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Highest-paying jobs in Vietnam: Top 10 for 2026

Simone Wu — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 13:14:40 +0000

Highest-paying jobs in Vietnam: Top 10 for 2026 Simone Wu

Vietnam’s employment landscape has slowed a little in 2026, but the country’s growth story is still strong. Trade agreements, a steady economy, and rising investment continue to give businesses confidence. Salary increments continue at a steady pace, in most cases rising 5% to 10%, with senior and C‑suite roles seeing increases above 20% as as companies compete hard for experienced talent.

At the same time, Vietnam’s labour market is seeing real change in how organisations work. Automation is reshaping factories, digital tools are becoming the norm, and many businesses are modernising how they operate. This creates a need for people who can guide teams through change and improve how work gets done. Retail, education, healthcare and industrial sales are also expanding as the middle class grows, which brings fresh opportunities for specialists and leaders.

These shifts signal that there’s strong demand for people who can help deepen Vietnam’s position in global supply chains and move into more advanced, future‑ready industries. It’s a good moment for professionals who want to step into roles where their experience can shape what comes next.

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Top 10 highest-paying jobs in Vietnam

To help job seekers make confident choices about their next move, we’ve pulled together the highest‑paying jobs in Vietnam, based on our 2026 Salary Guide.

This list highlights senior roles, but it’s useful for anyone exploring their options, including fresh graduates. It gives a clear view of which sectors offer strong earning potential and helps prepare for effective salary negotiations.

Beyond competitive pay, many of these roles also offer solid job security. They sit in areas where demand stays strong and long‑term growth is expected, making them reliable career choices for the years ahead.

Methodology: Figures are presented in order of the highest listed salary for each role. Where roles had separate regional salary bands, these were combined into a single national range.

1) C‑suite roles

C‑suite leaders are still the highest earners in Vietnam, with monthly salaries ranging from VND 400,000,000 to VND 1,220,000,000. These salaries reflect what businesses expect from top leadership today, people who can guide strategy, manage complex environments, bring ESG into the way the business works, and set teams up for the future.

As organisations grow and modernise, they’re looking for leaders who can make decisions with clarity and move teams in the right direction. Strong leadership across strategy, operations, finance, technology and people is in high demand, and that need continues to rise.

(Browse for C-suite roles)

2) Supply Chain Director

Supply Chain Directors sit at the higher end of the salary range in Vietnam, often reaching around VND 368,000,000 a month depending on the scope of the role. Their work plays a big part in strengthening Vietnam’s manufacturing and logistics position. They lead supply chain resilience, digital procurement and cross‑border operations at a time when companies are diversifying suppliers and adopting more advanced technology. The choices they make influence cost efficiency, business continuity and export performance, so demand for experienced leaders in this space stays strong.

(Browse for procurement & supply chain roles)

3) Digital Transformation Director

Digital Transformation Directors tend to earn salaries that reach around VND 362,000,000 a month, depending on the scale and complexity of the organisation’s digital agenda. These leaders help companies rethink their technology foundations, from modernising core systems to introducing automation and building data‑centred ways of working.

As more organisations move ahead with cloud adoption, AI projects and stronger cybersecurity, this role has become essential. A strong transformation leader brings direction to complex change and helps teams work in a more connected, future‑ready way.

(Browse for technology & transformation roles)

4) Head of Modern Trade

Heads of Modern Trade typically earn salaries that reach around VND 347,000,000 a month, with figures varying depending on the scale of the retail portfolio they manage. This role is central to how brands show up across Vietnam’s fast‑growing modern retail network.

These leaders shape category plans, build strong partnerships with retailers, manage pricing and promotions, and work closely with shopper insights to understand what customers want. They also make sure performance stays strong across both in‑store and omnichannel touchpoints, which matters as more brands compete for a growing middle‑income consumer base.

(Browse for sales roles)

5) Plant / Site Director

Plant and Site Directors often draw salaries that reach around VND 336,000,000 a month, with exact figures shifting based on the size of the operation they oversee. Their work sits at the heart of Vietnam’s manufacturing growth.

These leaders manage production efficiency, keep quality standards on track, build a capable workforce and guide factories through automation. As Vietnam strengthens its position as a key manufacturing base in the region, this role is essential for keeping large industrial sites running smoothly and competitively.

(Browse for engineering & manufacturing roles)

6) Compliance Director

Compliance Directors usually see salaries that reach around VND 284,000,000 a month, with the exact figure shaped by the organisation’s scale and regulatory landscape. The role has grown in importance as businesses deal with more complex rules, stronger ESG expectations and increased cross‑border activity.

These role helps companies stay on the right side of regulations by strengthening governance, managing risk and guiding teams through changing legal requirements. Their work often covers areas like data protection, sustainability reporting and industry‑specific compliance, making them a key part of how organisations operate securely and responsibly.

(Browse for legal roles)

7) Marketing Director

Marketing Directors often work at salary levels that reach around VND 276,000,000 a month, depending on the scale of the brand and the markets they manage. Their day‑to‑day focus covers everything from shaping brand strategy to driving market expansion and leading performance marketing efforts. They keep an eye on what customers want, build campaigns that cut through, and guide teams across both traditional and e‑commerce channels.

Because Vietnam’s consumer market is becoming more digital and more competitive, companies look for leaders who understand analytics, know how to tell a strong brand story and can bring everything together across multiple touchpoints.

(Browse for marketing roles)

8) Finance Director

Finance Directors usually work at salary levels that reach around VND 263,000,000 a month, with actual figures shifting based on the organisation’s needs and financial setup. Their responsibilities go well beyond traditional accounting work.

They oversee financial governance, guide forecasting, support investment decisions and act as key partners to the leadership team. As businesses strengthen their finance functions and adopt more digital tools, this role plays a big part in helping organisations stay steady, make smart decisions and engage confidently with global markets.

(Browse for accounting & finance roles)

9) Senior Human Resources (HR) Manager

Senior HR Managers often earn salaries that reach around VND 210,000,000 a month, with the final figure shaped by the size of the teams and functions they support. Their work plays a big part in how companies adapt to a changing labour market. They help guide talent strategy, strengthen organisational development and build capability across the business.

They also keep teams engaged and ready for what’s next, which matters as companies compete for both leadership talent and technical specialists. Because hiring expectations, workforce demographics and digital HR tools are all shifting at the same time, this role has become one of the key anchors for long‑term people strategy.

(Browse for human resources roles)

10) Head of Medical Affairs

Heads of Medical Affairs often earn salaries that reach around VND 198,000,000 a month. This role sits at the centre of Vietnam’s expanding healthcare landscape. These leaders make sure clinical standards are met, guide compliance, support medical education and act as key voices in scientific communication.

As pharmaceutical and healthcare organisations continue to grow and modernise, the need for specialists who understand clinical detail and can build trust with internal and external stakeholders keeps rising. Their work helps companies stay credible, safe and aligned with current medical practice.

(Browse for healthcare roles)

Explore salary insights

Get a comprehensive view of salaries across various industries and roles with our 2026 Michael Page Salary Guide, which features the average salary of roles in Vietnam’s dynamic job market, or use our Salary Comparison Tool to see how your compensation compares to industry standards.

Disclaimer: Salaries can differ from company to company and depending on your skills, knowledge and experience.

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5 emerging tech roles revolutionising industries

Simone Wu — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 08:19:00 +0000

5 emerging tech roles revolutionising industries Simone Wu

The past decade has been a time of unprecedented technological change. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has increased exponentially, and it is estimated that by 2025, the global artificial intelligence market will reach USD190.61 billion.

AI is applied in a lot of fields, such as, in disease diagnosis in hospitals to increase efficacy and improve patient outcomes. Applications of blockchain, on the other hand, are also growing beyond cryptocurrencies. For example, 81 of the top 100 public companies now use blockchain, mainly in the financial sector, where smart contract languages and decentralised finance (DeFi) are transforming traditional models.

While these, among other transformational emerging technologies, are growing in their adoption pace, they are changing industries in ways unlike ever before. Companies should consider keeping up with the rapidly changing tide of technology or risk falling behind.

Emerging tech roles like AI engineers and blockchain developers are becoming crucial for innovation and maintaining a competitive edge. These new technology jobs are driving advancements in automation, data analysis, and secure digital transactions for businesses to stay ahead in an increasingly digital and competitive landscape.

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Tech specialists reshaping business models

Here are five key emerging tech roles, their importance, industry-specific applications, career pathways, and ways for organisations to position themselves for success in this evolving landscape.

AIGC (AI-Generated Content) Engineer

AIGC engineers are responsible for developing and implementing AI systems that generate human-like content, transforming traditional content workflows.

Key responsibilities:

Design and implement AI models for content creation using machine learning frameworks, such as TensorFlow or PyTorch.
Fine-tune the AI models to align with the brand’s voice, tone, and style across various platforms.
Make transparency and the mitigation of bias a core part of all AI-assisted content creation.
Collaborate with creative teams for the integration of AI systems into existing content management platforms (CMS) and tools.

Required skills:

Proficient in machine learning frameworks.
Strong understanding of natural language processing (NLP), also known as understanding human language, and computer vision.
Familiar with content management systems and brand communication strategies.
Soft skills include creativity, collaboration, and the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Job challenges:

AIGC engineers face the dual challenge of ensuring high-quality content aligned with the brand’s voice while mitigating biases inherent in AI-generated content.

They need to strike a balance between automation and human oversight, ensuring ethical standards and transparency, especially for sensitive or regulated industries like healthcare and finance.

Increased reliance on automation requires AIGC engineers to seamlessly blend AI-driven content with creative direction. This balance ensures content remains engaging and aligned with human creativity, even in highly automated workflows.

Career trajectories:

Typically, entry into this field requires a computer science, engineering, or machine learning background, with an exceptionally heavy emphasis on natural language processing and content strategy.

Aspiring AIGC engineers will further benefit from training in creative and branding skills with the power to bridge technical ability and creative direction. Certifications in machine learning can help enhance job prospects, while hands-on experience with AI tools like GPT-4 or DALL-E can set candidates apart.

Industry impact:

AIGC engineers are transforming content-heavy industries like marketing, media, and e-commerce. Fashion retailers use AI to deliver personalised style recommendations, while media companies automate video creation for faster content production.

Brands like Nike and Coca-Cola integrate AI tools to automate ad copy and visuals, boosting efficiency. BuzzFeed automates quizzes and personalised articles using AI-generated content, and Alibaba employs AI to generate product descriptions across its platform, saving time and maintaining brand consistency.

What’s next for this role:

As generative AI continues to evolve, new areas such as video content generation, virtual influencers, and AI-driven storytelling are expected to see significant growth.

The role of AIGC engineers will likely expand to include the development of immersive AI experiences that blur the lines between digital and physical content creation.

With the global adoption of AI in marketing and media sectors accelerating, companies must stay adaptable as new platforms emerge, such as deepfake detection tools and AI-based creative assistants.

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AI Product Manager

AI product managers guide the development of AI-powered solutions, ensuring they meet both business goals and customer needs while adhering to ethical standards.

Key responsibilities:

Define the AI product vision and strategy, aligning it with overall business goals.
Collaborate with data scientists, engineers, and stakeholders to identify customer pain points and develop AI-driven solutions.
Manage the end-to-end product lifecycle from ideation to deployment to ensure that AI features are delivered on time and within scope.
Ensure ethical AI development, taking responsibility for reducing bias, data privacy, and transparency in AI models.
Conduct market research to keep up with AI trends and identify opportunities for new AI features or improvements.

Required skills:

Proficiency in machine learning principles and an understanding of AI development processes.
Ability to translate business problems into AI solutions and vice versa.
Strong project management skills, with experience managing cross-functional teams.
Excellent communication skills to liaise between technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Knowledge of ethical AI standards and regulatory frameworks.

Job challenges:

AI product managers face the challenge of managing AI models’ complexity while ensuring they adhere to ethical guidelines. These managers must tackle bias in AI models, handle regulatory requirements, and ensure data privacy across various use cases.

AI product managers also need to balance innovation against customer trust by being open about how AI makes decisions. They must also adapt to evolving technologies and market demands, adjusting product strategies to ensure AI solutions remain competitive and relevant. The ability to pivot in response to emerging trends is crucial for long-term success.

Another problem is navigating cross-functional collaboration between data science teams and business departments, as most technical limitations need to be worded in simpler, not-so-technical non-terms to the leadership and stakeholders.

Career trajectories:

An AI product manager role typically requires a blend of technical expertise and business acumen. Most AI product managers come from product management backgrounds and supplement their technical skills with data science and machine-learning training.

Completing certifications like AI product management or machine learning for product managers can help professionals transition into this role.

AI product managers can progress to head-level positions, such as the Head of AI Products or Chief Product Officer, where they can manage more key strategic AI-driven portfolios within the company.

Industry impact:

AI product managers are crucial in industries like fintech and e-commerce, where they develop AI tools for tasks such as fraud detection, credit assessment, and personalisation engines that enhance customer experiences.

Companies like Stripe, Amazon, and Spotify rely on AI product managers to create innovative solutions. Stripe has significantly reduced fraud rates with AI-powered detection systems, while Amazon continues to innovate with features like voice-activated shopping on Alexa, and Spotify refines recommendation algorithms to personalise user experiences.

What’s next for this role:

As AI continues to evolve, AI product managers will lead the integration of AI into mainstream products and services. The growing focus on AI ethics and algorithmic transparency will require them to stay updated on privacy laws and ethical standards.

Their role is expected to expand into managing multi-modal AI systems that combine text, speech, and vision. The rise of AI in the Internet of Things (IoT) will present new opportunities for AI product managers to develop innovative, connected solutions.

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Algorithm Engineer

Algorithm engineers design and optimise algorithms for applications like recommendation engines. They bridge the gap between data science and software engineering.

Key responsibilities:

Design and implement algorithms to process, optimise, and analyse data.
Collaborate with data scientists to turn statistical models into production-ready algorithms.
Ensure algorithms are optimised for performance and scalability, especially when dealing with large datasets.
Conduct algorithm testing and debugging to improve accuracy and reduce computational costs.
Work across teams to integrate algorithms into existing software platforms and systems.

Required skills:

Strong understanding of algorithms and data structures.
Expertise in programming languages such as Python, Java, or C++.
Familiarity with machine learning models and optimisation techniques.
Deal with massive data sets and make the algorithm more efficient.
Experience working with cloud computing platforms for algorithm deployment.

Job challenges:

Algorithm engineers face data privacy and security challenges, particularly in industries like finance and healthcare, where sensitive data is involved. Another key challenge is ensuring algorithms can scale to handle growing datasets without sacrificing performance.

Balancing the trade-offs between algorithm accuracy and efficiency is crucial, as more complex algorithms may provide better results but require more computational resources.

Career trajectories:

Algorithm engineers usually come from the computer science or mathematics field and have a strong background in data structures, probability theory, and optimisation techniques.

They can advance into lead engineer or data science manager roles, overseeing larger algorithmic systems or managing data teams.

Additional training in advanced algorithms or machine learning from platforms like MIT OpenCourseWare can strengthen career prospects, while experience with cloud platforms like AWS or Google Cloud for scaling algorithms is becoming increasingly valuable.

Industry impact:

Algorithm engineers have a significant impact across sectors like logistics and finance. In logistics, they design algorithms to optimise delivery routes, improving efficiency and reducing costs.

In finance, they develop models for predicting market trends and automating trading strategies, enabling faster decision-making. Companies like UPS and Netflix rely on these engineers to optimise operations, while Amazon and Goldman Sachs use algorithms for real-time data processing, from delivery route optimisation to high-frequency trading.

Algorithm engineers are vital in developing AI-driven personalisation systems, especially in e-commerce and entertainment. These systems enhance customer experiences by delivering tailored recommendations based on user preferences and behaviour.

What’s next for this role:

As quantum computing emerges, algorithm engineers will need to adapt their skills to leverage quantum algorithms, which have the potential to solve problems exponentially faster than traditional algorithms.

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Blockchain Developer

Blockchain Developers design and implement blockchain technologies, making them practical for real-world applications across industries. As blockchain continues to mature, developers are creating decentralised applications (DApps), also known as apps that run on a blockchain network, and smart contracts that are reshaping industries like finance, supply chain, and healthcare.

Key responsibilities:

Design and develop blockchain architectures for secure and efficient decentralised systems.
Build decentralised applications (DApps) on platforms such as Ethereum and Hyperledger.
Ensure blockchain systems are safe, efficient, and dependable.
Integrating blockchain solutions with existing business systems, ensuring seamless and secure data exchange.
Keeping up with advancements in cryptography and blockchain protocols to implement the most up-to-date security measures.

Required skills:

Proficiency in blockchain platforms like Ethereum and smart contracts languages like Solidity.
Expertise in cryptography and distributed ledger technology.
Ability to develop decentralised applications (DApps).
Familiarity with security standards in blockchain networks.

Job challenges:

Scalability remains a significant challenge for blockchain developers. A key focus is ensuring that blockchain networks can handle large volumes of transactions without compromising speed or security. Developers must also navigate the evolving regulatory landscape, especially in finance, where laws governing blockchain technology are still being shaped.

Developers must also tackle interoperability issues, ensuring seamless integration between various blockchain networks. This is especially critical as more industries seek to adopt decentralised systems that communicate across multiple platforms.

Career trajectories:

Blockchain developers come from software engineering or cryptography backgrounds. Experience with blockchain platforms like Ethereum, Solana, or Hyperledger and knowledge of smart contract languages like Solidity is essential.

As the field grows, developers can specialise in particular blockchain applications, such as DeFi or NFT development, or advance into roles like blockchain architect or lead developer. Certifications from platforms like Consensys Academy or Blockchain Council can help developers stay competitive.

Industry impact:

Blockchain developers are transforming industries like supply chain management by enabling item tracking, reducing fraud, and improving transparency. In finance, blockchain supports DeFi, allowing peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries.

Companies such as IBM and Accenture are at the forefront of enterprise blockchain solutions. IBM’s Food Trust blockchain enhances transparency and traceability in the food supply chain, while Aave and Compound use blockchain to facilitate decentralised lending, bypassing traditional financial intermediaries.

LLM engineers also focus on developing real-time AI processing capabilities, making models more interactive and adaptable for industries like customer service, healthcare, and finance. These advancements allow businesses to respond quickly to evolving customer needs and data.

What’s next for this role:

The emergence of Web3 and DeFi is expected to change the development of blockchain in the coming years. In addition, they will need to be informed of enhancements in the related field. The tokenisation of assets, NFTs, and cross-chain interoperability are future trends shaping blockchain technology.

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LLM (Large Language Model) Engineer

LLM engineers build, train and tune AI models that drive applications like chatbots and summarisation tools, transforming industries from customer service to healthcare.

Key responsibilities:

Design and train large-scale language models using frameworks such as Hugging Face Transformers and OpenAI GPT.
Adapting models to suit industry-specific requirements, ensuring that the models serve both business needs and applications.
Optimise model performance by reducing computational inefficiencies and improving the efficiency of inferences.
Address critical challenges such as bias, inaccuracy, and data privacy in language models.
Ensuring LLMs are used more ethically by implementing fairness strategies.

Required skills:

Proficiency in NLP frameworks and machine learning libraries such as TensorFlow and PyTorch.
Strong understanding of linguistic principles, tokenisation, and language model architecture.
Experience working with large datasets and fine-tuning LLMs for specialised industry tasks.
Soft skills, including the ability to collaborate across teams and explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Job challenges:

The scale and complexity of large models pose a significant challenge for LLM engineers. These models are slow to train and demand substantial computational resources for deployment, which can lead to inefficiencies.

Besides that, intervention of bias in training data is needed, which, if not treated, will lead to one-sided or offensive output. More importantly, ensuring data privacy and complying with regulatory frameworks, such as GDPR, is critical, especially when LLMs are used to process sensitive information.

As AI models become more commonly used in industries like healthcare and finance, the responsibility for ethical and compliant deployment becomes even more crucial.

Career trajectories:

Professionals entering this field typically have backgrounds in natural language processing, computational linguistics, or computer science. LLM engineers often possess advanced degrees in these areas, along with specialised knowledge in machine learning, deep learning, and data science.

Certification in machine learning, like from DeepLearning.AI or Google AI, is an added advantage for the aspiring engineer.

As the demand for AI-driven solutions continues to grow, professionals with a deep understanding of NLP frameworks like BERT, GPT-4, or T5 are highly sought after. Hands-on experience with large-scale model deployment in cloud platforms like AWS Sagemaker or Google Cloud AI is also valuable in this career.

Industry impact:

LLM engineers are revolutionising industries by accelerating and improving text processing. LLM-driven chatbots handle real-time interactions in customer service, enhancing the customer experience.

In legal tech, AI tools summarise complex documents, reducing manual review time, while healthcare benefits from automated patient communication and medical record management.

Large companies like IBM and Microsoft use LLMs for advanced data insights and document processing. OpenAI’s ChatGPT has transformed customer service with automated, human-like responses, reducing support costs. J.P. Morgan's Quest IndexGPT leverages GPT-4 to generate keywords for thematic stock indices, covering areas like AI, cloud computing, and renewable energy.

What’s next for this role:

As LLMs evolve, their integration into business tools will increase, with engineers focusing on improving model efficiency, reducing computation costs, and enabling real-time processing.

The growing emphasis on AI ethics and data privacy requires LLM engineers to stay ahead of regulatory changes. Emerging trends like multimodal models that combine text, images, and video will also push engineers to expand their skill sets, driving further innovation across industries.

Edge computing is opening up new opportunities for real-time, decentralised AI processing, making the role of LLM engineers more dynamic and future-proof.

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Cross-cutting themes and the future of work in the tech industry

Several common themes run through all these emerging tech jobs:

Interdisciplinary knowledge: These roles require technical expertise, industry-specific knowledge, and business acumen. Professionals need to understand how their work fits into business strategies.
Ethical and regulatory considerations: With increasing influence comes greater ethical responsibility. Assuring fairness, minimising bias, and adhering to constantly evolving regulations are the main concerns here.
Continuous learning: With technology evolving rapidly, professionals in these roles must commit to lifelong learning. Continuous development is essential, whether through formal education or staying updated on industry trends.
Collaboration: These roles often involve cross-functional teams, requiring strong communication and teamwork skills to translate complex technical concepts into practical business solutions.

How organisations can prepare for emerging tech jobs

To position your business for success:

Invest in training: Upskill your workforce by offering training and opportunities for continuous learning.
Foster innovation: Create an environment that encourages experimentation and rewards calculated risk-taking.
Build partnerships: Collaborate with universities and tech communities to stay ahead of the curve and tap into new talent.
Revise hiring practices: Look beyond traditional qualifications and focus on adaptability, problem-solving abilities, and willingness to learn.

Embrace the future

The rise of tech jobs like AIGC engineer, LLM engineer, AI product manager, algorithm engineer, and blockchain developer marks a turning point in the tech industry. Businesses that recognise and embrace these roles will be better positioned to drive innovation and maintain their competitive edge. Agile and regularly re-evaluating talent needs is how forward-thinking companies create a sustainable path to growth in a digitalising world.

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5 most in-demand tech roles for 2024

Simone Wu — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 08:26:08 +0000

5 most in-demand tech roles for 2024 Simone Wu

Tech professionals, from leaders in digital transformation to experts in cybersecurity, are driving innovation in today’s fast-paced digital environment and enabling transformational change across all industry sectors.

These individuals are crucial to shaping our increasingly linked world. The tech industry retains some of the most compelling opportunities for a career that bundles intellectual challenge with possible huge financial returns.

The more saturated business and daily life become with digital technologies, the greater the demand for specialised tech talent. The field has outgrown traditional roles and now includes a broad span of specialisations that mirror the complex requirements of modern organisations.

The most in-demand tech jobs in the tech industry

In pursuing a technology career, aligning interests, skills, and personality to a specialisation has become crucial. However, finding the perfect fit can sometimes be challenging, especially for those new to the field or considering a career change.

If you're still exploring your options or looking for a role that matches your aspirations, it can be helpful to consider the most in-demand positions in the tech industry. These roles not only offer abundant opportunities but also provide insights into the current needs of the market.

Here are five most in-demand tech jobs to help you navigate the diverse landscape of technology careers. These roles represent key areas where businesses invest heavily to maintain competitiveness and security in the modern, digitally advanced era. As a result, the tech job market is seeing a surge in demand for these roles.

Whether you’re breaking into the tech industry or maybe seriously thinking about a shift into a new field of expertise, knowing these tech jobs and what goes into them can help you plot a successful course through this ever-changing industry.

Hot Job #1: Digital Transformation Leader

Digital transformation is more than adopting digital technology in business operations. It also involves a total change of approach to the way organisations function and create value for their clientele.

A digital transformation leader strategically leads this process by guiding an organisation through complex technology adoption processes and reshaping corporate operation frameworks.

They work across departments to identify opportunities for digital innovation, develop strategies for implementation, and oversee the execution of digital initiatives. They serve as an intermediary between technological advancements and business needs, thus ensuring that the envisaged solutions are aligned with the organisation’s goals.

(Browse roles in digital transformation.)

Why are digital transformation leaders in high demand?

As businesses across industries recognise the urgent need to evolve in the digital age, the demand for skilled digital transformation leaders has not only increased but skyrocketed.

These professionals are crucial, and their role is now more critical than ever for companies looking to stay competitive, improve efficiency, and enhance customer experiences through technology.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the need for digital transformation, making this role even more critical as organisations adapt to remote work, online commerce, and digital customer engagement.

Valuable skills and experience for digital transformation leaders

Strong understanding of emerging technologies such as IoT, AI and cloud computing
Experience in change management and organisational leadership
Strategic thinking and ability to align technology initiatives with business goals
Project management and stakeholder communication skills
Knowledge of data analytics and digital marketing strategies

Hot Job #2: Software Architect/Engineer

Software engineering is a foundational skill for software architects and engineers, who design, develop, and maintain software systems. Their role is not just about creating blueprints but also about ensuring these software applications are scalable, efficient, and aligned with business requirements.

These professionals work on complex software projects, making high-level design choices and dictating technical standards, including software coding standards, tools, and platforms.

They often lead teams of developers and work with stakeholders to ensure that the software meets technical and business needs.

(Browse software architect and software engineer roles.)

Why are software architects/engineers in high demand?

As software becomes increasingly complex and critical to business operations, the need for software architects and engineers continues to grow.

While software architects typically have more experience and a broader view of the system, many software engineers grow into architect roles over time. In some organisations, especially smaller ones, these roles might be combined.

These professionals are essential for creating robust, scalable, and efficient software solutions that can handle the demands of modern businesses.

The rise of cloud computing, microservices architecture, and the need for seamless integration between various systems have further increased the demand for these tech jobs.

Valuable skills and experience for software architects/engineers: Cloud Computing

Proficiency in multiple programming languages and frameworks
Experience with cloud platforms and microservices architecture
Knowledge of software design patterns and best practices
Understanding of DevOps principles and CI/CD pipelines
Problem-solving and analytical skills

Hot Job #3: IoT Architect/Machine Learning Engineer

The Internet of Things is the innovation changing how we interact with the world around us. It connects devices used daily to the Internet and allows them to capture and transfer data.

IoT architects and product managers lead this revolution by designing and managing these complex ecosystems of connected devices and systems. These professionals define the architecture used in IoT solutions and ensure that hardware, software, and network components integrate seamlessly.

The role will also involve managing the development of IoT products from end to end, from concept to launch, and making sure the product meets both market needs and technical requirements.

(Browse roles in IoT and machine learning.)

Why is there a high demand for IoT architects/product managers?

Connected devices are exponentially increasing, and companies in every sector are rushing to use IoT technology to bring in efficiency, acquire data, and enable new revenue streams.

It places a significant demand on professionals who can move around complex landscapes of IoT technologies and be able to develop new innovative solutions.

In these further potential applications of IoT in areas like smart cities, industrial automation, and healthcare, the demand for skilled IoT architects and product managers has been further increased.

Valuable skills and experience for IoT architects/product managers

Understanding of IoT protocols and standards (e.g., MQTT, CoAP)
Experience with cloud platforms for IoT (e.g., AWS IoT, Azure IoT)
Knowledge of embedded systems and hardware design
Familiarity with data analytics and machine learning
Project management and stakeholder communication skills

Hot Job #4: Data Science/Engineer

In the age of big data, understanding the enormous amounts of information that firms collect is vital. A data engineer builds and maintains the infrastructure for data generation, storage, and analysis, while data analysts interpret this data to provide actionable insights. Data analysts are essential professionals who collect and analyse information to develop reports and drive improvement strategies.

Data science is a crucial area of expertise in the tech industry, encompassing data pipeline design, data modelling, machine learning algorithms, and visualisation tools for effective communication.

Data scientists, as analytical experts, leverage data science techniques to extract insights from both structured and unstructured data, fulfilling business objectives and illustrating the growing demand for professionals skilled in this field.

(Browse data analytics and data engineer roles.)

Why are data analytics/engineers in demand?

With businesses relying so heavily on data-driven decision-making, the demand for skilled data analytics and data engineering professionals has exploded. These roles will be essential to organisations looking to leverage a competitive advantage through the effective use of their data assets.

This has increased the demand for professionals who can work with complex data sets and elicit meaningful insights into artificial intelligence and machine learning’s business operations.

Valuable skills and experience for data analytics/engineers

Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, and SQL
Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Hadoop, Spark)
Knowledge of machine learning algorithms and frameworks
Familiarity with data visualisation tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
Analytical and problem-solving skills
Critical thinking skills

Hot Job #5: Cybersecurity Professional

Within this fast-growing era of cyber threats and increasing tenancy of techniques, the role of a cybersecurity professional is becoming very significant. These experts secure an organisation’s networks, systems, and data against any security breach, cyber attack, or unauthorised access.

They may be involved in many facets of information security, such as network security, application security, incident response, and risk management.

They design and implement security policies, conduct vulnerability assessments, and stay updated regarding the latest security threats and mitigation techniques.

(Browse roles in cybersecurity.)

Why are cybersecurity professionals in demand?

On the other hand, with the ever-increasing speed and complexity of cyber-attacks, demand for cybersecurity professionals has increased in tandem.

As dependency on digital technologies increased manifold with every passing day, organisations were already dealing with huge amounts of sensitive data and stringent regulations.

This was a clear case of when stringent cybersecurity measures were immensely needed. The shift to remote work and cloud-based services has also increased the attack surface for many organisations looking for cybersecurity expertise.

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Top 5 reasons to live and work in Vietnam

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 08:21:34 +0000

Top 5 reasons to live and work in Vietnam Anonymous (not verified)

Between the world-class food, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and laid-back attitude, there are a dozen different reasons why Vietnam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. What many people perhaps don’t realise, however, is the fact that expatriates, returnees and highly skilled Vietnamese also have more than a handful of reasons to live and work in Vietnam.

Vietnam’s outlook

Vietnam has really come into its own in recent decades. Over the past 30 years, economic and political reforms under Doi Moi, which was launched in 1986, have spurred rapid economic growth and development, thus transforming Vietnam from one of the poorest countries in the world to a real contender in Southeast Asia and beyond.

First, the basics. Vietnam’s economy is booming, judging by the growth it has experienced in recent years. Following a 6.8% GDP growth in 2017, the numbers accelerated further to 7.1% in 2018. And even though the rate of growth is expected to slow to 6.6% in 2019, Vietnam is still far and away one of the fastest growing markets in the region.

Things are sure looking up from the business point of view also. According to the International Monetary Fund, the government’s commitment to private sector-led growth has helped improve the business climate as a whole. Vietnam’s regulatory quality and ease of doing business generally improved over the years, thus reflecting a leveling of the playing field between the private and public sectors. In fact, IMF reports that it is far easier to do business in Vietnam than other emerging and developing economies, as well as ASEAN as a whole. According to the Jakarta Post, foreign direct investment (FDI) and manufacturing continue to remain big drivers of economic growth.

Speaking of FDI, the startup scene in Vietnam is neck-and-neck with some of the biggest players in the region, such as Singapore and Indonesia. According to Tech in Asia, “the total funding amount for all the startups in Vietnam was just US$6 million in 2013. However, five years later in 2018, Vietnam’s startups scored US$193 million, thanks to a number of deals in mature companies”.

However, startup funding is not the only driver of change in Vietnam’s tech scene. The government, too, has a role to play. For example, there’s the €11 million (US$12.5 million) Vietnam-Finland Innovation Partnership Program, which focuses on innovative local companies that are looking to scale and expand internationally. Then there is the National Technology Innovation Fund, a government agency and financial institution under Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology. The fund provides grants and preferential loans for research and development, innovation and technology transfer.

With these conditions in place, here are a few compelling reasons to work in Vietnam, for expatriates, returnees and locals alike.

1. Demand for IT talents

With Vietnam’s burgeoning startup ecosystem comes an increase in demand for talent with strong IT skills and digital literacy. According to Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s (CSIRO) 2018 report, Vietnam is currently looking to attract more than one million IT workers by 2020, with the demand for IT skills growing by 47% annually.

According to Vietnam Economic Times, hot trends in IT in Vietnam include artificial intelligence (AI), cloud storage, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), and blockchain. Other key areas include the Internet of Things (IoT), e-commerce, and business process and IT outsourcing. If technology is a sector you are looking to join, we have some advice for you.

2. US-China Trade War

The trade war between China and the US have cooled a little, but the bickering between the two economic powerhouses have already caused some harm. For example, South China Morning Post reports that the planned increase in tariffs on Chinese exports to the US from 10% to 25% will impact provinces like Guangdong, which is known as a low-cost manufacturing hub. Working in Guangdong’s disfavour is the fact that wages are rising in the province, and there is an increase in environmental regulations coming from the top. These factors have pushed many companies to set up shop in the next logical country: Vietnam.

In the first quarter of 2019, Vietnam saw an 86.2% increase in foreign investment, with Chinese investment accounting for almost half of that. Apple, too, has called on its major suppliers to “consider moving 15% to 30% of iPhone production out of the country”, according to Nikkei Asian Review. In fact, the tech giant has already shifted its production of AirPods to Vietnam as a trial based on the same report. Other big name tech giants making similar moves include the likes of HP, Dell, Google and even Nintendo. The exodus of these foreign companies is driving up hiring demands, especially within the local manufacturing sector.

3. A healthy demand for returnees

In many ways, hiring demand in Vietnam is far outstripping its supply. Instead of relying solely on local talent, companies are increasingly seeking out a new generation of Vietnamese professionals with international experience and mindsets. These professionals are often perceived to have a unique set of insights, as well as the ability to challenge the status quo — both highly sought after quality by local companies.

In fact, according to our Salary Benchmark 2019, a number of them, born either in Vietnam or abroad, are returning home, with competition for talent often so intense that top candidates get multiple job offers from companies in Vietnam. The hiring managers we surveyed also expressed their desire to hire those who are skilled in stakeholder management and are fluent in English. Proficiency in English, in particular, is a skill that is bound to position Vietnam in a favourable position as the country continues to expand its footprint internationally.

4. Low cost of settling down

Vietnam is surrounded by some of the most expensive cities in the world for expats. According to a recent Mercer’s 2019 Global Talent Trends report, eight of the 10 most expensive cities for expats are Asian cities. Closest to Vietnam are Shenzhen (which ranks 10th), Singapore (which ranks third) and Hong Kong (which, unsurprisingly, ranks No. 1).

Vietnam, on the other hand, is more affordable and easier for expats to settle down and find accommodation, according to HSBC’s 2015 Expat Explorer Survey. Even if you are a Vietnamese national who is currently living overseas, and you are thinking of returning to Vietnam to work, your money is going to be worth a lot more upon your return.

Here’s a comparison: the monthly rent for a 85sqm furnished accommodation in a normal area in Ho Chi Minh City is around VND 22.3 million (US$960). Comparatively, the monthly rent for a similarly sized furnished accommodation in a normal area in Singapore is around S$2,511 (US$1,852).

5. Low cost of living

When it comes to salary, the common belief among expats and returnees alike is that you earn a lot less in Vietnam compared to your peers overseas. However, that is not always true.

As mentioned above, digital jobs are now in high demand and low supply, which means that the value of the product is increasing along with the price. The pace of growth, too, is set to increase.

You don’t have to live in Vietnam to know that, despite the rapid developments on the economic front, things remain fairly affordable across the board. In fact, if you are thinking of moving to Asia (or, in the case of returnees, moving back) to work, Vietnam ranks 23rd on the Cost of Living Index in the Asia-Pacific region. As a point of reference, Vietnam’s neighbours like Hong Kong, Singapore, Myanmar and Cambodia rank second, fifth, 13th and 18th respectively.

At the end of the day, when it comes to finding the best place to live and work in Southeast Asia, every country presents a series of pros and cons, both for expats and returnees alike. However, if you are looking for one of the fastest growing economies in the region that also happens to be a tourism paradise, Vietnam is a compelling place to start.

Need help getting started in Vietnam? Get in touch.

Michael Page

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