Vietnam is the most popular offshore software development country. This is driven by the presence of many young talents with skills in the Vietnamese community. In this article, we will explain the characteristics of Vietnamese engineers, the benefits and considerations when hiring them, and even recruitment methods. This article is addressed to those interested in Vietnamese engineers, those lacking IT manpower in their companies, and it is a suggested article for those in the above situations. By reading this article, you will have a clear understanding of the characteristics of Vietnamese engineers and their recruitment methods. Below are the recruitment methods for Vietnamese engineers: 1. Job portals 2. Recruitment agencies 3. Staffing or temporary service companies 4. Social networks 5. Cloud-based outsourcing services 6. Offshore software development 7. Referrals from relevant individuals Offshore software development is a recruitment method that allows companies in countries like Japan, where there is a shortage of IT workforce, to hire foreign engineers to meet job demands at a lower cost. Job portals and social networks enable access to engineers both within and outside the country, which is their strength. Furthermore, recruitment agencies are successful commission-based companies, making them a recommendation for those who want to hire foreign individuals for the first time or want to hire in large numbers. Characteristics of Vietnamese Engineers Vietnamese engineers make up 20% of the total foreign workforce in Japan, ranking second after Chinese workers. Vietnamese people share many similarities with the Japanese. For example, they are known for their diligence. With the high economic growth since the 2010s, the motivation behind their hard work is the hope of earning higher incomes through their efforts. Common programming languages include JavaScript, Java, PHP, and Python. However, Japanese individuals have limited time to grasp new language skills. Vietnamese engineers have acquired many useful skills for job transitions, such as Agile development and understanding of AWS. Many of them learn Japanese or English to work for foreign companies that offer higher incomes. It should be noted that Vietnamese people do not have the same cultural background as the Japanese and may not possess the ability to understand desires and preferences as well as the Japanese do. Benefits of Hiring Vietnamese Engineers Ability to attract young talents Vietnamese engineers have the characteristic of being predominantly young, with 54.77% aged between 20 and 29, and 26.3% aged between 30 and 39. Young engineers often have strong aspirations for career advancement and a keen interest in new and modern technologies. In particular, blockchain technology is developing rapidly, and the total investment in the blockchain game is estimated to be in the range of hundreds of billions of US dollars (100 billion USD ≈ approximately 1,140 billion yen). Many have experience with Japanese education Among the foreign workers in Japan under the technical intern training program, approximately 45% come from Vietnam. These skilled interns are accepted as part of Japan's international education system and are required to return to their home country after completing the training. Cost control can be achieved Compared to software development in China, the cost of hiring Vietnamese professionals is generally lower. In comparison to domestic development in Japan, it is possible to develop with a cost range of around 50-70%.





However, due to increasing demand in recent years, costs have risen. This is particularly evident in major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. On the other hand, in cities like Da Nang and Hue, there is a greater potential for cost control compared to those major cities. Therefore, I recommend comparing and considering these cities. Furthermore, costs will also vary depending on what you want to develop and the type of human resources you want to hire. Please refer to the article below for more detailed information. You may also want to read: Latest Report on Software Development Labor Cost in Vietnam: Rising Costs and High Demand. Technological Capability The Vietnamese government is actively promoting information and communication technology (ICT) education and aims to train 1.5 million ICT personnel, including IT engineers, by 2030. In fact, there are over 30 universities offering IT-related education, and around 50,000 new engineers graduate each year. Therefore, Vietnam has a substantial number of highly skilled engineers. Key Considerations for Recruitment Speed is crucial In Japan, the final decision on job offers often takes a long time. On the other hand, for local and foreign companies in Vietnam, job offers can be made immediately after the interview, and work can begin within one week. Therefore, if the recruitment process is conducted at the same speed as in Japan, there is a possibility of missing out on talented engineers. Work visa for Japan is required When recruiting Vietnamese individuals, having a work permit for Japan is mandatory. The procedures and required documents will differ between recruiting Vietnamese individuals residing in Japan and recruiting those living abroad. Limited proficiency in Japanese The number of engineers studying or having studied in Japan and those learning Japanese or English to participate in offshore software development is increasing. However, the proficiency in Japanese is still relatively low. The reason is that Vietnamese and Japanese languages have significant differences in grammar and pronunciation, so learning Japanese takes time. In summary That's all for now. Today we have summarized the characteristics of Vietnamese engineers and recruitment methods, highlighting important considerations. We can recruit more talented and younger individuals while reducing costs compared to hiring Japanese personnel. Recruitment methods include job portals, recruitment agencies, and offshore software development. Each method has its own characteristics. Combining multiple recruitment methods is a good choice. According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan is projected to face a shortage of up to 790,000 engineers by 2030. Domestic recruitment alone will not be able to meet the demand. Consider recruiting Vietnamese engineers based on this article.