Southeast Asia wants digital nomads

In recent years, more individuals engaged in blog operating, digital marketing, website design and other jobs have moved beyond fixed office spaces, exploring the concept of "working while vacationing."

This group of remote workers is often referred to as digital nomads for they complete their work worldwide online. It's estimated that as of 2022, there were around 35 million digital nomads globally.

Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam have attracted numerous remote workers. Taking Hoi An, a central Vietnamese city, as an example: Its affordable accommodations, picturesque countryside views, and delicious street food have drawn many remote workers. The local government even holds regular events for them.

Yogyakarta, situated on the Indonesian island of Java, has established various co-working spaces, not only providing work spaces for online workers but also hosting art exhibitions and more.

"Over the past decade, I've worked in many places around the world, and now I'm in Thailand. My experiences helped me talk with Thai colleagues to generate new inspirations," said Julien, a Frenchman currently working at the Thailand office of a technology consulting company.

Governments in Southeast Asian countries are rolling out measures to attract more online workers from afar. In 2021, Thailand launched a long-stay residency program aimed at attracting more remote workers to live in the country. Malaysia introduced the "Digital Nomad" visa, allowing applicants to stay for up to 12 months and extend it for another 12 months.

Source: People's Daily; trans-editing by Wang Yunya