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.
The programmes have brought about positive changes to rural infrastructure, comprehensively improved the material and spiritual lives of farmers, and contributed to Vietnam's economic restructuring, said PM Pham Minh Chinh.
The festival highlighted the contributions and robust development of Vietnam's revolutionary press over the past century while promoting press products and showcasing the creativity of Vietnamese journalists.
The programme on sustainable poverty reduction has achieved its annual targets for reducing the poverty rate as assigned by the National Assembly and the Government. It has fulfilled five specific objectives and five five-year goals, and met nine out of 12 indicators related to addressing basic social service shortages.
UNICEF stands ready to support the Government in implementing this important law and in continuing to invest in teachers as the cornerstone of a resilient, inclusive, and high-quality education system for all children.
PM Pham Minh Chinh highlighted how Vietnam's revolutionary press has continuously evolved and strengthened over the past century, affirming its role as a sharp and vital political, cultural, and ideological weapon serving the Fatherland and the people in the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party.
Vietnamese Consul General in Fukuoka Vu Chi Mai highlighted the growing demand for Vietnamese workers in Kyushu, especially in Fukuoka, Oita, and Saga prefectures. Currently, the region employs about 35,000 Vietnamese manual workers and over 5,000 IT engineers.
In Vietnam’s case, she said, President Ho Chi Minh demonstrated his strategic vision by founding the revolutionary press a century ago. The late leader understood the press's role not only as a means to reflect the country’s realities but also as a powerful tool to strengthen national unity and inspire the resistance wars and national construction process.
In recent interviews granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporters in Mexico, prominent figures reflected on the press’s legacy and its global influence.
VietnamPlus e-newspaper of the VNA clinched an A prize in the “Outstanding Press Product” category for its immersive 3D multimedia project, “Epic of Reunification,” a groundbreaking blend of storytelling and technology. The VNA won another A prize for its eye-catching exhibition booth.
Today, the press for foreign service has evolved into a distinct, irreplaceable force, bridging Vietnam with the world and portraying a nation that is stable, peace-loving, and fully integrated into the international community.
At a review conference held on June 21, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh praised the province’s scientific, coordinated, and flexible approach. He noted that the early completion reflects the strong commitment of local authorities, the business community, philanthropists, and residents in improving housing conditions for disadvantaged groups.
The VNA delegation, led by General Director Vu Viet Trang, actively participated in the event, engaging in both professional and diplomatic activities.
In the context where AI dominates and produces vast volumes of content, the only sustainable path forward for journalism is to focus on high-quality content and core values. Journalism must redefine its mission - not to report the fastest, but to provide the most profound and trustworthy value.
Granma and the VNA have great potential for cooperation, especially in sharing content regularly, so that VNA products are published on Granma platforms and vice versa, thereby helping Cuban and Vietnamese people access true information and gain a deep understanding of each other's country and people.
During his stay in China’s Guangzhou city from 1924 to 1927 to prepare for the establishment of a Communist Party to lead Vietnam’s revolution, President Ho Chi Minh founded “Thanh nien” newspaper and released its first issue on June 21, 1925.
Vietnam and Cambodia are hoped to strengthen their robust collaboration across various sectors, particularly in resolving remaining border issues to transform the border area into a zone of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development.
The strategic product, managed and operated by the Vietnam News Agency Digital Media Centre (VNA Media), is an official channel for popularising the Party and State’s information and documents as well as delivering mainstream and trustworthy news to both domestic and international audiences through various kinds of multimedia formats.
Since President Ho Chi Minh founded Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has become the voice of the people. During the resistance war against the colonialists, journalists took great personal risks to inspire patriotism and the will of rising up against foreign invaders.
The total investment exceeded 319 billion VND (12.2 million USD), including over 261 billion VND from the state budget and 57.5 billion VND mobilised from businesses, organisations, and individuals.
Jobs site VietnamWorks forecasts demand for foreign workers to grow by 20 percent a year. (Photo: VNS/VNA)
