ThonExpatVietnam
Start

Vietnam clients + a tourist stamp is not a consulting product

In plain termsConsulting is work when a Vietnam party pays you. DL is tourism. Tourism is not a labour permit.

Start here — three checks

  1. Who is the client? A Vietnam company or resident paying you is local labour pressure.
  2. What stamp do you hold? DL is tourist (yes). Work authority? no
  3. Permit default. yes — without it: forced exit or deportation.

Client location vs stamp

EngagementLegal readIf you invoice anyway
Vietnam LLC pays you in cash or transfer for advice on the groundLocal labour. Needs a lawful work form + permit or exemption.Unlawful work on a tourist stamp.
Workshop “for exposure” with a paid ticketStill work if Vietnam parties buy the time.Events page will not save a DL stamp.
Only foreign clients, paid offshore, no Vietnam invoiceDifferent door — remote purpose. Still not a Vietnam work visa.Mixing one local invoice poisons the “offshore-only” story.
“I’ll get the permit later this month”Pending permit is not permission. See start-before-issued.You add immigration risk to a labour gap.
Common wrong movesConsulting language does not hide a client.
  • Using a personal Wise account as if that made the client foreign.
  • Calling it a “friend’s company” while issuing VAT invoices.
  • Teaching a paid cohort on DL because “it’s only three days.”
If a Vietnam client is already waitingStop delivery. Pick a lawful vehicle.
  • Do not deliver on DL.
  • If they will employ you, open the work-permit stack before a start date.
  • If the work is truly offshore-only, keep Vietnam parties out of the invoice.
Evidence and sources4 dated facts for Consulting Vietnam clients while on a tourist stay

The readable briefing above uses these cells. Open a source only when you need to verify a number, date, or legal gate.

  • Foreign workers generally need a work permit
    BLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 153 khoản 2
    yeschecked Aug 2026
  • Consequence of working without a permit
    BLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 153 khoản 2
    forced exit or deportationchecked Aug 2026
  • DL is the tourist-entry visa symbol
    Luật Nhập cảnh Điều 8 — DL = vào du lịch
    yeschecked Aug 2026
  • A DL tourist stay is itself work-permit authority
    Luật Nhập cảnh Điều 8 (DL = tourism) is not a labour-permission limb; work sits on BLLĐ / NĐ 219
    nochecked Aug 2026
Consulting occupation mapVietnam-employer consulting vs offshore-only.Remote purposeNo remote visa; days still feed tax.Start before permit issuedA pending WP is not a tourist-work exception.

Common questions

Can I invoice Vietnam companies for consulting while I am here on a tourist visa?

Paid work for Vietnam clients is labour. Foreign workers generally need a work permit. DL is the tourist symbol and is not work-permit authority.

What if I call it a workshop, coffee meeting, or unpaid advice?

Relabeling does not change the labour test. If a Vietnam party is buying your work, treat it as work.

Is this the same as remote work for an offshore client?

No. Offshore-only remote is the remote-purpose door. This page is local Vietnam clients while you hold DL.