Vietnam
Capital Hanoi
Ways in
Every mobility asset the live catalog holds for this country. Open one for the full requirement detail.
How much time you must spend on the ground
Derived from each program’s stated physical-presence requirement.
The pipeline to permanent residency
The staged journey for Work Permit (LD Visa). Processing, permanent residence and citizenship times come from the Mobility Asset Database.
Line Up Employer Sponsorship
The work permit is employer-tied — a Vietnamese company must sponsor and file for you. Secure a job offer first; this route cannot be obtained independently.
Work Permit Application
Your employer files the work-permit application, showing your role meets the qualification and minimum-salary rules. Expect legalized documents (degree, criminal-record check) and a local health check. Working before it issues is not permitted.
Enter on the LD Visa
With the permit approved, enter Vietnam on the labor (LD) visa tied to your sponsoring employer.
Temporary Residence Card (TRC)
Convert the work permit into a 24 months temporary residence card so you can live and re-enter without repeat visa runs. The TRC is tied to continued employment.
Renewals
Renew the work permit and TRC in cycles, each time re-proving active sponsored employment. Losing the job ends the residence right.
No Permanent Residence
The LD/TRC route does not lead to permanent residence or citizenship for most movers. Permanent residence is rare and tightly restricted, and there is no ordinary naturalization path — plan for indefinite renewals.
City archetypes
Landing-zone comparisons — cost bands, community, and who each city suits.
Ho Chi Minh City
The commercial capital: fast, hot, and buzzing, with the country's densest expat scene, modern co-working, and the Thao Dien (District 2) enclave. The most jobs and nightlife — and the most traffic and pollution.
- Densest expat + co-working scene
- Best job market and nightlife
- Most traffic and pollution
Hanoi
The historic capital: Old Quarter streets, lakeside cafes, and the Tay Ho expat bubble, with four real seasons. More traditional and cultural than HCMC, and cheaper — but winters turn cool and grey.
- Old Quarter + lakeside culture
- Tay Ho expat community
- Cool, grey winters
Da Nang
A laid-back coastal city with My Khe beach, clean air, and a growing nomad scene, with Hoi An just down the road. Calmer and cheaper than the big metros — but with fewer local jobs.
- Beach + a clean, relaxed pace
- Growing nomad scene
- Fewer local job options
Could Vietnam be your next move?
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