A 10 Realistic Guide to Earn Money Online in Vietnam

Vietnam’s digital economy is exploding. With rapidly increasing internet penetration and a young, tech-savvy population, the opportunities to earn money online have never been more accessible. Gone are the days when a traditional 9-to-5 job was the only path to a stable income. Today, whether you’re in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, or a quiet provincial town, a reliable internet connection is your gateway to a world of financial possibilities.

But let’s be realistic. The internet is filled with promises of “getting rich quick” that often lead nowhere. This guide is different. We’re cutting through the noise to bring you 10 practical, proven, and legitimate methods to earn money online in Vietnam for 2025. These aren’t theoretical ideas; they are actionable strategies that real people are using right now to supplement their income, or even replace it entirely.

Whether you’re a student looking for a side hustle, a parent needing flexible work, or an entrepreneur ready to build an online empire, this is your starting point.

First, Your Foundation for Success

Before we dive into the methods, you need a few things in place. Think of this as your launchpad.

• A Stable Internet Connection: This is non-negotiable. Your ability to work, communicate, and deliver services depends on it. Thankfully, internet infrastructure in Vietnam is strong and affordable.
• A Bank Account & Digital Wallet: You’ll need a Vietnamese bank account to receive local payments. For international clients, digital wallets like Payoneer or Wise (formerly TransferWise) are essential for receiving foreign currency with minimal fees. PayPal is also an option, though less favored for its higher fees.
• The Right Mindset: Earning money online requires discipline, persistence, and a willingness to learn. It’s a real job, not a lottery ticket. Success comes to those who treat it with professionalism.

With that foundation set, let’s explore the methods.

10 Proven Ways to Earn Money Online in Vietnam

Method 1: Master the World of Freelancing

Freelancing is perhaps the most direct way to turn your skills into cash. You offer a service to clients around the world and get paid for your work. The demand for Vietnamese freelancers is growing, both locally and internationally.

• What it is: Offering professional services like writing, graphic design, programming, translation (Vietnamese-English is in high demand), or digital marketing on a project basis.
• Why it works in Vietnam: You can leverage the lower cost of living while earning in stronger currencies like the US Dollar ($) or Euro (€). It offers incredible flexibility to work from anywhere.
• How to Get Started:
  1. Identify your most marketable skill.
  2. Create a strong portfolio showcasing your best work.
  3. Build profiles on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal. Don’t forget local platforms like Vlance.vn.
  4. Start by bidding on smaller projects to build your reputation and get positive reviews.
• Earning Potential: From 5,000,000 VND per month for beginners to well over 50,000,000 VND for experienced specialists.

Method 2: Dominate Local E-commerce Marketplaces

Vietnam has one of the fastest-growing e-commerce markets in Southeast Asia. Platforms like Shopee, Lazada, and Tiki are household names and present a massive opportunity.

• What it is: Selling physical products directly to Vietnamese consumers through established online marketplaces. This can be done by selling your own creations, reselling items, or dropshipping.
• Why it works in Vietnam: These platforms have enormous user bases, integrated payment systems, and established logistics networks (like Shopee Express and Lazada Logistics). The barrier to entry is incredibly low.
• How to Get Started:
  1. Research a niche product with good demand but manageable competition. Think fashion accessories, custom phone cases, unique home goods, or beauty products.
  2. Source your products from local wholesalers (like those in Cho Lon or Ninh Hiep Market) or use a dropshipping model from platforms like AliExpress or local suppliers.
  3. Set up your seller account on Shopee Vietnam, Lazada Vietnam, or Tiki.
  4. Take high-quality photos and write compelling, keyword-rich product descriptions in Vietnamese.
  5. Focus on excellent customer service to get good ratings.
• Earning Potential: Highly variable, from a few million VND in profit as a side hustle to hundreds of millions for power sellers.

Method 3: Become a Content Creator (YouTube & TikTok)

Vietnamese audiences are voracious consumers of online video content. If you have a personality, a passion, or a unique skill, you can build an audience and monetize it.

• What it is: Creating engaging videos for platforms like YouTube or TikTok and earning money through advertising revenue, brand sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.
• Why it works in Vietnam: The potential audience is huge. Content that resonates with local culture, humor, and trends can go viral quickly. Popular niches include food reviews, travel vlogs (exploring Vietnam’s beauty), comedy, gaming, and education.
• How to Get Started:
  1. Choose a niche you are passionate and knowledgeable about.
  2. Start filming with your smartphone – you don’t need expensive gear initially.
  3. Learn basic video editing using free software like CapCut or DaVinci Resolve.
  4. Post consistently and engage with your comments to build a community.
  5. Once you meet the platform’s requirements (e.g., 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours on YouTube), you can apply for monetization.
• Earning Potential: Starts slow, but successful creators can earn from 10,000,000 VND to over 100,000,000 VND per month from multiple income streams.

Method 4: Affiliate Marketing for the Vietnamese Market

Affiliate marketing allows you to earn a commission by promoting other people’s or company’s products. You don’t have to worry about inventory or customer service.

• What it is: You share a unique affiliate link to a product or service. When someone makes a purchase through your link, you earn a percentage of the sale.
• Why it works in Vietnam: As e-commerce booms, so do affiliate programs. Major platforms like Shopee and Lazada have robust affiliate systems (AccessTrade is a popular network that aggregates these).
• How to Get Started:
  1. Build a platform: This could be a blog, a Facebook page, a YouTube channel, or a Zalo group focused on a specific niche (e.g., tech reviews, budget travel, skincare).
  2. Join affiliate programs relevant to your niche.
  3. Create genuine, helpful content that naturally incorporates your affiliate links. Don’t just spam links. Review the products honestly.
  4. Disclose that you are using affiliate links to build trust with your audience.
• Earning Potential: Can range from 1,000,000 VND per month to a full-time income exceeding 30,000,000 VND for those with a large, engaged audience.

Method 5: Teach English or Another Language Online

If you are a native or fluent English speaker, you can connect with students around the world. There is also a growing demand for other languages like Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.

• What it is: Providing one-on-one or group language lessons to students via video call.
• Why it works in Vietnam: Vietnam is a great base for online teachers due to the low cost of living and timezone overlap with major markets in Asia. Many Vietnamese are also seeking to improve their English, creating a local market as well.
• How to Get Started:
  1. Get a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate if you don’t have a teaching degree. This significantly boosts your credibility.
  2. Apply to established online teaching companies like VIPKid, Cambly, or Preply.
  3. Alternatively, you can market your services independently on platforms like Facebook or to your personal network.
• Earning Potential: Typically $10 – $25 USD per hour. A part-time schedule can easily generate 10,000,000 – 20,000,000 VND per month.

Method 6: Social Media Management & Digital Marketing

Every business, from the local phở stall to a large corporation, needs a social media presence. Many don’t have the time or expertise to manage it themselves.

• What it is: Managing a company’s social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Zalo, TikTok), creating content, running ads, and engaging with their community.
• Why it works in Vietnam: Facebook has immense penetration here, and Zalo is a key marketing channel. Businesses desperately need skilled people to help them navigate the digital landscape and reach customers.
• How to Get Started:
  1. Master one or two platforms first. Learn the ins and outs of Facebook Business Suite and running effective ad campaigns.
  2. Create a portfolio by offering your services for free or a low cost to a local business or a friend’s project.
  3. Network in local business groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.
  4. Pitch your services with a clear proposal of what you can deliver (e.g., “I will post 5 times per week and provide a monthly performance report”).
• Earning Potential: Retainers can start from 4,000,000 VND per client per month and go up significantly based on the scope of work.

Method 7: Online Surveys and Micro-Tasks

This method won’t make you rich, but it is the most accessible way to start earning your first dollars online with zero initial skill.

• What it is: Completing short tasks like taking surveys, data entry, or categorizing images for small payments.
• Why it works in Vietnam: It requires no experience, only time and an internet connection. It can be done in your spare moments.
• How to Get Started:
  1. Sign up for reputable micro-task websites like Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), Clickworker, or ySense.
  2. Be patient during the approval process.
  3. Focus on tasks you can complete quickly and accurately to maximize your hourly rate.
• Earning Potential: Low. Expect to earn 20,000 – 100,000 VND per hour. It’s best viewed as a way to earn extra coffee money, not a primary income source.

Method 8: Selling Stock Photos and Videos

If you have a good eye and a decent camera (even a modern smartphone), you can sell your photos and video clips online.

• What it is: Uploading your high-quality images and videos to stock footage platforms. When a business or creator downloads your content, you receive a royalty.
• Why it works in Vietnam: Vietnam is incredibly photogenic. There is a high global demand for authentic images and videos of Vietnamese life, food, landscapes, and people.
• How to Get Started:
  1. Focus on quality over quantity. Learn the basics of composition and lighting.
  2. Sign up as a contributor on platforms like Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, or Getty Images.
  3. Keyword your uploads meticulously. Think like a buyer: what terms would they search for to find your photo? (e.g., “Hanoi street food,” “woman in ao dai,” “Ha Long Bay drone footage”).
• Earning Potential: This is a passive income stream. It starts very slow, but a large, high-quality portfolio can generate a consistent 1,000,000 – 10,000,000+ VND per month over time.

Method 9: Virtual Assistance (VA)

A Virtual Assistant provides administrative, technical, or creative assistance to clients remotely.

• What it is: Handling tasks like scheduling appointments, managing emails, bookkeeping, customer support, or doing research for a client or business.
• Why it works in Vietnam: You can offer your services to busy entrepreneurs and executives all over the world. Your location in Vietnam gives you a cost advantage while still providing high-quality support.
• How to Get Started:
  1. List your administrative or technical skills. Are you great with spreadsheets? Organized with calendars?
  2. Market your services on platforms like Upwork or by networking in online business communities.
  3. Clearly define the services you offer and your hourly rate or package prices.
• Earning Potential: Rates for VAs from Vietnam can range from $5 – $20+ USD per hour, depending on your skills and experience.

Method 10: Website & App Testing

Companies need real users to test their websites and apps before they launch. They will pay you to navigate their digital products and provide feedback.

• What it is: You are given a set of instructions to follow on a website or app. You record your screen and voice your thoughts aloud as you complete the tasks, pointing out anything confusing, broken, or frustrating.
• Why it works in Vietnam: Companies want feedback from a diverse, global user base, including users in Southeast Asia.
• How to Get Started:
  1. Sign up for platforms like UserTesting, TryMyUI, or Userfeel.
  2. You will need a decent microphone.
  3. Complete the initial qualification test to demonstrate you can provide clear, articulate feedback.
• Earning Potential: Typically around $10 USD for a 15-20 minute test. The availability of tests can be sporadic, but it’s a great way to earn an extra 1,000,000 – 2,000,000 VND per month.

A Final Word: Play the Long Game

Earning a significant income online doesn’t happen overnight. The key is to choose one method that aligns with your skills and interests, and commit to it. Learn everything you can, practice consistently, and don’t be discouraged by initial setbacks.

The digital landscape in Vietnam is full of potential. By focusing on providing real value, you can build a reliable, flexible, and rewarding online income stream that will serve you well into 2025 and beyond.

Disclaimer:

The earning potentials mentioned in this article are estimates based on research and are not guarantees. Your actual success depends entirely on your own effort, skills, and consistency. This guide is intended to provide helpful, actionable information to support your journey.