FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
There are many different questions arising from Expats around the world moving or currently living in Vietnam. There are clearly millions of questions depending on your own background, where you are from, age, family status, etc.
The Expats in HCMC group has been around since 2007 and we have a network of over 100 000 members in which many members have the answers to your questions.
You can use the search function on top of the website to find the right supplier of services. The most commonly asked services are provided by our preferred partners.
If you can find the service on this website please visit the Expats in HCMC (https://www.facebook.com/groups/expatshcmc/?ref=bookmarks) to get an answer to your question. Use the search function in the Facebook group and you will probably find an answer.
The number of services will increase as the community develops in the coming years. Our job is to provide the best services to Expats in Vietnam.
LEARNING THE VIETNAMESE LANGUAGE?
It is not necessary to learn Vietnamese because you can get around quite well with English in the large cities. I think it all depends on what kind of reasons that brought you to Vietnam. If, you plan to stay long term (more than 3 years) then I would say that it’s a good idea to learn a bit of Vietnamese. Otherwise, I think it’s not worth while since it’s a very difficult language to learn (the pronunciation is hard). In order for you to use Vietnamese on a professional level it will usually take many years of studies.
Many Expats can speak basic Vietnamese and that is enough to get around in daily situations. The English level has increased a lot in the past few years and most business people have a decent demand of English.
IS VIETNAM A SAFE COUNTRY?
Vietnam is probably one of the safest countries in the world. The most hazardous and dangerous is the never ending traffic. There are a lot of petty theft in Vietnam and you always need to keep an eye on your belonging especially when you are in public areas. Also, be careful of drive by motorbikes thieves that try steel your hand bag, mobile phone or anything easy accessible.
WHAT IS THE CURRENCY IN VIETNAM?
The Vietnamese Dong (VND) is the official currency of Vietnam. Euro and USD are accepted for most transactions. In March 2019, the value of one USD was worth VND 23211. It’s possible to exchange foreign currencies in most of the banks and there are several ATM machines in the cities.
CREDIT CARDS USE IN VIETNAM?
Mastercard and VISA are widely used in Vietnam. It’s becoming more common to use cards but Vietnam is still far away from being a cashless country. Using the card at established venues is not a problem, but be careful to use your card at smaller venues and shops.
Using your credit card in Vietnam can be quite expensive depending on the agreement between your bank and the Vietnamese counterpart.
HEALTHCARE IN VIETNAM?
There are several hospitals which can treat the most common illnesses and injuries in Vietnam. Most of the large hospitals have international and Vietnamese staff that are highly competent and well trained. In case of more advanced treatment you need to visit Bangkok or Singapore. It’s important to have a medical insurance that can cover your medical expenses.
DRIVE IN VIETNAM?
It’s possible to drive in Vietnam, but you need to convert your motorbike or car drivers license to a Vietnamese. The authorities will charge a fee for this but it can be done in a few weeks time. It’s important to do this in order for your insurance to be valid.
Traffic is very dangerous in Vietnam and there are several deadly accidents everyday. You should think twice before you start driving in Vietnam.
MEET UP WITH OTHER EXPATS AND LOCALS?
There are a lot of social activities in Vietnam. Depending on your own preferences you can always find something that is suitable for you. There are several different social groups on Facebook that meet up in the city with common interests like learning Vietnamese, learning to cook, travel, hiking, fitness and sports, wine and dine, shopping and a lot more.
MY VISA OPTIONS?
As a business traveller, you are required to obtain a Visa to enter Vietnam. There are following options for business purposes:
1-month & 3-month multiple/single entry Visa approval letter.
For business purposes, you are required to have a sponsorship or invitation letter from a Vietnamese business partner.
Following is required information to obtain Vietnam Business Visa:
Your name exactly as per passport: it is your full name appears on your passport, name order is not important, so you can place either surname first or first name first.
Your date of birth: in Vietnam, the date format will be DD/MM/YYYY
Your nationality or passport: the passport you are using to enter Vietnam (should be valid for 6 months at least from the date of arrival).
Your passport number: as shown on your passport and should be valid for 6 months at least from the date of arrival.
Date of arrival: applicants must fill exactly Date of Arrival. You can just enter Vietnam later but not earlier than the approved date.
REQUIREMENTS TO LIVE AND WORK IN VIETNAM?
Foreigners must have a visa or temporary residence card as well as a work permit in order to legally reside and work in Vietnam. These rules changes every now and then and need to be revised.
WORK PERMIT?
There are several steps and documents required to obtain a work permit. The first step is to make sure there is a company registered in Vietnam that will sponsor your work permit (host entity). Beyond that, there are various other requirements such as a health check, police record from home country, working experience letter and/or educational degree paperwork, etc.
HOUSING OPTIONS?
There are a lot of different option for housing in Vietnam. In the large cities there are both villas and apartment in all price ranges. It’s important to live in a developed and convenient area if you are an Expat.
ARE THERE MANY OTHER EXPATS IN VIETNAM?
Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) and Hanoi both have a lot of Expats. Most Expats are residing in any of these two cities. The largest Expats communities are from China, Japan, Korea, USA and France.
DRINKING WATER?
There are several ways of drinking water in Vietnam. One way is to install a water purifier machine in your home or you can get bottled water delivered to your home from most convenience stores. It’s not dangerous to use the tap water to brush your teeth, but you should avoid drinking it directly from the tap. Boiling water for cooking purposes is fine.
WHAT ARE MY EATING AND DRINKING OPTIONS IN VIETNAM?
There are thousands of restaurants and convenience stores across Vietnam and most of them are open until late. In the cities there are lots of options to find the best venues by using trip adviser, foodies and several Facebook groups specialized in food and drinks.
HELP AT HOME?
It is quite common for expats to have some kind of help for their home. There are several different companies supplying services and the most used are driver, nanny, maid and guard. The best way to find a suitable helper is to ask other expats with experience in the field. It’s usually through recommendations that you can find the best people.
WHERE CAN I FIND LEGAL SERVICES FOR BUSINESS?
There are several firms that advise foreigners of how to set up a business and how to mange a business in Vietnam. There are a lot of complicated rules and regulations. Expats in HCMC can recommend a few reliable law firms. It’s a must to talk to a law firm before thinking of starting a business in Vietnam.
WHERE CAN I FIND REMITTANCE SERVICES?
Expats in HCMC are working with partners to lower the costs of transferring financial resources from and to Vietnam. This service is still in pilot mode but will change the remittance service industry in the long run. Fintech on the rise in Vietnam.