Marissa and Adam Goldstein, both 40, established a company in Vietnam in 2015 to help American businesses diversify their supply chains.

A year later, just one day after their first set of twins turned one year old, the family moved to HCMC. Marissa quickly fell in love with the city's child-friendly environment.

She says that the restaurant staff would hold and play with the kids whenever they dined out, making them feel safe and welcomed. Within just one month, they had made many international friends there.

Thought they originally planned to return home after three months, Marissa’s family has now lived in HCMC for 10 years, according to Business Insider.

Marissa and Adam Goldstein pose for a photo with their 10-year-old and 7-year-old twins. Photo from Twins on the Go x2

"We have taken our children to about 50 countries, spent summer vacations in Boston, and returned to HCMC for the hustle and bustle of the city we love," she states.

When their first two children were 18 months old, during a trip to the town of Sa Pa in northern Lao Cai Province, Marissa was inspired by the textile products of H'Mong women and decided to launch her own travel accessories brand. On the same trip, she and her husband agreed to have another child, and they welcomed their second set of twins in 2019.

When the pandemic broke out, the family returned to the U.S. However, as soon as the pandemic ended in 2022 and their business in Vietnam rebounded, they immediately returned to HCMC.

Currently, the family of six lives in a 5-bedroom serviced apartment, 15 minutes away from the city center. Their neighborhood is popular with foreigners and home to many international schools, with every amenity within a 10-minute drive.

"There are good doctors and hospitals, Michelin Guide-rated street food, French bakeries, and plenty of activities for the kids, from taekwondo to tennis," the mother of four says.

Every month, they spend US$1,000 buying fruits and vegetables at local markets and even more on meat and imported food. Thanks to reasonable prices—for instance, a latte at a fancy cafe costs only around $2—Marissa treats her friends to coffee without a second thought.

The Goldsteins pay about $900 per month for a domestic worker to clean, prepare food, and help with childcare, and their health insurance costs less than $10,000 a year.

On her personal blog, Marissa once described Vietnam’s affordable labor costs as an advantage. In her early years there, being able to hire a private chef, a nanny, and a driver allowed Marissa to grow her career while still taking good care of her children.

Their largest expense is their children’s tuition. International school fees range from $8,000 to $30,000 per student per year, and and the Goldsteins pay toward the upper end of that range because they believe in the value of good education.

"With fees for four kids, we probably spend about the same as we would in the U.S., where we wouldn't have to pay for school. But there, we wouldn't eat out or travel as much." she says.

Since she is accustomed to prices in Vietnam, Marissa is often "shocked" whenever she returns to Boston. She once spent up to $100 just to take her kids out for bagels.

Marissa also notes that although the weather in HCMC is hotter and more humid than in her hometown, with sudden rainstorms during school pick-up hours, the silver lining is that her kids only need one wardrobe all year.

The family views their flexible life in Vietnam as a launchpad to the world. As traveling with six people can be challenging when it comes to hotel rooms and transportation, the family often chooses homestays, camping, and RV trips to get the full experience.

They have camped in the forests of Phong Nha in central Quang Tri Province, visited Thailand about 20 times, explored New Zealand, and learned to surf in Sri Lanka.

This flexible travel style also reflects Marissa’s philosophy on life, as she has always feared predictability.

"I thrive in chaos, and with two sets of twins, there's always plenty of it—I wouldn't have it any other way," she states.