Foreigners Retired in Asia: Why Expats Feel Like Permanent Guests in Vietnam

Can you ever stop being a tourist and truly feel at home after retiring in another country? After spending over three months living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), I reflect on what it's really like to experience Vietnam as a long-term traveler rather than a short-term tourist. From navigating language barriers and building human connections to exploring everyday life, this vlog offers an honest look at the realities of slow travel in Southeast Asia. Along the way, I compare my experiences in Vietnam and Cambodia, visit an excellent local dentist, discover why Vietnam is becoming a popular destination for affordable healthcare, explore the city's café culture, browse Book Street, and share the small moments that make travel meaningful. Whether you're planning a trip to Vietnam, considering moving abroad, researching the cost of living, or simply enjoy authentic travel documentaries, I hope this video gives you a genuine insight into everyday life in Saigon. ⏱ Chapters 00:00 Can You Ever Stop Being a Tourist? 01:29 Living in Saigon After 3 Months 03:23 Language Barriers & Feeling Disconnected 05:43 World Cup Conversations with Locals 07:05 Why Vietnam Has Amazing Affordable Gyms 10:13 My Incredible Vietnam Dentist Experience 13:50 Discovering Saigon's Coffee Culture 15:42 Expat Life & Meeting Other Foreigners 17:06 Exploring Ho Chi Minh City's Book Street 18:23 An Unexpected Conversation That Changed My Day 22:22 Finding the Perfect Coffee Shop 23:42 Apartment Life & Living Alone in Vietnam 26:06 Tourist Visas & Long-Term Travel in Vietnam 27:04 Everyday Life in a Vietnamese Neighborhood 29:07 Meeting Friendly Vietnamese Locals 32:33 What Makes a Place Feel Like Home? 34:24 Final Thoughts & Leaving Vietnam If you enjoy honest travel vlogs, slow travel, expat life, and authentic experiences across Southeast Asia, please subscribe to Big World Cinema, give this video a 👍, and share your thoughts in the comments. I'd love to hear whether you've ever felt at home in a country that wasn't your own. DISCLAIMER: This video was filmed in a public place. We generally ask people if it's okay to film them, however if anyone appears incidentally and wishes to be removed, please message us via our Social Media contact details below. SUPPORT MY CHANNEL: https://ko-fi.com/biggworldcinema https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/BiggW... SOCIAL MEDIA:   / biggworldcinema     / biggworldcinema     / biggworldcinema2   https://t.me/BiggWorldCinema (Telegram) PHOTOGRAPHS FOR LICENSE OR SALE: https://www.alamy.com/portfolio/phili... EQUIPMENT USED: DJI OSMO POCKET3 CANON G7X II Go Pro HERO9 Black COLOUR BARS TESTCARD: https://vidfy.com/video/tv-noise-0212... MUSIC KINDLY SUPPLIED BY: Artist: Brian Bolger Song: Black Mass Licensed to YouTube by YouTube Library Artist: Particle House Song: Cold As Ice Licensed to YouTube by Epidemic Sound Artist: OTE Song: You Look So Good Licensed to YouTube by Epidemic Sound Artist: Kevin Venture Song: Living Life Like a Dream CURRENT SUBSCRIBER COUNT: 41,717 Keywords: Vietnam travel, Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon vlog, living in Vietnam, Vietnam expat, Vietnam cost of living, Vietnam dentist, Vietnam gym, Vietnam coffee, Book Street Saigon, slow travel, long-term travel, solo travel, Southeast Asia travel, digital nomad Vietnam, retire in Vietnam, Cambodia vs Vietnam #Vietnam #Retirement #SoutheastAsia #ExpatLife #RetiredSoutheastAsia #BritishTravellerAbroad #TravelAfter60