In Vietnam, small money is good money. A 70c coffee. A simple breakfast. A quiet walk through the village. Some mornings here feel richer than anything I had back home — and I was spending 10x more.

One of my favourite things about living in Vietnam is QR Code Banking (VietQR). No cash? No worries. Simply scan, pay and you’re done. It’s accepted almost everywhere—from coffee shops and restaurants to markets, taxis and local businesses. Best of all, there are generally no fees for customers or merchants for standard domestic QR payments, making it one of the easiest ways to pay in Vietnam. To open an account you’ll typically need: ✅ Your passport ✅ A Vietnamese phone number ✅ Visit a participating bank ⚠️ Pro Tip (learn from my mistake! 😂): Skip facial recognition if your bank allows you to use a password instead. I enabled face recognition, got locked out of my banking app… and naturally it happened on a Friday night! 😅 The bank couldn’t verify and unlock the account until Monday. Hopefully this flyer saves someone else from the same weekend adventure! Have you started using VietQR yet? Share your favourite bank and your experience below—we all learn from each other. 🇻🇳💙

First, thank you for believing in Vietnam – Live Better for Less from the beginning. I want to reassure every one of our Founding Members that your lifetime free access is locked in forever. You’ll never be asked to pay a subscription as long as you remain a member. As our community grows, you’ll notice more conversations, more travel tips, more digital nomad and retiree income ideas, more local recommendations, and more members sharing their real-life experiences from across Vietnam. That’s the real value of building a strong community together. Future members will join under a tiered subscription model, helping fund better moderation, new resources, exclusive content, guest experts, and an even higher-quality community for everyone. Thank you for being part of the first 100. You’re helping build something special from the ground up, and I couldn’t do it without you. Bradley W. Deacon Founder – Vietnam: Live Better for Less 🇻🇳

Living in Vietnam has given me space to slow down, reset, and rebuild. For me, writing is more than storytelling — it helps me process old experiences, clear my head, and turn pressure into purpose. Notion keeps everything organized: my books, ideas, goals, health routines, content plans, and daily progress. When life feels messy, having one simple system gives me structure. PTSD can make your mind feel scattered. Writing helps me get thoughts out. Notion helps me put them in order. Small steps. Clear mind. Better days. That’s part of what Vietnam Live Better for Less is about — living simpler, healing slowly, and building something meaningful.

One of the things I love most about Vietnam is that it is one of the safest, most peaceful, and most welcoming countries I have ever experienced. Part of that safety comes from strong laws and regulations, including laws designed to combat money laundering, fraud, and illegal financial activity. If you are living in Vietnam, travelling through Vietnam, or planning to relocate here, it is important to understand that Vietnam has tightened enforcement of its foreign currency exchange laws. The key takeaway is simple: ✅ Exchange foreign currency only through licensed banks and authorised money exchange businesses. ❌ Do not exchange money through unofficial individuals, street traders, unlicensed shops, or informal arrangements. Under Vietnam's foreign exchange regulations, both the person selling foreign currency and the person buying or exchanging foreign currency may face penalties if the transaction occurs outside authorised channels. Recent regulations have strengthened enforcement and increased penalties for violations. My advice is straightforward: • Use licensed banks.• Use authorised currency exchange providers.• Keep receipts where possible.• If in doubt, ask before exchanging money. Vietnam takes anti-money laundering measures seriously, and as visitors or residents we should respect the laws of the country that welcomes us. The good news is that exchanging money legally is easy. Banks, authorised exchange counters, airports, and licensed financial institutions are widely available throughout Vietnam. One of the best ways to enjoy Vietnam is to respect:✔ Its laws✔ Its culture✔ Its traditions✔ Its people Do that, and you'll discover why so many of us love living here. — Bradley W. Deacon Vietnam Live Better for Less