Dubai vs Vietnam: which is better for remote work?
Thirteen years in the UAE, then a move to Hoi An. Here's my honest comparison.
Grace Choong | 29 Oct 2026 | 5 min read
Short answer
Dubai is better if your work depends on being in the room, close to clients, investors and big regional offices. Vietnam is better if your work is online and you want a lower cost of living, a slower pace and more control over your day.
I'm a Singaporean digital marketer. I arrived in Abu Dhabi in 2012, moved to Dubai soon after, and spent 13 years working in the UAE before moving to Hoi An with my husband and our two dogs. I now work remotely with clients in Asia, the Middle East and the US. This is the comparison I wish I'd had.
Dubai vs Vietnam at a glance
| Dubai | Hoi An, Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost of living for us (estimate) | USD 4,500 to 10,000 | USD 1,500 to 3,000 |
| Pace | Fast, always on | Slow, outdoors, unhurried |
| Best for | Office-based roles, networking, regional HQs | Remote, online and service work |
| Community | Huge, international, transient | Smaller, closer, more intentional |
| Infrastructure | Excellent and predictable | Improving, needs patience |
| Healthcare | High standard | More navigation needed |
| Weather | Summer highs in the high 40s °C | Hot and humid, with a rainy season |
| Getting home to Singapore | About 8 hours' flight | A short flight away |
The cost figures are our own household estimates, not an official index.
Cost of living: the difference that changed everything
We now spend roughly a quarter to a third of what we spent in Dubai. In Dubai, rent alone took about a quarter of my salary, and a car felt close to essential in summer. "Tax-free" isn't the same as cheap.
In Hoi An, a lower cost base changed how I work. I don't have to say yes to every project to cover rent. I can choose clients I believe in, and do fewer things better.
Work: being in the room vs owning your day
Dubai is built for business. Fast internet, efficient banking, English everywhere, and the whole region's decision makers within a short drive or flight. If your career depends on meetings, events and face time, that's hard to beat.
For remote work, Vietnam wins on control. My mornings go to client work, when I think best. Afternoons are for rest, writing and planning. In Dubai, the work phone was always on. Here, I set the pace.
The trade-off is real. Paperwork, banking and some services take longer in Vietnam. You need patience, and a good local contact helps.
Pace and quality of life
Dubai is polished and convenient. Almost anything can be delivered, everything is air-conditioned, and the city moves fast. It can also feel relentless: traffic, heat, and the quiet pressure to keep up.
Hoi An is softer. Life happens outdoors. Our day starts with a walk through the rice paddy fields with our dogs. Meals take time. Rice fields and the coast are minutes away, and that space to think has made me better at my job.
Community
Dubai gave me the most international workplaces I've ever had. One lunch table could hold colleagues from four continents. But people come and go constantly, and many friendships run on a two or three year clock.
Hoi An's community is smaller and more deliberate. Many people here chose a slower life on purpose. Conversations go deeper, and friendships feel less rushed.
The honest downsides of Vietnam
- Healthcare isn't at Dubai's level, so plan for insurance and know where the good hospitals are.
- Floods happen. Central Vietnam flooded in late 2025.
- Bureaucracy and banking are slower.
- Internet is usually good but can drop.
- Language is a barrier if you don't learn some Vietnamese.
Vietnam asks you to adapt more. Some people love that. Some hate it.
Who should choose which?
Choose Dubai if you:
- Work in an office-based or client-facing role in the Middle East
- Need a big professional network close by
- Want maximum convenience and are comfortable with high costs
Choose Vietnam if you:
- Work remotely or run an online business
- Want a lower cost of living and more control over your time
- Value a slower pace and a closer community
- Want to stay within easy reach of family elsewhere in Asia
Why I chose Vietnam
I still love the UAE. It shaped my career, and I'd go back to visit tomorrow. But for the work I do now, as a Fractional Digital Marketing Officer working with clients across three regions, I don't need to be in a particular office. I need focus, good internet and a life that doesn't burn me out. Vietnam gives me that.
If you're weighing the same move and want to compare notes, find me on LinkedIn.
Grace ChoongFractional Digital Marketing Officer and co-founder, Good Ground Digital