Returning home after the labor contract: booking tickets, luggage and procedures

🔄 Cập nhật lần cuối: 08/10/26

Returning home after a labor contract is a happy milestone after many years of working away from home, but it is also a time when you can easily "lose" your benefits if you are in a hurry: forget to withdraw insurance money, have not closed your account, carry excess baggage or exceed tax-free standards. This article provides instructions on what to do before leaving the host country, how to book tickets, arrange luggage and procedures when returning to Vietnam.

Things to do 1–2 months before returning home

1. Confirm the contract end date with the employer and management/brokerage company; Ask clearly who bears the cost of the return ticket (according to the contract).
2. Final salary settlement, overtime pay, untaken vacation days; Ask for salary slips and work confirmation papers (useful when applying for a job or re-exporting).
3. Pay electricity, water, internet, phone bills; Return the house on time to receive your deposit back.
4. Do procedures with local authorities if required by the host country (for example, in Japan, it is often necessary to submit a moving notice at the district/city office).
5. Bank account handling: transfer money back to the country through legal channels before closing the account; For some refunds that will be received after returning, you need to keep an account or provide a receiving account in Vietnam according to instructions.

Don't forget your financial interests

Many workers miss out on large sums of money just because they don't know or the application deadline is overdue:

For example, in Japan, Yokohama city's information page said that foreigners who have paid pensions for 6 months or more and are not eligible for pensions can request a one-time subsidy, but must pay it within 2 years after leaving Japan. This amount belongs to welfare pension insurance (Kosei Nenkin) and is subject to income tax deduction; You can apply for a tax refund through a tax representative. Ask the management company or union before leaving to prepare documents.

For workers under contract through Vietnamese enterprises, do not forget to liquidate the contract with the enterprise after returning to receive the deposit (if any) and complete the obligations of both parties.

Book a ticket to return home after the labor contract

When should I book?

• As soon as you are sure of the contract end date, you should book 4–8 weeks in advance to get a good price.
• If your return date falls during the peak of Lunar New Year, summer or a major holiday in the host country, you need to book much earlier - see experience in this article. hunt for plane tickets to Tet.
• Choose a ticket that allows changing dates if the departure schedule has not been 100% finalized.

How to choose tickets to benefit?

• Compare the total cost of tickets + baggage, not just the ticket price. Cheap tickets that do not include checked baggage may be more expensive after purchasing additional weight.
• Priority is given to direct flights or short transit flights if carrying a lot of items.
• Check the return airport: choosing an airport near home (Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Cat Bi...) can save on domestic travel costs.

Baggage brought back: optimal and legal

After a few years, there is often a lot more furniture than when you left. A few principles:

• Liquidate bulky and cheap items; Send less items by sea if there are many (longer time but cheaper).
• Buy extra luggage in advance on the website/agent - cheaper than paying excess fees at the airport.
• Backup batteries and lithium batteries must be kept in hand luggage; no deposit.
• High-value electronics should be carried with you and the purchase receipt should be kept.

According to Decree 134/2016/ND-CP, each time a person enters the country with a passport, they are exempt from tax: 1.5 liters of alcohol of 20 degrees or more (or 2 liters of wine under 20 degrees, 3 liters of alcoholic beverages/beer), 200 cigarettes, and other items with a total customs value of not more than 10 million VND (in addition to personal belongings suitable for the purpose of the trip). Exceeding the limit must be declared and paid tax. Tips for packing things neatly and properly are in the article pack a 46kg suitcase.

Procedures when returning to Vietnam

1. Enter at the border gate, declare customs if you have goods exceeding tax-free standards or carrying foreign currency in cash in excess of the prescribed limit (over 5,000 USD).
2. Contact the dispatching business to liquidate the contract and receive back the deposit (if any).
3. Track and file remaining overseas insurance refunds within deadlines.
4. Explore domestic job opportunities: many FDI enterprises recruit people with experience and foreign languages ​​from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan; Your local employment service center can provide advice.

If you plan to return to work under another program, the articles Japanese specific skills and Korean workers are eligible for EPS will help you understand the conditions for re-export. For Taiwanese workers, review costs, contracts and benefits.

VeDuHoc supports workers returning home from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Europe and many other places: 30+ Bookers to hunt for multi-carrier tickets, advice on buying extra checked baggage and oversized luggage, checking transit visas, 24/7 support. If a better price is found after you have paid, HVSC will refund the difference. Book tickets at this page ticket back home.

Frequently asked questions

When the contract ends, who pays for the return ticket?

Depending on the labor contract and regulations of each market. Please re-read the clause on water costs; If unclear, ask the dispatching business or management company.

After returning to Vietnam, can I withdraw my Japanese pension?

Yes, if you apply within 2 years of leaving Japan and meet the conditions. Documents sent by mail to the Japan Pension Organization.

How many goods should I bring home without having to pay tax?

In addition to alcohol and cigarettes according to the norms, other items are exempt from tax if the total value does not exceed 10 million VND per entry, according to Decree 134/2016/ND-CP.

What should I do if I bring too much stuff?

Buy extra luggage before flying, send less via sea freight, or liquidate unnecessary items before returning home.

A well-prepared return trip helps you keep the results of many years of work. Please contact VeDuHoc via hotline/Zalo 090.1800.918 to get a price quote for return tickets and suitable luggage advice.

📚 Articles on the same topic

International laborPrepare before flying to work abroad for the first time22/04/21 · 7 phút đọcStudy abroad handbookChildren studying abroad return home for summer and Tet holidays: ticket planning and schedule04/10/19 · 7 phút đọcStudy abroad handbookAir tickets to Tet for international students: experience in ticket hunting23/06/19 · 6 phút đọcStudy abroad lifeReturning home or staying after studying abroad: career considerations28/05/19 · 6 phút đọcInternational laborKorean workers applying for EPS: Korean language exam and process02/06/18 · 9 phút đọcInternational laborWhat is vocational study abroad? Compare vocational study abroad and university study abroad07/03/25 · 8 phút đọc