I LEFT Australia to Retire in South East Asia - Thailand vs Vietnam

Are you thinking about living or retiring in Thailand or Vietnam? I left Australia at 56 to find the best place to retire — and I’ve now lived in both countries long enough to see the real differences. This isn’t a holiday review. It’s a practical, real-world comparison of lifestyle, cost of living, visas, healthcare, food, transport, and expat communities. In this video, I break down Thailand vs Vietnam for retirement in 2026 — including rent prices, eating out, scooter hire, taxis, healthcare facilities, and long-stay visa options. Vietnam is often described as “the new Thailand” thanks to its lower daily costs and fast growth. Thailand, on the other hand, offers a more established retirement visa system, developed infrastructure, and long-standing expat communities. If you’re over 50 and looking at retirement visas, cost of living in Southeast Asia, or simply wondering where your money will stretch further, this broad comparison will help you understand the trade-offs between affordability, stability, lifestyle variety, and long-term comfort. ⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00 Why I Left Australia at 56 1:42 Cost of Living Overview 2:58 Rent Comparison (Thailand vs Vietnam) 3:56 Food & Eating Out 4:34 Transport & Scooter Hire 5:26 Healthcare & Facilities 6:00 Retirement Visa Options 7:02 Expat & Digital Nomad Communities 7:52 My Personal Choice If you’re retiring in Thailand or Vietnam — or considering it — share your experience in the comments. Your insights help others planning their next chapter. 🌏 Real Travel. Real Stories. Aussie Nomad Life. #thailand #vietnam #retirement #expatlife #costofliving #southeastasia #over50 👍If you liked this episode, don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE. More real travel stories coming soon! If you’d like to support the channel. 🤫 Join Patreon for exclusive extras!   / aussienomadlife   🍺 Buy me a “coffee” - https://buymeacoffee.com/aussienomad 💰 Contribute directly - https://paypal.me/AussieNomadLife Check out my other channels: For free movies and filmmaking/content creation tips and tutorials.    / @jefforyasselin   Get a WISE CARD Share Wise with 3 friends and earn A$200 for yourself. Your friends get a free card or zero fees on a transfer up to A$1,000. wise.com/invite/dic/jefforya Retiring on $2,000/Month in Thailand vs Vietnam — Where Does It Stretch?