Half of expatriates working in Vietnam face ‘culture shock’
Foreign businesses in Vietnam have increasing need for expatriate workers since there is a shortage of skill locally, according to many recruitment companies.
Jobs site VietnamWorks forecasts demand for foreign workers to grow by 20 percent a year. (Photo: VNS/VNA)
Ho Chi Minh City (VNS/VNA) — Foreign businessesin Vietnam have increasing need for expatriate workers since there is ashortage of skill locally, according to many recruitment companies.
Gaku Echizenya, CEO of Navigos Group, said: “Thanks to itsdynamic economic development, favourable geographical conditions, stablepolitical system, and many new free trade agreements, Vietnam is now an idealdestination for FDI.”
This is also accompanied by new challenges in the form ofemerging fields, and Vietnamese human resources fail to match employers’requirements in terms of both quantity and quality, he said.
VietnamWorks, a member of Navigos Group, predicts demand forforeign candidates to increase by 20 percent a year.
In this scenario, the biggest challenge for businesses ishow expatriates can quickly adapt to Vietnam's environment and culture,Echizenya said.
A recent Navigos survey on expatriates’ expectations andchallenges when working in Vietnam found more than half experiencing cultureshock due to the differences in the social value system, with 60 percent ofrespondents saying that they have not enrolled in induction courses exclusivelyfor foreigners.
They listed the top three causes as language barrier;conflict between perception and reality in terms of environment, local cultureand relations; and lack of understanding.
Asked about best things about working in Vietnam, therespondents listed new experience, better income and low cost of living, inaddition to geographic and political safety.
They came to work in Vietnam because of their interest innew cultural experiences and working environments.
Promotion at work was not a major factor, though they saidwork experience in Vietnam would help with promotions when they return to theirparent company. — VNS/VNA
An estimated 64 percent of foreign workers in Vietnam have joined compulsory social insurance after the Government’s decree 143/2018/ND-CP regulating compulsory social insurance for foreign workers took effect.
Receiving more than 7,100 Vietnamese guest workers in March, Japan is the largest market for this group of jobseekers, according to the statistics from the Department of Overseas Labour under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).
Japanese enterprises are competing to attract Vietnamese workers who used to work in the country as interns after the ‘specified skills visa’ policy was launched on April 1, The Yomiuri Shimbun reported in its July 8 issue.
Resident and non-resident foreigners in Vietnam are still permitted to make term deposits at local banks despite some banks saying they would not accept savings deposits from individual foreign customers, the State Bank of Vietnam has said.
Vietnam has over 4.8 million people exposed to AO/dioxin, including hundreds of thousands in the second, third, and even fourth generations. Many live with severe disabilities, facing high medical costs and loss of earning capacity.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang reaffirmed that amnesty is a humanitarian policy of the Party and State, reflecting the Vietnamese tradition of compassion and winning attention and high praise both domestically and internationally.
Vietnam officially grants limited-term visa-free entry to high-profile foreigners whose presence is deemed beneficial to the country’s socio-economic development.
With support from the Vietnamese Association in Ufa, Vietnamese language classes for children have been offered for many years. Currently, 60 children of various ages are attending two classes taught by Duc Anh, free of charge.
Vietnam ranked among the top four countries and territories at the 2025 International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), reaffirming its strong position in international academic competitions.
All 20 crew members aboard the Vietnamese oil tanker GT Unity were successfully rescued from a fire in the vessel’s engine room, thanks to the swift response of the Liberian-flagged ship Androusa and Vietnamese maritime rescue teams.
Describing Agent Orange as one of the most severe and enduring legacies of the war in Vietnam, Vietnam's former Honorary Consul to Belgium Joseph-Michel de Grand Ry warned that its impact – still affecting generations more than five decades later – could last another two to three decades.
Running from August 4 to September 2, under the hashtag #TuHaoVietNam, the campaign invites participants in two categories: “I Love My Country” video clips and “I Love My Country” check-in photos.
Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on the issuance date, introduces amendments that integrate the procedure for reporting and explaining the demand for foreign workers into the process of submitting applications for work permits.
With a tight 13-month deadline, the move is under a strategic and urgent policy to bridge educational gaps, train the local workforce, and shore up territorial sovereignty in some of the country’s most remote areas.
The parade and personnel send-off ceremony will officially take place on August 10 at the area surrounding the Statue of King Ly Thai To and Dinh Tien Hoang street of Hoan Kiem ward, with the participation of nearly 3,000 officers, soldiers, and local residents.
According to national technical regulations, AIS installation is mandatory for boats carrying more than 50 passengers. However, operators of smaller vessels (under 50 seats) in Ha Long Bay have voluntarily committed to completing installation by the deadline to enhance operational safety.
The activities include a Vietnamese language teaching training course for overseas Vietnamese teachers from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thai Nguyen.
Specifically, the ships will carry out patrols from 7am to 6pm daily along the main tourist routes in Ha Long Bay, with one ship permanently stationed at Ti Top island. From 6pm to 7am the following day, the mobile vessels return to Tuan Chau island to maintain a 24/7 on-call duty shift, ensuring constant readiness.
The Ministry of Construction (MoC) plans to open to traffic 208km of expressways of six key projects by August 19, bringing the country’s total expressway network to 2,476km.
As of July 1, a two-tier local government model started in 34 provinces and cities, streamlining administration but creating a surplus of public properties. If not promptly addressed, these assets could become a financial burden.
Whether they grow up to become journalists, diplomats, or professionals in other fields, these children can one day become bridges of friendship and cooperation, telling new and inspiring stories of Vietnam – China relations, said Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh.
A 21-year-old Indian tourist was successfully resuscitated and treated by doctors at Hoan My Da Nang Hospital after a near-drowning incident left him in critical condition. After three days of intensive care, the man was discharged from the hospital and has since returned to India.
In an document issued on August 5, the PM emphasised the need to stablise living conditions for people hit by floods, landslides, and flash floods in late July and early August in northern and north-central provinces, especially Dien Bien, Son La, and Nghe An which suffered some of the worst damage.
Although millions of Vietnamese were affected by AO, only over 626,000 individuals, including war veterans and their children suffering from dioxin-related conditions, are currently receiving state benefits.
Jobs site VietnamWorks forecasts demand for foreign workers to grow by 20 percent a year. (Photo: VNS/VNA)
