Who goes to Vietnam from Russia?
There are several categories of people who live in Vietnam. Let's look at each of these categories in detail.
Specialists in areas in demand in the country
Some of them occupy positions of engineers and other highly qualified specialists. They are invited to Vietnam under special contract conditions.
For example, in the Vietnamese city of Vung Tau, many of our oil workers work in a joint Russian-Vietnamese company.
Their own district was built for them, and a school for children was organized. Specialists in various fields live in large Vietnamese cities - Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang. To move to Vietnam under such conditions, you must have appropriate education and work experience.
People associated with tourism
Another category of people are tourism business workers. Large tour operators from Russia send their staff to organize excursion services. Often such people do not come from Russia; they are transferred from other countries due to the expansion of their destination.
The most popular jobs in this field are greeting guides, hotel guides and tour guides.
It is worth noting that such work requires not only certain knowledge, but also huge energy costs. You have to travel a lot, get up early and constantly communicate with a lot of people.
Businessmen
The third category is people who decided to open their own business in Vietnam. The most popular option is a restaurant, store or other small business. Opportunities for developing your business in Vietnam exist.
Freelancers and remote workers
In addition, those who simply prefer to live in a warm climate go to Vietnam. Many of them come seasonally, returning to their home Russian cities in the summer.
Photographers, makeup artists, video operators, presenters, wedding planners, dance and fitness trainers, surfing and kite surfing instructors, presenters of various trainings, foreign language tutors - all these people can find their clients in Vietnam, especially during the peak tourist season.
Of course, in this case they must provide themselves with good advertising. As for approximate prices, a makeup artist charges about $50 to create an image. Photographers, depending on experience and quality of portfolio, from $100 per shoot.
Service workers
At the moment, little attention is paid to labor legalization in Vietnam. Many of our compatriots work as administrators in restaurants, hotels and spas, bartenders in clubs, salespeople in stores, cooks, sales managers in street travel agencies, and guides.
If you decide to do this kind of work, you shouldn’t count on huge sums. Typically, employees of shops and street travel agencies earn from $700.
Features of everyday life
Both visitors to this land and locals experience the same well-known problems. First of all, there is a high level of air pollution. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see passers-by wearing masks, trying to protect themselves from poisonous gases in this way.
Another difficulty is that the streets are crowded with cars and mopeds. The country ranks among the first in terms of road mortality.
It is interesting to know that foreigners are not allowed to drive without a local driving license. This does not apply to mopeds.
This region has a relatively low cost of living. Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, consistently ranks one hundred and thirty-sixth in the list of the most expensive cities in the world.
The stay can be quite comfortable at moderate costs. For those who want to travel on a budget, there are hostels where the price per room does not exceed five dollars per night.
How to find a job?
If you are an experienced specialist in a field that is in demand in Vietnam, you need to find an organization that cooperates with the Vietnamese and negotiate a transfer with them.
Before starting your own business, study the forums, find an interesting direction that will be in demand.
In order to complete all the paperwork, you can contact a lawyer, such services are provided.
To get a job in a street travel agency or store, look into the vacancies that are posted in groups for expats. Such groups exist both on the international Facebook network and on the Russian-language VKontakte network and are easy to find by searching.
The easiest way is to look for a job right away. You will be able to go through real interviews, talk with people who work in a particular company. Payment is most often made according to the “salary + percentage” system and depends on the flow of tourists and your ability to communicate.
Cost of clothes
You can buy clothes cheaply at any clothing market in Nha Trang, but I can’t say anything about the quality of such clothes. If anyone bought it, tell us in the comments.
In the city center and on the first line there are good and convenient brand stores, as well as the Nha Trang Center shopping center, but the prices for clothes there are about the same as in Russia. For example, sports sneakers from popular companies (Nike, Adidas, etc.) at the current dollar exchange rate cost about 8,000-12,000 rubles.
Inexpensive clothing store "Blue Exchange" is located in the CoopMart and Big C shopping centers. If I understand correctly, the store sells clothes of a Vietnamese brand, but according to reviews from tourists, the quality is good.
Approximate prices for clothes:
- Women's T-shirt – 70,000 VND ($3.1)
- Women's T-shirt – 130,000 VND ($5.7)
- Women's short shorts – 180,000 ($7.9)
- Men's shorts – from 250,000 VND ($11)
- Men's short sleeve shirt – from 200,000 VND ($8.8)
- Summer dress in a store like H&M or Zara – 625,000 VND ($27.5)
Where is the best place to go?
Most people choose resorts in the southern part of the country. If the move is not related to work and does not involve living in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or another large city. The most popular resorts for moving are Nha Trang and Mui Ne. With the development of tourism in Fukuoka, some Russians choose this island for temporary or permanent residence.
The city of Nha Trang is currently in first place. This is a tourist center where it is easiest to find work.
A large number of tourists from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan come here, providing jobs for Russian-speaking personnel. Life in Nha Trang attracts many with opportunities to develop their own business and, of course, a very favorable climate.
Employment process for foreign citizens
An emigrant needs to obtain a work visa. Tourists can rest peacefully for 2 weeks and not go through this paperwork; with official employment, everything goes differently. Upon arrival in Vietnam, a labor emigrant must obtain a work visa. To do this, he will need the following documents:
- original and copy of work permit;
- international passport;
- confirmation of the availability of funds to live in the country for the first time;
- photographs for documents;
- invitation letter from the employer;
- completed application.
All documents are submitted to the Vietnamese Embassy for review. The amount of the consular fee will depend on the expected period of stay in the country. You can also obtain a visa at the airports of some cities in Vietnam, for example, in Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang.
Also, for official employment you need another document - a work permit. It is issued by the Vietnamese Ministry of Labor. Experienced migrants advise applying for a work permit before arriving in the country, it will be more convenient. But if this was not possible, then you will need to receive the document within 90 days after arrival. Some migrants do not obtain official documents and work illegally, but in this case you cannot count on the average salary in Vietnam.
Where to live in Vietnam?
There are many different accommodation options in Vietnam.
The most inexpensive option is a guest house or apartment.
Guest house prices start at $200. In the first case, housing (usually small rooms that can be equipped with a kitchen) is rented by the owners of the house, who live right there.
Apartments are analogues of our apartments. These can be studios, as well as apartments with one or more bedrooms. Many luxury complexes have already been built, offering comfortable accommodation in modern, spacious apartments. Construction continues at a rapid pace and many more interesting offers will soon appear on the market.
Another accommodation option is renting a house. You can rent a typical Vietnamese house for as little as $300. Such housing must have a kitchen, a courtyard, a living room, and two or three bedrooms.
The house can be one-story, or it can have 2-3 floors. Not all Vietnamese houses have the layout we are used to; for example, there may be no windows in the bedrooms. In general, they are comfortable to live in.
Another option is a villa.
They are located in guarded villages with well-groomed grounds in beautiful locations by the sea.
This is the most luxurious and comfortable accommodation option in Vietnam. A villa can cost from $800 per month.
When renting, it is best to enter into an agreement where all the conditions will be spelled out and payments that you have already made will be made. Utilities are usually paid separately, with the exception of the Internet, which is most often included in the price. Electricity in Vietnam is expensive and if you use air conditioning, the bill can reach $50.
At the moment, it is possible for foreigners to purchase real estate in Vietnam.
True, there are certain restrictions, so you need to first study all the legal subtleties
Average salaries of Vietnamese
A salary of at least $500 is considered good. Very wealthy people have salaries exceeding $2,000. But the salary very much depends on the position and place of residence of the person. The average Vietnamese earns about $1,000 a year. Moreover, it is mainly city dwellers who can boast of such salaries; in villages everything is much more modest. It follows from this that the average salary in Vietnam in rubles is 5000-6000 thousand.
Workers engaged in mining can easily count on a salary of $500, while doctors receive a little more than $300. The average salary of service personnel is about $100 per month. Skilled foreign workers often earn more than locals.
English and Vietnamese
The Vietnamese language is quite difficult to learn due to the large number of tones. Is it possible to live in Vietnam and not speak Vietnamese? If we consider resort towns, then yes.
In tourist areas, Vietnamese speak at least a minimal level of English. But in places like Mui Ne and Nha Trang, many people even know how to speak Russian. Some learned the language specifically to work with tourists.
And many Vietnamese once studied and worked in our country and are now successfully developing their business, working with Russian tourists and speaking the same language with them. At popular resorts, menus are translated into Russian, and sellers learn numbers and product names to make it easier to communicate with customers.
It cannot be denied that knowledge of the Vietnamese language, at least at the everyday level, will be useful to you. Speaking with local residents in their native language, it is easier to get discounts in markets and communicate in cafes and shops, especially outside the resort area.
If you are closely connected with the Vietnamese at work, then you will also need knowledge of the language. At the moment, there are not many specialists in teaching Vietnamese, mostly private tutors.
Transport and rental
Bus fares
The cost of a bus ticket within the city is 7,000 dong ($0.3). A monthly pass costs about $15.
Taxi prices
Despite the cheap buses, many tourists prefer to use taxi services. This option is much more expensive, but more comfortable.
- cost per 1 kilometer: 15,000 ($0.7)
Cost of renting motorbikes and bicycles
Those who prefer to travel independently will be interested in how much it costs to rent a bike or moped - this type of transport is very common in Vietnam.
But keep in mind that in shops aimed at tourists, prices for renting a motorbike can be 2-3 times higher than in Vietnamese shops.
Transport rental prices:
- bike in local stores: from 60,000-80,000 dong per day ($3-4);
- travel companies: from 120,000 VND per day ($6);
- cost of gasoline, 1 liter: 21,200 dong ($1);
- bicycle rental: from 30,000 VND per day ($1.5).
If you rent a bike for a longer period (two weeks or a month), the price is usually lower, starting from 1,600,000 dong ($80).
Car rent
If you just need a car (for example, you are traveling with a child), then in Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi you can rent one at approximately the same price - about 800,000 dong per day ($35) .
Gasoline costs about 62 rubles per 1 liter in Nha Trang.
Lifestyle
Leaving your country means losing some familiar things. How is this felt in Vietnam? If just a few years ago in Vietnam it was difficult to find products familiar to Russian people, now there is no such problem. Unless, of course, we are talking about resort towns where a large number of Russian-speaking people live.
In such places you can find dumplings, cottage cheese, black bread and other products. Restaurants serving Russian cuisine are opening, and many Vietnamese establishments have borscht and okroshka on their menu. Thus, life in Vietnam is quite comfortable for Russians in terms of everyday life.
However, it is worth considering that it is quite difficult to buy large-sized shoes here; large people cannot always find suitable clothes. After all, the Vietnamese are a tiny nation. And there are also difficulties with good-level hairdressers and cosmetologists, as we are used to in Russia. Usually, if such a specialist appears in Nha Trang, a queue immediately lines up to see him.
If we talk about entertainment, then there is definitely something to do in Vietnam. In the cities there are cinemas where films are shown in English, bowling alleys, billiards, and many interesting coffee shops, restaurants and bars. Many people get tired of beach holidays over time, but, nevertheless, almost everyone appreciates the opportunity to swim in the warm sea and spend a day on the beach.
It is very interesting to travel within the country. In Vietnam, every city has its own flavor.
If you decide to settle in the south, be sure to travel to the central part of the country to see the historical sights of Hue, and to the north to admire the magnificent Halong Bay, which is famous throughout the world for its thousands of islands.
In Vietnam there are many temples of various faiths: Buddhist, Hindu Catholic. There is an Orthodox parish in the city of Vung Tau. The architectural sights of the country are also interesting. In addition to Asian architecture, here you can get acquainted with the masterpieces of colonial construction. There are especially many colonial-style buildings in Ho Chi Minh City.
Ha Long Bay
Freelancing and computer technology
Russian programmers are in great demand in Vietnam. Some companies recruit entire departments consisting of foreigners. Often choosing between a Russian programmer and a Vietnamese one, management will give preference to the first. Also, our compatriots are highly valued in the advertising business. Naturally, we are talking about companies with good income.
Average salaries in Vietnam are low, but in a good company you can earn 30% more percent than in Russia for a similar position. Often large companies also pay for health insurance for their employees.
But it is not necessary to get an office job in Vietnam; migrants can go freelance. But Internet speed in resort towns is not always stable, so sometimes glitches can occur. In Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, such problems are usually not observed.
