In September 2025, we started a completely new chapter of our lives: moving to Ho Chi Minh City and becoming expats in Vietnam.

After many years in Europe and an international career that had already taken us to several countries, Vietnam represented something different. This wasn’t simply another trip or temporary assignment. This time, we were going to live here, work here and discover what everyday life in Vietnam really feels like.

From Belgium to Saigon

Our Vietnamese adventure really started with the decision to leave Europe and build a new life in Asia.

The first weeks were inevitably about discovery: a new home, new neighbourhood, new workplace, new restaurants and the countless practical details involved in establishing a life in another country.

I documented those first impressions in September Monthly Update – Expat Life in Vietnam.

By October, the initial excitement was gradually becoming everyday life. October Update – Living the Full Expat Experience in Vietnam explores that transition and the growing feeling that we weren’t simply visiting Vietnam anymore.

The journey continued through November – Vietnam Expat Life: A Full Experience and our December Monthly Update.

When Expatriation Becomes Normal Life

The interesting part of living abroad begins when everything stops feeling new.

January became A Month of Consolidation, Community and Quiet Momentum.

Then came our February Reflections from Ho Chi Minh City and March Reflections from Ho Chi Minh City and Bali.

These articles increasingly became less about “being an expat” and more about simply living our lives.

Real Life Doesn’t Stop Because You Move Abroad

April demonstrated that perfectly.

April in Vietnam: When Life Hits Pause… and Still Moves Forward was very different from our travel-heavy months.

Family health issues kept us closer to home, while work continued at full speed. It was an important reminder that expatriation isn’t a permanent holiday.

May brought us back to community, Rotary, friendships and gastronomy in Another Month of Connections, Community and Gastronomy.

Discovering Asia from Vietnam

One enormous advantage of living in Ho Chi Minh City is having Southeast Asia on our doorstep.

June combined our increasingly familiar Saigon lifestyle with an extraordinary week at The Ritz-Carlton Langkawi in Familiar Favourites, New Discoveries, and a Well-Deserved Escape.

Almost One Year Later

By July, something important had changed.

In A Quieter Month, but Another Step in Our Vietnam Journey, I realised that an ordinary month in Vietnam could simply feel normal.

We had built routines.

There was work I enjoyed, family around me, restaurants we returned to, new friendships, Rotary, pickleball and opportunities to explore Vietnam and Asia.

Vietnam had become more than the country where we were living.

It had become home.

Follow Our Vietnam Story

This page will continue to grow month by month.

If you’re considering moving to Vietnam, already living here or simply curious about everyday expat life in Ho Chi Minh City, these articles offer something slightly different from a traditional expatriate guide.

They aren’t about telling you how you should live in Vietnam.

They’re about sharing how we’re actually living it.