Foreign labor has long been a significant resource for Vietnam’s socioeconomic development, especially in Hanoi. However, if not properly managed, waves of immigration could impact social welfare and public order.

Today, The Hanoi Times’ Words on the Street, will explore this issue.

For several months now, residents of Tu Lien Ward in Tay Ho District have become accustomed to seeing African migrants wandering the streets looking for work.

Some of them have found labor-intensive jobs, such as carrying loads in nurseries or washing dishes in restaurants. Because of language barriers, they rely on mobile apps to communicate. They willingly do heavy tasks in exchange for support in the form of food, medicine, or money when needed.

These foreigners come from Somalia, Congo, Nigeria, Ghana, and other African countries. They say they left home to escape disease, war, and economic downturn. They see Vietnam as a lifeline because someone told them they could make easy money here by becoming English teachers.

But building a new life in a foreign country is never easy, especially in today's global economic recession.

But once they arrived in Vietnam, they found that it wasn't so easy to make a living teaching English. Their job hunt is complicated by the fact that they are not native English speakers and do not have teaching credentials in the language. The market for English teachers in Hanoi has dwindled as a result of the closure of many English centers and the government's tightening of controls on foreign English teachers.

Many of these immigrants came to Vietnam on their own, not through licensed recruitment agencies. They find themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere after their brokers disappear. They have no formal sponsor, so few people feel comfortable helping them.

Vietnam has become a popular destination for foreigners looking for work, especially since the advent of the Doi Moi (renovation) process. Why is it such an attractive option for international workers?
Since then, the country has seen an influx of foreign professionals, engineers, English teachers, and athletes. Many of us find the prospect of a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural environment right here in our home country appealing and interesting. How about going to a bakery to buy bread baked by a Frenchman, spending a night in a bar run by Koreans, and eating at a different Chinese restaurant every weekend?

Vietnam’s economy has been growing rapidly, even amid a global slowdown, which creates more job opportunities. Furthermore, the cost of living in Vietnam is much lower than in other countries, enabling foreign workers to save more at similar income levels.

Vietnam’s drive for global integration has heightened the demand for skilled foreign workers who have the language skills and expertise needed in education and other sectors.

Vietnamese society has a capacity for cultural absorption and blending. With a welcoming, friendly attitude toward foreigners in general, Vietnam allows them to integrate more smoothly.

Hanoi and Vietnam as a whole used to be a port of call for foreigners. Beginning in the early 2000s, when Vietnamese soccer turned professional, hundreds of African and South American players, unable to compete in the major leagues, arrived to try their luck. Only a small number managed to secure professional contracts with local teams.

Around 2009-2010, I remember helping a group of Nigerian soccer players who were lodging at a hotel where I worked as a receptionist. They were in town for a few weeks trying to secure contracts. What happened to them, whether they ended up staying in Vietnam or returned home, remained unknown.

Then there was the trend of "Western backpackers" traveling around Vietnam looking for jobs teaching English. And in the last few years, there have even been foreign beggars in major cities such as Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City.

The existence of an African community in Hanoi, while not yet a major concern, obviously signals the need for timely action by local and city authorities. Importing foreign workers should be selective and better controlled to ensure that they contribute positively to the capital and the country.

Meanwhile, Hanoi authorities should show more concern for these workers, as it reflects our city's commitment to international integration.   Officials should also reach out to embassies to find sustainable, effective solutions for African workers and all foreign workers in similar situations in the future.

Vietnam itself is making efforts to send workers abroad to find work and a better income. These Vietnamese guest workers must undergo rigorous training to ensure quality before working in a foreign country.

Most importantly, they are sent by agencies licensed by the Vietnamese government and under agreements between Vietnam and the host countries. This approach ensures the legitimacy of Vietnamese workers abroad and protects their rights should unforeseen challenges arise.