MICE & events — short shoots still count as labour paper

In plain termsForeign producers, technical directors, and touring talent earn on Vietnam conferences, exhibitions, and shows. Hotels and agencies hire locally; fly-in crews often sit on day-count or service-sale limbs. A visa alone does not grant work (no).

What people actually do

MICE volume clusters in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and resort destinations. Hotel conference teams overlap with hospitality. Models, photographers, and entertainment bookings deepen on creative. Owning an events agency is own a business.

Labour stack

Ongoing payroll: permit usually required (yes); positions manager, executive, expert, technician. Short install / train / advise under 90 days days/year — day-count exemption. Service seller under 3 months: yes. Stay for residents: LĐ / TRC capped at 2 years.

Risk: forced exit or deportation. Count calendar days across multiple shows in the same year.

Tax

Resident worldwide (yes). Non-resident employment flat 20%. Short visits still feed day-count for residence tests — tax residency.

Dead ends

• Tourist stamp + paid stage or production work.
• Assuming each festival resets the calendar-year day-count.
• Treating a speaker invitation letter as a work permit.

Open the next door

• Foreign workers generally need a work permit

  Bộ luật Lao động 45/2019/QH14 Điều 153 khoản 2
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Positions for which foreigners may be hired

  BLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 152 khoản 1; NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 3
  manager, executive, expert, technicianchecked Aug 2026
• Maximum work-permit term

  BLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 155; NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 21
  24 monthschecked Aug 2026
• Maximum term of a one-time renewal

  BLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 155; NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 29
  24 monthschecked Aug 2026
• Married to a Vietnamese citizen and living in Vietnam — permit exempt

  BLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 154 khoản 8 (via NĐ 219/2025 Điều 7 khoản 1)
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Capital contribution threshold for owner/board exemption

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 7 khoản 2–3
  3,000,000,000 VNDchecked Aug 2026
• Under this many work days in a calendar year — permit exempt

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 7 khoản 13 điểm a
  90 dayschecked Aug 2026
• Under 3 months to sell services — permit exempt

  BLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 154 khoản 4
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• NĐ 219/2025 effective date

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 35 khoản 1
  2025-08-07checked Aug 2026
• Issuing authority

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 4
  provincial People's Committee where the foreigner will workchecked Aug 2026
• Work permit may be renewed this many times

  BLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 155; NĐ 219/2025 Điều 29
  1checked Aug 2026
• One permit cycle ceiling before a fresh issue is required

  BLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 155 — 24 + one renewal 24, then new issue
  48 monthschecked Aug 2026
• Under 3 months for complex tech incident — permit exempt

  BLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 154 khoản 5 (via NĐ 219 Điều 7 khoản 1)
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Licensed foreign lawyer in Vietnam — permit exempt

  BLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 154 khoản 6 (via NĐ 219 Điều 7 khoản 1)
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Head of foreign NGO / international org project or rep office — permit exempt

  BLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 154 khoản 3 (via NĐ 219 Điều 7 khoản 1)
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Cases under an international treaty Vietnam is party to — permit exempt

  BLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 154 khoản 7 (via NĐ 219 Điều 7 khoản 1)
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Priority-field confirmation exemption (filed categories)

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 7 khoản 14–15
  finance; science & technology; innovation; national digital transformation — with ministry/provincial confirmationchecked Aug 2026
• Owner/board with capital below the exemption threshold still needs a permit

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 2 khoản 1 điểm l
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Authority when work spans multiple provinces

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 4
  People's Committee where the employer's head office ischecked Aug 2026
• Filing channel for work-permit dossiers

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 6, Điều 22
  National Public Service Portal; Public Administration Service Centrechecked Aug 2026
• Criminal-record certificate is bundled in the same dossier

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 6
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Earliest days before start date to file a new permit

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 22
  10 dayschecked Aug 2026
• Latest days before start date to file a new permit

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 22
  60 dayschecked Aug 2026
• Statutory processing days to issue a permit

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 22 (Mẫu số 04)
  10 working dayschecked Aug 2026
• Statutory days to refuse in writing

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 22
  3 working dayschecked Aug 2026
• Earliest days before expiry to file renewal

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 28
  10 dayschecked Aug 2026
• Latest days before expiry to file renewal

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 28
  45 dayschecked Aug 2026
• Max age of health certificate for renewal

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 27
  12 monthschecked Aug 2026
• Passport must still be valid at renewal

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 27
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Processing days to reissue a permit

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 23–26
  3 working dayschecked Aug 2026
• Reissue does not reset the permit clock

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 26 — reissue term = prior term minus time already worked
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Job title or work form change with same employer needs a new permit

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 20 khoản 2
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Minimum notice days before multi-province work

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 22 khoản 5
  3 dayschecked Aug 2026
• Permit dies when the employment contract ends — does not wait for printed expiry

  BLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 156 khoản 2 via NĐ 219/2025 Điều 30 khoản 1
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Labour contract term cannot exceed the work-permit term

  BLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 151 khoản 2
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Employer must justify labour need and get written approval before hiring

  BLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 152 khoản 2
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Consequence of working without a permit

  BLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 153 khoản 2
  forced exit or deportationchecked Aug 2026
• Max term of exemption confirmation certificate

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 10
  24 monthschecked Aug 2026
• Max term of one renewal of exemption confirmation

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 17
  24 monthschecked Aug 2026
• Processing days to issue exemption confirmation

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 9
  5 working dayschecked Aug 2026
• Days to refuse exemption confirmation in writing

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 9
  3 working dayschecked Aug 2026
• Notify-only path: working days before start

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 9 khoản 4
  3 working dayschecked Aug 2026
• A prior work permit or exemption confirmation can substitute experience proof

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 18–20
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Revoked exemption confirmation must be reported to Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security)

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 33 khoản 2
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Numeric experience thresholds for the four positions are filed in facts.json

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 3 — filed 2026-08-09
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Điều 7 khoản 4–12 exemption limbs are fully filed in facts.json

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 7 khoản 1–15 — filed 2026-08-09
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Who counts as a manager for work-permit positions

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 3 khoản 1
  enterprise manager under Enterprise Law Art 4(24), or head/deputy head of an agency/organisationchecked Aug 2026
• Head of a branch, representative office, or business location counts as executive

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 3 khoản 2 điểm a
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Min years experience for field-head executive limb

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 3 khoản 2 điểm b
  3 yearschecked Aug 2026
• Min years experience for expert with university degree (general)

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 3 khoản 3 điểm a
  2 yearschecked Aug 2026
• Min years experience for expert in priority fields with matching degree

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 3 khoản 3 điểm b
  1 yearschecked Aug 2026
• Min years experience for technician with ≥1 year training

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 3 khoản 4 điểm a
  2 yearschecked Aug 2026
• Min training years for technician limb (a)

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 3 khoản 4 điểm a
  1 yearschecked Aug 2026
• Min years experience for technician limb without stated training requirement

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 3 khoản 4 điểm b
  3 yearschecked Aug 2026
• ODA advisory / project support under international agreement — permit exempt

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 7 khoản 4
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Foreign journalist confirmed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs — permit exempt

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 7 khoản 5
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Teaching/management at diplomatic/intergovernmental school or treaty body — permit exempt

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 7 khoản 6
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Student / trainee internship (incl. VN seafarer training) — permit exempt

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 7 khoản 7
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Family member of foreign mission staff allowed to work under treaty — permit exempt

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 7 khoản 8
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Official-passport work for state / political / socio-political body — permit exempt

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 7 khoản 9
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Person responsible for establishing a commercial presence — permit exempt

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 7 khoản 10
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Unpaid volunteer under treaty with diplomatic/IO confirmation — permit exempt

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 7 khoản 11
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Work under central/provincial international agreement — permit exempt

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 7 khoản 12
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Intra-company transfer: prior continuous employment months required

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 7 khoản 13 điểm b
  12 monthschecked Aug 2026
• Ministry of Education & Training confirmation path — permit exempt

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 7 khoản 14
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Days for employer to return an expired/invalid work permit to the issuer

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 31 khoản 1
  15 dayschecked Aug 2026
• On administrative revoke, issuer notifies employer and Immigration Department

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 31 khoản 2
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Days for employer to return an expired exemption confirmation

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 33 khoản 1
  15 dayschecked Aug 2026
• Labour Code defines a day-count for 'living in Vietnam' marriage exemption

  BLLĐ 45/2019 Điều 154 khoản 8 — 'sinh sống trên lãnh thổ Việt Nam' with no day-count or registration threshold in the Labour Code
  nochecked Aug 2026
• Number of statutory work-form limbs for foreign workers

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 2 khoản 1 điểm a→m
  13checked Aug 2026
• Thirteen work forms (Điều 2.1 a–m)

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 2 khoản 1 (vbpl ItemID=180273)
  a employment contract; b intra-company transfer; c economic/social contracts; d contractual service supplier; đ service seller; e volunteer; g commercial-presence founder; h secondment (ex-ICT); i project/bid packages; k diplomatic-family treaty work; l board/owner capital under 3bn VND; m employment with foreign mission/org in VNchecked Aug 2026
• Board/owner under 3bn VND is a permit-required work form

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 2 khoản 1 điểm l — capital under 3 billion VND is a work form that requires a permit
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• Forms a and m require a written employment contract before start

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 22 khoản 4 — forms a and m must sign written employment contract before planned start
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• A single national work-permit fee schedule is filed

  NĐ 219 has no fee amounts. Work-permit fees are set by provincial HĐND under TT 85/2019/TT-BTC (as amended by TT 106/2021) — not a single national schedule
  nochecked Aug 2026
• Work-permit fees are set at provincial council level

  Practice under Luật Phí và lệ phí + TT 85/2019/TT-BTC provincial competence (illustrated by provincial NQ e.g. Đồng Nai 43/2025) — amounts vary by province
  yeschecked Aug 2026
• All thirteen Điều 2 work forms are filed

  NĐ 219/2025/NĐ-CP Điều 2 khoản 1 a–m filed 2026-08-09 (closes N10)
  yeschecked Aug 2026