If you’re thinking about retiring abroad from the UK in your 60s or beyond, these Blog pages are here to help. I have divided the Blogs into two Chapters - 

1) The UK Chapter (planning to move)

2) The Vietnam Chapter (Life in SE Asia) 

I share practical, first-hand experience of moving abroad later in life — from what to organise before you leave the UK to what everyday life is really like once you arrive.

You’ll find articles covering:

• What to do before leaving the UK (pensions, property, healthcare, paperwork)

• Renting accommodation abroad

• SIM cards, banking, ATMs, and managing money

• Cultural differences and settling in

• Everyday life as a retiree abroad

• Living in Vietnam, with a particular focus on Hanoi

Whether you’re just exploring the idea or actively planning your move, these posts are written to be clear, practical, and easy to follow, especially for people over 60.

The Vietnam Chapter - (Life in SE Asia)

Click on the one that interests you.

• The Vietnam Retirement "Loophole": My Life on 90-Day Visa Runs      April 2026   I retired and moved to Hanoi from the UK in April 2025. Now, some might question my logic or my wisdom here. Why? Because I picked a country that doesn't currently have a dedicated Retirement visa.

• Medical emergency in Vietnam at 3am     

March 2026      I’ve previously written a Blog about private health insurance and mentioned that I couldn’t get cover for any pre-existing medical conditions.

• Private Health Insurance  

March 2026      When planning my early retirement to Hanoi, Vietnam from the UK, one of the things that surprised me the most was the cost of private health insurance

• Cost of Living - What Does It Cost to Live in Hanoi in 2026?    

Feb 2026    Before I made the move, this was one of the first things I wanted to know. You can find plenty of figures online—but I wasn’t sure how realistic they were.

• Accessing Money in Vietnam – ATMs, Cards and Apps     

Jan 2026     Before I left the UK, I decided I was going to keep both my UK bank account and credit card.

• Buying a Vietnamese sim - What I did    

Jan 2026    Before I left the UK, I had been with EE for over 10 years. But like many people, I had noticed the monthly plans were getting more and more expensive.

• Finding an Apartment     

Jan 2026   After initially moving into a hotel I started to hunt for an apartment....

• Buying a Motorbike    

Jan 2026  Part 3 of 3 in the series of Blogs in relation to my motorbike journey from complete beginner to buying one.

• Renting a Motorbike     

Jan 2026      Part 2 of my motorbike journey.

• Motorbike Lessons - can I even do this?     

Dec '2025     This is part 1 of my motorbike journey in Hanoi. 

• Learning Vietnamese    

Dec '2025     Learning Vietnamese - harder than I thought.........

• First 2 weeks in Vietnam    

Dec '2025     By the time I retired and finally moved to Hanoi, Vietnam I had visited there 3 times before....