Stéphanie’s Perspective: Expat Women, Mobility and Career Challenges in Vietnam

In this interview, we speak with Stéphanie from Reloc8 Vietnam, who has been living and working in Vietnam for more than 20 years. As both an expat woman and a long-time entrepreneur in the region, she shares her personal experience and her perspective on the realities expatriate women face in Vietnam.

Stéphanie, you’ve been a woman expat and entrepreneur in Vietnam for over 20 years. What were your biggest challenges when you first arrived, and how have those experiences shaped your approach to supporting other expat women here?

Twenty years ago, Vietnam was very different from the country we know today. When my husband and I arrived, our main concern was simply to make sure there was at least one international hospital, one international school, and a home where we could settle with our two children, who were then three and a half years old and just three and a half months old. At the time, we had just left Europe, and my professional plan was to rebuild a communications agency in Vietnam and provide strategy and marketing services to international companies, just as I had done in France.

That was the vision. In reality, things did not unfold as expected. I was absolutely unprepared for the language barrier, the depth of the cultural differences, and the reality of living in a country that was still at an early stage of development. Professionally, it was a failure. Vietnamese counterparts would say “yes,” but it was not the same “yes” I was used to in France. I struggled to understand how to work with them effectively, and that was one of my first major lessons.

On a personal level, I was fortunate to have the support of an excellent nanny and a housekeeper. I can honestly say that this support saved me during those early months.

A few months after our arrival, we faced our first major setback. Our landlord had rented us the house, but what no one told us — and especially not the real estate agent, who knew perfectly well — was that the house was also for sale. Four months after arriving, we were forced to leave. Our shipping container had been packed specifically for that house, and suddenly we had to relocate in an already saturated market with very limited housing options. It was a brutal first shock.

I will spare you the details of the local move, the theft of our computer, and the fact that we ended up in a house in the middle of nowhere — which, at the time, truly meant the middle of nowhere. It was not an easy start. I went through several phases, felt deeply alone at times, and yet I have always considered myself a fighter. I no longer knew who I could trust or where to turn.

These experiences have had a profound impact on the way I support other expat women today.

They taught me that relocation is not only about logistics. It is also about trust, guidance, reassurance, and helping people navigate unfamiliar systems with the right support at the right moment. Having lived through these challenges myself, I understand how important it is to provide both practical solutions and human support.

Among the families you support, what specific challenges do you often see expat women facing (employment, integration, work-life balance)?

Vietnam is not an easy country to work in, but it is a wonderful country to live in. That is the paradox.

Twenty years ago, the expatriate world was still largely built around men. Women and children followed. At the time, no one ever asked me whether I worked. I was automatically seen as “the wife of.” That label came naturally.

Today, things have evolved, and that is clearly a positive change.

Vietnam is not, in my view, a particularly sexist country. Women can hold senior roles in major companies, and expatriate women can absolutely access positions of responsibility. The real challenge is cultural: learning how to work together across very different codes and expectations. There is also a financial reality, as local contracts are often not particularly attractive in terms of salary. And above all, everything depends on networking. Relationships matter, and building those relationships takes time.

Integration into the expatriate community is, on the other hand, remarkably easy in Vietnam. It is a country where people go out, dine together, meet others easily, and build connections quickly.

What is often more difficult is integrating with Vietnamese people themselves, although the younger generations are increasingly open to mixing and building international connections. Finding your place takes time. Meeting the right people takes time. Learning how to decode the local culture takes time.

My advice is always the same: from the moment they arrive, expat women should try to join groups, build their network, and remain open, while also being patient. It is important not to rush, but to take the time to observe, understand the codes, and adjust gradually.

How does the Vietnamese job market welcome expat spouses, and what differences do you notice between men and women in this process?

Frankly, it does not really welcome them.

You need to know people who know people. It takes time. It is very much a question of connections and networks. Overall, I would say it is much the same for both men and women.

Given the complex challenges expat families (especially spouses) face in Vietnam, how does being part of the Reloc8 Group allow you to offer more comprehensive or innovative solutions? For example, are there specific programs, tools, or global resources that help address issues like visa restrictions, cultural integration, or professional networking for spouses?

Being part of the Reloc8 Group allows us to offer far more than traditional relocation support. Across Asia-Pacific, the challenges faced by expat families — and especially spouses — are rarely limited to one dimension. They often combine visa restrictions, cultural adjustment, career disruption, family balance, and the need to rebuild both personal and professional networks from the ground up.

What makes our approach different is that we do not see relocation as a purely administrative process. We know that the success of an international assignment depends on the wellbeing of the entire family, and that means putting in place practical as well as human support mechanisms.

Through Reloc8, we are able to combine strong local expertise with a broader regional perspective, which allows us to guide families with greater relevance and consistency across destinations. Beyond destination services, we can also offer solutions that help spouses and families adapt more confidently to their new environment. This includes cross-cultural training, which is essential for understanding local codes, communication styles, and workplace expectations, as well as access to professional coaches who can help spouses redefine their goals, rebuild confidence, and identify realistic next steps for their career or personal development.

We also support families by helping them better understand the realities of local job markets, manage expectations, and connect with the right communities and networks. In many cases, what matters most is not only information, but the ability to turn that information into practical, personalised guidance.

Being part of Reloc8 therefore enables us to offer a more holistic and forward-looking model of support: one that combines operational assistance, cultural preparation, and tailored human guidance. In a region as diverse and complex as Asia-Pacific, that comprehensive approach makes a real difference for families navigating international mobility.