Located in central Vietnam, Hue is known as a cultural hub of the country and full of natural resources. While it has a very welcoming local and expat community, living here will require a willingness to learn Vietnamese to make life easier. Recruiters will search for foreigners with skills related to the agro-industry or the emerging technology sectors.
Word-of-mouth is very useful for finding a job in Hue, but you can also utilize online job postings or get in touch with a recruitment agency. Due to the small foreign community, arriving with a plan is your best bet if you aspire to stay long-term.
Jobs for foreigners are limited in Hue as it is a very small central area of Vietnam. The biggest sector seeking foreigners would be teaching. You have three choices if you want to teach in Hue:
- Working at a public school: Teachers in Hue public schools can expect to earn 30 million VND (USD 1,235) to 43 million VND (USD 1,771). For more information, look at UK Academy Hue for up-to-date job postings.
- Private language centers: Teachers working in private centers can expect to earn 28 million VND (USD1,153) to 40 million VND (USD1,647). Notable centers to check out are International English Centers ILEAD, Hue Master Language Center, and ITC.
- Private lessons: This type of employment will not come with a visa or any security to keep you in the country. This will also involve networking and finding your clients with children or adults to tutor. The expected hourly wage is 350,000 VND (USD 14.50) to 1.2 million VND (USD 49)/hour.
Good to know:
Networking before arriving in Hue is your best bet, whether online or in larger cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh. Many Hue citizens work in the larger cities to provide for their families in the central region. You never know who you will meet at the Bia Hoi that has an opportunity for you!
Hue's economy
Hue has been attracting investors from all around the world due to its export location and investment opportunities. The city's economy is based mainly on commerce, services, and international transactions. The food industry is also an important part of its economic growth through the cultivation of rice, sugarcane, cassava, groundnuts, etc., as well as livestock, fisheries, and forestry.
Other sectors, such as cement, minerals, processing, handicrafts, tourism, clothing, and beer production, also contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which grew by just over 7% in 2019.
Good to know:
Some of Hue's natural resources are peat, iron, titanium, zinc, gold, phosphate, limestone, and granite.
Hue economic landscape
Vietnam is divided into three economic zones (EZ). They are the Northern Key Economic Zone, the Central Key Economic Zone, and the Southern Key Economic Zone. Hue falls into the Central Key EZ, which covers four provinces: Thua Thien Hue Province, Quang Nam Province, Quang Ngai Province, Binh Dinh Province and Da Nang City.
Within Hue, you will find different hubs of development for port logistics, machinery, textiles, mineral processing, and much more. According to Vietnam Briefing, by 2025, provincial authorities aim to have services account for 53-54 percent of the province's economy, followed by industry and construction at 31 to 32 percent and agriculture at 7 to 9 percent.
The central lifestyle in Hue
If you live and work in Hue, the lifestyle that you will have is unique and pleasant. This is typically a town that you would choose because you want to avoid the hustle and bustle of a city; you would likely be looking for a slower pace of life.
With its beautiful Feng-Shui architecture, as well as the proximity of the river and nearby beaches, living and working in this picturesque town will be tranquil. There are a variety of art galleries in the town center, depicting the easy-going lifestyle that this area provides.
In your spare time, you can explore the Hue Citadel, an abandoned waterpark, visit nearby Da Nang or Hoi An beaches, or explore the countryside roads for breathtaking views of nearby hills and mountains. While there are not many foreigner-focused restaurants, the few that do exist are delicious, and you will try the delicious bun bo hue (hue beef noodle soup) specialty.
Useful links:
What Makes Thua Thien Hue a Favorable Destination for Investment?
Vietnam's Regions and Key Economic Zones - Vietnam Briefing News
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