Moving to a new country with children can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time. There are the obvious things to organise — visas, accommodation, flights and schools — but many of the small everyday details only become obvious once you arrive. You don’t need to have everything figured out on day one. A better approach is to get the essentials in place first, then gradually build a comfortable routine for your family.
Before you arrive
If you have time to prepare before your move, start with the things that are difficult to organise from another country. Make copies of important documents, including:
- Passports
- Visas or visa-related documents
- Birth certificates
- School records
- Vaccination records
- Medical records
- Insurance information
- Any documents your child may need for school enrolment
Keep digital copies somewhere that both parents or trusted adults can access. It is also useful to have your child’s recent medical and vaccination information available in English if possible.
Get your accommodation sorted first
Your first priority after arrival is having a stable place to stay. Once you have accommodation, check what the landlord, property manager or hotel needs from you as a foreign resident. Ask how temporary residence information is handled and make sure the accommodation knows you are staying there as a foreigner.
If you are renting long term, keep a copy of your rental agreement and important contact details for the landlord or agent.
Get connected
A local phone number can make everyday life much easier. Consider getting a local SIM or eSIM soon after arrival so you can:
- Contact your landlord
- Call schools and clinics
- Use delivery services
- Book transportation
- Communicate with teachers
- Receive verification messages
- Contact service providers
You don’t need to choose the perfect mobile plan immediately. Start with something practical and adjust later.
Figure out money and payments
You will probably use a mixture of cash, cards and local payment methods. During your first few weeks, work out:
- Where you can withdraw Vietnamese dong
- Which cards work reliably for your family
- How much cash you normally need
- Which local payment methods you can use
- How you will pay rent and other recurring expenses
If you plan to stay for a longer period, you can research local banking once you understand your needs and eligibility.
Find your family’s essential services
This is one of the most useful things you can do during your first few weeks. Find:
- A supermarket
- A pharmacy
- A clinic
- A hospital
- A paediatrician if you have children
- A dentist
- A nearby ATM or bank
- A laundry or cleaning service
- A reliable transportation option
You don’t have to use all of these immediately. The point is to know where they are before you need them.
Start looking at schools early
If you have school-age children, don’t wait until you have settled completely before researching schools. Depending on your child’s age and the type of school you want, you may need to consider:
- Preschool
- International school
- Bilingual school
- Local school
- Learning support
- After-school activities
- School transport
Start by deciding what matters most to your family. Is it location? Language? Curriculum? Budget? Class size? The next step is to visit schools and see what the environment is actually like.
Build a healthcare plan
You don’t need to know every hospital in the city. Start with a simple plan. Choose:
- A clinic or doctor for routine care
- A paediatrician if you have children
- A hospital for more serious care
- A pharmacy you are comfortable using
- Your health insurance contact
Save these details in your phone. For children, also ask your paediatrician what you should do if your child becomes sick outside normal clinic hours.
Find things your child enjoys
Moving countries is a big adjustment for children, and finding familiar routines can help. Look for activities that match your child’s interests:
- Swimming
- Music
- Art
- Sports
- Dance
- Language classes
- Playgroups
- Libraries
- Indoor play areas
- Outdoor activities
You don’t need to fill every afternoon. One or two regular activities can be enough to help your child start feeling at home.
Explore your neighbourhood
Your first neighbourhood may not feel familiar immediately. Spend some time walking or driving around and identify:
- Where to buy groceries
- Where to get coffee or a quick meal
- Parks and playgrounds
- Clinics and pharmacies
- Schools and preschools
- Children’s activities
- Convenient transport routes
For families, convenience often matters more than having every possible facility nearby.
Create a simple family routine
The first few weeks can feel chaotic. Try to establish a few predictable things:
- Regular meal times
- A familiar bedtime routine
- School or childcare routines
- A weekly activity
- Grocery shopping days
- Family time
You don’t need to recreate your old routine exactly. Give your family time to adjust.
Things you don’t need to solve immediately
It is easy to feel like you need to organise everything at once. You probably don’t. You don’t need to:
- Find your permanent favourite restaurant
- Know every neighbourhood
- Understand every local app
- Find every activity
- Choose every service provider immediately
- Have a perfect daily routine
Start with the things that affect your family’s safety, health, housing, education and everyday life. Everything else can come later.
Your first few weeks: a simple priority order
If you don’t know where to start, think about it in this order:
- Accommodation and residency requirements
- Phone and communication
- Money and essential payments
- Healthcare
- School or childcare
- Groceries and everyday essentials
- Transportation
- Activities and social routines
Once these are in place, Vietnam usually starts to feel much less unfamiliar.
You don’t have to figure it all out alone
Moving to a new country takes time. You will learn which clinic you like, which supermarket is easiest, which school suits your child and which activities your family actually enjoys. You don’t need to make every decision perfectly — start with the essentials, explore gradually and let your family’s routine develop naturally.