Could Retirement Look Like This?

Many people approaching retirement age start asking themselves the same questions. “Where will I live?” “What will daily life look like?” “Can I keep costs predictable without giving up comfort?” With living expenses rising back home in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, more expats are exploring retirement planning abroad. For some, that includes retiring in Vietnam. Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta is emerging as a convenient choice that’s close to Singapore and to favourite holiday spots around Southeast Asia.

A new approach to retirement planning

About an hour’s drive from Ho Chi Minh City, across the Rach Mieu Bridge and through coconut country, you reach Forever Green Resort in Ben Tre. Set across 21 hectares, it’s built around a “back to nature” idea. There are gardens, orchards and wine lawns, and also aloe plots and a Japanese rock garden. The resort is built to four-star standards and includes villa-style rooms, restaurants, a spa, a pool and a conference centre. Activities range from folk music to firefly watching by boat at night. There’s even a playground, handy for when the grandkids fly in for a dose of Vietnamese sunshine.

The resort’s owner is piloting a simple long-stay model for retirees – something that may appeal to those thinking about retirement planning. Two people share a room at US$1,300 per month each, including three meals a day. Tenure is renewed annually, and residents would need a Temporary Residence Card valid for at least a year. It’s not a retirement village or a care model. It’s more like long-stay serviced living, surrounded by river life and greenery.

For those weighing up retirement planning options and imagining a slower, more affordable life abroad – without buying property or managing a household – arrangements like this show what’s possible. Think routine meals, predictable costs, plenty of outdoor space as well as a quieter pace. It’s a very different version of retirement from the one many of us picture back home.

Nearing retirement age and considering retiring in Vietnam? Interested retirees can get in touch at atcbc2012@yahoo.com. 

forevergreenresort.com

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