even in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. And Vietnam’s more reserved, subtle culture means building romantic connections requires time, effort, and patience.
However, it seems like Vietnam does have a lot of ‘girl next door’ type women who are beautiful but don’t just how beautiful they truly are. I wrote a fun article about how to find them overseas: How To Meet ‘Girl Next Door’ Type Women Internationally
Pros of Dating In Vietnam For Foreigners
- Women are stunning and light-skinned: Vietnamese women are often thin, petite, and feminine, which is partly because they eat healthy foods. In general, they are very light-skinned compared to Filipino, Thai, and Cambodian women. You won’t find them at the beach pursuing a tan.
- Traditional Gender Roles – If you are coming from the Western dating culture, you will be relieved to know Vietnamese women fully embrace the traditional masculine and feminine roles in relationships. Men are expected to be ambitious, hard-working, and financial supporters, while women take care of household duties like cooking and cleaning. Be prepared though, as my Vietnam veteran buddies have told me – their wives are in charge of the house!
- Outdoor adventure activities – You won’t get bored in Vietnam. If you find a Vietnamese girlfriend, you’ll be taking exciting trips to go hiking, swimming in waterfalls, and motorbike trips in the jungles.
- Delicious Food – The Vietnamese food is incredibly delicious and cheap. Vietnamese women love to cook so you won’t have to worry about having an empty stomach. Eating at local Vietnamese restaurants often costs around $2. If you prefer Western food, then I typically spent $5-$7 per meal.
- Affordability – Housing and transportation is quite affordable and I found it be even lower than Thailand and the Philippines. My apartment in Da Nang was $270 for one month. This was a one-bedroom with a laundry machine and full kitchen that was 5 blocks from the beach. That’s unbelievably cheap! Also, flights to Bangkok and vice versa can cost as little as $55 dollars for a one-way ticket to Da Nang, for example.
- Conservatism – Generally, the women in Vietnam have very low body counts. This means that they have not been intimate with very many men, if any at all. This is a huge plus if you are pursuing a long-term relationship.
Cons of Dating In Vietnam For Foreigners
- Conservatism – I put conservatism on both the pros and cons because it depends on what you are looking for. While short-term hookups may be popular in many other countries, I found Vietnamese women to be very conservative. Therefore, don’t expect to be a ladies man in Vietnam. They generally prefer to be “just friends” for awhile before getting involved intimately, which makes it necessary to consider your long-term visa options.
- Visa Challenges – Staying in Vietnam for long-term is difficult for many foreigners. Combined with the conservative nature of Vietnamese women, this can make establishing a relationship very difficult. Many countries, including the United States and Canada, require a visa to enter the country and cannot just enter the country on a visa-on-arrival stamp. It is recommended to apply several weeks in advance because both myself and my Canadian friend had our visa applications initially denied for tedious reasons (they were accepted when we fixed the errors). If you have trouble, ask for help in the Facebook Community – Vietnam Visa Advice.
- Cultural Differences – The cultural differences in Vietnam are strong, just as they are in many SouthEast Asian cultures. It is recommended to become studious about Vietnam and explore the cultural nuances. Learn about the concept of “saving face”, family values, and the Vietnamese language.
- Language Barrier – Personally, I found the language barrier in Vietnam even harder than Thailand and Cambodia. Very few people appeared to speak English outside of hotel receptionists and a few restaurant workers. In Ho Chi Minh, the English proficiency was a little higher in the business districts.
- Vietnamese Women Prefer Dating Vietnamese Men – It varies from woman-to-woman, but many Vietnamese women aim to please their parents expectations when it comes to dating and that means staying within their own culture. Also, they may prefer men from their culture because of the language barrier. In major cities, you won’t get the same rockstar treatment in Vietnam as you do in Thailand and the Philippines just because you are a foreigner. On the contrary, when I traveled out to the provinces, where many foreigners don’t travel, I was treated like a celebrity and was even asked to sign autographs!
- Age-Gap Relationships Frowned Upon – You won’t see many wide age-gap relationships in Vietnam like you see in other Southeast Asian countries. This is generally frowned up in Vietnamese culture, whereas it is widely accepted in the Philippines, for example. A 5-10 year age-gap is okay but anything over that is uncommon.
If you want to go deeper exploring the challenges and solutions when dating Vietnamese women, also see: The Big Challenges Foreigners Face When Dating In Vietnam
Best Cities for Dating in Vietnam
Vietnam offers several great cities for foreigners to visit and potentially find a partner. And to highlight the affordability of Vietnam, flights from Bangkok to Vietnam can be found for as little as $55, and about the same from city-to-city within Vietnam. I even saw some flights listed at 45 euros from Bangkok to Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City! Here are some of the top spots:
Da Nang
I spent the majority of my time in Da Nang which is a port city along the coast in central Vietnam. It’s one of the fastest growing cities in the country, with nearly 1.5 million residents. In addition to a bustling downtown, Da Nang is surrounded by beautiful beaches, rivers, and mountains. Destinations like My Khe Beach and Marble Mountains make it a popular tourist spot.
Da Nang has a laidback feeling and the Vietnamese women there do too. This is especially around the My An tourist area where I stayed and highly recommend. On a side note, there were many Russian, Ukranian, and European women living and working remotely in Da Nang that appeared to be single and willing to date foreigners.
Also see: 5 Countries to Meet Beautiful Ukrainian Women in 2024
While smaller than Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang still offers opportunities to meet single women as an expat. English ability may be lower compared to the bigger cities but it is improving. But the relaxed seaside lifestyle can appeal to many.
Hoi An
Located on the coast near Da Nang, Hoi An is a historic town known for its old architecture, craft shops, tailors and lantern-lit streets. Like Da Nang, it’s smaller and more laid-back compared to Vietnam’s major cities. The nice thing about staying in Hoi An or Da Nang is that it is like getting two cities for the price of one because they are so close to each other (30km distance).
Hoi An attracts more expats and tourists than Da Nang, which is why I preferred the latter. But it can be an ideal spot for a more relaxed dating scene in atmospheric surroundings. The pace of life is slower in Hoi An. Meeting locals and practicing your Vietnamese language skills can go a long way here. Hoi An offers a unique experience compared to the bustling energy of Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
Ho Chi Minh City
Still referred to as Saigon by locals, Ho Chi Minh City is the largest and most international city in Vietnam. Over 13 million people live in the metropolitan area. It’s the economic center of the country.
Ho Chi Minh City offers an exciting mix of old and new. District 1 has French colonial buildings, luxury hotels, and shopping malls. Beyond the urban core, you’ll find historic sites, markets, temples and modern suburbs.
With a large expat population, English levels tend to be higher in Ho Chi Minh City compared to other parts of Vietnam. The dating scene is vibrant, with many women more modernized and open to dating foreigners. The drawback is that many foreigners that I met, including myself, don’t find Ho Chi Minh to be the best city to live in Vietnam. As far as nature and adventurous things to do, it doesn’t even compare to Da Nang and Hoi An, but it does have the most women.
Ho Chi Minh does have a red-light district street located on Bui Vien walking street. There you will find many bars and women very similar to what you would see in Soi Cowboy (Bangkok), Street 130 in Phnom Penh (Cambodia), and Angeles City (Philippines).
Hanoi
The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is a bustling metropolitan area in the north. It’s the second largest city in the country with over 8 million residents in the greater metro area. Hanoi offers a fascinating blend of history, culture, commerce, and nightlife.
While not as modern and international as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi still attracts many expats and tourists. The Old Quarter is popular for its street food, markets, pagodas and French colonial architecture. West Lake is a scenic area surrounded by upscale neighborhoods and restaurants.
The dating scene in Hanoi is more traditional, as women tend to be more conservative. But you can still find many opportunities to meet single women interested in foreigners.
Don’t Neglect Other Cities & Provinces
Like many foreigners have experienced and also recommend, don’t neglect the provinces as for finding some of the best women for relationships. This holds true in Thailand and the Philippines as well. The biggest drawback is that in the Vietnam provinces, the English proficiencies trend towards 0%.
On my motorbike trips around Vietnam, where I got to spend nights in various cities like Hue, A Luoi, and Que Son, for example, I saw many beautiful Vietnamese women all over the place. Therefore, consider going to places where not so many foreigners travel to in order to get a better understanding of Vietnam.
Best Dating Apps in Vietnam
Dating apps have become increasingly popular in Vietnam as more people gain access to smartphones and mobile data. Some of the most commonly used dating apps by foreigners include:
Badoo – This app has been growing in Vietnam and now has millions of users. Badoo was personally recommended to me by my tennis buddy Sean, who showed me pictures of his beautiful Vietnamese girlfriend that he met from there. You can chat, match, and arrange meetups with Vietnamese singles. Badoo utilizes your location so you can connect with people nearby and meetup shortly thereafter.
VietnamCupid – Many people have called me biased towards the Cupid Media Network websites. It’s true, I am a huge fan and have used several of their websites all across the world (FilipinoCupid, ColombianCupid, ThaiCupid). However, to highlight my sincerity, I didn’t find VietnamCupid to be the most established or widely used website/app for Vietnam. I put it at #2 because I didn’t see as many users on the website as compared to Badoo.
The bonus of Vietnam Cupid is that it is designed specifically for connecting foreigners with Vietnamese singles. However, on Badoo, you’ll be competing with other Vietnamese men. The interface is available in English and membership includes advanced messaging and matching capabilities. VietnamCupid is free to join and browse around, but you need to pay to message the women.
Tinder – The popular swipe-based dating app has a decent user base in Vietnam. A nice thing about Tinder in Vietnam is that it has far fewer ladyboys than the Philippines and Vietnam. There are still some, but it didn’t get frustrating to the point where I quite using it. If you are willing to upgrade, it’s easy to set your location to anywhere in Vietnam to start swiping and matching with locals. Tinder also has a passport feature that allows you to connect with Vietnamese users before arriving.
Bumble – This female-focused dating app is slowly gaining traction in Vietnam. After matching, women have to initiate conversation within 24 hours. Bumble offers date, friendship, and business networking modes. It’s more prevalent in the major cities of Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, but less so in Da Nang and Hoi An.
Paktor – A Singapore-based app focused on Southeast Asia, Paktor has a sizable Vietnamese user base. Users can swipe, match, chat, and arrange video calls. Paktor promotes real profiles and serious relationships.
Tagged – This longstanding dating app has expanded in Asia and has many Vietnamese users. It was first recommended to me by a friend who used it with wild successful in Eastern Africa but is becoming popular worldwide. It uses your location to match you with nearby singles. You can browse profiles, chat, and meet up.
Skout – Available in English or Vietnamese, Skout connects you with locals based on location. You can meet new people via its interactive grid and chat features. Skout is free but offers in-app purchases.
So in summary, Badoo, VietnamCupid, Tinder, Bumble, Tagged, and Paktor are some of the most popular and reputable choices for foreigners seeking relationships with Vietnamese singles.
For a slightly more in-depth review of dating websites in Vietnam, check out my article: The 7 Best Dating Apps in Vietnam For Foreigners | Ranked
How To Meet Vietnamese Women In Public
Vietnamese women tend to be more conservative and reserved than women in some other parts of Asia. The most important thing is to demonstrate that you respect Vietnamese culture and the woman as an individual. The best approach is to be super respectful, polite, and show genuine interest in her and a willingness to be patient.
Here are some tips for respectfully approaching Vietnamese women:
- Learn some basic Vietnamese phrases. Even just “hello” or “thank you” in Vietnamese shows you’re making an effort. Ask her to teach you some Vietnamese words.
- Compliment her in a polite way. Comment on her dress or hairstyle. Just avoid anything too personal or sexual early on.
- Try to be friends first. Ask questions about her family, background, interests. Don’t pry too much initially, but showing interest in her life is important.
- Offer to introduce her to your culture. For example, you could cook a meal from your home country or take her to a Western restaurant. This exchange of cultures is a great bonding experience.
- Don’t be too touchy or use overt body language. Maintain a respectful distance until she’s more comfortable with you.
- Patience and taking it slow is key. It may take several dates before a Vietnamese woman opens up to you emotionally. But the reward is a meaningful cross-cultural relationship.
- If you’re invited to meet her family, that means that she really likes you. Be very polite and formal. Bring a small gift for the parents and show utmost respect.
In Vietnam, I prefer online dating over doing in-person approaching. I made about ten approaches in Vietnam and the women are usually open to exchanging Instagram profiles. However, not a single one of the women were able to speak English fluently. One benefit of online dating is that you can filter through women that can speak English as well as use built-in translators.
Best Places to Meet Vietnamese Women In Public
- Shopping malls – Similar to many other Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam has plenty of shopping malls with beautiful women working or hanging out.
- Language exchanges – Many Vietnamese women that I met were desperate to pick up some English skills. Consider going to language exchanges, or offering to tutor one-on-one in the form of a date night.
- Cafes – Vietnam has very good coffee, although very strong. Along with that are many little cafes scattered around the city that have women hanging out.
- On the street – Da Nang has a long sidewalk that covers the entirety of it’s beach. When walking around during the day or night, you will see many beautiful women strolling around and sitting on benches.
Common Scams
Vietnam is generally a very safe country, but visitors should be aware of some common scams targeting foreigners. I never had one issue, but on some of the Vietnam Facebook communities there were a few instances of theft, mostly from leaving valuables unattended.
Pickpockets & Snatchers
Pickpocketing will probably be your biggest risk in Vietnam. It can occur in crowded tourist spots and on public transportation. Keep valuables secure and be alert in busy areas. Distractions like someone spilling something on you may be used to pickpocket.
Although it was over 10 years ago, my buddy Scott had his phone snatched out of his hand on the street in Ho Chi Minh. It’s best to be aware and keep your head up at all times in crowded areas. Check your Google Maps directions before leaving your building so you have a general idea of where you are going.
Overcharging
Some shops, taxis, and other vendors will try to overcharge foreigners, thinking they don’t know the actual prices. Always confirm prices upfront, and don’t be afraid to negotiate or walk away. Getting a local sim card and using ride-hailing apps like Grab can help avoid inflated prices.
Fake Tour Guides
Scammers may approach tourists claiming to be authorized tour guides and insist on taking them to certain shops or attractions for inflated commissions. Legitimate tour guides will have proper identification and accreditation. It’s best to book activities through official, reliable agencies.
Spiked Drinks
Although very rare in Vietnam, there have been a few reports of drinks being spiked to rob or scam foreigners. Never leave your drink unattended or accept drinks from strangers. Be extra cautious in nightlife areas.
Fake Friendships & Catfish
Some scammers, even children, will pretend to befriend tourists in public and then ask for money for school, family issues etc. Use caution with new friendships, especially those asking for financial help. Catfishing exits on online dating in Vietnam, so take precautions to verify identity with video calls and seek to meet in-person.
Fake Transportation
Taxi and motorbike drivers may offer rides and then charge outrageous fees once you arrive, relying on your unfamiliarity with the actual rates and routes. Transportation is usually very cheap in Vietnam. Only use official metered taxis or booked services like Grab.
Long-Term Relationships With Vietnamese Women
Long-term relationships with Vietnamese women can be incredibly rewarding, but also come with unique challenges. As a foreigner dating a Vietnamese woman, you’ll need to navigate cultural differences, family expectations, and visa issues.
Navigating Cultural Differences
Traditional gender roles are still prevalent in Vietnam. Women are expected to be good homemakers and supportive partners. As the man, you will be expected to be the breadwinner and decision maker. Be prepared for this dynamic and have open conversations about your expectations. Respect her opinions and recognize her independence.
Although, a running joke among expats in Vietnam is that all the decision making is done by their wives, especially within the home. Vietnamese women like to take extreme care of their husbands and may decide what you will be eating and what you will be wearing.
Gift giving is an important part of Vietnamese dating culture. Family approval is also hugely important, so be prepared to give gifts to her parents and impress her relatives. Gestures like these show you are serious about the relationship.
Dealing with Family Expectations
Family is the cornerstone of Vietnamese society. Your girlfriend’s parents will likely expect marriage and children down the line. Be clear about your intentions and timeline early on to avoid misunderstandings. If you want to take the relationship slowly, communicate that respectfully.
Family gatherings and holidays are crucial. Make an effort to attend and bring gifts. Even if you don’t share the same traditions, showing you care about her family goes a long way.
Some families may expect that the foreigner help support the family financially. Use your best judgement here but it shouldn’t be anything over-the-top. Remember, it is much better to start small and incremental than it is to start big and taper off.
Navigating Visa Challenges
For a long-term partnership, you’ll need to consider visa options. Tourist visas only last so long. Look into work visas, student visas, or other long-term options. Be prepared for paperwork and government hurdles. Many expats that I met living in Vietnam were working as an English teacher. There is a big need for them and if you can jump through some logistical hoops, it would be easy to find a job.
If you get married, you can apply for a spouse visa to stay in Vietnam long-term. The process differs by country, so research requirements early.
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Thank you so much for reading! If you are interested in dating in other countries in Southeast Asia, then check out: