Working in Vietnam as a Foreigner: Jobs, Work Permits, and Career Guide 2026

The Legal Foundation

Working in Vietnam legally requires a work permit (Giay Phep Lao Dong). This applies to almost all foreign nationals employed by a Vietnamese entity or operating a business in Vietnam.

The key things to understand:

• The employer applies for the work permit, not the employee
• Work permits are tied to a specific employer and position
• Once you have a work permit, you can apply for a TRC (Temporary Residence Card)
• Working without a permit exposes both you and your employer to fines and visa cancellation

See our Work Permit service for the full process and documentation requirements.

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Who Needs a Work Permit (and Who Doesn't)

Work Permit Required

• Employed by a Vietnamese company or foreign-invested enterprise operating in Vietnam
• Providing services under a commercial contract
• Running a business with a Vietnamese-registered entity

Work Permit Exemptions

Certain categories are exempt from the standard work permit requirement but still need an Exemption Certificate:

• Foreign investors who are legal representatives of a company in Vietnam
• Members of the Board of Directors or Board of Management of certain entities
• Those doing temporary work under 30 days in a 12-month period
• Individuals working in the education sector under specific provisions

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What Jobs Expats Actually Get

English Language Teaching (Largest Category)

The single largest source of expat employment in Vietnam. Demand is consistent and nationwide.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree (any subject)
• TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificate (120+ hours)
• Clean criminal background check (apostilled)
• In some cases: native English speaker from a "Schedule 1" country (USA, UK, Australia, Canada, NZ, South Africa, Ireland)

Who hires: Language centres (ILA, Anh Van Hoi Viet-My, British Council), international schools, universities, private tutoring.

Salary range:

• Language centres: $1,500-2,500/month (with accommodation often included)
• International schools: $2,000-4,000/month + benefits
• Private tutoring: $20-50/hour depending on level and location

For a detailed breakdown of teaching requirements, see our blog post: How to Legally Teach English in Vietnam.

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Technology and IT

Vietnam's tech sector is growing fast. Ho Chi Minh City has a genuine startup ecosystem centred around District 2 and Binh Thanh.

Roles commonly held by expats:

• Senior software engineers and architects
• Product managers (especially with global company experience)
• Startup founders
• Remote engineers working for foreign companies

Companies: FPT Software, VinTech, Tiki, Momo, Grab Vietnam, and dozens of foreign tech company Vietnam offices.

Salary range:

• Senior developer at a Vietnamese company: $2,000-5,000/month
• Product/engineering manager: $3,000-7,000/month
• Remote workers for foreign companies: dependent on employer's pay scale

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Finance, Banking, and Professional Services

Vietnam's expanding financial sector employs a smaller number of senior foreign professionals:

• Investment banking: Limited positions, mostly at international banks (HSBC, Standard Chartered, Citibank Vietnam offices)
• Private equity and venture capital: Small but growing scene in HCMC
• Accounting and audit: Big 4 firms (PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, EY) all have Vietnam offices
• Legal: Typically requires a Vietnam law degree or special government permission to practice Vietnamese law; most expat lawyers work in international law firms advising on cross-border matters

Salary range: Highly variable. Senior positions at international firms: $5,000-15,000+/month with packages.

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Hospitality and Tourism

Vietnam's hospitality sector employs many expats, particularly in management roles:

• Hotel and resort management (particularly luxury properties: Marriott, IHG, Accor, Four Seasons all have Vietnam properties)
• Restaurant management and chefs
• Tour operations and travel management

Salary range: Varies widely. Hotel GM roles at 5-star properties: $5,000-15,000/month with accommodation. Restaurant roles: $1,500-3,000/month.

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Education (Beyond English Teaching)

International schools employ foreign nationals in many roles beyond classroom teaching:

• Curriculum coordinators and vice principals
• PE, Music, Art, Science teachers
• School counselors and psychologists
• IT and learning technology staff

Salary range: $2,500-5,000/month depending on role and school, often with housing allowance and relocation package.

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Starting Your Own Business

Many expats choose to operate their own business rather than seek employment. Vietnam allows 100% foreign-owned companies (typically as a Limited Liability Company).

Popular business types among expats:

• Consulting (management, IT, education, legal)
• Import/export
• Restaurants and cafes
• Online businesses (e-commerce, content, software)
• Property management

See our Company Registration service for the full setup process. Typical timeframe is 2-4 months.

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Salary and Compensation

Tax and Net Pay Calculation

Vietnam's progressive PIT system means high salaries face significant tax. For a monthly gross of $4,000 (approximately 100 million VND):

• Gross: 100,000,000 VND
• Less: Personal deduction (post-reform 2026 amount)
• Less: Dependents (if applicable)
• Progressive tax: approximately 25-30% effective rate on income in this range

The result: a $4,000 gross salary in Vietnam is not the same as $4,000 in hand. Negotiate gross vs. net carefully with employers.

Benefits to Negotiate

Standard expat packages in Vietnam typically include some combination of:

• Housing allowance ($500-1,500/month)
• Annual return flight home (1-2 per year)
• Health insurance for employee and family
• School fees contribution for children
• Relocation allowance
• Annual bonus (1-3 months salary)

Corporate package quality has declined over the years as Vietnam matures as a market, but senior roles at multinationals still carry strong packages.

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The Work Permit Process

Key Documents Required

For the employer:

• Business registration certificate
• Proof the role requires a foreign expert

For the employee:

• Passport (valid 12+ months remaining)
• Degree certificate (apostilled and notarised)
• Professional experience documentation (typically 3+ years in the field)
• Health certificate (from a recognised medical facility)
• Criminal record check (apostilled, typically from your home country)
• 2 recent passport photos
• CV in Vietnamese or with certified translation

Processing Time

Standard processing: 15-20 working days from complete application submission.

New 2025 regulation: authorities are now required to process work permit applications within 10 working days for certain skilled professional categories.

Duration and Renewal

Work permits are issued for up to 2 years and are renewable. Renewal requires updated documentation and typically takes 15-20 working days as well.

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Common Challenges

1. Document apostille requirements - Many expats underestimate the time needed to get documents properly apostilled in their home country. Allow 4-8 weeks for this.
2. Experience documentation - Vietnam requires proof of professional experience. Employment contracts, reference letters, and payslips from previous employers all help.
3. Job change complications - Work permits are tied to a specific employer. Changing jobs requires cancelling the old permit and applying for a new one.
4. Freelancing - There is no work permit category for freelancers. Operating as a sole trader working for Vietnamese clients requires a registered business.