●●○○Moderate· fine / confiscation
Working & digital nomads.
A tourist visa does not let you work — and remote work sits in a real grey area.
The rule, in plain English
A tourist visa or e-visa is for tourism, not employment. Working for a Vietnamese company, taking on local clients or earning income from Vietnamese sources requires a work permit plus the right business or work visa. Remote work for a foreign employer while you travel is a genuine grey area — widely done, not clearly authorised — so a tourist visa is technically the wrong status for it.
What's banned vs allowed
Working for a Vietnamese employer on a tourist visa is not allowed.
Earning from local clients or Vietnamese sources needs a work permit + business visa.
Remote work for a foreign employer is a grey area — tolerated but not formally authorised.
There's no dedicated 'digital nomad visa' — you still need a proper visa status.
Touring, answering personal email and managing your own trip are clearly fine.
How to stay legal
- 1If you'll work with any Vietnamese party, get a work permit and business/work visa.
- 2Keep foreign remote work low-profile and never invoice local clients on a tourist visa.
- 3For longer stays, sponsor a proper business visa through a Vietnamese company.
- 4Keep your income, contracts and tax tied to your home country, not Vietnam.
If you break this rule
- Working without a permit can bring fines and potential deportation.
- Your employer or sponsor in Vietnam can also be fined for unlicensed labour.
- A labour-law breach can lead to a future entry ban.
§ Decree 152/2020/NĐ-CP (foreign work permits) + Decree 144/2021/NĐ-CP (immigration penalties)· Reviewed by lawyers·Verified Jun 2026
Ich webe das in Ihre Reise ein
Fertig gelesen? Ich übernehme die Planung
Alles in diesen Hubs wird automatisch angewendet, wenn ich Ihr Reiseprogramm erstelle. Kein Kopieren und Einfügen nötig.
