Building Global Teams from Vietnam: Remote Work Strategies

Three years ago, I made the decision to base my operations in Danang, Vietnam, while continuing to serve clients and manage teams across Australia, the US, and Europe. Here's what I've learned about building effective global teams from Southeast Asia.

The Time Zone Advantage

Vietnam's GMT+7 timezone creates unique opportunities:

• Early morning overlap with Australia (2-3 hours)
• Late evening overlap with US East Coast (12-hour difference)
• Workday overlap with Singapore, Hong Kong, and India
• Extended coverage when combined with global team members

This positioning allows for near 24/7 operations with strategic team placement.

Building Trust Across Cultures

1. Over-Communicate Initially

In the first 90 days of any new team member:

• Daily check-ins via video call
• Written summaries of all verbal agreements
• Cultural context sharing sessions
• Regular feedback exchanges

2. Establish Clear Communication Protocols

Synchronous Communication:

• Weekly team video calls at rotating times
• Monthly one-on-ones with each team member
• Quarterly strategic planning sessions

Asynchronous Communication:

• Detailed project briefs and updates
• Video recordings for complex explanations
• Shared documentation with version control

Technology Stack for Global Teams

Core Platforms

• Slack for daily communication
• Zoom for video meetings
• Notion for documentation and project management
• GitHub for code and version control
• Calendly with timezone awareness

Time Zone Management

• World Clock apps for all team members
• Meeting scheduling that rotates inconvenient times
• Async-first communication culture
• Follow-the-sun support models

Hiring Strategies

Local Talent in Vietnam

Vietnam offers exceptional talent in:

• Software development (strong in full-stack and mobile)
• Digital marketing (growing expertise in SEO/SEM)
• Customer support (excellent English, service-oriented culture)
• Design and creative (emerging but high-quality talent pool)

Global Remote Talent

Key criteria for remote hires:

• Self-direction and initiative
• Written communication skills
• Cultural adaptability
• Timezone flexibility when needed

Managing Performance Across Distances

Output-Based Metrics

Focus on deliverables, not hours:

• Project completion rates and quality
• Client satisfaction scores
• Revenue contribution per team member
• Goal achievement against quarterly objectives

Regular Performance Reviews

• Monthly check-ins for project updates
• Quarterly reviews for performance and growth
• Annual planning sessions for career development
• 360-degree feedback from clients and team members

Cultural Considerations

Vietnamese Work Culture

Understanding local culture improves team dynamics:

• Relationship-building is essential before business
• Face-saving is important in feedback delivery
• Hierarchical respect influences communication styles
• Family priorities require flexible scheduling

Global Cultural Sensitivity

• Holiday awareness across all team locations
• Communication style adaptations by culture
• Meeting etiquette that respects all participants
• Conflict resolution approaches that work globally

Cost Structure Advantages

Operating from Vietnam provides significant cost advantages:

Fixed Costs

• Office space: $200-500/month for quality co-working
• Internet: $20-30/month for high-speed fiber
• Utilities: $50-100/month for full services
• Food: $5-15/day for quality meals

Variable Costs

• Local talent: 30-50% less than Western markets
• Travel: Strategic positioning for Asia-Pacific travel
• Living costs: 60-80% less than major Western cities

Challenges and Solutions

Challenge: Late Night/Early Morning Calls

Solution: Rotate meeting times monthly and record all sessions

Challenge: Internet Reliability

Solution: Redundant connections (fiber + 4G backup) and co-working spaces

Challenge: Banking and Payment Processing

Solution: Multi-country banking setup and digital payment platforms

Challenge: Legal and Tax Compliance

Solution: Local legal counsel and international tax advisors

Tools for Success

Communication

• Loom for async video explanations
• Calendly with timezone detection
• Slack with channel organization by time zones

Project Management

• Notion for centralized documentation
• Trello/Asana for task management
• Time tracking tools for accountability

Financial Management

• Wise (TransferWise) for international transfers
• FreshBooks for invoicing and accounting
• Local banking for Vietnamese operations

Key Lessons Learned

1. Async-first communication reduces timezone friction
2. Cultural investment upfront pays long-term dividends
3. Tool standardization is critical for remote teams
4. Regular in-person meetings (quarterly) maintain relationships
5. Local partnerships solve compliance and operational challenges

The Future of Global Remote Work

Vietnam is emerging as a hub for international remote operations. The combination of:

• Strong technical talent
• Favorable time zones
• Cost advantages
• Improving infrastructure
• Pro-business government policies

Makes it an ideal base for global operations.

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Considering Vietnam for your global operations? Let's chat about the practical aspects of making the transition.