A mother has revealed how she’s moved from Northern Ireland to Vietnam for a much more affordable lifestyle.

Celine Diffin, from Armagh, jetted across the world with her husband Matthew, 34, two years ago to the capital city, Hanoi.

The couple, who have a six-month-old daughter named Éabha, love the friendly culture and cheaper lifestyle. 

Celine, 29, revealed their rent is just £432 a month, a weekly shop is only £40 and a tank of petrol and a sandwich is around £1. 

The pair claimed their money goes much further in Vietnam and they can live off of Celine’s kindergarten teacher salary. 

The savvy mother-of-one also explained that a meal out costs as little as £2 with a beer only costing 40p and spirits and mixers costing £2. 

Celine, who was paying £650 for student accommodation in Northern Ireland before moving abroad, claimed their two bed apartment is only £432 a month.  

Speaking to The Sun, she explained: ‘There is so much fresh fruit and veg that is a lot cheaper than at home.

Celine Diffin, from Armagh, Northern Ireland, jetted across the world with her husband Matthew, 34, two years ago to the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi

‘Sometimes just me and Matthew will go for dinner for Vietnamese food and the most we’ve spent is £2. Very rarely people cook here, everyone goes out all the time for dinner because it is so cheap.’ 

Last year, Vietnam was named as the cheapest country to be an expat in for the third year in a row, according to Swiss-based expat guide InterNations.

Overall, 65 per cent of expats say they are satisfied with their financial situation in Vietnam and this isn’t just due to the low cost of living. Just under one in five expats in Vietnam say they earn $150,000 (£118,000) a year. 

Celine revealed the lifestyle is also much more laid back, with businesses closing daily for ‘lunch time naps’. 

The mother, who gave birth in Vietnam to her daughter, said she is glad she stayed in the country to have her baby because ‘it’s been fantastic.’ 

However she did claim there is one downside to the country and that is air pollution. In the densely-populated capital, levels of a major pollutant linked to heart disease, asthma and even cancer are 40 times higher than recommended guidelines.

According to IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company, Hanoi is plagued by a pollutant known as PM2.5 – tiny particles or droplets less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter that are invisible to the naked eye and inhaled without even realising.

Research has shown that these cancer-causing microparticles are small enough to enter the bloodstream through the lungs.

Celine (pictured) revealed she moved from Northern Ireland for a much more affordable lifestyle

The savvy mother-of-one also explained that a meal out costs as little as £2 with a beer only costing 40p and spirits and mixers costing £2

Celine, 29, revealed their rent is £432 a month, a weekly shop is only £40 and a tank of petrol and a sandwich is around £1

In Hanoi, PM2.5 concentration is a whopping 41.8 times the annual air quality guideline given by the World Health Organization (WHO), IQAir said.

The mother admitted it gets very bad in December to March because it ‘freezing cold’ and people are lighting fires to keep warm, which adds to the pollution. 

She claimed they constantly wear masks when stepping outside as the pollution can be bad for your lungs. 

Elsewhere, Celine also admitted that the language barrier has taken some time to get used to but Google Translate has become her ‘best friend.’

The couple even started to learn the language but admitted it is difficult to pick up.  Celine urged others who were considering emigrating to just ‘bite the bullet’ and do it, saying it’s important to experience other cultures.