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
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Professional Services
Finding lawyers, accountants, doctors and other professionals in Vietnam.
Vietnam's professional services market is large but quality is uneven. For any significant legal, tax, immigration or financial matter, use a firm with demonstrable Vietnam-specific experience — not just a regional Asia office. Confirm that the adviser holds current Vietnamese registration (for lawyers: bar card; for accountants: VACPA certificate; for estate agents: real estate licence). Always get fee quotes in writing before engaging. Payment in advance is common for small services; milestone-based for larger engagements. For emergencies, international chambers (AmCham, EuroCham) helplines and member directories provide vetted referrals within hours.
Language options: English: widely spoken at international-standard law firms, Big Four accounting firms, international hospitals and multinational real estate agencies. Staff competence in English at Vietnamese government offices: limited — bring an interpreter for DOLISA, Tax Department and Immigration visits. Most documents must ultimately be in Vietnamese — certified translation is part of every process. French: spoken at FV Hospital, Hanoi French Hospital, French Chamber (CCI France Vietnam). Japanese/Korean: significant communities with dedicated service providers in HCMC and Hanoi.
Immigration Lawyer / Visa Consultant
Work permit application: VND 5,000,000–20,000,000 (agent fee, excluding government fees). TRC application: VND 3,000,000–10,000,000. Visa consultation: VND 500,000–2,000,000/hour. How to find: Law firms in Hanoi (Hoàn Kiếm, Đống Đa) and HCMC (District 1, 3, Bình Thạnh). EuroCham and AmCham member directories. Expat Facebook groups (HCMC Expat Community, Hanoi Expat Network) — peer recommendations are most reliable. Key firms: KPMG Law Vietnam, Dezan Shira & Associates, Viettonkin Consulting, Le Nguyen Law Office.
💡 Immigration rules change frequently — always use a current practitioner, not a friend who did their work permit 3 years ago. Verify the firm actually handles DOLISA work permit applications (not just tourism visas).
Tax Adviser / Accountant
PIT filing (employee): VND 2,000,000–8,000,000/year. Business tax advisory: USD 150–300/hour. Annual accounting (SME): USD 3,000–15,000/year. How to find: Big Four (KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, EY) all have Vietnam offices for complex tax matters. Mid-tier: Grant Thornton Vietnam, RSM Vietnam, BDO Vietnam. For individual PIT: specialist expat tax advisers advertised in Expat Advisory Group Vietnam (Facebook), AmCham HCMC events.
VACPA (Vietnam Association of Certified Public Accountants)VCCI (Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
💡 Vietnam's tax regulations change regularly — use an adviser current on 2026 Circulars and Decrees. Check that your adviser understands the PIT treatment of expat housing/schooling allowances and your specific DTAA situation.
Real Estate Agent (Môi Giới Bất Động Sản)
Agent commission: typically 1 month rent (landlord usually pays) or 1–2% of purchase price for property sales. Buyer's agent for property purchase: USD 500–2,000 flat or % of purchase price. How to find: Savills Vietnam, CBRE Vietnam, Colliers Vietnam for high-end residential and commercial. Local agencies: Đất Xanh, CenHomes, Property Vietnam. Expat-focused agencies: BatDongSan.com.vn listings (largest property portal). District 2 Expat Real Estate Group (Facebook). Agents are plentiful — quality varies enormously.
💡 For property purchase, use a bilingual Vietnamese lawyer for due diligence (not the developer's recommended lawyer). Always verify the Red Book (Sổ Hồng) authenticity at the local TNMT office before any deposit payment.
Insurance broker (Môi giới bảo hiểm)
International health insurance (individual expat, annual): USD 1,500–4,000+. Commission-based brokers — no direct fee. Advisory fee for complex family or group policies: USD 200–500. How to find: Insurance Supervisory Authority of Vietnam (ISA — isa.gov.vn) for licensed insurers. Leading international health insurers with Vietnam coverage: AIA Vietnam (aia.com.vn), Manulife Vietnam, Cigna Vietnam, Pacific Cross. Broker firms specialising in expat plans: Pacific Cross, William Russell, Henner. Compare international plans before arrival as pre-existing exclusions apply from the start date.
Insurance Supervisory Authority of Vietnam (ISA — isa.gov.vn)Vietnam Insurance Association (AVI — hiephoi-baohiem.org.vn)
💡 International health insurance is essential for all expats in Vietnam — public hospitals are inadequate for most expat healthcare needs. Choose a plan with direct billing at Vinmec, FV Hospital, and Family Medical Practice. Include medical evacuation coverage (standard destinations: Bangkok or Singapore). Verify insurer is ISA-licensed for Vietnam. Review hospital network, coverage limits, and evacuation provisions carefully before purchasing.
Lawyer (Luật Sư)
International firm: USD 150–400/hour. Local qualified firm: USD 80–200/hour. Property transaction conveyancing: VND 5,000,000–20,000,000. Employment dispute advice: USD 100–300/hour. How to find: Vietnam Bar Federation directory (vba.org.vn). International law firms with Vietnam offices: DFDL, Hogan Lovells, Baker McKenzie. Bilingual local firms: Vilaf, Vision & Associates, LNT & Partners, Indochine Counsel. AmCham and EuroCham directories. Most expat legal needs: property purchase, employment disputes, company incorporation.
Vietnam Bar Federation (Liên đoàn Luật sư Việt Nam)Hanoi Bar AssociationHCMC Bar Association
💡 For property transactions, employment disputes and company formation — never rely solely on verbal agreements. All significant business in Vietnam should be in writing with notarised contracts where required.
Relocation Agent (Dịch Vụ Di Chuyển)
Full relocation package: USD 2,000–8,000 depending on scope. Home search only: USD 500–2,000. School search: USD 500–1,500. How to find: Santa Fe Relocation, Crown Relocations, Asian Tigers Vietnam, Interpack Moving. These cover home search, school search, immigration support, household goods shipping, settling-in services.
💡 Employer-sponsored relocation packages often include a relocation agent — use this if available. For self-funded relocation, the home-search service is the most valuable component given the complexity of navigating the Vietnamese rental market.
Translation and Notarisation (Dịch Thuật & Công Chứng)
Document translation: VND 100,000–400,000 per page depending on complexity. Notarisation: VND 50,000–200,000 per document. Full work permit document set: VND 2,000,000–6,000,000. How to find: Licensed translation offices (công ty dịch thuật công chứng) available in all major cities — look near district courthouse (tòa án) or notary office (phòng công chứng). Key requirement: translation must be by a Vietnamese-certified translator and notarised by a Vietnamese state notary for official use. Online directory at congchung.vn.
💡 Allow 2–5 business days per document set. Translations for DOLISA (work permit) and Immigration must be done by approved translators — some offices maintain lists of approved providers.
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