Hi all, Im interested in starting a business in vietnam or just having an active hobby, is the government in vietnam as anal as the thai government in relation to work permits. I recently read that if you don't have a work permit in vietnam and immigration approaches you that you tell them the paperwork is in progress, I believe if you don't have work permit in thai for whatever reason then you face jail or massive payout to immigration.

I enjoy working with tools and like doing restorations or building things, from my understanding this would be classified as working in thailand, I cant go drinking all day or playing golf.

Is there anyone out there thats clued up on this subject?

I have lived in Vietnam for 2 years-because I am married to a vietnamese citizen,it's actually extremely easy to live here.BUT-if you aren't married to a Vietnamese it's a lot more difficult.Long term visas are not particularly easy to obtain,and the rules change frequently,so that it might be easy on one occasion, and then there is a clampdown.It's not at all easy to get a work permit,unless it is for something like a teaching job-even then there's a lot of paperwork.To run your own business would be extremely difficult,I believe you would need a Vietnamese company,or at least a Vietnamese partner.It might be a good idea to travel to and around Vietnam for an extended period and see if there is somewhere you particularly like,and make enquiries at that location