How to go to live in Vietnam from Russia in 2021

What did I do before I moved to Vietnam?

I had my own travel agency in Moscow. I am a diplomat by training and know the Vietnamese language very well. Everything suited me in Moscow, except the climate. I'm tired of the slush in the spring and the cold winter, I'm tired of the short summer and in general this routine in the office that I created for myself.

I decided to choose Nha Trang as a city to live in. I bought tickets and applied for a three-month visa via the Internet, it cost me about 15 dollars. By the way, if you do not want to stay in Vietnam for more than 15 days, you do not need to apply for a visa. The visa can be extended after its expiration; to do this, you need to travel abroad and come back again. I found it very convenient.

How do immigrants live?

A foreigner who has decided to move to Vietnam must first become familiar with the climatic features of the state and the national traditions of the people.

The standard of living in Vietnam is very easy to assess. The country is memorable: delicious cheap food, affordable real estate, friendly people and gentle sun.

Information about the pros and cons of staying in Vietnam can be clearly presented in the table.

Local food is too unusual for Russian citizens. Familiar products can be found, but in a much smaller assortment.

Attitude of locals towards visitors

Every Russian who has visited Vietnam and talked with the residents discovers the friendly attitude of the people. The local population welcomes guests very cordially and warmly. The doors are always open for Russians here. The Vietnamese are friendly and hardworking people.

How are Russian tourists treated in Vietnam? With warmth, as they remember the support of Russia during the war with America. But attempts to deceive tourists are far from uncommon.

Renting an apartment in Vietnam

Where can I look for rental offers and options? There are two main resources: the VKontakte group and telegram channels. You can write your ad saying that you are looking for an apartment and they will offer you their services.

Also in VKontakte you can look at already posted advertisements for renting an apartment and write directly to the agent. I signed a lease for 3 months at $265 per month, I was very lucky, the previous tenant was moving out. By the way, if you decide to move out of the apartment early, you need to find a person who will live there instead of you, unless, of course, you want your deposit returned.

Housing issue

Vietnam's economic growth rate is second among Asian countries. The state is rich in exotic resorts and modern cities. Real estate prices directly depend on location and scale.

Rent

Only wealthy tourists can rent a villa in Vietnam. The price tag for such housing varies from 1,500 to 9,000 dollars per month. The villa is equipped with everything you need - new furniture, appliances, excellent renovation and a wonderful view from the window. Renting such housing is popular among tourists who are accustomed to the level of service as in a five-star hotel, but do not want to tolerate the presence of other guests.

You can rent a 1-2 bedroom house for about $500 a month. Less demanding tourists can rent an apartment for $300-350.

Read also: Moving to Vietnam Do Russians need a visa to Vietnam?

Purchase

Housing prices in the Asian country are increasing every year. Starting from July 1, 2015, the real estate market became available to foreigners.

Every person, as well as any foreign organization, can buy an apartment in Vietnam or even a private building (villa, townhouse). Recently, foreigners have access to not only accommodation, but also rental, sale, and inheritance.

How to open a bank account?

It is possible to open an account and it is completely simple; you can open an account in any Vietnamese bank with a valid passport and visa. I will say more that even a 15-day stamp is enough to open a current account. The most important thing begins after opening a current account, you need to put money there, but this is not entirely easy to do. In Vietnam, in order to deposit money personally into your checking account, there are several procedures you can follow. When is this possible?

Firstly, this is possible if you brought money to the country and filled out a customs declaration at customs, I’ll immediately make a reservation that the maximum possible amount without a declaration is $10,000. When you arrive in Vietnam and are going to open an account, please fill out a foreign currency import declaration at customs, even if they strongly discourage you.

Secondly, when you have an employment contract with your company, where you are the founder or a company where you are an employee, you can come to the bank with your employment contract, leave a copy in the bank and deposit an amount equal to your salary into your current account.

The next option is when you withdraw money from your bank card, but not at an ATM, but from a bank employee. You are given a receipt stating that you received the money and you deposit the money in the same bank into your current account. I want to say right away that the same system operates with payment systems. That is, if you received money from the Golden Crown or Waster, then you also take payments and top up your account with cash.

In all other cases, you can top up your account only by transferring from abroad, that is, you can transfer money from your account in Russia to a Vietnamese account. I also want to note that there are no commissions and no problems with withdrawing cash. Here, no one cares what amount you received and how much you withdraw, that is, getting 200 or 300 thousand dollars in cash is not a problem.

Many also ask whether it is possible to get a visa or mastercard bank card. I would like to say right away that not all banks issue such mastercard visas to people who do not have a resident card in Vietnam. However, there are several banks where you can get it.

I would also like to mention that if you are going to transfer money from Vietnam to Russia, then the most convenient platform for transferring to a Russian bank is Alfa Bank.

Friends, if you have savings in Vietnamese dong and you decide to put it at interest, you have the opportunity to put money for half a year, a year, 2 and 3 years, as you like. The average interest rate on such deposits in Vietnam is now about seven percent, depending on the bank. In fact, this is very fashionable now, all Vietnamese spend every penny and put it on deposit.

I would like to note that you receive interest on the deposit once a year, not monthly, and I will also say that from September 5, 2021, deposits in foreign currency are no longer accepted. That is, if you want to deposit a dollar or euro deposit, you will not receive any interest from it. In order to open such a deposit, you must have a resident card valid for two years, or an annual work visa.

Reasons why we chose Vietnam to move for permanent residence

So, I have 8 reasons for this. There is no happiness anywhere if you are unhappy within yourself. A happy person, he is happy in any city. But sometimes the soul longs to go somewhere, and you can’t really explain where and why. So we have to experiment with places on Earth (fortunately, there are quite a few beautiful ones). And when, in general, you don’t care where you leave Russia, then, willy-nilly, you choose a place that fits your budget and your holes in your soul. So I decided to move to Vietnam for permanent residence because I liked:

1. Visa policy.

   Much more loyal than now in Thailand. This is not yet how they suck money from tourists. Getting a visa for the first 3 months is quite simple and inexpensive (the visa itself is free, you only need to pay for the invitation).

2. Loyalty and ease of entry with animals.

   I don’t go anywhere without my cat Tasya, and this is important. So I have to multiply any moving costs and make the complexities of moving a little more complicated. But it is fully rewarded. There are some countries I cannot visit due to customs rules for importing pets. So, for example, due to the Indonesian two-week quarantine, we rejected the possibility of traveling to Bali, and at one time we refused a trip to India due to the ban on the import of Mrs. Taisiya. There are no special difficulties for importing animals into Vietnam yet, pah-pah-pah. I hope it won't happen. The rules for moving to Vietnam with animals are quite flexible.

3. Prices.

   Rumor has it that prices in Vietnam are even lower than in Thailand in some areas. We are not picky creatures, and we are interested in housing and the cost of visas, first of all, and food and a motorbike second.

4. Tourist infrastructure and safety.

   I am a coward. And I’m not ready for extreme travel. I feel good where it is calm. I must say, that’s why I didn’t stay in Cambodia for long: it was scary due to the level of crime and bribery there. I love to sit on the beach at night and listen to the splashing and splashing, and I don’t want to worry at all at such moments. In addition, the cat Taisya, as you know, is not the healthiest cat, and we need to be able to visit the veterinary clinic if necessary. There are no problems with this in Thailand and, according to the Internet, in Vietnam too.

5. Because Asia.

   My everlasting love. I can’t imagine myself now in other places on the planet except Southeast Asia. There was a case, even Kazakhstan (because Asia) was considered, but no. Having lived in St. Petersburg for quite a long time, I realized that I was dependent on the climate. My heat-loving self blew snot and refused to move on the street for most of the year, so I had to put her in a car and very rarely let her out. And I love walking so much! Judging by the same Internet, it is very beautiful there, and there are a lot of places where you can (and should) go. And describe the trips on the blog! This is a whim for my soul. Great joy takes possession of me when you, my glorious readers, write me kind words for my stories.

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6. Motorbikes and the wind in your face.

   Despite my fall from the motorbike, my passion for it has not faded. My heart is touched by memories of him, and even the scar reminds me of that warm, albeit difficult, period. In addition, I am the holder of a Thai license category A, which is also valid in Vietnam. Therefore, soon I dream of again sitting my ass on the hot sun seat of some Nuovo or other fart and again feeling this warm wind or glass rain on the pampered Russian torso.

7. Everyone is there: Nikita, Stas, Gena, Turbo and Dyusha Metelkin.

   Many Russian residents of Thailand moved to Russia due to the fall of the ruble. Now, I see, they are slowly but surely moving back, making a choice, like me, in favor of Vietnam. I don’t know their motives, but for me, Russians around are good. It was difficult in Cambodia without them. In a letter to P. Vyazemsky, the Sun of Russian Poetry once wrote: “I, of course, despise my fatherland from head to toe - but I am annoyed if a foreigner shares this feeling with me.” So I can never come to terms with the gloominess and inhospitability of Russia, but I always rejoice at my compatriots abroad. Maybe they are some kind of special people there who have undergone emigration training?

8. Personal reasons.

   I turned out to be an unprepared sufferer for the Russian “Groundhog Day”, despite the fact that my life, in general, was quite good! But the thought of moving crept in one morning at about 9 o’clock, when I was going to the shower and realizing all the cyclicality and dullness of what was happening. Yes, Asia is no exception, and life there is also cyclical and spinning, it’s such an infection, but it’s better if I’m in that cycle where it’s warm and the sea is around. I think too much about the importance of what is happening and I don’t understand what makes me stay in what is “wrong.” Have you thought about this? Why then do you stay?

How everything turns out in reality will become clear over time. I’m actively learning to believe in the good and the good again, so I think everything will be great!

P.S. The picture for the post is not from Vietnam at all, but from a beautiful cloudy morning in Pattaya.

If you are not a random traveler and are also planning a trip to Vietnam (or Thailand, or Cambodia, or any other country), with or without a cat, dog, my congratulations! The blog has a lot of useful information, follow the links in the article, read other blog articles, ask questions in the comments if something is not clear!

And if, after reading, you have finally decided and are ready to buy a ticket to the country of your soul, look for it using the form below, and when you find “that very option to that very country on that very date,” give it to yourself! I will be very grateful for this, and you will go to the well-known aviation sales website and be able to choose really profitable options.

What you need to know about food prices?

Since Vietnam is a sunny country, fruits here are much cheaper than in Russia; for example, mangoes can be purchased at a price of 35 rubles per kg. I usually buy rice in 5 kg bags, such a bag costs me approximately 300 Russian rubles. Everything related to dairy and meat products is very expensive in Vietnam. Therefore, food prices in Vietnam will please those who have long wanted to change their diet to fruit.

Where can Russians work in Vietnam?

The vacancies available to Russian citizens in Vietnam are as follows:

• sales consultants; • administrators of cafes, restaurants, hotels, clubs; • bartenders, waiters, cooks, maids; • vehicle drivers.

The country has a personnel shortage of managers, engineers, technologists, IT specialists, and programmers.

Knowledge of the official language of Vietnam will be a big advantage when finding a job. Also, for most professions, knowledge of the English language is a requirement, but its level must be high.

About medical care in Nha Trang

Usually the clinic has a Russian-speaking doctor, he can advise you, I contacted him via WhatsApp. I did a general blood test, it cost me 130,000 dong. In general, hospitals are very similar to our domestic clinics. There are also Pharmacies 777. In them you can buy everything from various artichoke extracts, supplements to quality sunscreens from famous brands.

Of course, a very important advantage of this chain of pharmacies is the presence of Russian-speaking staff who will not have to tell you in pantomime where and how it hurts. Just calmly describe some symptoms and competent people will select some medications and drugs for you. On each drug, on each package there is a sticker with Russian text describing the drug, with the composition and method of use and contraindications, so don’t worry! There are several such pharmacies around the city.

Work in Vietnam

Nha Trang is essentially the most tourist-developed region of Vietnam, all business in Nha Trang is tied to tourism, that is, when you arrive, it will be easier for you to find work in Vietnam in the tourism sector. This is one hundred percent, because it will be very difficult to find another job there. The main vacancies that you can count on are, of course, travel agencies, salespeople in travel agencies, guides in travel agencies, dive masters, salespeople in stores, catering workers, cafe-restaurants, and of course DJs and bartenders. In general, everything related to the tourism business.

I got my first job by accident, I was walking along the central streets, then small travel agencies had just begun to appear, and a Vietnamese man approached me in English. He said that they did not have Russian guides and offered a job. They paid me from 7 dollars per person signed up for the excursion.

Work and language

Russian freelancers will not have any problems with work - there is Internet everywhere here, even in the most seedy guest houses. You can just sit down in a cafe somewhere, order juice or coffee and work at the table as long as you like.

You can also find work locally - pharmacies, shops, and restaurants willingly hire Russians. You can find work as a guide or seller of excursions in travel agencies working with Russian tourists.

Today, Vietnam has turned out to be the most popular alternative to Turkey and Egypt, so there are again a lot of Russian tourists. In high season, working as a guide, you can earn quite decent money. Russian salespeople in pharmacies and stores receive an average salary of 200-400 dollars plus a percentage of sales (about 2%). Those who sell excursions also make good money.

In Nha Trang, resourceful Russians brought separators from Russia and began making cottage cheese and sour cream - they simply do not exist in Vietnam. The products are readily purchased by families with children. Making dumplings is also not the last business.

The chances of getting a job in resort towns for Russians will double if they have a good knowledge of English.

Transport in Vietnam

In Vietnam you can get around by transport. These include bikes, cars and buses, trains, planes and even boats. In Vietnam, the bike is the most popular, most folk remedy, that is, for 100 million people there are about 80 million bikes. You can buy bikes or rent them.

1 liter of gasoline now costs 25-30 thousand donge. In order to buy a bike, you must have a valid residence permit or work visa and, of course, a Vietnamese license. A good bike in the showroom costs about two thousand dollars. A regular bike can be bought secondhand for about $100 - $200.

The next type of transport is buses. Buses have both city and intercity routes. The most popular are night buses where you can sleep. From Nha Trang to Saigon the trip costs about $19. Don't leave your things unattended, they might get stolen.

Trains are very popular here; you can take a train to almost anywhere. Trains are also a fairly cheap form of transport compared to airplanes, of course. That is, the route from Saigon to Hanoi will cost you about 50 dollars and this is a route of two thousand kilometers. Regular tickets also cost from 10 to 25 dollars depending on the distance.

Obtaining citizenship in Vietnam and residence permit

Thanks to the development of fruitful cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), immigration to this country has become a reality . Today, moving to Vietnam for permanent residence is available to citizens who have married a citizen of Vietnam, those who have acquired Vietnamese citizenship, those who have issued a tourist visa with the possibility of its further extension, and those who have a permanent or temporary residence permit.

The procedure for obtaining permanent residence in the Republic of Vietnam

You can apply for permanent residence in Vietnam after 5 years of permanent residence in this country and after completing the naturalization process.

A marriage certificate with a citizen of the Republic of Vietnam provides the right to obtain a residence permit for a period of 5 years with the prospect of filing an application for registration of permanent residence.

There is also the possibility of obtaining a long-term visa to Vietnam, which requires a stay in Vietnam for a period of one month to 1 year, which is issued at embassies and consulates. To complete it, you must have either an invitation letter or an “approval” letter, which is purchased from a special agency.

Among the main documents required to be provided in order to obtain a permanent residence permit, there should be the following:

• a document confirming knowledge of the state language;
• valid international passport;
• certificate from the place of work; document confirming residence permit;
• certificate of tax calculations;
• completed application form.

All listed documents must be drawn up in the state language and notarized. The period for consideration of the application from the date of submission is 115 days. Children (under 15 years of age) receive such permission together with their parents.

Obtaining citizenship

Based on Vietnamese legislation, there are several options for acquiring citizenship, including: citizenship by descent; citizenship by birth; citizenship through naturalization.

Citizenship by descent is automatically granted to a child if he has both parents who are citizens of the state of Vietnam. Moreover, in this case, the child can be born in any corner of the globe. If one of the parents is a foreigner, then the child’s place of birth is decisive, and he will be a citizen of Vietnam only if he is born on the territory of this country.

By right of birth, children who were born in the republic, but whose parents are unknown (foundlings), are automatically considered Vietnamese citizens by birthright. This category also includes babies born to parents permanently living in Vietnam, but who were stateless at the time of birth.

Citizenship through naturalization is, in principle, available to any foreigner subject to certain conditions, including: a period of permanent residence in Vietnam of at least 5 years; majority; knowledge of the Vietnamese language.

In the Republic of Vietnam, adulthood occurs at 18 years of age. The most difficult thing for foreign citizens to master is Vietnamese. Successful learning of the state language, which is one of the most difficult, will require good teachers and great patience. A potential applicant for Vietnamese citizenship also needs to study the country’s history, traditions and carefully comply with all its laws.

The simplest solution is to marry a Vietnamese woman

According to the laws of Vietnam, dual citizenship is prohibited in this state . When obtaining citizenship, a migrant from Russia, like citizens of other countries, will need to renounce the citizenship of their country and undergo testing for knowledge of the Vietnamese language.

Procedure for obtaining a residence permit

Obtaining a residence permit in the Republic of Vietnam is possible in the following cases: with legal employment; in case of acquisition of shares of Vietnamese companies; when concluding a marriage with a citizen of the Republic of Vietnam; when opening your own company in Vietnam.

Although Vietnam has a very good education system, it still has a shortage of highly qualified specialists. It should be noted that few foreigners have the desire to work in this country due to low wages.

When applying for employment in sought-after vacant positions, residents of the Russian Federation and other countries must enter into an employment agreement. The most popular professions among immigrants are in the service and tourism sectors, in the pharmaceutical industry, in the metallurgical, oil-extracting industries, and shipbuilding. To work successfully in Vietnam, it is not necessary to speak Vietnamese; a good knowledge of international English is sufficient.

In case of registration of employment for a period of up to 3 years, it is necessary to provide a package of documents to the department of the Ministry of Labor, among which must be: a valid passport of a Russian citizen who has reached the age of 18; certificate from a medical institution about health status; documents confirming the education received (diploma, certificate); valid international passport; documentary evidence of no criminal record.

After submitting all the necessary documents, the applicant is issued an employment card, with which he has the right to apply for a residence permit.

It is possible to obtain a residence permit by purchasing shares of a Vietnamese company if you own at least 1% of its securities. A residence permit can also be obtained after completing training on the territory of Vietnam or through an officially registered marriage relationship with a Vietnamese citizen.

Business and work in Vietnam for Russians

Having a residence permit gives foreigners the right to buy real estate in Vietnam. It can be either residential or commercial. But a migrant should remember that if he has a residence permit, he does not have the right to rent out real estate, but only to use it himself.

If foreign citizens have a residence permit in the Republic of Vietnam, they have the opportunity to leave this country and then return no later than three months later, without obtaining permits. In case of absence for more than 3 months, the residence permit is canceled and the property is confiscated by the state.

The cost of obtaining a residence permit is the same for both adults and children. Children must have documents proving their relationship with the adult applying for a residence permit.

Vietnam is an Asian country with an interesting culture, national traditions, attractions and picturesque landscapes. Moving for permanent residence to this country requires thorough preparation and informed decisions.

Mobile communications and Internet in Vietnam

I’ll say right away that there are no problems with mobile communications in Vietnam, you can, of course, find a place somewhere in the mountains where your cell phone will not receive reception, but in general there is communication throughout the entire country. Including mobile Internet that works quite quickly. At the moment there are three major mobile operators: vettel, vinaphone and mobiphone.

It so happened historically that I use mobiphone, so I will continue the story using its example. It should be noted that the prices of all three operators are approximately equal, so a conversation with Moscow will cost you 4,000 dong per minute. Calling local numbers costs 1,800 VND per minute, and sending an SMS will cost 350 VND.

So, if you need mobile communications, you just need to buy a SIM card at any store that sells cell phones. You don’t need a passport for this; you can also purchase a SIM card at any travel agency or even at the airport. For example, I bought my SIM card at a pharmacy.

The price of a SIM card depends on the beauty of the number; longer numbers are cheaper, while short and beautiful ones are correspondingly more expensive. A blank card can be purchased at a price ranging from 45 to 100 thousand VND. The balance is topped up by purchasing a payment card; they come in denominations from 20 to 500 thousand dong. You buy a card, say, worth 200,000 VND, erase the protective layer on the back of the card and then dial *101# code on the back of the card # call on your phone. After which you receive an SMS confirming the successful replenishment of your balance for this amount.

You can check how much money you have in your account by dialing *101# call. Now turn on the Internet. This is done once and most likely SIM card sellers will help you, but if for some reason this does not happen, you can set up the Internet yourself. It is completely optional to enable unlimited Internet, just keep in mind that the default price for each megabyte of traffic will be 1,500 dong. Parts of the number in Vietnam begin with the number 0, if you want to be able to be reached from abroad, then 0 must be replaced with +84, this is the international code of Vietnam.

Pros and cons of immigration to Vietnam

The cult of living in tropical countries is thriving among our compatriots, and this will surprise few people. The average Russian visits exotic countries more often than the resorts of his native state.

Southeast Asia ranks first among countries for emigration - preference is given to Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. In addition to the fact that states are considered budgetary, there are a number of other reasons for moving; they are highlighted as advantages.

pros

Common benefits of moving to Vietnam:

1. Hot climate. You can get used to it very quickly, which is often the main factor for moving from the northern and central parts of Russia. Despite the intense sun and high humidity, Russians are ready to move and adapt to climatic conditions.
2. Another life after emigration. You can really save on warm clothes, vehicles and other things if it’s summer all year round. Affordable housing in beautiful tropical locations adds color to everyday life. Surrounded by interesting people from different parts of the world.
3. Asian hospitality. It is incomparable with European or Slavic ones; probably nowhere else can you meet so many smiling people. Their friendliness sets the mood for the whole day.
4. The wealth of nature. Tropical forests, mountain peaks, sea lagoons, rice fields, temples - all this adds an artistic touch that will organically fit into the life of creative people. And, for inquisitive foreigners, Vietnam offers the main attractions that you will not find anywhere else.

Minuses

Living far from your homeland does not always bring joy, so before moving you should prepare for the following disadvantages:

1. Rain season. Tropical showers are very different from heavy rain in Russia. From May to October it rains every day, during this period the sea is not calm. There are hurricanes for several days - on such days it seems that the end of the world has come.
2. Lack of dairy products and buckwheat. For some people, this is a compelling reason to return home. Not everyone can give up milk, kefir, cheese, buckwheat, and adapt to Asian food.
3. Fraudsters. Even among the friendly population there will be scammers and pickpockets. They live in markets, beaches, and crowded places. The worst thing is that the Vietnamese defend their own in any dispute, and this must be taken into account. Russians should also be treated with caution, they may offer unprofitable deals.
4. Confusion on the roads. Due to the lack of normal sidewalks, pedestrians, traffic lights are not installed everywhere, there is always a risk of getting into an accident. You can protect yourself by driving at low speeds and having quality insurance.