The New Zealand Embassy and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs have announced that the bilateral Arrangement to establish a Working Holiday Scheme - Vietnam’s first such Scheme with any other country - will enter into effect on July 31.

According to the embassy in Vietnam, the arrangement will open up valuable opportunities each year for up to 100 young people from each country to holiday in the other country for up to 12 months to gain exposure to foreign languages, cultures and values, while being allowed to take up temporary employment to supplement their travel funds and enrol in short-term training or study courses.

Young people aged 18-30 from both New Zealand and Vietnam who wish to participate in the scheme will be able to apply from July 31.

The launch of the scheme further boosts the recent strong growth in the relationship between New Zealand and Vietnam. It is expected that the scheme will help to broaden people-to-people linkages and contribute to two way bilateral linkages in areas such as tourism and education.

To mark the launch of the scheme, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the New Zealand Embassy will co-organise a workshop on July 31 to increase the awareness and understanding of interested parties about the scheme.

This will be followed by a bilateral exchange of diplomatic notes to confirm that each side has completed its legal requirements necessary for the Working Holiday Scheme Arrangement’s entry into effect.-VNA