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There are no "working" visas in Vietnam.  There are only Work Permits which are issued to the employer for persons who may hold one of several types of visas.  You can apply for a Work Permit yourself but not without coordination with your employer.

There are no "working" visas in Vietnam. There are only Work Permits which are issued to the employer for persons who may hold one of several types of visas.

The LD visa described here (link) is "Issued to people who come to work (working visa)".

In my (limited) understanding, it is a visa issued to a foreigner who has not yet arrived in VN, who has already secured a position with a VN employer and who has already been issued a work permit. The LD visa(and again, this is from my admittedly limited understanding) is an actual visa which is affixed to your passport, allowing entry to VN.

You can apply for a Work Permit yourself but not without coordination with your employer.
-@THIGV

Interesting. I was not aware that foreigners could apply for a work permit by themselves. My understanding was that only a VN employer (holding the VN equivalent of a business registration license/registration number, and also holding an employer's account with the VN immigration) is able to apply for the work permit on the foreigner's behalf.

I was under the impression that the foreigner's involvement in the entire process ended after acceptance by the employer of the foreigner's application for employment.

I would be quite happy to be corrected on these points, and defer to those with direct knowledge/experience. I find the information available from both gov't and commercial

"visa-sales" sites to be both confusing and often contradictory.

There are no "working" visas in Vietnam. There are only Work Permits which are issued to the employer for persons who may hold one of several types of visas. You can apply for a Work Permit yourself but not without coordination with your employer.
-@THIGV

Interesting. I was not aware that one could apply for a work permit by themselves. My understanding was that only a VN employer (holding the VN equivalent of a business registration license/number and also holding an employer's account with the VN immigration) could apply for the work permit on the foreigner's behalf.
-@Aidan in HCMC

As I recall, there is an attestation form made by the employer among the application documents, which serves as the basis of the application.   My own application actually was by the employer in the documentary sense, even though I did the legwork and was compensated later.   Of course an employer needs the employee to provide critical documents such as diplomas.   It is really a cooperative effort.

@Alok_ it's a work permit, not a work visa. Applications must be made by your employer. There is no other way.

@Alok_ it's a work permit, not a work visa. Applications must be made by your employer. There is no other way.
-@Steven Marshall55

I did a little further checking. There is both a Work Visa(LD visa), and a Work Permit.

Here is an LD Visa sample. It is issued to workers and affixed within their passport, allowing entry through VN immigration/customs (multiple entry). It is available only after the employer successfully procures the work permit.

and here is a Work Permit sample.

You are correct in stating that the Work Permit application must be completed and submitted by the employer.

I did a little further checking. There is both a Work Visa(LD visa), and a Work Permit.
-@Aidan in HCMC

True  but I don't think having a work permit necessitates having an LD visa, does it?   If you are OK with whatever you had before obtaining your WP, I think you can keep it at least until it runs out.   Actually for most expats, the best alternative after obtaining a WP is to obtain a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) generally for 2 years and have no need for a visa.

@OceanBeach92107 Interesting that the "Type" in your photo is LD, the same as the work Visa category.   I wonder what the category is for TRC based on marriage and with which visa category, if any, it aligns.

@OceanBeach92107 Interesting that the "Type" in your photo is LD, the same as the work Visa category.  I wonder what the category is for TRC based on marriage and with which visa category, if any, it aligns.
-@THIGV

It's TT for spouse, aligning with the TT visa.