Vietnam (VN)

Vietnam is a dynamic, rapidly developing Socialist Republic stretching 1,650km down the eastern coast of the Indochinese Peninsula — a country of extraordinary geographical diversity, from the karst mountains of the north and the Red River Delta, through the stunning coastline of the Central region, to the vast Mekong Delta in the south.

Capital: Hanoi

Region: Asia

Language: Vietnamese

Currency: VND (₫)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 22)

Emergency: 113

Jobs & Work Permits

Everything you need to find work and get authorised to work in Vietnam.

Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs

Sở Lao Động - Thương Binh và Xã Hội (DOLISA)

DOLISA is the government ministry overseeing labour and employment policy. Expats do not typically register with DOLISA directly — their employer files work permit applications on their behalf. DOLISA offices are located in each province/city. The national portal is at molisa.gov.vn. For work permit status, contact the provincial DOLISA office where your employer is headquartered.

Services offered:

✓Work permit issuance and renewal (via employer application)
✓Labour dispute mediation
✓Minimum wage enforcement
✓Foreign worker registration and oversight
✓Employment contract regulation
✓Occupational safety inspection

Expat eligibility: All foreigners working in Vietnam must have their employer file for a Work Permit (Giấy Phép Lao Động) at DOLISA. Exempt categories include: senior managers with 12+ months continuous foreign company service, lawyers licensed by Vietnamese Bar Association, certain NGO workers with Ministry of Foreign Affairs approval, and others listed under Decree 152/2020/ND-CP. Work permit holders may only work for the employer and in the role specified on the permit.

Visit Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs

💼 Work Permits

EU Citizens

EU citizens have no special preferential immigration status in Vietnam. All EU nationals require a work permit and appropriate visa/TRC to work legally. E-Visa (90 days, multiple entry) is available to all EU nationals for initial entry. Work permit applications: employer (Vietnamese-registered entity) files at DOLISA with apostilled criminal record check, health certificate, apostilled degree, and proof of 3+ years experience. Work permit: up to 2 years, renewable once, then must be re-applied.

Non-EU Citizens

Same process applies universally regardless of nationality. Notable bilateral: Vietnamese nationals in some countries have reciprocal facilitation, but no blanket visa-free work agreement exists. US, UK, Australian, Canadian and most nationals: 45-day visa-free entry for tourism only (check current MFA list — this list changes). For work, all require Work Permit + appropriate work visa category (LD for labour, DT for investment, etc.).

EU Blue Card

Vietnam has no EU Blue Card equivalent.

Freelancer Visa

Vietnam does not offer an official digital nomad or freelancer visa as of 2026. Remote workers often use the 90-day E-Visa (renewable by exiting and re-entering). Working for foreign clients remotely while on a tourist/e-visa is a grey area — not formally authorised but not enforced against foreign-income remote workers. Long-stay remote workers should consult an immigration specialist. The E-Visa can be re-applied immediately after expiry with no cooling-off period required.

⏱️ Work Culture

Typical hours Standard working hours: 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week maximum by law (Labour Code 2019). Most office environments work Mon–Fri 8:00–17:00 or 8:30–17:30 with 1-hour lunch break. Many Vietnamese companies also work half-day Saturday. International companies typically follow 5-day weeks. Overtime is common in manufacturing and hospitality. Lunch is an important social break — 60–90 minutes common in many Vietnamese offices.

Annual leave Minimum annual leave by law: 12 days/year (increased by 1 day per 5 years of service with same employer). Plus 11 public holidays (2026). Senior employees often negotiate 15–20 days. Tet: many employers grant additional informal leave beyond the official public holidays. Sick leave (covered by social insurance): up to 30 days/year depending on years of contribution.

Sick leave Covered under BHXH (Social Insurance) at 75% of contributory salary for up to 30 days/year (normal) or 60 days if working in hazardous conditions. Must be certified by an approved medical facility. Employer must continue health insurance contributions during sick leave. Hospitalisation: up to 180 days/year at 75% of contribution salary.

Trial period Probation period allowed: maximum 180 days for senior management/highly skilled professionals, 60 days for university-degree level jobs, 30 days for high school vocational level, 6 days for other positions. Salary during probation: minimum 85% of contracted salary. Either party may terminate without notice during probation.

Notice period For indefinite-term contracts: employee must give 45 days notice. For fixed-term contracts: 30 days notice. For seasonal/specific contracts: 3 days notice. Employer must give 45 days notice for mass layoffs; individual dismissal with cause has specific legal procedures.

Salary range Entry-level (local market): ₫10,000,000–₫15,000,000/month. Mid-level professional: ₫20,000,000–₫40,000,000/month. Senior/manager: ₫40,000,000–₫80,000,000/month. Expat package (with housing/schooling): USD 3,000–8,000/month cash equivalent. English teachers: ₫30,000,000–₫60,000,000/month at international schools. Tech/software developers: ₫20,000,000–₫60,000,000/month. Region 1 (HCMC/Hanoi/Hai Phong/Da Nang) minimum wage 2026: ₫5,310,000/month (Decree 293/2025/ND-CP, effective January 1 — a 7.2% increase).

Pay frequency Monthly. Salary typically paid at end of month or first week of following month. International companies increasingly offer mid-month advance pay. 13th Month Pay (Lương tháng 13) is customary before Tet but not legally mandated for all employers — check your contract.

Contract types

·Indefinite-term labour contract (Hợp đồng lao động không xác định thời hạn) — most common for long-term employees
·Fixed-term labour contract (Hợp đồng xác định thời hạn) — maximum 36 months, after which employer must offer indefinite term or terminate
·Seasonal/specific task contract — for short-term or project work under 12 months
·Probationary contract (Hợp đồng thử việc) — up to 180 days maximum

🔍 Job Boards

VietnamWorks

The largest English/Vietnamese bilingual job platform in Vietnam. Owned by Navigos Group. Strong coverage of multinational companies, tech firms, financial services and management roles. Salary benchmarking data published annually.

Topcv.vn

Leading Vietnamese-language job platform popular with local companies. Growing coverage of tech and digital roles. Useful for understanding salary norms and local hiring practices.

CareerViet

Bilingual job board with strong representation of manufacturing, engineering, FMCG and industrial sectors. Good for roles in industrial zones and provincial postings.

JobsGo

Mobile-first Vietnamese job platform popular among younger candidates. Good for hospitality, retail and entry-level positions.

🌍 Expat-Friendly Resources

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LinkedIn Vietnam

Essential for professional networking and senior/management roles in multinationals, startups and professional services. Vietnam's LinkedIn community is active — connect with AmCham, EuroCham and industry groups for visibility.

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EuroCham Vietnam

European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam — networking events, sector working groups, business directory and occasional job postings. Member companies include major European multinationals.

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AmCham Vietnam

American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam — large network of US and international companies. Regular events in Hanoi and HCMC. Useful for US corporate sector roles.

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Tech in Asia

Regional tech media and job board covering Vietnam's startup ecosystem. Best for tech, product and startup roles in the HCMC and Hanoi tech communities.

📝 Application Tips

CV format: Vietnamese CV format: 1–2 pages. Include photo (professional, formal). Start with personal details, education, then work experience (reverse chronological). Certificates and achievements valued highly. For international companies: follow international format without photo. Ensure educational credentials are clearly listed — Vietnamese employers place high value on university name and degree. For senior roles, LinkedIn profile should match CV exactly.

Cover letter: Expected

Language: English proficiency is increasingly essential for multinational company positions in HCMC and Hanoi. IELTS 6.0+ or TOEIC 700+ commonly benchmarked. Vietnamese language ability, while not required for most expat roles, dramatically improves daily life, professional relationships, negotiation and cultural integration. Some positions (education, law, healthcare) require Vietnamese fluency.

Interviews: Vietnamese interviews are formal and respectful. Dress conservatively — business formal for first interviews. Address interviewers as Anh/Chị (older brother/sister) plus first name rather than Mr./Mrs. + surname. Preparation and qualifications are highly valued — bring original and copies of certificates. Multiple rounds common at multinationals. Group dinners as part of the final interview process are not unusual. Salary negotiation: less aggressive than Western norms — know your target range and state it confidently but without confrontation.

🤝 Networking Tips

→Attend monthly events of AmCham, EuroCham, BritCham, AustCham and other bilateral chambers — these are the primary professional networks for expats in HCMC and Hanoi.
→Join industry-specific LinkedIn groups: Vietnam Tech Community, Vietnam Legal Alliance, Vietnam HR Network, Vietnam Property Investors.
→Coworking spaces are strong networking hubs: Toong, Dreamplex, Cogo, UP (HCMC and Hanoi) run regular community events — worth attending even before you need a desk.
→The Hanoi Expat Network and HCMC Expat Community Facebook groups are active with job leads, housing, and business referrals from established residents.
→Treat all introductions as valuable — Vietnam's business culture is relationship-first. A warm introduction is worth far more than a cold LinkedIn message.
→Zalo groups for specific industries (tech, education, real estate, hospitality) are often where actual hiring discussions happen — ask established contacts to add you.
→Visit Da Nang and Hoi An tech and startup events if interested in the Central Vietnam growing scene — Danang Innovation Center runs regular programming.

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