Story perspectives

TikTok Sparks U.S. Exodus to Vietnam Amid Migration Decline

4/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

TikTok videos of cheap beach life have spurred a wave of U.S. citizens moving to Southeast Asia.
Chad Dunn runs a TikTok-driven service that helps Americans relocate to Vietnam, where expatriates number about 88,000 in 2024.
Brookings data shows net American migration turned negative in 2025, the first decline in fifty years.
Many Americans remain on 90-day tourist visas, requiring frequent border runs because long-term residency options are complicated.

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Story summary

TikTok videos of cheap beach life have spurred a wave of U.S. citizens moving to Southeast Asia.
Chad Dunn runs a TikTok-driven service that helps Americans relocate to Vietnam, where expatriates number about 88,000 in 2024.
Brookings data shows net American migration turned negative in 2025, the first decline in fifty years.
Many Americans remain on 90-day tourist visas, requiring frequent border runs because long-term residency options are complicated.