According to the Ministry of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs, by the end of 2023, there were approximately 136,800 foreigners working in Vietnam. Of these, more than 10,000 people were not eligible for work permits, nearly 126,000 people were eligible for work permits, including 91,974 newly granted work permits, 15,875 were extended, and over 10,000 were re-issued.
Career Development
Considering Vietnam as his second hometown, the Korean man Yoon Kyu Hee said life here is incredibly comfortable because Vietnam has enough potential and opportunities to become a “home” for international investors and businesses.
Yoon Kyu Hee at a business networking event between Vietnam and Korea
Born in 1996, Yoon Kyu Hee has spent over 20 years living, studying, and working in Vietnam. He is currently the Deputy General Director of the National Finance Advisory and Auditing Company (NAFICO). In 1999, Yoon Kyu Hee followed his parents to Vietnam where his father had a battery manufacturing business. Afterwards, his parents returned to Korea to retire while Yoon remained in Vietnam to develop his own career. He commented: “Vietnam is becoming increasingly attractive for foreigners to live and work due to its unique cultural identity. This brings many experiences to foreigners”.
According to Yoon, there are ample opportunities for investment and business cooperation in Vietnam. This is because it is a country that is experiencing strong economic growth, with much potential to attract foreign investment, including investors from Korea. Speaking Vietnamese like a native, in addition to his role as Deputy General Director of NAFICO, this 27-year-old entrepreneur also serves as a bridge between many Korean and Vietnamese businesses, and provides consulting and support to Korean investors doing business in Vietnam.
Of the same age as Yoon, Iryna Yang from Belarus remarked that Vietnam’s country, people, and cuisine are wonderful, which have made her attached and unwilling to leave. Iryna recounted that at the end of 2016, she first came to Vietnam as an exchange student. After graduating in 2019, Iryna decided to stay in Vietnam to establish her career.
“At that time, my family was a bit surprised and worried, but they still supported me because they believed I would be happy and have many opportunities to develop in Vietnam. I once invited my family here for a vacation, and after the trip, everyone fell in love with Vietnam,” Iryna said happily. This Eastern European girl is very fond of the Vietnamese New Year, especially Chung cake, fried spring rolls, pork leg terrine, meat jelly… In addition to her modeling work, Iryna is also a TikToker with 809,000 followers.
In 2023, Iryna visited 20 provinces and cities of Vietnam to explore the scenery, culture, and cuisine, recording videos to share with viewers. This year, Iryna aims to embark on a journey to discover the Mekong Delta, savoring and sharing rustic dishes. She said that in addition to making videos in Vietnamese, she will soon release videos in both English and German to reach a wider audience, thereby introducing Vietnamese cuisine to international friends.
Numerous Advantages
Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Thuy, National Coordinator, Labor Migration Program – International Labour Organization (ILO) in Vietnam, said that the globalization process has and is creating a flow of labor movement between countries around the world, including Vietnam. Vietnam is both a provider of international migrant labor supply and a destination for labor from various countries around the world.
The easing of visa policies has created conditions to attract foreigners to Vietnam, which has been implemented very effectively by the Government in recent times. New policies such as no limit on the proportion of foreign workers compared to Vietnamese workers working in organizations and enterprises; no requirement for foreign workers to have professional qualifications similar to the work they will be doing in Vietnam; being allowed to use previously granted work permits instead of a document confirming work experience in the same position…
“Proper implementation of legal regulations on the use of foreign workers helps organizations and enterprises be transparent in using domestic and foreign labor sources, limiting the emergence of labor relations issues for jobs that Vietnamese workers can meet,” said Ms. Thuy.
Mr. Gaku Echizenya, General Director of Navigos Group Vietnam – who has worked in Vietnam for many years, commented that the development of a multicultural work environment, an intersecting corporate culture, has been greatly contributed to by foreign personnel in Vietnamese enterprises. This is an important foundation for Vietnam to acquire a “global leadership style”, helping Vietnamese businesses and foreign-invested businesses quickly integrate, develop sustainably, and advance together with Vietnam.
Another survey by HSBC Expat also shows that Vietnam is one of the top 10 countries chosen by foreign experts as a destination for career development. The majority of foreign experts stated that they feel confident about Vietnam’s economy while being assured of its political stability.
Seeking New Experiences
A survey by Navigos Group revealed that when asked about the most desirable place to work in Southeast Asia, 30% of respondents chose Vietnam, ranking first in the region. According to the respondents’ assessment, the top 3 best things about working in Vietnam are all related to living conditions. Specifically, 18% believe that Vietnam offers “new experiences in work and life,” 17% say that they have a higher income compared to their home country and a lower cost of living, while 17% stated that “Vietnam enjoys geographical and political safety”.
