Vietnam ranks sixth among easiest countries for digital nomads in new index

Vietnam has placed sixth in the Digital Nomad Friction Index 2026, a ranking published by Holafly eSIM that measures how easy it is for remote professionals to establish themselves in a country. This is a private-sector index and does not reflect any change in Vietnamese law.

How the index works

The index looks at a mix of practical factors:

• Visa requirements and administrative procedures
• Access to banking services
• Access to healthcare
• Internet connectivity
• Living costs
• The risk of disruptions

The top ten

Georgia ranked first, followed by Peru, South Africa, Thailand and Malaysia. Vietnam took sixth place. Croatia, Hungary, Portugal and the United Arab Emirates completed the top ten.

Wider findings on remote work

The research also described problems that affect digital nomads in general, not only in Vietnam. Nearly half of respondents, 46.8%, said they had lost work time or income while travelling. About 35% reported connectivity problems serious enough to disrupt their work on a regular basis.

Holafly's chief operating officer said that arriving in a country is usually the easy part. He said the real burnout comes after landing, when remote professionals face post-arrival bureaucracy, lost working hours and unstable internet.

What it means for residents

For foreigners working remotely from Ho Chi Minh City, the ranking is a general indicator of how Vietnam compares with other destinations. It does not describe a new visa category or rule. Visa and registration requirements are unchanged by this report, so remote workers should keep checking official guidance for their own situation.

Source: Vietnam News.