Vietnam Remote Work Forum

Hi all!
I was meant to post this little inquiry for some times, and keep skipping due to tight schedule :v.
First off: The name is Toan. Yes, I’m Vietnamese and non-US/EU citizen
Second: Is it possible for me to become a full digital nomad?

I’m aware that it’s never been an easy road. Just wondering how it’d be for non-US/EU citizens like myself.
I have a +5 years background as IT support analyst, with specialties vary from helpdesk technical, Windows OS and system support, IT infra/service management, business analysis fundamental, software project management, to Linux sysadmin and programming (Java/Ruby).
Recently, along with my aims to become DevOps/IT Project Management, I also target to fully independent location, due to new found passions on exploring the world and growing tired of 9-to-6 days.

From what I have observed so far, mates, you’re all/mostly coming from 1st-class nations, either North America, Japan, or Europe. So you have no issues over choosing your path, work remotely or start your own business. While money isn’t really a problem to me (a.k.a I usually require very little accommodation during my backpack travels, only (wireless) internet and clean room, that’s all), I’m stuck with the whole visa requirements and other paperwork things. Freelance could be a choice, but I find it is almost impossible finding positions even remotely related with my current skills/expertise. I’m a non-American, have no EU permitted working visa… Any other options for me? Any idea/suggestion is welcomed.

I don’t need my own business. I only need to strive as IT professional, be able to work anywhere I want.

Thanks for the attention, mates. My apologize if my English is so bad that you have no idea what I’m writing :v And yes, I understand that all my concerns might sound naive, as I’m a newbie & only targeting recently.

Any recommendations gratefully received! Cheers!

Hi there! I will be in Hanoi from 25 March and am looking to rent a room or share an apartment with someone. Probably around the West Lake area. If you have a spot in your place for me or want to team up and look for a place together, send me a message!

Or if anyone wants to grab a beer and show me the ropes that would also be much appreciated.

Cheers!

I am planning to spend 3 months in Da Nang in September and I don’t really mind the rain but it would suck if there were internet connection cuts, which would make it impossible for me to work? Anyone has any experience with this? Also, does it make sense at all to spend three months there during the rain season? Or should I pick a different location?

Headed to Da Nang, Vietnam in my first international digital nomad experiment!

I’m a noob - what’s the best way to set up my phone over there.

• I need to keep my same cell number as I get business calls to it. I can’t afford to miss a call.

• AT & T is my USA carrier, but heir options are very expensive.

• I’ve heard everything from SIM cards to forwarding to a Skype number etc.

Note: If any of you are in Da Nang, I’d love to meet up!!! LMK.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Hey folks,

Headed to Da Nang airport for a stay in Vietnam. I’d naturally like to get myself a decent SIM card for my phone, and my Googling has revealed some confusion about where and how to buy them. Can anybody share a guide to buying a SIM card at Da Nang airport or somewhere in Hoi An? Ideally a pre-paid SIM with 3G or 4G. Thanks

After taking lots of small trips around the world as vacations, we’ve fallen in love with Southeast Asia and have decided to go there to teach English. Well, sort of - my wife is certified and will be teaching. I plan to use the time to develop an app that I have been trying to work on during nights and weekends up to this point. I figure I can live modestly and work on it full time for a year and see if I can get it “done” enough to actually launch after a year’s work!

I don’t plan to make any money while there, and I don’t want to get a job (poor me…) just to enable me to stay - I just want to work on my app (unpaid) full time. I plan to try to get a TT visa (http://immigrationservices.com.vn/visas-tt-vr/), and she will hopefully be on the LĐ visa (https://visa.mofa.gov.vn/NewsDetail.aspx?type=Info&id=28#sec1).

Here’s the wrinkle: most advice I find online (admittedly geared toward those travelling solo) tends to recommend going on a tourist Visa and finding a job, housing, neighborhood that you like in person, and then getting your employer to sponsor your work permit, then using that to get the business (LĐ) visa. Indeed, a lot of resources say it can be hard to find a reputable language school to hire you and sponsor your visa before entering the country.

If we both went on tourist visas, and she found work and was able to get a work permit, could I then convert my tourist visa to a TT (dependent spouse) visa? Is there any way to be sure that this is going to work besides just going and hoping?

As a follow up if that plan sounds too sketchy, should I get certified to teach English just in case I need to get my own job? I’d like to avoid it if I can, the certification and training is pretty expensive.

Worst case scenario, how many times can I do a visa run and stay on a DL (tourist) visa? Maybe I’m just bad at researching, but I can’t find a really good resource for this kind of information.

I hope this isn’t asking too much. Even a link to some more in-depth resources online would be greatly appreciated - I can’t seem to find any definitive information on people using the TT visa in Vietnam.

Thanks in advance!

Share your tips, favorite areas and best online resources!

My verification on http://currencyfair.com has just been rejected and they removed my account. Just because logged in from Thai IP address to their system.

Showing my passport, saying that i’m a resident of Estonia and i’m nomading around all the time didn’t mae any difference. No explanation, no argumentation, just plain ‘we don’t do business with Thailand’ like a robot.

So what would they do if i verified being in different country? Ip discrimination is stupid.

Any other alternatives that work with Asia? There is http://transferwise.com, which only works with India, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore for now. I was more looking into something that could get me money in Vietnam.

Hey nomads!
My boyfriend and I have been living in S. Korea for the past two years and have somehow (probably my fault) accumulated tons of junk. We’re planning on shipping stuff back home to Texas but we’re still needing to store two big suitcases and have them shipped to wherever we end up next, possibly Hanoi. I found this website http://www.sevenseasworldwide.com/. Have any of you used this company before? Do they charge an arm and a leg? Or do you all have any alternatives?