All about the working holiday in Vietnam
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005 (medical expenses, hospitalisation, repatriation…).
The information on this page applies only to applicants from Australia.
Between 18 and 30 years old
A valid passport for the entire duration of your working holiday
At least AU$5000
This must be your first participation
University degree or at least two years of tertiary studies
Apply before the annual quota is reached
01. What is the Working Holiday Visa?
WHVs are bilateral accords signed between governments to promote youth mobility and cultural exchange. Participating countries allow young adults to spend a set period of time (usually one year) living and working abroad. Most of the accords are signed between countries in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and East Asia. A WHV encourages cultural exchange alongside the chance to gain valuable work experience, though participants are not obligated to work.
02. Which nationalities are eligible?
Young adults from Australia and New Zealand are eligible to apply for the WHV to Vietnam.
03. How long is the visa good for?
The WHV allows you to work and live in Vietnam for up to one year.
04. Do I need to buy health insurance?
Health insurance is not listed as a requirement on official Vietnamese sources. However, for your own personal wellbeing and finances, it is strongly recommended to purchase medical insurance.
05. What is pvtistes.net and how can it help me?
We are a team of current and former working holiday makers dedicated to providing free information and resources about the working holiday in Vietnam and other destinations. Read our helpful articles, leave comments if you have questions, and check out our special deals.
We don’t ask for any money, and neither should anyone else in your application process (besides the embassy/consulate and their official partners). Be very careful of online scams where someone might ask you for an exorbitant amount to help you get your visa. Working Holiday Visas are designed to be relatively easy to obtain yourself, so there is absolutely no need to pay any professional service to do it on your behalf.
06. Where can I apply?
You must complete the application form and then follow the instructions outlined in the official checklist.
Health insurance is not listed as a requirement on official Vietnamese sources. However, for your own personal wellbeing and finances, it is strongly recommended to purchase medical insurance. Otherwise, out of pocket medical expenses can be very expensive in case of illness or emergency.
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.
- Chapter 5: Getting WHV health insurance
- What to know about travel insurance for your working holiday abroad
- What to have in your Working Holiday adventure first-aid kit
Vietnam’s currency is the đồng (VND).
If you want to have a VND debit card in hand before even arriving in Vietnam, you may want to consider an online neo-bank like Wise. Wise is an app that offers multi-currency financial services. Customers receive a physical debit card that can be used to withdraw cash at local ATMs and make payments in Vietnam. You can top up your card using one of the supported currencies and it will auto-convert into VND when making purchases in Vietnam. This way you can avoid the foreign transaction fees that many international travellers incur when using their home cards abroad. Learn more about Wise.
Once your application is approved, you’ll need to think about where to live, especially in the first few days and weeks. If you are planning on renting long term housing, we recommend you wait until you arrive in Vietnam before paying a deposit or signing anything. Never send money to anyone without seeing the place in person.
For your first couple of weeks, you could consider hotels. But the most affordable option is going to be youth hostels. You can find some great ones on Hostelworld.
- Chapter 6: Booking housing for your arrival
- 7 Tips for finding housing during your working holiday abroad
After you get your visa, you will have plenty of things to take care of. Some of them are more urgent than others, so this list breaks down your to-dos, starting with the most urgent to the least. It may seem like a lot, but don’t worry, one step at a time!
As you prepare for your working holiday in Vietnam, check out our library of free articles and guides. Everyone on the pvtistes.net team has done (or is currently on) a working holiday, and so everything we write is from personal experience.
This is also the perfect chance to learn or brush up on a foreign language. Babbel is partnering with pvtistes.net to offer 20% off on language courses (learn more). Also check out our other deals for working holiday makers.
You must be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of application. You can apply until the day before your 31st birthday.
You must have a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your working holiday.
You must prove that you have savings of at least AU$5000, enough to support yourself for at least the first few months of your stay.
This must be your first participation. If you have already been granted a WHV to Vietnam before, then you cannot apply again.
Applicants must have a university degree or successfully completed at least two years of tertiary (ie post-secondary) studies.
Apply before the annual quota is reached. There is an annual quota of 200 for Australians and 100 for New Zealanders.