Published on its website, International Living quoted expat Sharyn Nielsen who relocated to Ho Chi Minh City from Australia back in 2011 with her husband. She revealed, “We feel safer on the streets here than we did back home. We've never been robbed or threatened.”

For the Australian expat, Vietnam's 'everyday sense of security' is one of her favourite parts of living in the southern metropolis. “We've walked through parks at night, an unthinkable act in some Western cities,” Sharon shared.

She added, “Locals even look out for you, we've had strangers politely suggest we keep our phones tucked away in cafes or tourist spots.”

The new study from International Living has revealed the world's safest places for retired expats and they all rank higher than the United States on the Global Peace Index.

Jennifer Stevens, executive editor of International Living, said, "Our international correspondents and regular contributors live in and regularly visit the places we recommend."

Portugal tops the list this year, followed by Malaysia and Ireland. The rest of the Top 10 are Spain, Italy, Greece, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Indonesia.

Vietnam an ideal destination for expats: InterNations

For the fourth consecutive year, Vietnam is the most affordable country in the world for expats, ranking first out of 53 destinations when it comes to personal finances, according to a 2024 InterNations study.