More inviting work environment pursued by foreigners

More inviting work environment pursued by foreigners (illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com)

Last week’s InterNations report ranked Vietnam 14th in the working abroad index, a 15-place improvement since 2022, positioning it above all other Asian countries surveyed.

This rise reflects Vietnam’s growing appeal, particularly in compensation, with 76 per cent of expats feeling fairly paid and 19 per cent earning over $150,000 annually, nearly double the global average. However, only 43 per cent reported improved career prospects, and nearly one-third found the local business culture inflexible, compared to 19 per cent globally.

Having worked in Vietnam since the 1990s, Greig Craft, chairman of Protec, a non-profit helmet factory in Vietnam, observed that Vietnam’s workplace culture is deeply rooted in traditional values.

“Vietnamese people view the workplace as an extended version of their family, so people are expected to form close bonds with their coworkers,” he said. “This familial approach extends to hierarchical relationships within the office, underscoring the importance of respect for elders and authority figures. The Vietnamese value senior members, company positions, years of experience, and age.”

Such cultural nuances necessitate a delicate approach. “When providing feedback, it should be done privately,” Craft added, emphasising the need for tact in professional interactions.

Based on statistics by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs, as of the end of 2023, Vietnam employed 136,000 foreigners, with 72 per cent worked in foreign invested firms, primarily in science, technology, electronics, services, and education sectors. Most of the expats are experts, managers, and technical workers.

Discussing basic principles Vietnam should embrace to foster career development for foreign workers, Nguyen Hong Ha, labour lawyer and programme coordinator of the International Labour Organization said, “The fundamental aspect to create an inclusive work environment for foreigners in Vietnam is ensuring equal treatment and compensation, mirroring fairness and equality for domestic workers. This commitment should apply to all aspects of employment, from recruitment to career advancement.”

According to Jimmy Tang, chief of staff from AIP Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to increasing access to safe mobility, the association pursues its vision of creating an inclusive environment for international staff in Vietnam.

Sharing insights on basic salary provisions for foreign workers, Tang emphasised that this factor needs to be competitive enough to ensure workers’ livelihoods, while also ensuring fairness in terms of skills. “Offering competitive salary is a matter of incentivising expats to pick up their lives and move to a new country because in most cases, they have to consider relocating their entire family,” Tang said. “Additionally, in any recruitments, whether for local or foreign candidates, we focus on qualifications, offer fair market value, and uphold ethical salary negotiation practices.”

With regard to working culture, the focus is on balancing Vietnam’s collective-oriented values while optimising personal development opportunities.

“We focus not just on traditional work-specific development, but alignment between individual staff members’ personal goals and organisational objectives,” Tang added. “We defined what supportive and non-supportive behaviours are. This is particularly key in an international working environment.”

In terms of state policy, given the large number and diverse professional distribution of foreign workers, since 2023, Vietnam has amended its policies to ensure easier access to career opportunities for expatriate employees. To obtain work permits in Vietnam, foreign employees no longer need a university degree in the exact field of their intended work. Instead, they must have at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and three years of relevant work experience for the job

Similarly, foreign technical workers now only need one year of training and at least three years of experience relevant to their intended position in Vietnam, rather than requiring an exact match in their field of study.

Foreigners now able to buy at Vinhomes Ocean Park 2 and 3 Vinhomes Ocean Park 2 and 3 have been granted a licence to sell properties to foreigners, opening up opportunities for foreign experts and high-income workers to own luxury homes, settle down, and even start a business here.

Low daily living costs remain inviting for expatriate families Low living costs, combined with satisfaction with financial capability and a friendly environment, have made Vietnam an ideal place for single and family expatriates to live.