The first association with Vietnam for a Russian person is a good place to relax in the winter. However, first of all, it is an actively developing country, which in recent years has managed to make a significant leap in the economy. Therefore, work in Vietnam is becoming a hot topic for discussion.
Issuance of a work permit
Tourists from the CIS countries can freely stay on the territory of the state for up to 14 days. If you are going to Vietnam for the purpose of employment, it is better to worry in advance. A work visa in 2020 is issued at the Consulate or Embassy. There are no problems getting it.
Vietnam, like any other state, primarily cares about the employment of its own citizens. However, migrant workers are also welcome here. Therefore, there is work for Russians even without knowledge of the Vietnamese language.
The main condition for employment in the country is the availability of a permit. It is issued by the local Ministry of Labor upon submission of a package of documents. In this case, the applicant must meet the following conditions:
- be over 18 years of age;
- not have health problems that will interfere with activity;
- not be convicted in the territory of the state of residence, as well as in Vietnam;
- have a higher education, work experience in the desired position for at least 5 years.
To obtain permission, you must provide:
- application form;
- a copy of a foreign passport;
- two color photographs taken no more than six months ago;
- job offer;
- documents confirming education and qualifications;
- certificate of no criminal record;
- medical health certificate.
All documents must be translated into Vietnamese or English and certified by a notary. Employers often help job seekers with this.
There are a number of professions that do not require permission from the Ministry of Labor:
- employees of large international companies in the field of information technology, business, tourism, transferred to a branch in Vietnam;
- owners and heads of local organizations;
- lawyers with a license;
- foreign media;
- teachers coming on international programs;
- volunteers of transnational organizations;
- foreign citizens with an educational degree starting from a bachelor's degree and work experience of at least three years for a short-term employment not exceeding 90 days a year.
If the visa is initially open for 30 days, it can be extended up to 3 months for a fee.
Where to look for jobs
Chemist
Highly paid vacancy offered by large companies. The work is complex and requires knowledge and experience.
Mechanic
Another highly demanded technical specialty.
Bartender
Work in the service sector. A rather rare vacancy for a foreigner, since more often this position is occupied by local residents.
Waiter
A common profession for every country. Official earnings are low, but you can get good tips from tourists.
Tour guides
Demanded vacancy for Russians in the high season. Associated with a large flow of tourists from the CIS countries.
Maids
It does not require special skills, but it is not paid highly.
Workers in the kitchen
The easiest type of employment for a foreigner, which does not require special qualifications and knowledge of the language.
Administrators at the reception
This profession for Russians is most often found in tourist cities where many of our fellow citizens traditionally have a rest (Hanoi, Nha Trang Mui Ne, Ho Chi Minh City).
Doctor
One of the most sought after specialties. Working as a doctor is considered very prestigious, especially in the field of dentistry.
Teacher
Teachers come here mainly for international educational programs. The work of a teacher in Vietnam is controlled by the Embassy of the state where the person came from. The most demanded specialty for a foreign teacher is English.
Salaries
Compared to neighbors such as China, South Korea and Japan, Vietnam cannot boast of a high income level. However, the cost of living in these countries is much higher. Therefore, if we consider the money received in relation to the necessary expenses for living, the amount is approximately the same.
The average salary in Vietnam is 5.5 million dong per month. This is approximately 200 euros. Taking into account the fact that foreigners are hired mainly for skilled labor, the salary per month reaches 1000 euros.
The highest salary in international companies that are looking for employees of management, management, technical specialists. The income of workers in the service sector is much lower. However, there are also minimum skill requirements.
Working conditions and schedule
Working conditions depend on the type of profession. It is safest and most profitable to find a job in international companies: a contract is concluded with each employee, which clearly stipulates the hours of work and rest, the number of vacation days.
Most jobs in the tourism industry are seasonal. Therefore, the work schedule is quite tight.
How to open your own business
Knowing the needs of tourists, you can start a business in Vietnam. The exotic country constantly attracts tourists from all over the world. Cafes, restaurants, bars are popular in resort areas, so the service sector is the right course. Large cities are developing, being built up, the construction industry is in demand. The question of what kind of business can be opened is quite extensive.
The service and tourism industry can easily turn a profit due to the constant flow of holidaymakers. To save on paying taxes, many do work at home, do manicures, pedicures, massages, cook meals to order.
If you have the ability, desire and finances, you can do business with Vietnam, for example, in training personnel and international exchange of experience.
Buying a ready-made business
In the tourism sector, it is not necessary to open a company on your own. In the service market, you can always find a ready-made business. It can be a hotel, cafe, restaurant, bar.
Business for Russians in Vietnam can be found on specialized websites.
Responsibility for illegal employment
If in large corporations employees are formalized, this is not always the case for Vietnamese firms. The owner must pay taxes for each working foreigner. Therefore, locals often do not want to register labor immigrants legally.
The state often searches for and deports illegal workers. However, this type of employment continues to exist. In a short-term cooperation, this is beneficial for both parties.
Benefits of working in Vietnam
The country has gone through difficult years in the past. Now Vietnam is at the stage of active development. It is surrounded by such successful neighbors as China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan. Trying to follow their example, Vietnam is developing the economy, opening up possible prospects for profitable employment for foreign citizens.
Labor migration is used by the Vietnamese government not only for the rapid development of local companies, but also for raising the professional level of the local population and exchanging experience between countries. In addition, work during the holiday season not only generates income, but also allows you to have a good rest yourself!
The best cities for employment
The most popular place for Russian tourists is Nha Trang. It is there that you can easily find work as a guide, administrator at the reception and other types of employment.
It is easier for specialists in the technical field to get settled in the capital of Vietnam - Hanoi. In this city there are branches of large international holdings.
Summing up
All types of demanded work in Vietnam can be divided into two categories:
- Vacancies for people with higher education and a certain level of qualification. Such a profession will bring official employment, stable income, and prospects.
- Employment in services and tourism. Initially, the amounts received are not so large. But this is a great opportunity to learn the language, the peculiarities of doing business, which will later help you open your own company in Vietnam.
Job opportunities in Vietnam are quite real, and if there is a goal and knowledge, even bold plans can be realized. Or you can simply combine work with relaxation in a warm country.
The Republic of Vietnam is a state located in Southeast Asia. It borders with Cambodia and Laos in the West, with China in the North. The climate of Vietnam is ambiguous. In the North it is temperate, with a cool season from November to April. In the South, tropical, very hot with a rainy season from May to October. The weather here is warm, which attracts tourists and those wishing to stay here for permanent residence. Recently, foreigners choose the country for work as well. Jobs in Vietnam for Russians in 2020 attract with their diversity and the ability to easily enter the state.
Benefits of working in Vietnam
Due to the large flow of foreign citizens wishing to work in Vietnam, the state has simplified the process of entry and employment. In any case, if you plan to work in Vietnam, you will need a visa. To obtain a work visa, you need to submit documents to the Embassy or Consulate.
The process of issuing a short-term visa takes seven working days. The package of required documents is standard:
- International passport.
- Color photo - 2 pcs.
- from the place of future work.
- Air tickets.
A visa application is a document sent by a future employer. It indicates the position of the employee and the terms of the work contract.
All documents are sent to the immigration authorities of Vietnam. In case of a positive decision, in a few days the documents are sent to the applicant. The visa is issued for 30 or 90 days. The visa fee is $40.
You can apply for a visa upon arrival at the airport. For obtaining such a visa, you will have to pay from 60 to 85 dollars, in addition to the fee.
You can extend your visa on the spot, at the Ministry of Public Security. You must submit a renewal application and pay for the service, which costs $25.
If the visa is overdue, then for each day you will have to pay an additional $ 5.
Gift: 2100 rubles for housing!
It is easy to find a job as an English teacher. The work of such employees is estimated at up to $10 per hour. They are provided with free accommodation and a visa with an indefinite period.
International organizations provide many job vacancies in Vietnam for Russians. Here, as elsewhere, there is a demand for highly qualified personnel. You can find a job for both a top manager and an ordinary employee.
There are many job search options. Someone prefers to find a suitable option at home. There are special sites for finding work in Vietnam, as well as groups on social networks. Some find work locally, mostly in tourism or sales.
Local authorities welcome the opening of business in Vietnam. It has a loyal policy towards businessmen and investors. The most profitable industry is food, hairdressing and shopping. Business prices are low. So, a ready-made cafe can be purchased for 35 thousand dollars. In addition, small and medium-sized businesses have tax benefits.
Average salary in Vietnam
Salaries in Vietnam are low. The minimum salary is $100, the maximum is $1,000. Remuneration depends on the qualifications of the employee and the area of work.
For example, the work of a Russian-speaking guide in the off-season is estimated at 150 to 450 dollars, in the season - from 400 to 5000. A middle manager earns an average of 200 dollars a month.
Illegal work
There is a lot of illegal work in Vietnam. This is due to officially low salaries and the desire of people to earn more.
In Vietnam, employers who employ foreign citizens must pay contributions to the budget. Due to the fact that not all employers want to pay high taxes, many employees work unofficially. The policy of the authorities in this area has become tougher and illegal immigrants are constantly being identified. When establishing the fact of unofficial employment, a citizen is deported to his homeland.
One of the safer options for illegal work is baking cakes to order. You can earn up to $400 per month. This allows you to run your business without opening a company, which is not entirely legal.
Street musicians performing in the centers of large cities earn from 50 to 100 dollars per hour. There is a lot of competition, and you also have to fight off the local mafia and the police.
When considering moving to Vietnam, you should evaluate the pros and cons. Undoubtedly, the weather here is pleasant and conducive to stay. If you are close to the field of tourism or services, or you have a contract to work in an international organization, it is worth a try. A great option if you have a remote job or passive income.
This time we will tell you about another Asian country - Vietnam, which can become a great haven for a long time for lovers of the exotic, the ocean and super delicious coffee.
Meet Anna Fomenko, she has been living in Vietnam for a year and kindly shared her experience and basic information that will be useful to anyone who is thinking about temporary (or not so) moving to another country.
I sometimes think about whether I can settle in one place for a long time, not go anywhere, enjoy the same view from the window, communicate with the same circle of people. Probably, someday it will happen, because I spent almost a whole year out of 4 years of travel in Asia in Vietnam. There is a sea and mountains, several climatic zones, a huge amount of fruits and a convenient visa regime.
When to go
The official tourist season in Vietnam starts at the end of September and ends in March. This is the most comfortable time for the first acquaintance with the country. Even if you decide to move to Vietnam permanently, it is still better to live here for a while and see everything with your own eyes.
Which region to go
I like the sea, so we chose Mui Ne.
The majority prefers Nha Trang as a more modern and comfortable city. Some guys live and work in Mui Ne during the season and move to Nha Trang when everything is empty here.
Both of these resorts are in relative proximity to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - the second largest city after Hanoi (the capital). So if you want to work under palm trees on the coast, learn to surf or kite surf, these are the places for you. Unlike seaside resorts, in big cities it is hot and stuffy in summer, but near the sea, the constant breeze and heat are not so hard to endure.
In hot weather, you can go to Dalat. This is an amazing city. Just a few hours and you will forget about the heat. Dalat has cool air and beautiful views, which is why it is also called the city of eternal spring or little Paris.
I have been to Dalat three times already. Every time I come with great pleasure. We rent a room in a hotel for $12 per night, we are thinking of moving there for a couple of months. Naturally, no longer in a hotel, but in a rented room. You will rarely find so many parks, squares, excellent coffee houses. Dalat for me is a delightful fusion of European and Asian. Something unique, where you want to return again and again.
Of course, you should not limit yourself to Dalat. There is also the island of Phukok, the imperial capital of Hue, cold Hanoi, exotic-tourist Sapa. And that is not all.
I confess that I am a big fan of Vietnamese ceramics, all these cups, saucers with images from life.
About work
There is a lot of work for foreigners in Vietnam. In addition to water sports instructors, you can get a job: a manager in a restaurant, an administrator in a hotel or club, a travel agent or a seller in a store. In Nha Trang and Mui Ne, your Russian will be an added bonus - there are many tourists from Russia, and the owners prefer to hire those who speak the language. English will not hurt either, there are no less Australians here than Russians.
Personal experience: I work remotely, but I know quite a few guys who make good money during the season and live very comfortably here. I find it difficult to name the payment amounts, you can get $250, $500, and $1000. It all depends on the type of activity and your capabilities.
Flight
Here I can recommend monitoring not only , but also the site www.vietnamairfares.org . Sometimes you can catch interesting offers there. Recently, acquaintances bought tickets to Moscow for $350 per person.
Insurance, medical training
There is a whole street in Ho Chi Minh City where several good clinics with different levels of service are located. Some doctors know Russian, as they received their education from us. Although the main language of communication is English. Where to go - to a private clinic or a public one - it's up to you to choose. But I would recommend contacting private ones and at the same time carefully choosing your doctor.
Visa
A visa for citizens of the Russian Federation for up to 15 days is not required. If you are planning a trip to Vietnam for a longer period, then you need to obtain a visa in advance, as well as VisaApprovalLetter - visa support. Such a letter should be received in advance and presented upon arrival along with the visa.
Where can I make a VisaApprovalLetter? For example, take the help of agencies (one of them: visasup.com).
Personal experience: we entered Vietnam from, we made a visa for six months at the Vietnamese embassy, so the VisaApprovalLetter was not useful to us. Since then, we have traveled only once, the rest of the time we renew the visa on the spot every three months. We use the services of intermediaries - it's easier for us. The cost of extending a visa is from $30 for three months, depending on where and with whom you are renewing it, of course.
Extending a visa is easy:
- you need to get documents to fill out;
- usually they are filled in either by the owner of the hotel, guest house, house (where you will live) and assures the local law enforcement agencies;
- after that, you carry the document and apply for a visa extension.
The procedure can be simplified if you pay an additional $10-15, then the agency will fill in everything themselves and the issue with the papers will disappear by itself.
In addition, it is possible to get a business visa to Vietnam for six months - a year. Conditions and opportunities are carefully described on Vinsky's forum. I recommend studying the manuals from there - the entire process of obtaining is described in detail, and you can familiarize yourself with it there.
Accommodation search
Everyone has their own requirements for housing. It's pretty hard to recommend anything here. Most often, the search is carried out already on the spot or through social networks. There are quite large groups on Facebook and VKontakte devoted to these issues. For example:
Options for those wishing to live in the metropolis can be found on similar sites:
I want to emphasize that prices are indicative, depending on the season, requirements, income level, they can be either much more or less. It is rather difficult to give a specific range here. There are guys who easily fit into the amount of $400-500 (housing + food in Mui Ne); there are those who find it insufficient.
For example, in a tourist area in Ho Chi Minh City, you can rent a room in a hotel from $ 7 per day, but it will not be comfortable for living and working. Normal studios in Ho Chi Minh City with rent from six months can be found from $250 per month for a room in a shared house, and from $500 - in a good area.
If you want to rent a European-style villa with a pool on the coast for a long time, then the price can start from $1000.
A Vietnamese-style house will cost several times cheaper - from $400 per month. It will have everything: hot and cold water, Internet, washing machine, furniture and its own kitchen.
If a house is a lot for you, then you can find a studio. As in the previous options, seasonality applies, but the average price starts from $300 per month. These are quite large rooms, bright, with a division into a sleeping and working area.
For those who are aiming for a budget option, a guesthouse is suitable, from $10-12 per day per room and an average of $220 per month - with hot water, Internet and a shared kitchen.
The price of apartments in Nha Trang can range from $250 for a condo to $500 and more.
Also, the price for a room, a house, a villa depends on whether it is a tourist city or not. For example, in Mui Ne and Nha Trang, prices are higher than in Da Nang or Vung Tau. There are many Russian-speakers in Vung Tau, mostly people work at an oil producing enterprise. But still, I would call Nha Trang and Mui Ne more touristy.
The estimated budget for these cities will be as follows:
| Costs/city | Ho Chi Minh City | ||
| from $650 | from $300 | from $250 | |
| from $300 | from $300 | from $200 |
»
We rent a studio in Mui Ne for $250, it has everything: Internet, hot water, electricity, air conditioning, work desk (most importantly, yes).
What to look for:
- when renting a room, be careful: immediately check whether electricity is included in the payment. Sometimes they “forget” to mention it right away;
- when paying a deposit, agree that it is an automatic payment for the last month of residence;
- if you are renting a house for a long time, be sure to ask for a discount - the more the better. If the owners are sure that you will live for a long time, then the discounts are quite decent.
I want to emphasize that the number of options is endless. I know about rooms above restaurants for $75 a month and villas for $1000. You can find housing in this range, as well as above or below. Everything depends on the needs.
In the off-season (summer) prices drop, you can find an acceptable option for yourself much cheaper. Again, your ability to negotiate, as well as how long you intend to rent a house, will affect.
Transport
The price for renting motorbikes is from $6 per day and more, depending on its condition. The automatic bike is traditionally more expensive, although for long trips I recommend taking it with manual gear shifting. If you plan to stay in Vietnam for a long time, then it is preferable to buy your own, there are many used bikes in tourist places. Their prices also fluctuate depending on the season. You can find it for $100 and $150 - usually such offers appear at the end of the season, when most of the people leave. Naturally, you won’t buy a new one for such a price, but for a start you don’t need it.
Officially, to drive a bike or a car, you need a Vietnamese license, international standards do not work. Vietnamese rights can be obtained on the spot, for this you need to contact the police and clarify the information at the place. But often foreigners in tourist places drive without a license, as they come for the season.
Gasoline cost: about $1.15-1.20.
Personal experience: drive a car or, of course, you can. But Vietnam is known for its crazy traffic on the roads. Here, the usual rules may not apply: stop in front of you and think, turn on the turn signal in one direction and then turn in the other, overtake on a narrow highway - all this is possible in Vietnam. Therefore, there is only one advice here: accuracy and attentiveness. If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to use a taxi, public transport or bike taxi, there are plenty of them here.
After several years of traveling, you begin to appreciate home cooking very much. Therefore, we mainly buy products on the market and cook them at home. Although I am a big fan of interesting and unusual coffee shops, so this is a special item of my expenses.
For example:
Coffee in a regular coffee shop on a Vietnamese-style road can cost from 7,000 dong (less than a dollar);
Coffee in a European-style coffee shop in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) - from a dollar, two, sometimes three.
Examples of food prices (per kilogram / liter):
- Rice - from $0.7.
- Potato - $ 1.2.
- Sugar - $1.
- Flour - from $1.
- All local vegetables on the market (cucumbers, carrots, zucchini, cabbage, greens) - $0.4-1.2.
- The price of fruits, with the exception of some exotics, is from $0.4-2 per kilogram. For example, bananas - about $0.5, pineapple - about $0.7 apiece, papaya - from $0.5. Imported fruits, such as apples, start at $4.
- Milk - $1.4-2.
- Fish - $1-7, normal - about $3.
- Meat - from $3.
- Eggs - from $ 0.9 (per dozen).
What do they eat and where do they eat
Vietnamese cuisine is quite diverse. Here they eat a lot of seafood, all kinds of meat (even exotics like a crocodile or a snake), a large amount of tropical fruits. Worth trying as much as you can find. Moreover, the cuisines of the north and south of Vietnam have many differences. Sometimes you can find unfamiliar dishes even in a neighboring city or province.
Coffee is a special item of the local cuisine. It seems that the whole of Vietnam is saturated with its smell. They drink it everywhere. In any cafe, wherever you come, you can always try this delicious drink. Traditional Vietnamese coffee is drunk very strong, diluted only with condensed milk and nothing else. Depending on the region or temperature, it may be hot or iced.
In addition, it is always served in a manual “fine” press, from which the aromatic drink slowly, drop by drop, flows onto white condensed milk, allowing you to take a break from the worries of contemplating this process. Living in Vietnam and never tasting the local coffee is tantamount to a crime. Fragrant, with a strong taste, filtered through a Finn - this is a whole philosophy.
Things to do besides work
Firstly, you can learn yoga, kiting - there are many schools on the coast that offer their services.
Secondly, this is travel in Vietnam. The country is quite large and diverse. The north is different from the south. This is the imperial city of Hue, French Dalat, high-speed Saigon, cold Hanoi. You can choose and stay where you like.
Contact people in Vietnam. For some reason, there is a stereotype that the Vietnamese rarely smile. To be honest, I don't know where it comes from. People smile and laugh very often. Young people learn English, it is easy to find a common language with them.
Vietnamese everyday life Important details:
- Internet and hot water in Vietnam in tourist and big cities are everywhere. There are no difficulties with this.
- Mui Ne Nha Trang - Many people speak plain English or Russian. There are no problems with mutual understanding here.
- Ho Chi Minh - mostly in English.
Personally, I can write about Vietnam endlessly. About unusual traditions, beautiful ceremonies, traditional clothes. I am interested in many things: culture, books, coffee. It seems to me that it is impossible not to love this country the way it is.
Anna Fomenko, organizer of the project Everywhere is good! , traveler, on my list: Georgia, Azerbaijan, India, Nepal, Thailand and Cambodia. I have been living in Vietnam for a year now and I like it here. I am engaged in the development of projects on the Web.
My work place:-) Reading time: 14 minutes
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Working in Vietnam is one of the most important issues facing immigrants who wish to live in this country. If earlier, when renting an apartment in Russia, it was easy to live in Asia and not work, now, after the dollar has grown significantly, you have to look for opportunities to earn money. So, how easy is it to find a job and, in principle, to get a job in Vietnam for Russians and Ukrainians? Let's figure it out.
In recent years, the Vietnamese economy has grown significantly, and not only due to tourism. The growth of industry is increased and the former dependence on agriculture is reduced - the country becomes industrialized.
The country is inhabited by about 95.3 million people, and this number continues to increase. At the same time, the level of poverty and unemployment are systematically decreasing - the maximum unemployment rate in the country is 2%. In the wake of a favorable economic climate, investments are attracted to the country, foreign specialists are invited. In a word, a foreigner can always find a place in the Vietnamese labor market.
Visitors should not count on large salaries (compared to Thailand, for example). But looking at the simple conditions of labor immigration, many vacancies of different profiles and the general attractiveness of Vietnam in terms of life, the influx of immigrants is unabated. The climate here is different in the north and south. The south of the country is located in a tropical climate, with hot and humid weather. In the north, the climate is more temperate and cooler in winter. This is worth keeping in mind when moving.
Who is required?
What professions are in demand in Vietnam? Of course, the most common topic is tourism. The following vacancies are popular:
- hotel manager;
- diving instructor;
- guide;
- seller to the store (jewellery, tourist goods, etc.).
In the restaurant business:
- administrators;
- cooks;
- couriers.
Clubs require:
- bartenders;
- DJs;
- dancers.
In spas and beauty salons:
- hairdressers;
- massage therapists;
- administrators;
- and etc.
The range of vacancies is quite wide, but to a greater extent, one way or another related to the service of visiting tourists. There is always work in Vietnam for Russians, especially if you have a good tongue and know how to sell. It is realistic to earn from 300-500 dollars per month. The range of earnings is very wide, and for a successful season, earnings can reach several thousand dollars. Considering that renting a house in Nha Trang costs about $300, then the income is quite enough.
The most highly paid positions are offered in international organizations located in the country.
The monthly salary there can be from 1000 euros and more. Basically, managerial and leading positions of the highest qualification are vacant, but sometimes ordinary workers are also required. The services of foreign language teachers are also in demand. In addition to a good salary (up to 10-15 dollars per hour), teachers are guaranteed unlimited and free accommodation. Among other popular vacancies are sales managers, engineers of various specializations, mechanics, workers in the oil industry. The minimum salary of specialists is about $500.
The Vietnamese themselves prefer to work in industry, agriculture and the service sector. As of 2017, the average monthly salary in the country is about 4.9 million VND (about $200 or 12,000 - 15,000 rubles). If a specialist, including a foreign one, has sufficient qualifications, he can count on an increased salary.
As elsewhere, local employers are required to pay taxes, but not everyone wants to pay them. Therefore, informal (in fact, illegal) work is in demand in Vietnam. A foreigner working illegally is at risk of being deported to his home country. Illegals are periodically detected, the authorities in this sense act harshly. However, this does not prevent illegal work from existing.
One of the easiest ways to get around the law is cook something at home and sell. For example, there are guys in Nha Trang who make cottage cheese. Since the Vietnamese themselves do not use this product (and they do not know what it is), the main customers are Russians who pay in cash. In fact, this is their own business, but not everyone actually registers it. And since there is no company, there are no tax transfers from it. The price of 1 kg of cottage cheese is 250,000 VND.
Opening a business officially
As for the legal business, its opening is only welcomed by the authorities. An equally loyal policy is observed for both native citizens and immigrants. Traditionally profitable business sectors are hairdressing, retail and catering.
In the catering sector, you can buy a ready-made business inexpensively. Small and medium-sized businesses are also provided with certain benefits from the authorities. Business in Vietnam is a separate topic, with its own pitfalls, and we will not analyze it in this article.
Despite the availability of work for immigrants, salaries in Vietnam remain slightly lower compared to other countries in Southeast Asia. And in such developed countries as South Korea and Japan, earnings are many times higher. True, life is more expensive there, and the requirements for labor immigrants are stricter. For example, in China (Guangzhou) in the service sector, you can easily earn from 6,000 - 10,000 yuan ($ 1,000 - 1,500), and an English teacher easily earns 12,000 - 15,000 ($ 2,000 - $ 2,500).
Popular places to work
There are few large cities in Vietnam where it is worth settling down to work. It all depends on your goals and requirements. Those applying for high earnings should pay attention to the largest cities - Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Representative offices of international companies are concentrated there. For those interested in seasonal earnings associated with beach tourism, large resort cities are suitable - for example, Nha Trang or Mui Ne. The city is in demand among Russian-speaking tourists and Australians. There is a comfortable atmosphere for work: a warm climate, softened by the sea breeze.
Work in Nha Trang
Nha Trang is a progressive and rapidly developing resort city. Let's dwell on it in a little more detail. The city has a developed automotive industry. The level of salaries ranges from 300 to 1000 dollars. To reach the top bar will require high qualifications and desire.
But Nha Trang is better known as a resort, and therefore they try to choose work related to tourism and sales. In the field of retail sales, there is a lot of space here: they sell everything typically Vietnamese, from traditional medicine and cosmetics to fabrics and silk, and a variety of souvenirs that attract tourists.
The professions of a guide and a waiter are popular. The latter option is tempting in that earnings can grow significantly due to bonuses and tips. Russian-speaking immigrants often prefer to take work at home. They provide services such as food delivery, manicure, pedicure, etc. In general, there are always enough customers in Nha Trang.
Work in a travel agency, although interesting, is not so attractive. You will have to sit all day in a hot room (often without air conditioning). But even there you can get good earnings, as a percentage of the sales of tours is added to the salary. Like almost everywhere, it is important to be able to sell.
Work permit and work visa
Foreigners aiming at official work in Vietnam for a long time will also have to take care of obtaining permission for this work from the authorities. As in the case of obtaining a visa, you can obtain permission either on the spot within 3 months, or in advance in your own country. The latter option is preferable.
The applicant must be at least 18 years old, he must have health suitable for work, he must not have a criminal record. In addition, a higher education is required. If a specialty in Vietnam is in demand, then at least 5 years of experience in it is also required.
All relevant documents are sent to the Ministry of Labor of Vietnam. It is advisable to send documentation in advance from your country, but this must be done at least 2 weeks before the proposed employment. If the application is approved, which is usually considered within a week, the applicant receives a work permit for a period of 2 years. After this period, it is possible to extend the validity of the permit.
The main difficulty is that if you get an official job in one company and receive permission from the authorities, you can only work in this company. To change jobs, you will have to get a new permit.
Many people have a question about how to find a job if there is no direct offer from the employer. Usually search through specialized agencies where vacancies are posted. Agencies provide applicants with all information about vacancies and employers.
While looking for work, our compatriots often enter the country on a tourist visa. During this time, in parallel with the job search, they adapt to the local atmosphere, merge into the local culture, study (although spoken English is enough for the first time). The Vietnamese authorities give foreigners 3 months for such acclimatization - this time is usually enough with a margin.
The Internet is widely used for job search. It will not be superfluous to register in social networks of a professional orientation (for example, linkedin.com). It is worth communicating on local forums with Russian-speaking citizens of the country who already have experience in finding work and living.
In Vietnam, popular sites such as
Plus, a large number of vacancies for Russians and Ukrainians can be found, oddly enough, on social networks. There are communities on VKontakte where vacancies about Vietnam appear regularly.
Finding a job in Vietnam in 2020 is quite easy. This country is not distinguished by high earnings and welcomes foreign citizens on its territory. In order to attract foreigners, Vietnam has greatly simplified the conditions for entry and employment.
Landscape of Vietnam's capital Hanoi
Vietnam is a fairly hospitable country. However, a visa is required to enter its territory for the purpose of carrying out labor activities. Such a document can be issued in two ways:
- Directly in the country of actual residence.
- Upon arrival in the territory of the state.
The first option involves submitting a package of documents to the Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam. Documents must be submitted personally, while it is worth indicating the purpose of the trip - the implementation of labor activity. In this case, it is necessary to open a work visa. The process itself takes an average of seven business days. Documents required for obtaining a work visa to Vietnam:
A visa application form is a document sent directly by the employer to the prospective employee, which specifies the main conditions of employment (position, proposed place of residence, information about the enterprise and its owner, position held).
If the employer is absent, and the person intends to independently search for work in the state, he needs to submit copies of air tickets and a passport to the embassy.
At the same time, it is imperative to notify the authorized body of the purpose of the work.
Documents are sent to Vietnam to the immigration office. If, after checking them, it agrees, then the visa application form is sent within a few days to the applicant.
Sample of filling out the application form for obtaining a Vietnamese visa
receipt of payment of the migration fee
To apply for a visa on arrival, the following documents are required:
- Questionnaire;
- Visa support;
- Photo for documents (two pieces);
- International passport. Valid for at least six months.
A visa is issued directly at the airport by immigration officers within 20-50 minutes.
Extending the visa will not entail any difficulties. It is enough just to apply to one of the departments of the Ministry of Public Security with a questionnaire for an extension. For renewal, you will need to pay from $25. The amount may be higher if an extension is needed on the same day.
This is what a Vietnamese visa looks like
Extending a visa is absolutely no problem. The only rule is to comply with the current legislation.
You can apply for a visa in the country of actual residence without personal presence, but only in the case of a sufficiently good reason. It is enough to contact special agencies with such a request. The Vietnamese government provides for such a method of submission. Agency staff will not only help you get the visa itself, but also take care of the availability of visa support.
Violation of the visa regime entails the payment of a penalty to the state fund, which is five dollars for each overdue day.
Interesting video. Standard of living in Vietnam. Salaries and pensions, taxes and prices in this country. We recommend to see
How to find a job
Vietnam provides a large list of vacancies for foreign residents. The most common of them are workers in the tourism sector.
You can find a job through specialized agencies that provide various vacancies for employment for both qualified and unskilled employees. Agencies provide all information about a potential employer, place of work and employment conditions.
Working conditions
Working in Vietnam does not imply big earnings, so many people consider this country to be a kind of transit point. Many combine their work activities with the study of the local language and culture.
Many employers provide fairly good working conditions. The length of the working day is indicated in the employment contract. There are also mandatory days off. 
So many workers have the opportunity to have a very good rest in this exotic country.
Work Permit
Regardless of the vacancy and position, in order to work in Vietnam, you must obtain a work permit. It is issued by the Ministry of Labor at the personal request of the employer.
A feature of employment in Vietnam is that if the employment contract is concluded for a period of less than 90 days, the government does not require permission.
If more than three months, the employer needs to submit an application for its submission to his employee.
If the term of the employment contract is less than 90 days, the employer must provide full information about his employees to the Ministry of Labor. At the same time, copies of contracts and personal data of workers are submitted.
This is what an employment contract looks like in Vietnam
There are a number of cases when a work permit is not required for a foreigner, regardless of the term of the employment contract:
- When highly qualified specialists come to Vietnam directly at the invitation of the country itself.
- If he is the founder of a limited liability company.
- The job applicant is a member of the board of directors of a joint-stock company.
A work permit is granted for a period of three years. After this time, the permit can be extended at the Ministry of Labor of Vietnam. It is enough to present an employment contract, which indicates the expiration date. It must exceed the actual expiry date of the work permit.
The main condition for employment in Vietnam is the age of 18 years.
Sample passport of a citizen of Vietnam