A beach in Phu Quoc. (Photo: laodong.vn)

Criteria for the top 15 list include “the ability to live a simpler, more peaceful life, without breaking the bank,” it added. The website noted that the relaxed and small island of Phu Quoc of the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang may be a bit more expensive to live on than the mainland since goods need to be flown or ferried in but still it’s appealing to retirees for its many beaches and opportunities for enjoying the outdoors in tropical weather, particularly snorkeling.

Malta island country tops the list while three other Asian islands also made their way into the list: Thailand’s Koh Samui, Indonesia’s Bali and Malaysia’s Penang.

Vietnam ranked 10th in the 2021 Annual Global Retirement Index by International Living magazine, with final scores of 75.5 for low cost of living, rich culture and history, and variety of places, from urban to rural.