More Japanese companies are considering Vietnam as an offshore development destination. This article introduces the characteristics of Vietnam's IT talent market and the points worth knowing when considering engineer hiring or offshore development there.
Characteristics of Vietnam's IT Talent Market
- A young, growth-driven pool of IT talent — Growing investment in IT education has produced a deep bench of young engineers.
- Talent concentrated in major cities — IT companies and talent are concentrated around Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
- Expanding technical scope — Beyond web and mobile development, talent is also growing in areas like AI and data analysis.
What to Keep in Mind When Considering Vietnam
- Japanese-language capability varies widely — Confirm in advance whether a Japanese-speaking bridge SE is available, and at what level.
- Understand differences in business customs and ways of working — Decision-making speed, holiday culture, and other business customs differ from Japan's.
- Take a long-term partnership view — Building a structure premised on an ongoing relationship, rather than one-off orders, tends to produce better results.
Key point: Vietnam's IT talent market is also fairly fluid, and retaining top talent depends on a partner company's management structure, compensation, and career-path design. When choosing a partner, it's worth checking what they do to retain talent as well.
Summary
Backed by a large and growth-driven pool of IT talent, Vietnam continues to draw attention as an offshore development destination. Understanding the market's characteristics and choosing a partner with a long-term view is key to making the most of it.