VietNamNet Bridge - Many Vietnamese invest overseas to seek opportunities to settle down in developed countries.

In recent years, the phrase ‘making investment for settlement’ or ‘businessmen’s settlement’ has become more popular in Vietnam. This allows Vietnamese investors to transfer capital to other countries for investments and set up business facilities there. They can then ask for permanent residence status.

A survey of Vietnam’s top 500 businesses (the 500 largest businesses) conducted by Vietnam Report showed that 45 percent of businesses want to invest overseas in the next five years, mostly in the US, Australia, Canada, India, Thailand and China. 

A survey of Vietnam’s top 500 businesses (the 500 largest businesses) conducted by Vietnam Report showed that 45 percent of businesses want to invest overseas in the next five years, mostly in the US, Australia, Canada, India, Thailand and China.

Businesses want to make outward investment to expand the markets, approach high technologies and improve their competitiveness. Many investors target associated benefits, including the right to live, travel and obtain citizenship in the destination countries.

Huong, a real estate investor, said at a workshop held on June 14 by AIMS Singapore, an immigration consultancy firm, said she is seeking an investment project in Australia, not necessarily in the real estate sector, hoping that this will pave the way for her two daughters to study at Australian state-owned schools, free of charge. 

Other businessmen, who asked to be anonymous, said after tens of years of doing business, they have saved a large amount of money and want to settle in a suitable country to prepare for their son’s study overseas. 

“We are willing to make investment in the country to obtain the right for residence first. After that, we will apply for citizenship,” the husband said. 

A WB report shows that Vietnam is one of the 10 countries with the highest migration rates in Asia-Pacific, about 100,000 people each year.

The US and Australia are two of the most interested markets for Vietnamese, though the countries set very strict requirements, including high investment capital.

In Australia, for example, on the basic level, one investor needs to have 800,000 AUD, or VND13 billion to set up a new business. 

He has to satisfy other requirements in terms of age, business management and English skills.

As for higher level, one has to have 1.5 million AUD (VND25.5 billion) to invest in government bonds, or make important investments worth 5 million AUD (over VND 83 billion) and high-end investments worth 15 million AUD (over 255 billion).

In exchange, the investors will become permanent residents and after four years of permanent residency, they will have the right to ask for citizenship while maintaining Vietnamese citizenship.

However, experts warned that there are always latent risks. In many cases, investors plans failed before they obtained ‘green cards’.