U.S. Citizen Can Retire in Vietnam? Visa Options?

Right now, Vietnam hasn't any sort of retirement visa.
Yeah, you are qualified to apply for a PRC (Permanent Resident Card) if married to a Vietnamese but the chance to get it is less than 1%   
Yeah if you are an investor or a partner in Vietnam business, then you can apply for a 3 year TRC (Temporary Residence Card) which is renewable with your investor license or business license.
To invest or start business and for details, search old threads which already answered here in this forum.

Thanks so much for your help. I'm curious, since the PRC is so unlikely, what do you qualify for (if anything) if married to a Vietnamese national? I'll check out the other postings to see about the TRC. Again thanks!

1 clause of VEC includes spouse married to Vietnamese citizens is eligible to obtain the same. But after new regulations it's not so sure but still I heard they issue it in some areas. Vietnamese law enforcement is very complicated though the law is too small 
Right now, there is 1 year visa for spouses married to Vietnamese.

charmavietnam wrote:

1 clause of VEC includes spouse married to Vietnamese citizens is eligible to obtain the same. But after new regulations it's not so sure but still I heard they issue it in some areas. Vietnamese law enforcement is very complicated though the law is too small 
Right now, there is 1 year visa for spouses married to Vietnamese.

Do you know the visa classification?

Visas here can be difficult and the laws and fees change constantly. For example, 3 month extensions on visas went up around %300-%500 in price since last year.  If you find your answers today, next year could be a whole new story, two years from now is a crap shoot.   As the economy continues to grow (compared to say, 10, 20 years ago) I would expect prices and red tape to steadily increase.  Just keep in mind, it's likely to change quickly, significantly, and without much in the way of clear logic or warning.

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Just keep in mind, it's likely to change quickly, significantly, and without much in the way of clear logic or warning.
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Absolutely true. Right now the Immigration Police are trying to minimise the number of foreigners in the country [to reduce their workload], while the Tourist Department is trying to increase the number of foreign visitors [to increase profit from tourism]. It's still a bun fight. Who knows which side will win?

Thanks so much all of you, and this is most helpful. It seems retiring in Vietnam is a very risky enterprise! Do you know of anyone that has been able to do it and remain in the country for any length of time? And if so, did they need to jump through myriads of hoops, leaving/returning etc?

"Right now, there is 1 year visa for spouses married to Vietnamese."
Is it possible to marry 10 women/girl so I can extend my VISA for 10 years ? 
Seriously, I bet there is a paragraph somewhere in the Citizenship Law section, that spell out how and why a spouse of a Vietnamese can/cant obtain a citizenship.

The 5 year visa is no more, once the ones in use are done we have been told we have to go to a 1 year visa, even though I am married to a wife who has dual citizenship, Vn & American. Even with the 5 year visa it has to be renewed every 3 months / first at the local police station, then to immigration & back to the local police station to let them know you have it & intend to keep living in same District & ward. This is in Ho Chi Minh City.

Yeah 
Chapter II Section 2 Articles 19 - 21 of the "Law on Vietnamese Nationality, 2008 describes it.

Article 19. Conditions for naturalization in Vietnam
1. Foreign nationals and stateless persons permanently residing in Vietnam who file applications for Vietnamese nationality may be permitted for naturalization in Vietnam if they satisfy the following conditions:
a/ Having the full civil act capacity as prescribed by Vietnam's laws;
b/ Obeying the Constitution and laws of Vietnam; respecting the traditions, customs and practices of the Vietnamese nation;
c/ Understanding Vietnamese sufficiently enough to integrate themselves into the Vietnamese community;
d/ Having resided in Vietnam for 5 years or more by the time of application for naturalization;
e/ Being capable of making their livelihood in Vietnam.
2. Those who apply for Vietnamese nationality may be permitted for naturalization in Vietnam without having to fully meet the conditions prescribed at Points c, d and e, Clause 1 of this Article if they fall into one of the following cases:
a/ Being spouses, natural parents or natural off springs of Vietnamese citizens;
b/ Having made meritorious contributions to Vietnam's national construction and defense;
c/ Being helpful to the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
3. Persons naturalized in Vietnam shall renounce their foreign nationality, except for those defined in Clause 2 of this Article in special cases, if so permitted by the President.
4. Persons applying for Vietnamese nationality must have Vietnamese names. These names may be selected by the applicants and written in the decisions on naturalization in Vietnam.
5. Persons applying for Vietnamese nationality may not be permitted for naturalization if such naturalization is detrimental to Vietnam's national interests.
6. The Government shall specify conditions for naturalization in Vietnam.
Article 20. Dossiers of application for Vietnamese nationality
1. A dossier of application for Vietnamese nationality comprises:
a/ An application for Vietnamese nationality;
b/ A copy of the birth certificate, passport or other substitute papers;
c/ A curriculum vitae;
d/ A judicial record issued by a competent Vietnamese authority for the period the applicant resides in Vietnam and a judicial record issued by a competent foreign authority for the period the applicant resides in the foreign country. Judicial records must be issued within 90 days before the date of filing the dossier;
e/ Papers proving his/her Vietnamese language skills;
f/ Papers proving his/her place and period of residence in Vietnam;
g/ Papers proving his/her ability to make livelihood in Vietnam.
2. For persons exempt from several conditions on naturalization in Vietnam specified in Clause 2, Article 19 of this Law, papers corresponding to exempted conditions are not required.
3. The Government shall specify papers in dossiers of application for Vietnamese nationality.
Article 21. Order of and procedures for processing of dossiers of application for Vietnamese nationality
1. A person applying for Vietnamese nationality shall file a dossier to the provincial-level Justice Service of the locality where he/she resides. In case the dossier is incomplete under Clause 1, Article 20 of this Law or invalid, the provincial-level Justice Service shall immediately notify the applicant thereof for supplementation arid completion of the dossier.
2. Within 5 working days after the receipt of a complete and valid dossier, the provincial-level Justice Service shall send to the provincial-level Public Security Department a request for verification of the applicant's identity.
Within 30 days after the receipt of a request from the provincial-level Justice Service, the provincial-level Public Security Department shall conduct verification and send verification results to the provincial-level Justice Service. During this period, the provincial-level Justice Service shall examine papers in the dossier of application for Vietnamese nationality.
Within 10 working days after the receipt of verification results, the provincial-level Justice Service shall complete the dossier for submission to the provincial-level People's Committee president.
Within 10 working days after the receipt of a request from the provincial-level Justice Service, the provincial-level People's Committee president shall consider, make conclusion and send his/her proposal to the Ministry of Justice.
3. Within 20 working days after the receipt of the proposal from the provincial-level People's Committee president, the Ministry of Justice shall re-examine the dossier, if finding that all conditions for naturalization in Vietnam are met, the Ministry shall send a written notification to the applicant for carrying out procedures to renounce his/her foreign nationality, except the case in which the applicant wishes to retain his/her foreign nationality or is a stateless person. Within 10 working days after the receipt of a written permission for the applicant to renounce his/her foreign nationality, the Minister of Justice shall report the case to the Prime Minister for submission to the President for consideration and decision.
In case the applicant wishes to retain his/her foreign nationality or is a stateless person, within 20 days after the receipt of the proposal from the provincial-level People's Committee president, the Ministry of Justice shall re-examine the dossier, if finding that the applicant is eligible for naturalization in Vietnam, the Ministry shall report the case to the Prime Minister for submission to the President for consideration and decision.
4. The President shall consider and make decision within 30 working days after the receipt of the Prime Minister's proposal.

TVBZ28 wrote:

Seriously, I bet there is a paragraph somewhere in the Citizenship Law section, that spell out how and why a spouse of a Vietnamese can/cant obtain a citizenship.

rock0012987 wrote:

Thanks so much all of you, and this is most helpful. It seems retiring in Vietnam is a very risky enterprise! Do you know of anyone that has been able to do it and remain in the country for any length of time? And if so, did they need to jump through myriads of hoops, leaving/returning etc?

Please make a search within Expat.com before asking endless questions that are already answered.
It clearly states at top of any page,above the 'post new topic sign'        -'' Search the Vietnam forum''.
Here is a link from a long time member .
How you never found this,or continued to research,I don't know.

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=525361

osage wrote:

The 5 year visa is no more, once the ones in use are done we have been told we have to go to a 1 year visa, even though I am married to a wife who has dual citizenship, Vn & American. Even with the 5 year visa it has to be renewed every 3 months / first at the local police station, then to immigration & back to the local police station to let them know you have it & intend to keep living in same District & ward. This is in Ho Chi Minh City.

My friend received a new 5 year VEC only last week.
Now he can apply for a 3 yr TRC, ( same with a TT Visa, 3 -- 12 months ). And no more 90 day reporting!!!!!

jimbream wrote:

rock0012987 wrote:

Thanks so much all of you, and this is most helpful. It seems retiring in Vietnam is a very risky enterprise! Do you know of anyone that has been able to do it and remain in the country for any length of time? And if so, did they need to jump through myriads of hoops, leaving/returning etc?

Please make a search within Expat.com before asking endless questions that are already answered.
It clearly states at top of any page,above the 'post new topic sign'        -'' Search the Vietnam forum''.
Here is a link from a long time member .
How you never found this,or continued to research,I don't know.

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=525361

You were right Jim, I post a dedicated, and CURRENT Visa and Work Permit  thread, ( I asked the admins to make it a " sticky ", just like the useless VEC thread is, but no, they don't appear to be interested , like I said , they are more interested in the " traffic ". ), and what happens a couple of days later????? No wonder so many go to FB.

bluenz wrote:

jimbream wrote:

rock0012987 wrote:

Thanks so much all of you, and this is most helpful. It seems retiring in Vietnam is a very risky enterprise! Do you know of anyone that has been able to do it and remain in the country for any length of time? And if so, did they need to jump through myriads of hoops, leaving/returning etc?

Please make a search within Expat.com before asking endless questions that are already answered.
It clearly states at top of any page,above the 'post new topic sign'        -'' Search the Vietnam forum''.
Here is a link from a long time member .
How you never found this,or continued to research,I don't know.

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=525361

You were right Jim, I post a dedicated, and CURRENT Visa and Work Permit  thread, ( I asked the admins to make it a " sticky ", just like the useless VEC thread is, but no, they don't appear to be interested , like I said , they are more interested in the " traffic ". ), and what happens a couple of days later????? No wonder so many go to FB.

Your last sentence is so true. I'm finding online forums to be less and less useful and more and more combative and pointless. I spend more time on FB than ever, especially on the location-specific ones. Although they can get out of hand sometimes.

All, again many thanks, and yes, you are absolutely correct I should have done my due diligence to search further.  I appreciate all that responded to my post with positive and helpful information.

Just a quick note: I married a Vietnamese lady in August 2014, after knowing her for 6 years. Shortly after getting married we applied for a 5 year residence permit for me, which took 7 days.

eodmatt wrote:

Just a quick note: I married a Vietnamese lady in August 2014, after knowing her for 6 years. Shortly after getting married we applied for a 5 year residence permit for me, which took 7 days.

Is it still possible for a couple in the same circumstances to do as you did, or did the new visa laws at the start of this year cancel the 5 year residence permit?

These sites will give you a simple breakdown of the rules

1/ http://thetamtru.com.vn/en/vietnam-temp … oreigners/
2/ http://www.immivietnamvisa.com/general- … n-vietnam/

Thanks, and this sounds quite promising, and hopefully this is still valid after any possible changes to the immigration laws

Thank you, these are good links. Do you think these internet companies are reliable, or is it safer to hire a lawyer in Vietnam?

I am not sure as my permits are done by the company I work for but I think I would try to find a lawyer who specialises in this work. At least with those sites you can see how you may qualify and then seek the assistance of a lawyer.

Thanks and good advice!