It made me realize that I was completely wrong to rely solely on one source of income to fund my retirement.
I then reached out to former colleagues to see if my old position was still available, but the company had already filled the role and there were no other openings. Fortunately, my skills and experience had not dulled too much, so I was able to secure another job.
That experience taught me a painful lesson: deciding whether to retire early is not just about how much money you have saved or how much passive income you expect to earn, it also depends on your lifestyle.
Do not rush into retirement and maybe consult with your family and friends before making such a big decision.
Reader Nguyen Phu Hung
The Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement has been gaining popularity in Vietnam since around 2020. A poll of nearly 20,000 VnExpress readers found that only 11% wanted to work until the official retirement age (61.5 for men and 57 for women). Meanwhile, 55% hoped to retire in their 50s, 29% between the ages of 40 and 50, and 5% before turning 40.
But even among those who manage to retire early, many struggle to find a sense of purpose, especially if they previously made earning money their sole focus.
Reader Doanhiep:
“I also retired early at the age of 35 after accumulating enough assets to live comfortably. But to be honest, I felt quite unhappy and empty despite spending more than five years traveling around the world.
Roughly a decade into my retirement, I decided to start a small business with about 20 employees. I am much busier now but far happier.”
Reader Henry Tran:
“As the saying goes, life is about the journey, not the destination. The greatest benefit of financial independence is not the ability to do nothing but the freedom from constantly worrying about making ends meet, which allows you to pursue or discover your passions.
Young people who retire early often experience a sense of loss because they become disconnected from society and stop learning and growing altogether. While you are still young, financial independence should be seen as an opportunity to live according to your values, not as an excuse to live idly.”
*These opinions were submitted by readers and translated to English. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.
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