After spending months on a 90-day multiple-entry tourist visa in Vietnam, I came to view it as potentially my favorite country thus far. Among the highlights are the diverse offering of breathtaking landscapes, inviting beaches, thrilling motorbike excursions, delectable cuisine, low living costs, and a vibrant expat community. 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 like Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines. Language barriers, cultural nuances, traditional values amongst women, and restrictive visa policies can make dating Vietnamese women difficult, especially for Western men. Despite these hurdles, I departed with the overwhelming feeling that Vietnamese women rank among the friendliest and kindest I’ve encountered.
This hospitality was tangible; my landlord often brought me homemade meals, and locals frequently assisted me with restaurant food orders. Friendly interactions were not limited to casual acquaintances—I formed bonds with American expats and Vietnam War veterans with local Vietnamese wives, who shared stories of acceptance and reconciliation in post-war Vietnam. However, would-be suitors must approach Vietnamese dating with respect and realistic expectations. Short-term flings are not customary and are considered taboo.
With the right approach, however, Vietnam offers rich rewards. Vietnamese women are widely regarded as among Asia’s most graceful and beautiful. Their petite figures, striking beauty, and feminine charm attract admirers worldwide, and make wonderful companions for 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, thanks to a healthy diet. They are generally light-skinned compared to Filipino, Thai, and Cambodian women.
- 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 are quite affordable, and I found them even lower than in 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 and was five blocks from the beach. That’s unbelievably cheap! Also, flights to Bangkok and vice versa can cost as little as $55 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 a while before getting involved intimately, which makes it necessary to consider your long-term visa options.
- Visa Challenges – Staying in Vietnam for the 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 Vietnam 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 small 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 parent’s 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 upon 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 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:
- VietnamCupid – I am a huge fan of the Cupid brand dating apps and have used several of their websites all across the world (FilipinoCupid, ColombianCupid, ThaiCupid). My favorite feature of VietnamCupid is that it is designed to connect foreigners with Vietnamese singles. However, you’ll compete with many other Vietnamese men on other apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Badoo. VietnamCupid is free to join and browse, but you must pay to message the women.
- Badoo – This app has been growing in Vietnam and now has millions of users. My tennis buddy Sean personally recommended Badoo to me, and he showed me pictures of his beautiful Vietnamese girlfriend. You can chat, match, and arrange meetups with Vietnamese singles. Badoo utilizes your location so you can connect with people nearby and meet up shortly thereafter.
- 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 quit using it. If you are willing to upgrade, setting your location to anywhere in Vietnam to start swiping and matching with locals is easy. 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 a 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.
For a 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 and polite and show genuine interest in her and a willingness to be patient.
Remember, I found most Vietnamese women to be incredibly reserved and conservative. Therefore, when approaching them, err on respect and politeness over being bold. 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, and interests. Don’t pry too much initially, but showing interest in her life is essential.
- 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 are 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, she really likes you. Be very polite and formal. Bring a small gift for the parents and show utmost respect.
- Public displays of affection (PDAs) are taboo in Vietnam. While light hand-holding and hugging is okay, save kissing or fondling for when in private.
In Vietnam, I preferred online dating over in-person approaches. 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 was able to speak English fluently. One benefit of online dating is that you can filter through women who can speak English and 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 I met were desperate to practice their English skills. Consider going to language exchanges or offering to tutor one-on-one during a date night.
- Cafes – Vietnam has delicious coffee, although it’s very strong. Along with that are many little cafes scattered around the city with women hanging out.
- On the street – Da Nang has a long sidewalk covering its entire beach. When walking around during the day or night, you will see many beautiful women strolling around and sitting on benches.
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!
Da Nang, Vietnam
I spent the majority of my time in Da Nang, 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 true around the My An tourist area, where I stayed and highly recommend it. On a side note, many Russian, Ukrainian, and European women living and working remotely in Da Nang 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 than in the bigger cities, but it is improving. But the relaxed seaside lifestyle can appeal to many.
Hoi An, Vietnam
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, so 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, Vietnam
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, which is also the country’s economic center.
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 from a numbers standpoint.
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, Vietnam
The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, is a bustling metropolitan area in the north. With over 8 million residents in the greater metro area, it’s the second largest city in the country. 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.
Smaller Cities & Provinces in Vietnam
Like many foreigners have experienced and also recommend, don’t neglect the provinces for finding some of the best women for relationships. This is true in Thailand and the Philippines. The biggest drawback is that in the Vietnamese provinces, English proficiencies tend to be 0%.
On my motorbike trips around Vietnam, where I spent 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 get a better understanding of Vietnam.
Common Dating Scams in Vietnam
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.
- 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.
- Asking For Money – Some scammers, including women, will pretend to befriend tourists in public or online and then ask for money for school, family issues etc. Use caution with new friendships, especially those asking for financial help.
- Catfishing exists on online dating in Vietnam, so take precautions to verify identity with video calls and seek to meet in person.
- Pickpockets & Snatchers – Pickpocketing is probably your most significant 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.
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