According to Vietnam's socio-economic development strategy, sending workers overseas is understood as a method to develop human resources, solve unemployment, generate income, increase foreign exchange reserves, and strengthen cooperative relations with other countries. It is estimated that by 2016, approximately 37% of Vietnamese migrant workers were women, and domestic work their most common occupation. Domestic workers, especially those abroad, are regularly excluded from workplace laws or afforded less protection than other workers, including in Taiwan and Saudi Arabia.

This study focuses on the inter-governmental policies of Vietnam as a 'sending country' and other Asian 'receiving countries'. It highlights the gender dimension, a self-organisation perspective and especially considers the issue of racism and prejudice towards Vietnamese domestic workers overseas. The study thereby provides an overview of the international labor division as well as a critical perspective on the factors influencing the well-being of domestic work migrants in Taiwan and Saudi Arabia.