Intro and other ways to land jobs in VietNam outside of TEFL

Member since 29 July 2022

FrozenYakMember29 July 2022 06:22:23

Greetings!

My story actually starts when my best friend, who is from Beijing, got me into Korean food and shows until I really wanted to go to SKorea. I finally decided to go on my first ever vacation, but no one I knew could go with me, and so my costs would be all mine. After some research into it, I started finding food videos about Vietnam and began looking into that more. I discovered the cost would be half of a SKorea trip, with better hotels. I somehow put all my anxiety about going on an adventure alone aside and planned it out as simply as possible so I would be safe and relaxed while getting at least some of the local culture. This put me in a tourist-heavy area of Ho Chi Minh. It took me a couple days to get into a vacation state, and I actually made a friend at the convenience store while trying to buy something. This person took me to a few nicer areas outside of the city and I was loving it.

Eventually I had to fly back, but I stayed in contact with my new friend. That was in early 2019, and my friend has been encouraging me to move out there. I've actually joined a Vietnamese job bank but I know it's difficult to get a job as an expat even if I was there, so I haven't put too much effort into that. But I know I would like to live somewhere in the north, maybe as far south as Da Nang. But I like some areas in Ha Noi, and all the areas within driving distance like Sa Pa.

My friend recently suggested I join an expat group on Facebook, however I'm not on Facebook, so I looked up alternatives and landed here. My main goal is to figure out if there's other ways to land jobs in VietNam outside of TEFL. I'm an IT kinda guy, but really any job I can do, and make a living off of that supports me enough to live in VietNam, would be acceptable. I haven't looked at any forums yet (will check out tomorrow) so maybe the info's already there

AndyHCMC ViP

Member since 29 February 2020

AndyHCMCViP29 July 2022 07:00:02

1855

@FrozenYak,

Welcome to Expats, to get a work permit, visa & TRC you have to be wanted by the local companies who can't find someone local, which means "Experts" so they can get the paperwork done to sponsor you and you can stay in VN for the length of the job/contract.

If yo have a degree that puts you on the path, however if a local can do what you do and they get paid way less it makes it harder for you.

Have a look at out Jobs section and see if you have a skill set that they may be looking for, also add your Resume.

If you have any further questions please start a new thread outside of this intro page so members can see your question

Andy

gobot ViP

Member since 17 January 2014

gobotViP30 July 2022 03:51:46

1430

My story actually starts when my best friend, who is from Beijing, got me into Korean food and shows until I really wanted to go to SKorea. I finally decided to go on my first ever vacation, but no one I knew could go with me, and so my costs would be all mine. After some research into it, I started finding food videos about Vietnam and began looking into that more. I discovered the cost would be half of a SKorea trip, with better hotels.

See wikipedia page Koreans in Vietnam. There is no shortage of Korean food, drink, and stores esp in Saigon D7. So you can have your phở and eat kimchi too.

My friend recently suggested I join an expat group on Facebook, however I'm not on Facebook, so I looked up alternatives and landed here. My main goal is to figure out if there's other ways to land jobs in VietNam outside of TEFL.

I don't know why people are Facebook shy. Must be hundreds of groups there. Best place for all kinds of long tail info and recommendations. For example expat groups, IT, motorbike, hobby, city-specific, meetups.

I'm an IT kinda guy, but really any job I can do, and make a living off of that supports me enough to live in VietNam, would be acceptable. I haven't looked at any forums yet (will check out tomorrow) so maybe the info's already there .
- @FrozenYak

If your iT specialty can be done on line, working remote full time, part time or contract for a western company, you can afford to live almost anywhere in the world. Basic cost of living in Vietnam $1200 - $1800 /month.

Erikji ViP

Member since 21 November 2020

ErikjiViP30 July 2022 04:10:18

1293

If your iT specialty can be done on line, working remote full time, part time or contract for a western company, you can afford to live almost anywhere in the world.

But no visa, because no visa for digital nomads.

In IT there are plenty of jobs, he can find easily a job on VietnamWorks.

Bhavna Team

Member since 01 June 2015

BhavnaTeam30 July 2022 04:58:26

42494

Hello everyone,

@ FrozenYak Welcome to Expat.Com !

Please note that I have created a new thread from your post on the Vietnam forum so that you may better interact with members.

All the best,

Bhavna

Aidan in HCMC Vietnam Expert

Member since 23 December 2017

Aidan in HCMCVietnam Expert31 July 2022 00:30:34

4208

But no visa, because no visa for digital nomads.
In IT there are plenty of jobs, he can find easily a job on VietnamWorks.
- @Erikji

...at about $800 - $1000 per month, full time judging by this site.

It would be a frugal foreigner, indeed, who could manage on that pay scale.

THIGV ViP

Member since 26 September 2012

THIGVViP31 July 2022 01:19:19

4427

Aside from top management employees at multinational corporations, the only two paths outside of ESL that I have heard of have been as chefs at restaurants where their ethnicity was exotic to Vietnam (e.g. French, Italian) and in IT, networking in particular. I had a long phone conversation once with an expat in my suburb who was working in setting up networks, both physical and software. (We never met face to face and the reason for the call escapes me now.). However that was several years ago and an untold number of systems engineers have graduated from universities in Vietnam since then. Also it seems that since the pandemic, the government has tightened up considerably on the definition of "expert." It may not be impossible but you will need some luck.

THIGV ViP

Member since 26 September 2012

THIGVViP31 July 2022 01:23:01

4427

But no visa, because no visa for digital nomads.
In IT there are plenty of jobs, he can find easily a job on VietnamWorks.
- @Erikji

...at about $800 - $1000 per month, full time judging by this site.

It would be a frugal foreigner, indeed, who could manage on that pay scale.

- @Aidan in HCMC

My neighbor in 2015 was an electrical engineer, working for a major construction firm, and he made about $700. $800 to $1000 would be about right today.

Erikji ViP

Member since 21 November 2020

ErikjiViP31 July 2022 01:43:20

1293

...at about $800 - $1000 per month, full time judging by this site.

That's enough to live in Vietnam. No one goes to Vietnam for the salary.

That said, an experienced IT can earn $1500-$2000 (for more, need to be a manager/director).

Only beginners start now at $800. There is real a shortage of ITs in the outsourcing IT business, especially experienced and English-speaking to be the link between the foreign business clients and the local teams.

Aidan in HCMC Vietnam Expert

Member since 23 December 2017

Aidan in HCMCVietnam Expert31 July 2022 05:15:56

#10

4208

@FrozenYak

Please let us know how your job search turns out.

Here's a current list from VietnamWorks, with some salaries posted.

gobot ViP

Member since 17 January 2014

gobotViP05 August 2022 04:05:41

#11

1430

I don't know why people are Facebook shy.
@gobot

Do you think it could be because they are upset that Facebook let the Russians interfere in the 2016 US election?

- @THIGV