Digital nomads flock to Vietnam.

At a beachside cafe in Mui Ne (Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan ), Sam turned on his laptop and began teaching English to four students.

The 33-year-old British man, who has traveled through 51 countries, says he can work anywhere as long as there is internet access. Four years ago, Sam first came to Vietnam and rented motorbikes to travel from Ca Mau to Ha Giang with five friends.

He returned to his home country and has come back to Vietnam many times. Most recently, in early 2023, Sam's two-month vacation turned into half a year. He combined work with sightseeing.

Sam rented an apartment for 12 million VND a month in Tan Phu District (Ho Chi Minh City) during his stay in Vietnam because it was "far from the city center but close to the local lifestyle." Besides teaching English for 5 hours a day to students from around the world , Sam spent the rest of his time exploring the provinces surrounding Ho Chi Minh City on his motorbike. Occasionally, he would change things up by flying to Hanoi, Nha Trang, or Da Nang.

"I like working in cafes with views of hills, fields, rivers, or the sea," he said. Sam's monthly living expenses are around $1,000 (20-25 million VND) depending on the number of trips he takes, but he admits it's "too cheap for what you get in this country."

Sam chatting with locals during her trip to Sapa in December 2022. (Photo provided by the subject)

Soheil Asghari, an Iranian man, decided to leave Malaysia after 8 years to move to Vietnam. Every day he still spends 10 hours working with colleagues from around the world. In conversations with them, he often says that Vietnam "is a land worth experiencing."

The young man, who works in the media industry, is renting an apartment in Binh Thanh District (Ho Chi Minh City) for 19 million VND. After living there for a while, Soheil discovered that many foreigners like him are also pursuing this lifestyle. "I didn't think many people shared the same idea as me," he said.

Sam and Soheil Asghari are typical representatives of the "digital nomad" community, people who work remotely without geographical constraints, enjoying a flexible life to explore many places around the world.

Originating during the pandemic and booming after lockdowns were lifted, by the end of 2022, approximately 35 million people worldwide had chosen this lifestyle, according to the Digital Nomad Report . The number of digital nomads increased rapidly and became so popular that 52 countries worldwide offered visas specifically for them, ranging from 6 months to 10 years, including Argentina, Norway, South Korea, Thailand, Germany, Italy, and Portugal.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Duc Loc, Director of the Institute for Social Life Research, stated that before the pandemic, a segment of foreigners, after retirement, had chosen a lifestyle of working as online professionals and traveling through many countries. However, after two years of the pandemic, the number of "digital nomads" has increased significantly.

Vietnam is one of the favorite destinations for the digital nomad community. Analyzing databases of remote workers worldwide, experts at Nomad List recently published the top 10 fastest-growing digital nomad destinations in 2023. Da Nang, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City are on the list, ranking 2nd, 7th, and 9th respectively.

Mr. Loc believes this is inevitable because these are three major cultural and economic centers of the country, with developed infrastructure and convenient transportation that can meet the needs of tourists. In addition, criteria such as safety, low cost of living, beautiful scenery, diverse cuisine, and the easy online visa application process and maximum 90-day stay are also reasons why Vietnam was chosen.

According to experts, there are currently no statistics on the number of digital nomads coming to Vietnam or their impact on the labor market and employment, but statistics do somewhat indicate this trend. By the end of the first nine months of 2023, the number of international visitors to Da Nang was 2.1 times, to Hanoi 4 times, and to Ho Chi Minh City 3.06 times higher than the same period in 2022.

Soheil Asghari at his workspace in his apartment in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, October 2023. Photo: Provided by the subject.

Like Sam, the good quality of life, safety, delicious food, and beautiful scenery are the reasons he chose to come to Vietnam for work and short trips. "Flexible hours, a pleasant pace of life, safety, and friendly neighbors are things I would probably find hard to find in other countries," Sam said.

As for Soheil Asghari, while in Vietnam he had the opportunity to travel by motorbike because the public transportation system wasn't as developed as in Kuala Lumpur, but the cost was negligible. A Vietnamese meal only cost 50,000-100,000 VND, which he considered "extremely cheap." The people were open and always willing to help foreigners, making Soheil Asghari feel at home. He also noted that Vietnam is one of the few countries with good internet connectivity, covering all provinces and cities, which gave him peace of mind while working. Importantly, his income was more than enough to cover his expenses for food, transportation, shopping, and travel.

Mr. Nguyen Tran Hoang Phuong, Director of the Institute for Social Tourism Research, assesses that digital nomadism is a lifestyle, not a type of tourism. They seek out other countries with the desire to relieve work stress and enjoy nature and culture.

This customer segment typically chooses serviced apartments over hotels, spending about 50% of their time there and the rest traveling to other tourist destinations. Digital nomads often need three months to a year to experience the local culture. Therefore, changes in Vietnam's visa policy for foreigners could fundamentally meet this need.

Mr. Phuong emphasized the importance of properly targeting this customer segment. In principle, they still contribute to the Vietnamese economy by spending money on basic services such as accommodation, food, or transportation. "Therefore, it's necessary to develop the right types of services that accurately meet customer needs," the expert said.

Jon Connell, 32, who has visited Vietnam three times, plans to switch to a work-remote travel model in Ho Chi Minh City in early 2024. He acknowledges that the changes in visa policy are appealing to digital nomads like him.

"Previously, I had to struggle to leave the country and then return to Vietnam after a month to apply for a new visa, but now it's very convenient. I hope to have wonderful days in this country," Jon said.

Besides promoting the tourism and service industries, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Duc Loc believes that if domestic businesses know how to seize the opportunity presented by the digital nomads coming to Vietnam to recruit and attract high-quality labor, it can boost the economy and create an abundant labor force.

However, experts also advise that to take advantage of this, authorities must focus on investing in improving infrastructure and healthcare. "When all factors related to living environment and work are ensured, it is natural for digital nomads to choose a place to 'settle down'," the expert said.

As for Sam, besides the wonderful experiences, he hopes that Ho Chi Minh City can minimize unpleasant experiences such as traffic jams and smog lasting for hours, or the risk of having his phone snatched while strolling on the sidewalk.

"If all these issues can be resolved, I would like to have the opportunity to work here long-term," said the 33-year-old man.

Ngoc Ngan - Quynh Nguyen

Vnexpress.net