The first impression? Countless procedures to complete before settling in: registering my residence,
getting a residence card, opening a bank account, and buying a SIM card. Everything in Japan
follows strict procedures, and although I was initially overwhelmed, I gradually adapted thanks to the
support of my colleagues and helpful tips from senior VietISers.

Living in Japan came with a bit of culture shock. Trains run precisely on time, everyone queues in
order, and silence is expected in public spaces. I had to learn how to sort trash properly, keep my
living space tidy, and most importantly, adjust to the solitude that comes with mostly remote work.
What I value most is the professional, transparent, and humane working environment. I receive
regular bonuses, housing support, flight tickets home, and – above all – countless opportunities to
grow both professionally and personally through direct client interactions and the warm support of
my team. Every workday here isn’t just a task – it’s a chance to learn, grow, and become more
independent.“

I. Finding a Place to Live in Japan
Searching for housing in Japan can be challenging due to several factors:

+ Rental Restrictions for Foreigners
Many landlords don’t rent to foreigners without a local guarantor. You often need to be in
Japan to sign the lease, and the screening process (shinsa) may take 1–2 weeks.

+ High Initial Costs
Move-in costs are typically 3–4 times the monthly rent. These include a deposit, reikin (a
non-refundable “thank you” payment to the landlord), agency fees, and management fees.
+ Housing Options:
1) Apartment / Mansion
Private unit with its own kitchen, bathroom, and toilet.
Basic furnishings are not included. Utilities (gas, water, internet) must be registered
individually.
High upfront cost (approx. 4 months’ rent). Long-term contracts (usually 2 years).
2) Sharehouse
Private bedroom in a shared house with communal kitchen and bathroom.
Fully furnished and ready to move in – just bring your luggage.
Lower initial cost (around 1.5–2 months’ rent). Shorter contract periods.
+ Housing Tips for Newcomers in Japan
Here are some helpful tips to make your housing search in Japan smoother:
+ Planning to Rent an Apartment/Mansion?
It’s best to stay with a friend in Japan for the first few weeks while searching. Also, be financially
prepared — initial move-in fees can cost up to 4 months’ worth of rent.
+ Starting with a Sharehouse
If you don’t have a place to stay upon arrival, a sharehouse is a great temporary solution.
Contracts usually range from 3 months to 1 year. Some sharehouses allow remote applications
from Vietnam and are ready to move into upon arrival.
+ Language Support
If your Japanese is limited, consider using Vietnamese real estate agencies in Japan. They often
provide support in Vietnamese and may also help negotiate lower move-in costs.
+ Choose a Convenient Location
Try to find accommodation close to a train station to make commuting easier. If the place is far
from the station, you may need to buy a bicycle to travel to the nearest one.
+ Documents for Reimbursement
When signing a lease and paying rent, make sure to request official receipts and
documentation from the real estate agency.
VietIS currently supports part of the monthly rent and move-in costs up to ¥150,000 (as per
company policy).

II. Settling into Life in Japan

2.1 Transportation
+ The main public transportation in Japan is the train, along with buses and taxis. It’s essential to use apps
like Google Maps or Navitime to check routes, train times, and fares.
+ During rush hours (7:00–9:00 AM and 5:00–7:00 PM), be prepared for extremely crowded trains — a
true cultural experience!
There are two main payment methods for train travel:

1. Regular Tickets: Purchased at ticket machines by entering the destination station. (Less
   commonly used)
2. IC Cards (Suica/Pasmo): Easily created at ticket machines and can be topped up with credit for
   convenient tap-and-go travel.
   

2.2 Shopping
+ The Vietnamese community in Japan is large, especially around Tokyo and nearby areas, so
Vietnamese grocery stores are widely available and offer familiar produce like plums, jackfruit,
lychee, etc.
+ Daily shopping is very convenient with convenience stores (konbini), supermarkets, and
drugstores found almost everywhere.
+ Household goods can be purchased from 100-yen shops, IKEA, Nitori, or Don Quijote. For
budget-friendly options, second-hand stores are also a great choice.
+ Online shopping is very common via platforms like Amazon, Rakuten, Qoo10, and Yahoo
Shopping.
+ Payment methods:
o Most common: Cash
o Also accepted: QR code payments via apps like PayPay, IC cards (Suica/Pasmo), and
credit cards (e.g. Visa).
o Note: Bank transfers (like in Vietnam) are rarely used for shopping.

2.3 Etiquette Tips
+ Queuing: Always queue in an orderly line when waiting for trains, buses, elevators, food, etc. On
escalators, stand on one side.
+ Silence in Public: Keep quiet on public transport — avoid talking loudly or taking calls. At
home, avoid loud music or noise, as neighbors may report disturbances to the police.
+ No Eating on Public Transport: Except on Shinkansen or long-distance trains with designated
eating areas.
+ Garbage Disposal:
o Public trash bins are rare (mainly found in convenience stores), so be prepared to take
your trash home.
o Garbage must be sorted according to category, disposed of in designated trash bags, and
thrown out on specific collection days.
o For large items like furniture or electronics, you must pay an additional disposal fee.
So, shop wisely — excessive purchases may result in high disposal costs later!

Relocating to Japan is never easy. But with careful preparation, strong company support, and a
willingness to learn, I’ve gradually adapted to this new life and am proud to carry the VietIS spirit with
me in Japan.
— Van Anh, VietIS Solution – Tokyo

Recently, VietIS was honored to welcome back Mr. Ninh Viet Tu – Chairman of VNK Corporation, a seasoned meditation teacher, ethics and life philosophy instructor, and a respected expert in personal and business development.

Returning to VietIS, Mr. Tu led a deeply inspiring seminar titled: “Working Effectively in Peace – Balance for Sustainable Breakthroughs.”
Over the course of two hours, VietIS leaders, department heads, engineers, HR members – and even the
VietIS Japan team – gathered together to listen, reflect, and engage with Mr. Tu’s insights on how to stay
productive without sacrificing inner peace.

His message brought practical wisdom and personal depth to issues we all face in our professional
journey. Here are some memorable takeaways from the session:
+ A proven formula for smart, stress-free work management
+ The four “legs of the table” for balancing life and career
+ How to apply the Eisenhower Matrix to master time management
+ Ways to rediscover joy, purpose, and peace in your everyday work

We sincerely thank Mr. Ninh Viet Tu for bringing such a meaningful and impactful session to VietIS –
one that reminds us that in the rush of modern life, slowing down is sometimes the fastest way forward.

Good things take time!

This time, the chosen destination is Thu Ngac Primary School, nestled deep within the Co Son area – a remote mountainous region with a sparse population and limited living conditions. This small school is home to 66 young Muong ethnic students, who are in need of a better, more complete learning environment to grow and shine.

To get to class, these children walk winding and dangerous mountain trails each day. “Sun Hill” is not just about delivering practical gifts such as bookshelves and school supplies – it’s also about bringing laughter, joy, and the sparkle of hope in the eyes of children in this midland region through the vibrant festival organized by iGo Club.

We hope this is not just a stopping point, but the beginning of many more kind-hearted journeys together in the future.

A heartfelt thank-you to the amazing members of iGo for helping VietIS spread sunshine to every village and hillside.

Wishing the students continued success in their studies, and the iGo Club even more growth as a strong, impactful community group.

On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 10:00 AM, VietIS held its annual small tea party to review the internal training activities for 2024. This event was especially dedicated to expressing gratitude to the mentors, or “office teachers,” who have greatly contributed to the development of VietIS’s training programs, thereby playing a significant role in the company’s overall growth.

On this occasion, Đang Dieu Linh, representing the Board of Directors, delivered a speech. Based on a summary of the 2024 training activities, he highlighted the accomplishments as well as areas needing improvement and outlined the direction for training initiatives in 2025. The following key points were emphasized:

• Promoting foreign language learning: Japanese and English
• Improving work efficiency and productivity through the use of AI and V-collab
• Increasing the number of internal lecturers and speakers

Furthermore, Mr. Linh, on behalf of the company, expressed his gratitude to the outstanding lecturers and speakers, presenting them with meaningful gifts as tokens of appreciation.

Special Gifts from Freshers

Additionally, the Java and PHP fresher classes took this opportunity to secretly prepare special and meaningful gifts for their “office teachers” as tokens of gratitude. The three mentors featured in the photos below were undoubtedly surprised and delighted by the heartfelt gestures from their students.

Gratitude is always a noble virtue, and VietIS takes pride in having successfully instilled this value within our employees.

VietIS is delighted to unveil V-Collab, a cutting-edge project support tool seamlessly integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology from OpenAI and LLaMa2. This innovative solution is poised to enhance work efficiency and optimize the software development process.

The Genesis of V-Collab

V-Collab stems from VietIS’s steadfast commitment to staying abreast of contemporary technological trends. It embodies our aspiration to craft products that not only captivate customers but also empower our workforce, fostering enhanced productivity.

Target Audience
Designed with programmers and project teams in mind, V-Collab comprises two primary components:

V-Collab Web: This dynamic online platform facilitates seamless communication via AI-powered chatbots and fosters collaboration among project members. Presently, two AI chatbots are available: one specializing in translation assistance, while the other provides expert guidance on professional queries and programming/testing methodologies.

V -Collab Extension for Visual Studio Code: This indispensable utility seamlessly integrates into the code development environment, offering tailored support for developers. It enables code generation directly within the IDE and facilitates chat-based interaction among project members.
Leveraging AI technology, V-Collab not only facilitates robust interactivity among project stakeholders but also delivers tangible benefits to programmers, including automated code generation and streamlined code interpretation.

Future Features

V-Collab is poised to evolve with the following forthcoming features:
Interaction between AI and Source Code: This feature enables bidirectional interaction with the source code structure (Package/Class/Method) via chat channels. It empowers users to automate code generation, interpret source code, and engage with AI for real-time code editing within the development IDE.

Interaction between AI and Documents: This functionality facilitates two-way interaction with documents, enabling AI-driven summarization of content or seamless document creation through guided interactions with AI chatbots.

Integration of Auto-Build and Automatic Error Correction with AI: This feature automates tasks such as cloning, building source code, and rectifying build/run errors based on user instructions. It iteratively refines source code until achieving satisfactory test results.

With its overarching mission to foster a cohesive and efficient work environment, V-Collab promises to redefine organizational collaboration and productivity paradigms, heralding a new era of innovation and connectivity.

It’s an exciting time for VietIS as we embark on this transformative journey, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact V-Collab will have on our clients and internal teams alike.

Why was V-Collab born?

V-Collab was born from the desire of the Board of Directors of VietIS, wanting the company to keep up with the outstanding technology trends of the times to create products that not only impress customers but also support directly to company employees in improving work productivity.

Who is V-Collab’s target audience?

V-Collab is aimed at programmers and project teams. The product consists of two main components:

1. V-Collab Web: This is an online interactive platform, providing tools to support communication with AI chatbots and interaction between project members. There are currently two AI chatbots, one AI chatbot specializes in translation support, the other AI bot supports questions and answers about professional issues, programming/testing techniques.
2. V-Collab Extension in Visual Studio code: This is a utility that integrates directly into the code development environment, providing special support for developers, used to generate code directly in the development IDE. The extension also allows support for chat interaction with other members in the same project.

With the support of AI technology, V-Collab not only helps all project members interact strongly but also brings special benefits to programmers from automatic code generation to easily and quickly interpret source code.

  Some future features of V-Collab include:

1. Interaction between AI and source Code: With this feature, users can interact two-way with the source code structure (Package/Class/Method) through the chat channel. This allows for automatic code generation or source code interpretation, as well as interaction with AI to support code editing directly in the development IDE.
2. Interaction between AI and Documents: This feature allows two-way interaction with documents: Summarize document content through AI, or directly create document content during the interaction process/instruct AI chatbot to get the desired results.
3. Auto-build and automatic error correction integration with AI: Allows to automatically clone, build source, fix build/run errors according to instructions until the source code gives OK test results.

With the mission of creating an effective and connected working environment, V-Collab promises to bring a breakthrough in the way organizations work and collaborate in the future.

And soon, the Sales department will demo a part of the product at the SODEC Exhibition to promote and introduce to customers. To help everyone better understand the product as well as support project teams from production departments to experience testing this application, the IDT department will organize a Seminar in the next week.

Recently, many topics discussed about future HR trends revolve around building activities to ensure good mental health for employees.

In many developed countries, workplace mental health policies are in place. Large technology companies such as Google, Intel, Apple, etc have all introduced Zen courses into teaching in their organizations, the most famous of which is the “Search inside yourself” course at Google.

Businesses in Vietnam, especially after the Covid period, are also paying more attention to the mental health of their employees. In addition to regular health check-up programs, many businesses have deployed remote health check-up consultations, hired experts and psychological consultants, organized health workshops, etc.

Stemming from the above meanings, on February 28, at VietIS Office, the “understanding the body and mind structure to increase work and life efficiency” workshop took place under the guidance of Mr. Ninh Viet Tu, Chairman of VNK Company and also a teacher of meditation, ethics and teachings in life.

In just 2.5 hours, Mr. Tu helped students gain more useful and meaningful knowledge for the following purposes:

Change old habits that are toxic to your body and soul

Learn how to practice breathing, exercise, and drink water properly

Learn how to use time effectively, increase concentration and have a multi-dimensional perspective in work and life

Through this Workshop, surely each participating student has learned their own lessons and values:

• It can be an understanding of human mission and the importance of finding our own mission.
• More simply, it could be changing our thinking about how we breathe, eat, drink, how to exercise, how to distribute working time… properly to keep our muscles healthy, our mind peaceful, and our mind bright. .
• Or it can also be the 4 important pillars of life (Health, Family, Career, Intelligence), in which the thing you need to really care about, take care of, and develop is INTELLIGENCE.

There is no need to apply everything at once, start with the first small changes to improve and increase the efficiency of your work and life.

How to not come home from work with a dead battery?

How can work efficiency be increased with less time?

The answer was suggested by Ngoc Ninh in the Workshop on the topic “Zen”. Society’s recent emphasis on mental health and body-heart-mind balance has made ” Zen” an extremely “hot” keyword. Perhaps that is also the reason why the Workshop received great attention from nearly 30 staff from both VietIS Japan and Vietnam.

Ngoc Ninh had a very good introduction and sharing about balancing Body and Mind, some solutions to improve mental health and especially one of those solutions is ” Zen”. Through this, we can understand what Zen is, the benefits of Zen, and what is “Healing” – the top searched keyword today, especially among young people.

In addition to the theoretical parts, Speaker Ngoc Ninh also gave examples and directed practice exercises to be able to practice Zen properly, such as sitting posture, how to place body parts comfortably, and how to breathe out properly. From there you can apply and practice Meditation at home.

A topic that is both attractive and practical is the attraction of the Workshop from Ngoc Ninh. Even though the content is quite long, people still listen until the last minute. Hopefully in the near future Ngoc Ninh will have more in-depth sharing sessions for everyone on how to practice Zen in life.

Along with that, the event organizer will select the best photos in this decoration area and award prizes to deserving women. Through this contest, VietIS wants to send the following message to all girls:

“Everyone has their own beauty, so don’t follow any standard. We hope that women always love themselves, have confidence in themselves, and dare to do what they like, including sometimes going beyond their comfort zone. Life is beautiful, so enjoy each day happily, muses!” 

Let’s take a look at some contest images of VietIS “Muses”!

Not only the photo contest, the men at VietIS also organized a light party for the ladies. Bright tulips, beautiful gifts, funny games… created joy and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Pictures of ladies at the Hanoi office.

Pictures of ladies at the Tokyo office.

Last August, VIETIS Solution organized an internal training to share how to exchange business cards and analyze legal entities of Japanese companies. The training program is carefully prepared and conducted by Speaker – Ms. Nguyen Thuy Linh from the Sales department.

The content of the training program is divided into three parts:

• Part 1: Analyzing name cards
• Part 2: How to judge and deal with name cards
• Part 3: Types of legal entities of Japanese companies

In addition to VIETIS Solution members in Japan, the training session also attracted a large number of employees at VIETIS Software in Vietnam. Taking this opportunity, the Vietnamese team and the Japanese team also have the opportunity to exchange and share more knowledge with each other.

At the end of the training course on business card analysis, VIS members learned many important and useful things. Here are some of the points that they may have learned from this training:

– Effective communication skills: VISers may have learned how to communicate professionally and respectfully when exchanging business cards with Japanese partners or customers.

– Information analysis: VISers may have learned to analyze information on business cards, such as name, job position, company, and contact information to better understand partners or customers.

– How to deal with name cards: VISers may have received instructions on how to react or respond when receiving business cards from others, including how to show respect and care.

– Knowledge of Japanese corporate legal entities: The training course may have introduced the types of legal entities of Japanese companies, helping VISers better understand the organizational and legal structure of partners or customers.

– Cultural and business combination: The training could have provided information on how to integrate Japanese culture and business style into work and transaction processes.

These skills and knowledge can help VISers strengthen their ability to work with Japanese partners and customers, while also demonstrating respect and professionalism in the international business environment.