Can entering Vietnam on a tourist visa be changed to a working visa in Vietnam?

According to Article 7 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 modified by Clause 2, Article 1, Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, amended 2019 regulations:

"Article 7. Form and validity of visa

1. Visas are issued in passports, separately or via electronic transactions. Visas issued through electronic transactions are electronic visas.

2. Visas are issued separately to each person, except in the following cases:

[...]

3. Visa is valid once or multiple times; Electronic visas and visas issued for the cases specified in Point b, Clause 2 of this Article are valid once.

4. Visa purposes cannot be changed, except in the following cases:

a) Have documents proving that you are an investor or representative of a foreign organization investing in Vietnam according to the provisions of Vietnamese law;

b) Have documents proving the relationship as father, mother, wife, husband, child with the inviting or sponsoring individual;

c) Invited or sponsored by an agency or organization to work and have a work permit or confirmation that they are not subject to a work permit according to the provisions of labor law;

d) Enter with an electronic visa and have a work permit or confirmation that you are not subject to a work permit according to labor laws.

5. In case the visa purpose is changed according to the provisions of Clause 4 of this Article, a new visa will be issued with a symbol and duration appropriate to the converted purpose. The order and procedures for granting new visas comply with the provisions of Article 19 of this Law."

At the same time, Clause 2, Article 44 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014 regulates on the rights and obligations of foreigners are as follows:

"2. Foreigners entering, leaving, and residing in Vietnam have the following obligations:

b) Activities in Vietnam must be consistent with the purpose of entry;"

Accordingly,foreigner When entering Vietnam, you must do so for the correct purpose of entry, namely tourism, and the visa cannot be changed for that purpose. Therefore, foreigners holding tourist visas are not allowed to sign long-term labor contracts in Vietnam.