Cameron Chardukian

I was recently chatting with one of my aunts about retirement. She’s tired of working at a job she’s not particularly passionate about and she also wants more control of her time.

She told me that one of her primary motivations for a flexible schedule was so that she would able to travel and see more of the world. She’s also interested in potentially moving out of the US to somewhere that’s more affordable.

Does this sound anything like you? If so, keep reading.

Once you retire, and cut off the income stream from your job/local business, it makes less sense to live in a big US city with hefty rent payments each month.

Because I’ve been living outside the US for about 3 years now, my first thought was that it may make a lot of sense for my aunt to retire abroad. The same applies for many of you reading this.

Having spent the majority of my time abroad in Vietnam, it’s only natural I thought of it first as a place to retire to. If you’re interesting in retiring in Vietnam, or just retiring abroad in general, you’ll enjoy today’s post.

Disclaimer: Being in my early 20s, I’m not anywhere near retiring myself. With that being said, several of my best friends are in their 50s and I’ve also met countless retired individuals in Vietnam over the last several years.

Based on my chats with them; I’ve managed to compile some information you may find beneficial about moving to Vietnam for your retirement.

Pros of Retiring in Vietnam

While not typically thought of an American retirement haven like Costa Rica or Thailand, Vietnam has a lot going for it. Here are some of the main highlights of retiring in Vietnam.

Cost of Living

Vietnam is one of the cheapest places in the world to live. You can easily live a comfortable life in Vietnam for about $1,000/month. If you can appreciate a $350 serviced apartment that includes FREE cleaning and laundry multiple times per week, you’ll LOVE Vietnam.

Other expenses in Vietnam are also affordable. Dining at a local Vietnamese restaurant will typically cost $1 or maybe $2. Going to the movies is usually $3 per ticket. Joining a Vietnamese gym without air conditioning will be around $10/month.

Taking an overnight bus ride to another city or getting a 90 minute massage will set you back $10-$15 each. 

Of course, you don’t have to live like a college student. Luxury comes cheap in Vietnam — at least by Western standards.

A furnished 3 bedroom apartment in the country’s tallest and most luxurious building may cost $1,200. An unforgettable 9-course meal dining-in-the-dark with blind waiters is roughly $35 per person.

Healthy and Delicious Food

Vietnamese cuisine is some of the best in the world. Not only is it delicious, it’s also nutritious. Vietnamese cooking uses lots of fresh vegetables, spices, and herbs.

Having lived in both Thailand and Vietnam, I’m very comfortable in saying that while Thai cuisine tasty and incredibly famous, I always felt better after eating out in Vietnam.

Whether you’re looking to eat out most of the time or cook you own food, your stomach will feel very loved during a retirement in Vietnam.

Easy Visa

While the visa situation in Southeast Asian countries is constantly changing, Vietnam is one if not THE most relaxed country in the region as far as visas go. Surprisingly, this is especially true if you’re an American.

Both 1 year tourist and business visas are available. I’d estimate that you’d have to budget about $400-$500 per year for visas ($40/month).

Vietnam seems to have no problem with foreigners living in Vietnam on tourist visas indefinitely (Legal Disclaimer: This is based on my experience and the experiences of other expats I’ve chatted with, your experience could vary).

The only annoyance with Vietnam is that they don’t have any special visa for you as a retired foreign citizen. You’ll have to just keep getting new tourist visas every now and then.

Varied Lifestyle Opportunities

If you’re a big city person, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have all the excitement you could ever want. Jam ~10 million people into a city and it’s hard to ever feel bored.

Of course being in such a busy place can wear you down over time. I’d imagine this is especially true as you get older. The last thing I’d want to do in my golden years is try to dodge motorbikes driving on the sidewalk while I’m on my walk home from the grocery store.

Fortunately, you don’t have to live in one of those mega cities if chaos isn’t your thing. Vietnam has plenty of beach, and mountain cities if you appreciate nature and a slower pace of life.

Short-term leases or using Airbnb also makes it possible for you to stay in cities for shorter periods of time.

If you’d like to live in the mountains for a 6 months a year, near the beach 4 months a year, and in Ho Chi Minh City 2 months a year, you could easily do so.

Friendliness

Having been to 7-8 countries now, I can confidently say Vietnamese people are some of the friendliest in the world. This isn’t the bullshit lip service every expat says about the country they live in either.

Don’t worry about finding the courage to start conversations with others or make connections in Vietnam. Vietnamese people, especially children, will literally yell hello to you while you’re walking down the street. University students will approach you in the park to chat too.

Cons of Living in Vietnam

Living in Vietnam isn’t without its problems. TRUST ME. If you retire here, you’re going to have some headaches to deal with.

Air Pollution

Vietnam is one of the worst countries in the world for air quality. If you live in Saigon or Hanoi, you’re probably going to cough a lot. Every. Single. Day.

Even when you go into an indoor restaurant to seek relief, there’s still a good chance some Vietnamese guys will blow smoke into your face. It never ends.

Vietnam’s air quality is less of an issue once you find venues that are strictly no smoking (good luck!) and move to a smaller city with a population of under 1,000,000 or so. Even in the smaller cities you’re still going to have to deal with the next problem though…

Cleanliness/Manners

Let’s forget about political correctness and be blunt — Vietnamese cities are dirty. Even in small cities with cleaner air, you’re still going to see lots of garbage in the street. This isn’t Japan. This isn’t Singapore. This isn’t even the US.

People in Vietnam litter. A LOT. When motorbike passengers finish their drink, they throw their plastic cup onto the street.

At many restaurants, the women that wash your dishes don’t really wash them. They just dip them in water, and get on with things (perhaps you could argue this of some US restaurants also to be fair).

Let’s not forget something equally disgusting. Vietnamese men have a habit of peeing on the sides of buildings, and behind bus stops. If you like to walk, you’re probably going to have to deal with smelling pee at least once on a 25 minute walk through the city.

In some spots of Saigon and Nha Trang, I’ve even experienced walking through an entire street of 100+ meters that smelled like pee. Disgusting.

My ex-girlfriend summed it up best when she told me of a popular saying that, “Foreigners kiss in public and piss in private, while Vietnamese men kiss in private in piss in public.”

I’m not trying to put Vietnamese people down. Let’s be honest though. Whether it be a lack of education or different cultural expectations, many of you are going to be put off by the behaviors of Vietnamese people in the realm of cleanliness and etiquette.

Congestion/Traffic

This applies mainly if you’re planning to live in one of the bigger cities in Vietnam. The population density in Vietnam’s largest cities (Saigon and Hanoi) is very high. Even 2nd tier cities like Da Nang, Vung Tau, or Bien Hoa probably have far more people cramped together than you’re used to.

This means you’re going to have less personal space and more noise living here. It also means that traffic and crossing the street (have you ever seen the amount of motorbikes in a big Vietnamese city!?) can be a bit of a pain.

Racism

Many Vietnamese people are still racist. Vietnamese people take care of themselves before they worry about those from other countries. It doesn’t matter if you’re right; if you get into a fight with a Vietnamese person you’re going to get creamed because five other Vietnamese passing by will take the side of the Vietnamese person.

If you have dark skin, you’re viewed as inferior to people with lighter skin. While I’ve never personally seen it, it wouldn’t be unheard of for a landlord to reject someone with dark skin with the reasoning that, “Africa peoples is dangerous and poor” (incorrect English grammar intentional).

That’s not to say all Vietnamese hate dark skinned people. Many kids will love you, and my friend Ocean was having a blast here. I guess it’s probably like America in the 1970s or 1980s.

Most people here aren’t overtly racist, but unfair treatment may surface from time to time.

Language Barrier

This one is huge. Apart from cultural differences, you’re also going to have to deal with one of the biggest possible language barriers. Vietnamese is among the hardest languages for English speakers to pronounce. This is a double whammy because most Vietnamese people won’t expect you to speak their language.

Many will freeze up and wave you off because they don’t speak English. Dozens of times they’ve told me, “Sorry No Englisss” despite the fact that I was speaking to them in Vietnamese.

While there may be a few dozen foreigners in the country that can converse fluently in Vietnamese, you’re likely to give up trying after you learn the basics (if you learn anything at all).

Fortunately, English is being stressed in the Vietnamese education system right now. In the cities most young people will be able to point you to a bathroom or tell you what time the bus will come.

Finding Vietnamese people that are truly fluent in English is difficult. Conversational?Sure. You’ll be able to make friends here and there. You’ll lose 98-99% of people, however, if you even begin to talk about psychology or gluten-free food.

Healthcare

I heard some expats here make the joke that if you have access to Google you could be a doctor in Vietnam. Admittedly, I did laugh at that joke. It is a bit disrespectful, because Vietnamese doctors are miles ahead of other developing countries such as Cambodia.

If one got say a cavity or tuberculosis, the doctors here (at least in the big cities) would be able to provide you with adequate care. With that being said, the healthcare in Vietnam doesn’t compare to that of the US, UK, or even some of the other countries in Asia.

You can get treated cheaply and effectively for most minor things in Vietnam. If you have a serious problem, however, you’re probably going to want to hop on a short flight over to Bangkok’s world-class hospitals to get it taken care of.

Best Places to Retire in Vietnam

To conclude this post, I thought I’d offer some possible locations to retire in Vietnam. Here are the best places to retire in Vietnam…

Mountain Man

If you love the mountains and cool air, be sure to check out Da Lat. This city has a population just under 500,000. It has nice weather and is considered by many to be the most romantic city in Vietnam. It’s a very popular honeymoon destination for locals.

Beach Girl

The best place for you to retire in Vietnam as a beach lover… that’s tough. Vietnam has tons of great cities with beaches. Consider Vung Tau, or Nha Trang.

Big City Person

Saigon and Hanoi are the obvious choices. I’d recommend digging a bit deeper, however, and considering Da Nang. With a population of about 1.44 million Da Nang isn’t a HUGE city, but it is the biggest city in Vietnam with decent air. It’s also considered by many to be the most livable city in the country!

Lazy Island Lifestyle

Phu Quoc, an island just off the coast of Cambodia, has a relaxed pace of life and clean air. It’s also affordable and has an active night market.

Conclusion

I hope you found this post about some thoughts on retiring in Vietnam useful. If so, please share it with your family or friends on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!

P.S. Be sure to read this post before you come to Vietnam.

How’s the apartment scene in Ho Chi Minh City? Pretty solid. I’ve previously reviewed a decent $350 apartment in Saigon as well as a nicer $400 one.  Today I’m showing you another example of what $350/month can land you in Vietnam’s most exciting city.

Cheap apartments are one of the best things about being a digital nomad in Vietnam. If you’re at an early stage of your career, or you’re spending most of your time developing skills that aren’t immediately profitable, taking advantage of the affordable housing situation in Vietnam is a nice way to give yourself some breathing room in your budget.

Let’s get into some of the details of my old apartment now.

Price

The apartment in the video above cost $350/month. I negotiated a bit, however, so that I’d get the first $20 of electricity use each month included with my rent. Anything extra after $20/month I would pay.

At this particular apartment, I just used the fan so my total expenses were $350/month. Admittedly, there were a few nights just using a single fan made it very hot.

At most places, you’re probably looking at $25-$50/month for electricity to run the air conditioning and always feel comfortable. If you’d like to be really frugal with your monthly expenses, however, you could either suffer the heat a little bit, or purchase multiple fans.

Location:

The apartment in the video above was located in District 1. That’s the central district of the city, and probably the most popular district for foreigners to live in.

To be more specific if you’d like to search it, this apartment was located in the 18BIS Nguyen Thi Minh Khai alley — a popular alley for expats and upperclass Vietnamese.

This alley is one of the nicer places to live in District 1 because it’s relatively quiet, and has enough foreigners that you’re not getting stared at all the time. This area also has a wealth of expats which has resulted in tons of awesome dining options nearby!

Utilities & Amenities

Like I said before, my apartment offered my first $20 of electricity use each month for free. My apartment also had warm water, a fridge, freezer, and air conditioning all available to me.

My favorite part about Vietnamese apartments to this day is that many of them include free laundry and cleaning with your rent. At any time I could place dirty clothes in a basket outside my room.

The basket was collected by the cleaning lady every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and she’d wash and dry your clothes for you — returning everything about 48 hours later.

She would also come clean your floor, wipe the counters, wash the bathroom, change your bedsheets, and even make your bed for you!

Having someone do all these domestic chores for you makes you feel like a bad ass. More importantly, outsourcing these menial things gives you more time to focus on your mission in life — whatever that may be.

My cleaning lady was great so I’d often surprise her with chocolate bars or bags of chestnuts. It was a bit sad to leave and say goodbye after I’d stayed there so long.

While this apartment didn’t have a kitchen in the room, it did have a shared kitchen downstairs if you ever wanted to cook something. The apartment also had free parking, and solid wifi.

Apartment Rules

My apartment didn’t have any weird rules. This is something to watch out for in Vietnam though. Most places obviously won’t let you do drugs or bring hookers back. I’ve never tried either of those things, but that seems fair enough to me because of the security concerns.

A lot of places in Vietnam won’t even let you bring normal girls back to your apartment though. Having your girlfriend or date shamed is all too common from security and jealous Vietnamese guys who sit shirtless outside for seemingly all hours of the day (and well into the night!).

Having lived here for 3 years, I think the culture is slowly getting Westernized, for better and for worse. It’s hard to see things change while you’re immersed in life here everyday, but I think there’s definitely a trend of city landlords becoming more lenient with overnight guests.

It’s still probably the exception rather than the rule, however. If you intend for your Vietnamese girlfriend (or girls you’re dating) to live or visit you at night, you MUST get this agreement (preferably in writing) before signing any lease or rental contract.

The other thing you’re going to want to look out for is whether you’re free to come and go as you please. For the first 6-7 months I rented this apartment I had a key to the main gate and was able to come or go at any time I wanted.

Unfortunately, the landlord changed while I was living here. The last 2-3 months I was here I no longer had a key to open the gate and had to knock and wait for security to open the door at night.

That’s not fun. Especially when you’re coming and going multiple times in one night, or trying to date. Such is life in Vietnam though, you gotta take the good with the bad (or just find a better apartment)!

Conclusion

$350/month can get you a pretty decent place in District 1 of Saigon. You can check out the video I embedded at the top of this post to see if the place looks satisfactory to you.

If you’d like more upscale living, you’re obviously going to need to increase your budget or sacrifice on your location a bit. If you’d like to rent a place for $250 or less each month, you’re often going to have to sacrifice on size, cleanliness, location, or freedom (see key example above).

Overall, the apartment scene in Saigon isn’t as good as the one in Chiang Mai, but it’s still pretty damn good.

P.S. Thinking about coming to live in Vietnam? Be sure to check out this post.

Note from Cam: This is a guest post from my girlfriend in Vietnam. I’ve edited the content for clarity and ease of reading (English isn’t her first language), but kept the tone and general message the same. Hope you enjoy. Enter Ha!

If you are from the West and in a relationship with an Asian man or woman, you may have to get ready to meet your partner’s parents. This is easier if you are both from a Western country.

In your culture the first meeting does not require a gift. Meeting your partner’s parents in the West could simply mean gathering for dinner. In Asia, however, this is more complicated. 

In Asia meeting your partner’s parents is more formal. In Vietnamese culture for example, there are many different traditions. Some of these include: taking off your shoes when you are in the house, using chopsticks, and eating food with sauces you may not familiar with.

While these things may be new to you, I think that you’ll quickly adjust to them. Nevertheless, the most difficult cultural difference you may face early on in your relationship is choosing a gift for your boyfriend or girlfriend’s parents the first time you meet.

While differences exist among the different cultures in Asia, here are some gift suggestions that should go over well regardless of which Asian country your partner is from.

 These suggestions should help save you a lot of time and mental energy. Choosing one of the gifts from this list will help ensure you make a good first impression on your partner’s parents.

#1 A Big Bag of Fruit

Most Asians enjoy eating fruits. In Vietnam, we typically prepare fruits for our dessert every meal. This is a common eating habit in many other Asian countries as well.

Your gift could be a mixed bag of fruit including: oranges, apples, grapes, kiwi, etc. It sounds simple, but it’s useful. Although it’s a stereotype, most Asian families appreciate a gift that is practical.

After dinner with your partner’s family, your gift can be served. However, do keep in mind that the fruits should be wrapped nicely. It is a present that you are presenting to your partner’s family on a formal ocassion after all.

(A large bag of mangoes or Durian could be a great gift)

#2 Wine

It is common in Asian cultures that the men love to drink. In many Asian countries, the man will drink multiple times per week with his friends. If you’d like to become closer with your boyfriend or girlfriend’s father, consider gifting the parents a nice bottle of wine or some wine glasses. 

Drinking wine during dinner will help you bond with the family. Koreans and Japanese among other Asians tend to make deeper connections after drinking.

#3 Massage Equipment

I know what you’re thinking when I say massage equipment, but don’t worry. You obviously don’t need to buy the parents an expensive massage chair. You can buy them something small such as a foot, or back massage device. This gift will show that you care about the family’s health.

While this gift may seem strange to you, again, remember that in this part of the world people tend to be more pragmatic. While flowers are a nice gift in Western countries, they may not be appreciated as much in the East.

Yes, they are a safe gift, but many families from this part of the world will think that your gift is somewhat useless and a waste of money.

While they will think your flowers are beautiful, flowers aren’t the best choice. Give them something like a foot massager so that they are able to get some lasting value from your gift.

#4 Ginseng

Asians greatly value their health, especially the older people. As we get older, we will increasingly try to eat foods that improve our health. For that reason, Ginseng could be a great gift for your partner’s parents. If you didn’t know, Ginseng is a type of root which is well-known in Asia.

It has been used in Chinese traditional medicine for centuries to improve one’s health. Ginseng is known to reduce stress, improve digestion, and support healthy functioning of the heart.

#5 Meal Invitation

An invitation to a nice meal is the easiest way to impress your partner’s parents. However, before inviting your boyfriend or girlfriend’s family to a meal, be sure to choose a restaurant they’re likely to enjoy (also be open possibly paying for everyone) .

If they are from Japan for example, consider inviting them to an upscale Sushi restaurant. If they are Chinese, dimsum would be a  great option.

Although Westerners often mentally lump Asians together, be aware that the food preferences of Asian countries may differ more than you think. Inviting a Thai family to dinner for Pho may show you are somewhat culturally ignorant (though you may still get points for trying!)

BONUS TIP: Separate Gifts for Mom and Dad

If you’re having trouble finding a present that’s suitable for both your partner’s mother and father, consider choosing separate gifts for them. Maybe you could get a leather wallet for the father. For the mother, something that could help her cook or clean more efficiently would be great.

Although something so expensive may be unsuitable in Western culture, most Asian women would be delighted to receive a cleaning vacuum or other household appliance.

Conclusion

Most of all, remember that you partner is your greatest asset in choosing the perfect gift. Asking your partner for help is the best way to ensure you choose a gift appropriate for their family’s culture. 

If you would like to surprise your partner and his/her family, however, they would surely be happy with any of the gifts from our list. Good luck, and I hope your partner’s parents are overjoyed with whatever present you decide on! 🙂

Southeast Asia has a lot going for it. An exciting hustle in the air, delicious food, beautiful women, and some of the world’s most exotic destinations and cultural experiences. One thing Southeast Asia (SEA) generally fails at, however, is offering us expats fresh air.

Coming from a small town of about 100,000 people in United States’ Midwest region, air quality was never something I’d thought much about. Of course we’d heard a passing mention of it in science or health class, but having breathable air was something I always took for granted until I lived somewhere (Ho Chi Minh City) with poor air quality.

Unfortunately, poor air is something you’re probably going to have to deal with if you live in Southeast Asia (SEA). While there are cities in SEA that have clean air, you’re not going to stumble upon too many of them on accident. That brings me to my first tip on dealing with air pollution as an expat.

#1 Check Your Destination’s Air Quality Before Moving There

This tip may seem obvious in the context of this article, but it’s something that most people don’t consider enough before accepting an overseas position or choosing a base as a digital nomad. While we’ll discuss some methods to avoid coughing to death from air pollution later, a better solution is to simply manage your risk in the first place.

Air pollution on a holiday isn’t a big concern for most of us. We’d obviously prefer breathing clean air over polluted gunk, but some air particles floating around isn’t going to stop any of us from visiting Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City. Short-term exposure to moderate air pollution isn’t a major health concern for most of us. It would only be a concern if we were somewhere that was in the middle of a temporary air apocalypse.

Having particulate matter getting wedged in your lungs and steadily accumulating over time is the real concern. That’s why you should check the air pollution of any city you’re considering living in with a tool like aqicn.org before moving there. Monitor the air quality for some time before jumping to your new home.

Here’s how I interpret the readings in my bro sciencey way as someone that’s endured a pretty large amount of air pollution the last few years. Just keep in mind this isn’t medical advice. It’s a subjective opinion from some moderately intelligent young guy on the internet who got a B+ in high school biology back in the day. Your priorities may differ depending on how much you value your health and/or how sensitive you find yourself to be to the air pollution.

0-50: Good — The air is healthy and feels fresh.

51-100: Moderate — The air stops feeling fresh and you’ll want to avoid exercising too heavily outside if you have asthma, or some other respiratory problem.

101-150: Somewhat Unhealthy — The air is fairly polluted. You may or may not feel harmed by it in the short-term, but it’s not good for you in the long-term.

151-200: Unhealthy — The air feels dirty now. You might get a nagging cough or produce lots of mucus (I sure do). You’ll detest breathing deeply outside. You’re not going to want to do any serious exercise outside. A few months in a city with unhealthy air isn’t a big deal, but I’d personally avoid choosing a long-term base with this level of pollution again (I chose HCMC as my base before realizing how bad the pollution was and will move somewhere with cleaner air in the near future).

If you can trade a year of your life in this type of city for a significant cash windfall or career development it may be worth it, otherwise avoid for anything longer than a month or two.

201-300: Very Unhealthy — Don’t exercise too much if you’re on holiday. Don’t live in one of these cities.

300+: Lung Suicide — Avoid for pretty much anything except a quick layover or emergency situation.

#2 Plan Getaways

If you choose, or are forced to live somewhere that’s polluted, plan little getaways for yourself. I’m not sure how much of a difference escaping the pollution 2-3 days a month will do for your health long-term, but it certainly makes the feeling of dealing with the air pollution much more tolerable in the short-term.

If you’re living in Bangkok, consider taking a bus to Pattaya or a flight to one of the Thai islands every couple months. If you’re in Ho Chi Minh City, try to plan a monthly escape to Vung Tau, Mui Ne, or Da Lat.

It would obviously be even better for your health if you could live in one of these smaller cities instead, but if that’s not an option just switch things up occasionally and plan holidays to these smaller cities for a temporary escape from the pollution.

On a more macro level, consider planning a permanent “getaway” from your current base city that’s polluted. I had a friend for example that was getting burnt out last year by the pollution in Ho Chi Minh City.

So, what he did, was he took multiple trips to search for a new base. He found one he liked, and promised himself he’d do research on visa requirements for his new destination, as well as make sure that he’d done everything he wanted to in Vietnam before leaving. He left Vietnam 6 months later, and established his new base in Taiwan.

Consider doing the same for yourself if you find yourself living somewhere polluted (or even just somewhere that’s stop resonating with you for whatever reason).

#3 Get a mask

(Rocking a cheap local mask while on the back of a motorbike taxi)

If you haven’t traveled in Asia yet, you likely don’t realize how ubiquitous masks are amongst locals. I can tell you from living in Vietnam, that damn near everyone is wearing one of these masks. Asian grandma that somehow still manages to ride on the back of the motorbike despite being 90+ years old? Rocking a mask. 21 year old girl on her way to the beer bar? Also rocking a mask.

It doesn’t matter your age. The air is dirty in most of these big Asian cities. If you’re on a wimpy budget, you can use one of the cheap cloth masks that the locals use. That’s a hell of a lot better than nothing. You’ll get stared at less for being a foreigner, and you’ll probably find they help you not cough so much.

Ideally, however, you’d purchase a mask with a more elaborate filtering system. One of my friends that was having headaches from the pollution found that although he looked like Darth Vadar, wearing one of these souped up filtration masks really helped him.

Respro’s Techno Anti-Pollution mask here is an example of what I’m talking about. While I’m no expert on these masks, Respro is a well-known UK brand that seems to get a lot of love from expats living in China. If it’s good enough for them, a Techno Anti-Pollution Mask will probably be good enough for you too.

Conclusion

Although life in Asia offers lots of perks to a young hustler, it’s not a perfect place to live. Air pollution is a very real concern, and one of the biggest reasons I’ll soon move to another region of the world like Latin America or Eastern Europe. Or… maybe I’ll just live in a smaller Asian city with better air quality in the future.

Don’t let me scare you off Southeast Asia, however! The value for your money here is unbelievable, especially in the smaller cities. As long as you’re not spending years in one of the highly polluted mega cities like Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Bangkok, etc, the air pollution is something most expats find a minor drawback rather than a dealbreaker for living here.