Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from Vietnam to Thailand
Vietnam and Thailand are two of Southeast Asia's most popular destinations for digital nomads, expat workers, and regional business professionals — both offering low cost of living, growing tech ecosystems (Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok both have active startup scenes), and relatively warm treatment of foreign residents. From a tax perspective, both countries share a 35% top income tax rate — but the actual effective rates and residency rules differ significantly. Vietnam's family deduction system (VND 11M/month for the taxpayer plus VND 4.4M per dependent) combined with high social insurance contributions creates a more complex compliance burden. Thailand's Social Security Fund contribution is effectively capped at a low amount (THB 750/month), making it much less burdensome than Vietnam's 8% employee contribution. A critical 2024 development: Thailand changed its foreign income tax rules. From January 1, 2024, Thai residents must pay income tax on all foreign-source income remitted to Thailand in the same tax year — regardless of when it was earned. This tightening (previously, income earned before the tax year could be remitted tax-free) significantly impacts digital nomads and remote workers with foreign income. Vietnam's digital nomad visa situation remains limited — no formal digital nomad visa exists; most foreign residents use business visas or e-visas with extensions. Thailand introduced the Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa in 2022, offering a 10-year renewable visa with 17% flat income tax rate for qualifying high-income individuals.
PIT Progressive; Social Insurance 8% Employee
Vietnam Personal Income Tax (PIT): progressive 5–35% on employment income for residents. Family deduction: VND 11M/month for taxpayer + VND 4.4M/month per dependent. Social insurance: 8% employee + 17.5% employer. Health insurance: 1.5% employee. Unemployment insurance: 1% employee. Total employee deductions: ~10.5%. Vietnam residents taxed on worldwide income; non-residents taxed at flat 20% on Vietnam-source income.
PIT Progressive; SSF 5% Employee (capped)
Thailand Personal Income Tax: progressive 0–35%. Personal allowance: THB 60,000. Employment expense deduction: 50% of income (max THB 100,000). Social Security Fund (SSF): 5% employee contribution (max THB 750/month — effectively capped at low amount). Thailand taxes residents on Thailand-source income and foreign-source income remitted to Thailand in the same year (rule tightened from 2024).
At $60,000 / VND 1.5B / THB 2.1M income:
At $60,000 equivalent income: Vietnam effective rate ~25% (after family deductions; including social insurance). Thailand effective rate ~22% (after personal allowance + employment deduction; SSF negligible). Thailand marginally more competitive for most income levels. Thailand LTR visa at 17% flat is significantly better for qualifying high earners.
| Income | VN Tax | TH Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $24,000 / VND 600M / THB 840K | ~VND 80M Vietnam (13.3% effective after deductions) | ~THB 70,000 Thailand (8.3% effective) | Thailand ~5% lower effective at this entry level | Vietnam social insurance adds 10.5% on top of PIT |
| $60,000 / VND 1.5B / THB 2.1M | ~VND 380M Vietnam (25.3% effective inc. social) | ~THB 420,000 Thailand (20% effective) | Thailand ~5% lower effective rate | Thailand 2024 foreign income rule: remitted income now taxable |
| $100,000 / VND 2.5B / THB 3.5M | ~VND 745M Vietnam (29.8% effective) | ~THB 900,000 Thailand (25.7% effective) | Thailand ~4% lower effective rate | Thailand LTR visa at 17% flat available for $80K+ income |
| $200,000 / VND 5B / THB 7M | ~VND 1.72B Vietnam (34.4% effective) | ~THB 2,100,000 Thailand (30% effective) | Thailand ~4.4% lower; LTR visa would save ~13% | LTR visa at 17% flat saves $26,000/year on $200K income |
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Get Paid as a Global Remote Worker →Thailand's LTR visa (introduced 2022) offers a 10-year renewable visa for qualifying individuals including: high-income earners (income $80,000+/year), retirees with $80,000+ income or $250,000 pension, wealthy global citizens ($1M+ assets), and digital nomads working for overseas companies. The LTR Work from Thailand Professionals category allows foreign income from overseas employers to be earned in Thailand with a 17% flat income tax rate — significantly below the standard 0–35% progressive rates. To qualify for the 17% rate: income must be at least $80,000/year from a foreign employer or business; work must be for overseas companies (not Thai-source). For digital nomads and remote workers with foreign-employer income above $80,000: the LTR visa offers the most tax-efficient legal status in mainland Southeast Asia.
Vietnam does not have a digital nomad visa. Foreign workers in Vietnam typically use: (1) tourist e-visa (90 days, extendable once) — working on a tourist visa is technically not permitted but common in practice; (2) business visa (30–90 days, extendable); (3) work permit and temporary residence card for those employed by Vietnamese entities or on investor visa. For tax purposes: individuals spending 183+ days in Vietnam in a calendar year become Vietnamese tax residents — obligated to file Vietnamese PIT returns on worldwide income. Remote workers earning foreign-source income while living in Vietnam for 183+ days owe Vietnamese PIT on that income at progressive 5–35% rates. Unlike Thailand's LTR regime, there is no special reduced rate for foreign-source remote work income.