Market Research: Vietnam Tobacco Industry — On-the-Ground Analysis (Vietnamese researcher)

Description: We are a licensed Japanese import company preparing for commercial discussions with Vietnamese tobacco manufacturers. We need a Vietnam-based researcher to produce an on-the-ground market intelligence report. Desk research alone is not enough — we need someone who can visit shops and wholesale markets, talk to trade sellers, and dig into export data. Scope of work (to be finalized in the interview): Retail landscape: Visit convenience stores, street vendors, and tobacco shops in at least 2 cities (Hanoi + Ho Chi Minh City preferred). Document which cigarette brands are stocked, actual retail prices per pack (photograph price displays), and which brands sellers say are most popular — by age group if possible (what do young smokers buy vs. older smokers?). Export pricing (processed, packaged tobacco) — high priority: Research the export prices of finished, packaged Vietnamese cigarettes (FOB level). Use Vietnam customs export statistics, trade data sources, freight forwarders, or trade contacts to establish approximate export price ranges per carton / per 1,000 sticks for brands such as Vinataba, Thang Long, and Saigon, and which destination markets they ship to at those prices. Exact confidential price lists are not expected — we need credible, sourced price ranges and how you obtained them. Photography: Clear photos of packs (front/back/sides) for these brands: Vinataba, Thang Long, Saigon (all variants), Khatoco brands (White Horse etc.), Bastos. Plus shelf/display photos and wholesale market stalls. Wholesale layer: Identify major domestic tobacco distributors/wholesalers. Approximate wholesale vs. retail price gap. How does product flow from factory to shop? Export flow: How does Vietnamese tobacco physically get exported — who handles it (Vinataba IMEX or others), through which ports, in what packaging formats? Any visible export-market versions of packs (foreign-language warnings) and what is known locally about destination countries. Manufacturer reputation: What do trade sellers and industry contacts say about Vinataba/Vinataba IMEX, Khatoco (Khanh Viet), and Dong Nai Tobacco as business partners? Reliability, reputation, anything notable. Deliverable: A written report (English, 8–15 pages) + organized photo folder + export-price data with sources, within an agreed timeline (typically 2–3 weeks from contract start). Requirements: Based in Vietnam, fluent Vietnamese + working English, able to travel locally. Business, trade, or market-research background preferred — experience with customs/trade data is a strong plus. Must be available for a Zoom interview before contract finalization. Note: this is research only — do NOT purchase or ship any tobacco products to us. Photos and information only. About the budget and hiring process: The $100 shown on this job is a placeholder only, not the final budget. Our process is: Apply with your city, relevant experience, and a brief note on how you would approach this research — especially how you would obtain export pricing data. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a Zoom interview to discuss the project. During the interview, we will agree together on the final scope of work and the proper budget based on the agreed scope (cities covered, depth of research, timeline). Once scope and budget are agreed, we will update the contract to the correct amount before work begins. Please only apply if you are comfortable with a Zoom interview and scope discussion first. Please state in your proposal: (1) your city, (2) relevant research experience, (3) how you would approach the export-pricing research, (4) your availability for a Zoom call this week.