Vietnam ranks fourth in a list of 10 safest places to retire in Asia behind Malaysia, Kuwait, and Mongolia, according to US-based financial services corporation Nasdaq.
In a new report, Nasdaq said the rankings were based on data from the United Nations Pacific-Asia Region Group and gross domestic product (GDP) from WorldPopulationReview.
Nasdaq also obtained cost of living figures from Numbeo, the world’s largest cost of living database, and the Global Peace Index (GPI) from the Institute for Economics and Peace Global Peace Index 2022 Report.
“Countries needed to have a global peace index of under 2.0 to qualify,” the report said.
“Vietnam's cost of living index is a low 24, but its GDP is higher than most on the list, at $462.6 billion.”
Vietnam’s GPI is 1.786 while its average monthly cost of living is $1,117, said the report.
Explaining its rationale for the ranking, Nasdaq said: “Many Americans are considering retirement in more far-flung places than their own country. Retiring abroad is becoming increasingly popular because many countries can offer expats a more affordable cost of living, with all the benefits of cultural enrichment that living abroad offers.”
Retirees living in the 10 safest countries in Asia can live comfortably on less than $2,000 per month, Nasdaq said.
Topping the Asian list was Malaysia, with a 1.471 GPI and a $1,066 average monthly cost of living. Ranked second, Kuwait’s cost of living is not as low as some of the other countries on this list, at 37.4, but its overall cost of living combined with its global peace score make it a great place to retire.
Mongolia was ranked third with a peace index of 1.775 and an average monthly cost of living of $940.
Vietnam, with a peace index of 1.786 and an average monthly cost of living of $1,117, secured the fourth rank
Indonesia came fifth with a peace score of 1.800 and an average monthly cost of living of $940. Nations sixth to 10th were Jordan, Cambodia, Oman, Cyprus and Nepal.