Where a foreign or Russian-speaking candidate can add value
- Sales and account management for CIS or international markets.
- Tourism and hospitality in destinations with Russian-speaking visitors.
- Property and relocation services for international clients.
- Import/export, logistics, sourcing, and trade.
- IT, product, marketing, design, and other roles where expertise matters more than nationality.
- International companies and teams working in English.
Where to look
Use LinkedIn, local job platforms, international-company career pages, professional communities, and direct outreach. Telegram and Facebook groups can be useful for Russian-speaking niches, but treat any vacancy from a chat like a normal job offer: verify the company, legal entity, contract, salary, and immigration process.
Work permits
Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, effective from 7 August 2025, regulates the issuance, reissuance, extension, and revocation of work permits as well as confirmation of work-permit exemptions. In normal employment, the process is closely tied to the employer, which documents the need for a foreign worker and submits the required paperwork.
Not every foreign worker follows the same process
Vietnamese law provides different work arrangements and exemption grounds. A guide should not promise one universal document list for a CEO, an employee under a labour contract, an intra-company transferee, and every other category. Check the legal basis for the actual offer.
Questions to ask at the interview
- Which legal entity will employ me?
- Will there be a Vietnamese labour contract?
- Will the company arrange the work permit or exemption confirmation?
- Which candidate documents need legalisation or preparation?
- When can I legally start work?
- Which taxes and mandatory deductions apply to my status?
Remote work for a foreign company
The scenario 'I live in Vietnam and work online for an overseas company' should not automatically be treated as legally neutral. Immigration status, tax residency, and the nature of the activity are separate questions. The longer and more permanently you live in Vietnam, the more sensible it is to get personal legal and tax advice.
Questions and answers
Can I work in Vietnam on a tourist visa?
Permission to stay does not replace foreign-worker and work-permit requirements.
Who arranges the work permit?
In normal employment, the employer plays the central role; the exact process depends on the work arrangement and status.
Are there jobs specifically for Russian speakers?
Yes, in some niches, but the wider strategy is to search by profession plus language rather than nationality alone.
Which rules apply in 2026?
The key current document is Decree 219/2025/ND-CP, effective from 7 August 2025.