Although there are individual differences, many Vietnamese people have a strong work ethic, often helping with the family business from childhood. Recently, more Vietnamese students have been working hard to earn qualifications and take part-time jobs, driven by a desire for better conditions and more stable employment. This article explains which occupations interest Vietnamese people, along with key points for hiring them.

Popular Jobs Among Vietnamese People ①: Sales Roles

One of the jobs popular with Vietnamese people is sales and business development. Although online sales have become more active recently, face-to-face sales remain mainstream, so there is steady demand.

Vietnamese People Love Talking with Others

Vietnamese people are generally friendly and love talking with others. Even when the other person does not speak their language, such as Japanese people, they will cheerfully strike up a conversation without hesitation. For Vietnamese people, sales and business development roles—recommending products and explaining selling points through conversation—can be considered a natural fit.

People from Ho Chi Minh City Are Especially Strong

Those especially skilled at communication tend to be from the south, such as Ho Chi Minh City. Many are outgoing and assertive, so people who can sell proactively stand out. From a Japanese perspective, their sales approach can sometimes feel unnervingly aggressive, but that is not unusual in Vietnam. On the other hand, people from the north, such as Hanoi, tend to be shy but earnest, making them well suited to selling specialized products.

Popular Jobs Among Vietnamese People ②: Accounting-Related Roles

Accounting-related positions, which every company needs, are especially popular among university-educated Vietnamese people.

The Appeal of Stable Employment Prospects

Accounting work comes with responsibility, but it also offers the prospect of stable employment. Even when changing jobs, some openings are usually available. Recently, accounting outsourcing firms have been increasing, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. As a result, many university students build knowledge and experience in accounting programs to prepare for job hunting.

Accounting Ability Varies Widely by Individual

That said, not every Vietnamese person who submits a resume seeking an accounting-related role necessarily has the required skills. Because Vietnamese people tend to have a relatively rough-and-ready disposition, suitability for accounting becomes quite clear. In some cases, candidates have studied accounting at university but lack practical ability entirely, leading to disappointment. For that reason, it is better to prioritize practical experience over academic background when hiring.

Popular Jobs Among Vietnamese People ③: IT Engineers

IT engineering has recently become increasingly popular, especially among young Vietnamese people. Vocational schools that teach fundamental technical skills are also on the rise.

The Government Is Leading IT Talent Development

Behind the rising popularity of IT engineers is the fact that the government is taking the lead in talent development. The Vietnamese government set a goal of developing one million IT professionals as part of its IT talent development support measures. Amid this trend, more Vietnamese universities are partnering with IT companies to establish IT curricula or run internship programs. As a result, more young people aspire to become IT engineers.

The Appeal of Working at a Foreign-Affiliated Company

One appeal of being an IT engineer is the greater chance of working at a foreign-affiliated company. These companies have a better image and offer more favorable pay than local firms, making them popular especially among young people. For that reason, a fair number of Vietnamese people study languages while building experience as IT engineers. With Japanese IT companies accelerating their expansion into Vietnam, some people begin studying Japanese while still students to prepare for job hunting.

Popular Paths Among Vietnamese People ④: Technical Intern Trainees

Although it differs somewhat from a job category, becoming a technical intern trainee is also one of the employment paths Vietnamese people pursue.

Japan Is Expanding Acceptance of Technical Intern Trainees

In Japan, the amended Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act was enacted to expand acceptance of foreign workers. As a result, the number of Vietnamese people aiming to work in Japan as technical intern trainees continues to rise. They study Japanese and manners at organizations known as “sending organizations,” and once a host employer is found, they can work in Japan for three years.

Goals for Working Vary Widely by Individual

Among technical intern trainees, some have big dreams—such as joining a major company in Vietnam or starting their own business—while others see the program simply as a means of sending money home. If you want to hire Vietnamese people with a strong work ethic, use at least JLPT N3 as a benchmark. Those whose Japanese ability is only enough to clear the immigration authority may be less likely to become productive members of your company.

Conclusion

Vietnamese people tend to choose target occupations based more on pay and stability than on a sense of purpose. As a result, popular jobs shift depending on which industries foreign-affiliated companies are strong in. In Vietnam as well, opportunities to build specialized skills—through vocational schools in addition to universities—have increased. Even so, some Vietnamese people have been unable to develop specialized expertise in Vietnam due to financial circumstances. For that reason, it is also important to be willing to hire based on motivation, even when skills seem somewhat insufficient.