Expats’ salaries topped $34,000 a month in Q1

By Vien Thong April 30, 2022 | 05:00 am PT

An expat goes shopping on Book Street in HCMC’s District 1. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

The monthly incomes of foreign experts ranged between US$8,500 and $34,000 last quarter, according to a recent report by recruitment firm Navigos Search.

The report said enterprises operating in Vietnam "pay very high salaries" to attract foreign candidates.

Navigos Search said some sectors like garment, tourism and hospitality have high demand for foreign personnel due to a shortage of local expertise.

The garment industry, for instance, lacks Vietnamese talent for jobs requiring high levels of expertise like pattern development, innovation and quality control, while candidates from Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan are interested to work in Vietnam due to competitive salaries and opportunities to work abroad.

The resumption of international flights last month has fast-tracked recovery of the tourism and hospitality sectors, driving demand for senior managers, Navigos Search added.

The previously reported highest salaries in Vietnam were VND400-600 million ($17,520-26,275) paid to HCMC-based general managers in the healthcare sector with more than five years’ experience, according to headhunting agency Adecco Vietnam.

HCMC ranked sixth among top cities for expats to live and work last year in a survey by InterNations, with 75 percent of respondents saying their income was more than enough to cover expenses, and 77 percent satisfied with their financial situation.