Category: Living

Three years ago, Thanh Truc, a 33-year-old Vietnamese woman, returned home from Japan with a savings of VND200 million (approximately US$7,600). Now, she finds herself preparing to leave her homeland once more.

From Beautician to Factory Worker

Prior to leaving Vietnam in 2016, Truc was employed as an assistant beautician and earned a monthly wage of roughly VND5 million. As her parents’ health deteriorated, she found herself under increasing financial strain. In an attempt to alleviate this burden, Truc took out a bank loan and applied to Japan’s Technical Intern Training Program.

She was accepted into the program and assigned to a component manufacturing factory in Aichi, Japan. There, Truc capitalized on overtime hours and a robust yen, earning between 150,000 and 160,000 yen (US$954–1,017) per month. After accounting for her living expenses, she was able to send a significant portion of her income back home, ending her financial woes within six months.

Upon the conclusion of her contract in late 2019, she returned to Vietnam with a sizeable savings, intending to renovate her home and open her own beauty salon.

Re-entry Struggles

But reality had other plans for Truc. Finding employment proved immensely challenging and her cosmetology skills had become antiquated during her time in Japan. Standards, tools, and techniques within the industry had advanced considerably, and the cost of updating her skills through refresher courses was prohibitive.

Employers showed a preference for younger workers, further compounding her difficulties. With her savings depleting rapidly, Truc relocated to Ho Chi Minh City, securing a job at a Japanese-owned packaging factory under the assumption that her language skills would prove advantageous. Unfortunately, even with overtime, she was only able to earn a monthly salary of about VND11 million – a fraction of what she used to earn in Japan.

By the end of 2023, unable to establish a sustainable lifestyle in Vietnam, Truc resigned from her job and once again applied for a visa to Japan.

The Challenges Faced by Returnees

Truc’s experience is far from an anomaly. Data reveals that a mere 26.7% of Vietnamese citizens find steady employment upon their return home, even when they return with savings ranging from VND300–500 million.

Returnees often face three major challenges. The first is the gap in income and skills. The typical blue-collar worker in Vietnam earns VND8–10 million per month, which is roughly one third of what they could earn in Japan. Moreover, their overseas factory experience often doesn’t prepare them for the white-collar or skilled occupations they aspire to.

The second challenge is the psychological pressure. There is a societal expectation that returnees should be financially successful, having “made it” abroad, especially in rural regions where employment opportunities are scarce.

The final challenge faced by returnees is the danger of unsuccessful entrepreneurship. Many invest their savings into small businesses or ventures without possessing the necessary knowledge, resulting in failure.

A Cautionary Tale

A case in point is 30-year-old Phan Van Thanh and his wife. After spending six years in Japan, they returned to Vietnam in mid-2023 with VND400 million, intending to be self-employed. They invested VND100 million in wedding decoration equipment, but found no profit in the venture.

To offset losses, Thanh bought a car and started driving it for ride-hailing apps. Despite the fact their savings were running out, the couple considered going back to Japan. It took a year for their venture to stabilize, but as Thanh mentioned, “Still, compared to my life abroad, things are much tougher.”

Experts advise migrant workers to plan their careers long-term, ideally five to ten years ahead, and to acquire skills and certifications that will be valuable in Vietnam before they return. The role of employers and labour agencies in providing transparent information and reintegration support is also crucial.

Without proper preparation, many returnees find themselves starting over again, losing both time and accrued capital. Consequently, it is estimated that 60–70% of Vietnamese workers eventually choose to return to Japan.

Questions & Answers

What challenges do returning migrant workers face?
Returning migrant workers often face an income and skills gap, psychological pressure, and the risk of failed entrepreneurship.

What advice is given to migrant workers planning to return home?
Migrant workers are advised to plan their careers long-term, ideally five to ten years ahead, and to acquire skills and certifications that are valuable in their home country before they return.

What percentage of Vietnamese workers return to Japan?
It is estimated that 60–70% of Vietnamese workers eventually return to Japan.