Seasonal work in Vietnam: farm harvests, Tet and coastal tourism

This page in other languages : Français

What does the season look like in Vietnam?

The country stretches over more than fifteen hundred kilometres, with very different climates in the north, centre and south. Temporary work peaks follow the harvests, the Tet lunar new year and the dry seasons of each stretch of coastline.

Harvests mainly employ Vietnamese workers, often from other provinces. For foreigners, openings are in upscale hospitality, diving, international cuisine, language teaching and technical supervision in export agribusiness, where foreign expertise is still valued.

Which regions hire?

The Central Highlands, around Buon Ma Thuot and Dak Lak province, are the heart of coffee production. The Mekong Delta grows rice and fruit, while Bac Giang province is famous for the Luc Ngan lychee harvest.

Tourism hires in Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa and Ha Giang, Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Ho Chi Minh City. The large beach resorts in the centre and south employ substantial teams throughout their high season.

What is the calendar?

The robusta coffee harvest generally runs from November to January. Lychees are picked from late May to July. The Mekong Delta produces several rice crops a year, and the northern terraces are harvested in September and October.

For tourism, the centre has its best season from February to August, Phu Quoc from November to April. Tet, in January or February, triggers a domestic travel peak and staffing needs in transport, retail and hospitality across the country.

Which jobs are advertised?

Listings cover pickers, sorters and packers in agriculture, then receptionists, waiters, cooks, guides and entertainers in tourism. Foreigners are sought as chefs, hotel managers, dive instructors, quality experts or trainers serving international clients.

Who can work in Vietnam?

No working holiday scheme is open to French or other European citizens. Every foreigner hired locally needs a work permit, unless exempt, plus a visa or temporary residence card matching the activity, both applied for by the employer.

What does Decree 219/2025 change?

In force since 7 August 2025, Decree 219/2025 replaces Decree 152/2020. Applications can be filed online through the National Public Service Portal, with the People's Committee of the province where the work takes place.

The employer files the application 10 to 60 days before the planned start date. The prior job posting, meant to check whether Vietnamese candidates are available, now lasts five days instead of fifteen and may appear on any recruitment platform.

Which profiles obtain a permit?

Permits are aimed at managers, executives, experts and technical workers with proven diplomas and experience. The maximum validity remains two years. Low-skilled jobs such as picking do not, in practice, fit any category open to foreign workers.

Which exemptions exist?

Managers, executives, experts and technical workers may work less than 90 days per calendar year without a permit, with unlimited entries. The decree also adds an exemption for priority sectors such as finance, science, technology and digital transformation.

What pay and conditions apply?

Since 1 January 2026, Decree 293/2025 has set regional minimum wages at 5,310,000 dong a month in Region I, 4,730,000 in Region II, 4,140,000 in Region III and 3,700,000 in Region IV.

Is there an hourly minimum?

Yes. The hourly minimum is 25,500 dong in Region I, 22,700 in Region II, 20,000 in Region III and 17,800 in Region IV. These rates apply to hourly-paid jobs, which are common in restaurants and seasonal work.

What are conditions like during harvests?

Pickers are often paid by the kilo or by the day, with long days starting early to avoid the heat. Farms sometimes provide housing for workers from other provinces, but conditions vary widely from one farm to another.

How is the applicable region determined?

The region depends on the locality where the employer operates, listed in the decree's appendix. Companies in industrial zones apply the highest relevant region, and overtime or night pay cannot be cut to offset the increase.

How to secure a seasonal job in Vietnam

1. Target a skilled role matching the manager, expert or technical worker categories.
2. Search vacancies with hotel groups, recruitment platforms and export companies.
3. Obtain a written job offer from a registered Vietnamese entity.
4. Gather diplomas, experience letters, criminal record and medical certificate, legalised where required.
5. Let the employer post the job for five days, then file 10 to 60 days before the start.
6. Obtain the work visa or residence card matching the permit.
7. Sign the Vietnamese employment contract and check the regional minimum is respected.

Which costs and documents are involved?

Which mistakes and scams should be avoided?

• Working on a tourist visa or e-visa hoping to regularise later.
• Taking a teaching job without a permit or written contract.
• Paying an agent who promises a permit without an identified employer.
• Answering highly paid offers in neighbouring countries, a known lure of online scam compounds.
• Submitting unlegalised or forged diplomas, a frequent cause of refusal.

Frequently asked questions about seasonal work in Vietnam

The questions below cover the most common situations: joining the coffee harvest, short assignments, permit processing times and the platforms used to find a position in the country, whether for local or foreign candidates.

Can a foreigner join the coffee harvest?

Not as an employee. Picking does not fall under the manager, expert or technical worker categories that qualify for a permit. Travellers may visit a Dak Lak plantation, but paid work without a permit risks a fine and deportation.

Does a two-month assignment need a permit?

For a manager, executive, expert or technical worker, no, as long as total presence stays under 90 days per calendar year. Other profiles remain subject to the general permit requirement, whatever the length of the assignment.

How long does processing take?

The authorities must decide within a short period of a few working days, according to analyses of the decree. Counting the five-day posting and preparing legalised documents, allow at least three weeks and often more in practice.

Where can I find vacancies in Vietnam?

Recruitment platforms such as Cake, available in Vietnamese, publish vacancies and offer employer of record services. Consultancies based in Vietnam also support recruitment and immigration procedures for qualified foreign candidates.