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Work in Vietnam – Country Profile
Careers in Vietnam
Optimise your time and find your next professional services and academic role in Vietnam, discover the working-life balance, cost of living and other important facts for your new adventure in Vietnam with our country profile. Explore our international roles in Vietnam today with jobs.ac.uk.
Country fact file
- Capital city: Hanoi
- Government: Communist Party of Vietnam
- Currency: Vietnamese đồng
- Population: 99.3 million as of March 2024
- Official languages: Vietnamese
- Main Religions: Vietnamese folk religion (73.2%), Buddhism (12.2%), Catholicism (6.8%), Caodaism (6.8%)
Vietnam is at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of 331,212 square kilometres (127,882 sq mi) and a population of around 103.8 million, making it the world’s fifteenth-most populous country.
Vietnam shares land borders with China to the north, and Laos and Cambodia to the west. It shares maritime borders with Thailand through the Gulf of Thailand, and the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia through the South China Sea. Its capital is Hanoi and its largest city is Ho Chi Minh City commonly referred to by its former name, Saigon.
Culture
Vietnam inherited its cultural wealth from thousands of years of history, sprinkled with a handful of outside influences. Through it all, the Vietnamese have a strong sense of pride in their traditions and way of life. The central cities of Hue and Hoi An are treasure troves for culture lovers, as is Hanoi, the country’s graceful capital.
Outside the cities, many elements of Vietnamese culture trace back to cycles of wet rice cultivation, from harvest festivals to table manners.
There are countless ways to immerse yourself in the fabric of Vietnamese life, including cooking classes, craft workshops, temple tours, musical performances, museum visits, and more.
Languages
The official language of Vietnam is Vietnamese; English is increasingly preferred as a second language. A variety of other languages are also spoken, including French, Chinese, Khmer, and various Khmer dialects. It is estimated that 85% to 90% of Vietnam’s residents are Vietnamese by ethnicity.
Higher Education
University admission is determined by the results of entrance examinations. A high school graduate must have a high score to be admitted to a university.
Public universities are considered a major step in a successful career, especially for rural or otherwise disadvantaged individuals.
Although measures have been taken to reduce the importance of these exams, the pressure on candidates remains high. Currently, there is a shortage of university placements for students.
Public universities in Vietnam have very low tuition fees compared to private universities. Vietnamese students pay about from £0 to £1,000 a year for tuition at public schools depending on the level of the degree. International students pay between £1,000 to £2,500 per year.
Top 10 Universities of Vietnam:
- Duy Tan University, Da Nang
- Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City
- Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Ha Noi
- Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City
- Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Ha Hoi
- Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh
- Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Ho Chi Minh City
- University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City
- Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, Ho Chi Minh City
- The University of Da nang, Da Nang
Cost of Living
It is well known that Vietnam offers a high quality of life at an affordable price. As of 2022, Vietnam’s cost of living is 42.8% lower than the United Kingdom and 63.5% lower than the United States. Based on the average apartment cost in Vietnam and a wide range of living expenses in Vietnam, this is an estimate of the total cost of living.
According to Numbeo, Vietnam ranks 88th in the world in terms of cost of living. To put things into perspective, local Vietnamese earn £300 per month. A low-budget lifestyle can easily be achieved with £500 per month, or even lower if you are extra resourceful.
Housing
Due to a former house frontage tax (similar law existed in the Netherlands between the 16th and 18th centuries), Vietnam’s houses are extremely narrow and tall. People build houses as narrow as they could, deep and tall.
The cost of renting in cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City can be quite high because of overcrowding.
- 1 bedroom apartments in the city centre – 8,871,736.53 đồng (£292.77)
- 1 bedroom apartments outside of centre – 5,503,466.74 đồng (181.61)
- 3 bedroom apartments in the city centre – 19,921,328.24 đồng (657.40)
- 3 bedroom apartments outside of centre – 11,717,544.64 đồng (386.68)
Sourced on Numbeo (July 2023)
Visas and Eligibility
All covid-19 entry requirements have been lifted in Vietnam. There are not any requirements for proof of Covid-19 vaccination or testing to visit Vietnam. This may change in response to new variants; therefore, you should monitor this advice for the latest updates and stay in contact with your travel provider.
You should only stay in Vietnam legally and ensure you have the right visa and permissions.
All British nationals can enter Vietnam for up to 15 days for tourism, transit, and business purposes without needing to apply for a visa however you can’t for paid or voluntary work. This will be extended to 45 days from 15 August 2023. For more information, please see the full details on gov.co.uk.
Safety and Security
Crime
It’s safe to visit Vietnam most of the time, but if you are visiting a big city or tourist area, you should take sensible precautions.
Passports are not supposed to be handed over as a guarantee to third parties (e.g. motorcycle rental shops, landlords), because passports have been held against claims of damage in many instances.
Take precautions when you are in crowded areas or places visited by tourists, especially if you are riding a motorbike, as pickpockets and bag snatchers can be active. Consider splitting key items into bags.
Road travel
There is a lack of compliance with local road regulations. Be prepared for the unexpected by keeping your speed down. When travelling on a motorbike as a passenger, you should wear a good-quality helmet and carry comprehensive medical insurance.
If you are riding a motorbike without a helmet, it is illegal.
Working Practices
It is typical for people in Vietnam to work from 7am to 8.30am and from 4pm to 6pm, from Monday to Friday, and until noon on Saturday, leaving the afternoon (mostly) and Sunday off.
The law allows 48 hours per week. The average weekly working hours for men in Vietnam were approximately 40 hours, while for women it was around two hours less.
Vietnam’s average wage is around 3.45 million VND (£150) a month. A person working in Vietnam typically earns a gross salary of £750/month, £8,995/year, or £4.32 per hour, depending on the type of job they have. The average take-home salary (net) is £386/month.
Business Etiquette
The Vietnamese language remains the most dominant language and 86% of the population speak it in Vietnam. Vietnamese appreciate it if a foreigner tries to learn simple phrases in their language such as xin chao (pronounced as ‘seen chow’), meaning “hello” in Vietnamese.
In business meetings, it is ideal to have a translator if you’re unable to speak Vietnamese. It Is preferred to hold meetings in person over online meetings and emails.
The best way to meet potential business contacts is through a mutual acquaintance or third-party referral. There should be advance planning for business meetings, and big public holidays should be avoided, such as Tet, which is the Vietnamese New Year.
Leadership skills for new managers
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Work in Uzbekistan – Country Profile
Jobs in Uzbekistan
Work in Uzbekistan, we advertise roles in finance, professional services, academia and more. Discover everything you need to know about professional life in Uzbekistan with jobs.ac.uk. Kickstart your international career today.
Country Fact file
- Capital city: Tashkent
- Government: Presidential constitutional republic
- Currency: Uzbekistani Sum (UZS)
- Population: 35 million as of March 2024
- Official languages: Uzbek, Karakalpak
- Main Religions: Islam (around 97%), Christianity (around 3%)
Uzbekistan is in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest and north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east and southeast, Afghanistan to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southwest.
The country came under Russian control in the late 19th Century and emerged as an independent state when Soviet rule ended in 1991. Under President Islam Karimov, who ruled from 1989 until his death in 2016, Uzbekistan was reliant on exports of cotton, gas and gold to maintain its rigid, state-controlled economy.
There is a diverse economy in the country, as well as a relatively young population. It’s known for its mosques, mausoleums, and other sites as it was once at the heart of the ancient Silk Road trade route connecting China with the Middle East and Rome. Samarkand, a major city on the route, contains a landmark of Islamic architecture: the Registan, a plaza bordered by 3 ornate, mosaic-covered religious schools dating to the 15th and 17th centuries.
Culture
Uzbekistan’s culture consists of a wide range of ethnic groups and cultures, with the Uzbeks comprising the majority. In 1995, 71% of Uzbekistan’s population was Uzbek. The chief minority groups were Russians (8.4%), Tajiks (officially 5%, but believed to be much higher), Kazaks (4.1%), Tatars (2.4%), and Karakalpaks (2.1%), and other minority groups include Armenians and Koryo-saram. The number of non-indigenous people in Uzbekistan is decreasing, however, as Russians and other minorities leave and Uzbeks return from other parts of the former Soviet Union.
Languages
The Uzbeks speak a language belonging to the southeastern, or Chagatai (Turki), branch of the Turkic language group. Karakalpak, a distantly related Turkic language, enjoys official status alongside Uzbek in Karakalpakstan, where it is spoken by about half a million people. About one-seventh of the population of Uzbekistan speaks Russian.
Higher Education
In Uzbekistan, there are 62 higher education institutions, including 2 academies (in Uzbekistan, as it was in the Soviet system, the word academia means the top-level research and educational institutions), 16 universities, and 44 institutes.
All universities and institutes are public. Private institutions of higher education are not yet available. To be admitted to university-level studies, an individual must complete any form of secondary school and have either a Certificate of Complete Secondary Education or a Diploma equal to this certificate.
Contact the relevant higher education provider in Uzbekistan to check what fees you must pay. View more information about education opportunities and contacts of local education authorities.
The following qualifications are delivered by higher education institutions in Uzbekistan:
- Bachelor (bakalavr): During a minimum of four years of study, the Bachelor program provides a basic knowledge of a particular area of higher education. After completing the Bachelor program, graduates receive the Bachelor degree and the state diploma (Bakalavr), which entitle them to enter the workforce or continue their studies at the Master level.
- Master (magistr): Following a Bachelor’s degree program, a Master’s degree program provides knowledge in specific areas for a minimum of two years. After completing the Master program, students receive a state diploma (in Uzbek – Magistr), granting them the right to work in relevant fields. Admission to Master degree studies is on a competitive basis. To apply for the Master specialty, students must hold a Bachelor degree in the field, which corresponds to the previous Bachelor degree program.
- Doctor of Science (‘Fanlar doktori’): Following the introduction of state requirements for postgraduate education in January 2013, there was no longer a two-stage postgraduate education (two scientific degrees ‘Candidate of Sciences’ and ‘Doctor of Sciences’).
In addition to postgraduate education, there is an opportunity for staff members to work as senior research fellows and independent research fellows for up to three years.
Housing
The average rental price for an apartment (3 bedrooms) in the city centre is around UZS 796.50 (£0.054) per month, in more desirable areas and an apartment (3 bedrooms) outside of the centre is UZS 511.41 (£0.035)
Uzbekistan has legislation that allows foreign nationals to buy property in Uzbekistan. This is known as ‘Resolution 384’ (dated 13 July 2022). For advice about this legislation and to find out if you are eligible, contact a lawyer in Uzbekistan. You should contact a lawyer in Uzbekistan
Visas and Eligibility
UK nationals can stay in Uzbekistan without a visa for up to 30 days. If you are traveling for a purpose other than tourism or business, or intending to stay longer than 30 days, you should check entry requirements with the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in London.
If you plan to study in Uzbekistan, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel. You should check visa requirements with the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in London.
Safety and Security
Crime
Violent crimes against foreign nationals are rare. Reports of muggings, pickpocketing, snatch-and-grab robberies, theft of unattended bags, and purse snatching are more common, especially in crowded places (bazaars, public transportation). Home burglaries and break-ins occur, even in wealthier neighbourhoods.
Try to take caution and measures to protect your personal security as you would when visiting any European country.
Road travel
When driving in Uzbekistan, all registration papers are required, including motor insurance. Individuals must carry their UK Driving Licence or an International Driving Permit at all times.
If you have a valid UK driving licence, you can drive in Uzbekistan during your visit. It is advised to make a copy of your driving licence translated into Russian or Uzbek to make interaction with local authorities and traffic police easier,however, it is not legally required. It is recommended that you get a local driving license if you are staying in Uzbekistan for an extended period. You will need this to buy a car.
Working Practices
A standard working week in Uzbekistan lasts five or six days and consists of 40 hours. Overtime hours should be less than 4 hours every 2 days or 120 hours per year. They are paid double their hourly salary.
The minimum wage in Uzbekistan is UZS 62,920 per month. Additionally, employers are responsible for paying social security contributions. An employee’s contribution must be up to at least 25% of the worker’s salary, broken down as follows:
- 2% for Pension Fund
- 5% for Unemployment Fund
- 3% for the Trade Union Committee
Business Etiquette
In a business environment, Uzbeks use a rather indirect communication style that may seem confusing to foreigners. Their custom, however, is to shake hands and then ask about one’s family, health, etc. It is considered polite to ask, even if you don’t get an answer.
There is no specific protocol regarding titles and business cards. Punctuality is not particularly high in Uzbekistan and this lack of formality can be difficult to deal with. However, when in a meeting, greet and talk to the most influential person first. Being well-groomed and smartly dressed is important. When interacting with people of the same gender, direct eye contact is very common.