Over the last decades, the number of people moving or planning to move overseas has risen significantly. If you intend to work and live abroad as an expat in Asian countries, Vietnam may be one of the best destinations for expats.
According to workinasia.net, the following reasons will make your thoughts about moving to Vietnam more clearly.
Job opportunities.
Obviously, the importance of Asia in the world economy is increasing; and Vietnam’s continuous economic growth has led to the creation of millions of new jobs. Actually, when many parts of the world are facing with unemployment, the job opportunities in Vietnam are very abundant, especially for foreigners. The in-demand jobs are in education, finance, banking, or Information Technology and language barriers do not matter if you know English!
A comparatively higher income.
According to the seventh edition of the HSBC Expat Explorer survey, if you want to earn six-figures salary, head for Asia! In there, 15% of expats in Vietnam earn over $250,000, compared to global average of 7%. In addition, 75% of expats in Vietnam say that they are satisfied with the relatively higher levels of disposable income. A better pay is obviously making your job more attractive!
Affordable living with cheaper price.
Expatriates can live a pleasant life there with a moderate expenditure, because it comes in a less expensive price in nearly all aspects than almost anywhere else in the world. For instance, there is alternative housing to fit all budgets, from luxurious and furnished apartments in the city centers to modest houses in the suburbs; or you can eat tasty Western food out at a lower price. According to HSBC’s Expat Explorer Survey, 49% of expats spend less on going out to local restaurants, theaters, music bars or general night life compared with the global average of 23% who said the same. All of these things make Vietnam one of the most cost effective countries in the world.
A culturally interesting place to live.
64% of expats in Vietnam describe this country as a culturally fascinating place to live, partly because this culture offers plenty to do for almost any budget.
Vietnam has its own impressive and distinctive culture. Cuisine is diversified, which means you can find hundreds of stunning dishes daily with unique flavors, to specialties on Tet and other holidays. It also has a “street-culture”: you will have any kind of food and drink whenever you are on streets. People sometimes simply sit on the sidewalk, enjoy their meals with a take-away coffee and talk to each other.
It’s incredibly pedestrian-friendly, and is considered one of the safest cities in Asia.
It’s incredibly pedestrian-friendly, and is considered one of the safest cities in Asia.
Hoi An ancient town. @ Shutterstock/Tang Trung Kien
Vietnam has plenty of festivals all year long such as the Lunar New Year, Mid-Autumn, etc. which have their own meanings and, normally, are bustle of activities. Vietnamese people appreciate customs, so beside fast-growing cities, they have a wealth of traditional villages making potteries, mats, specialties… or ethnic markets, which are not only for trade but also to present value of culture and history. Besides, there are many other appealing cultures waiting to be explored!
Personalities of Vietnamese people.
Though this country underwent years of intense history and is changing fast nowadays, the Vietnamese still keep their hospitality and generosity toward international people. Also, the features of cleverness, diligence, and enduring difficult circumstances help them become more skilled and better on working. They are ingenuous but adaptable and enthusiastic, forward-thinking and optimistic. Thus, take a chance to get to know them yourself!
A safe place.
Compared to a few neighbor countries in the region, Vietnam appears to be much safer to live and work because of its favorable geographic location. There is almost no natural disaster: no earthquake, no tsunami, no volcano, etc. It has a relatively political and social stability: you hardly find yourself involved in any political insurgency accidentally in Vietnam. Moreover, the crime rate is small and petty crime will not be a problem if you take some necessary precautions.
Nice weather.
Vietnam has climatic differences among the North, the South and the Central, which means there is always nice weather somewhere. Living or working in North provinces means you can be through four seasons in a year; on the other hand, the South offers you only rainy and sunny seasons. But, generally, if you like warm weather throughout the year, Vietnam will be appropriate for you.
Sapa, Lao Cai, Vietnam
Awesome landscapes and historical places.
Vietnam is well-known for many attractive and inspiring tourist destinations. Do you love sunny seashores? Vietnam has countless beautiful beaches: Nha Trang, Mui Ne, Phu Quoc, My Khe, etc. If you want to be in a pure cool highland with refreshing lakes and streams, spend time in Da Lat, Sa Pa, Mu Cang Chai, Moc Chau, etc. Or you find it enchanting to learn more about the history and culture of Vietnam and its people, go to Mekong Delta, Hue, Hoi An,… or just historical museums in Ho Chi Minh City.
Moreover, there are Phong Nha- Ke Bang National Park , Ha Long Bay, Fansipan mountain, etc. which are internationally recognized for their beauty. Hence, you do not have to worry about where to visit and relax on your holidays or day-offs!
Even if you are interested in set up a company in Vietnam, you can form one of several kinds of legal entities with a Limited-Liability Company (LLC) and a Joint-Stock Company (JSC) being the most popular choices. According to Sophie Dao, Partner at GBS – A business and legal services firm in Vietnam, the legal entity is then categorized based on the percentage of its foreign investment. As most industries in Vietnam allow foreign investors to own up to 100% of shares, a Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise (WFOE) is a common business structure in Vietnam. Foreign investors can also find a local partner and incorporate a Joint Venture Company with local-foreign ownership.