Vietnam is one of the most cost-competitive outsourcing markets in Southeast Asia right now. The country scores near the top on labor cost, which means your hiring budget goes a lot further here than in most other places. The talent pool is young, growing fast, and increasingly used to working with global teams. English is still developing compared to countries like the Philippines, and digital infrastructure outside major cities can be patchy, but for the right roles, Vietnam delivers real value for money.
Each country receives a 0–100 score per factor, weighted by importance. Scores are derived from publicly available datasets and expert interpretation, using sources such as LinkedIn, UNESCO, EF EPI, World Bank, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The index is comparative and neutral, designed to highlight relative strengths rather than label any country as “good” or “bad.”
Time Zone: Indochina Time (ICT) — UTC+7
Current Local Time:
Vietnam’s UTC+7 time zone works well for Australian and East Asian business hours. For US-based businesses, your Vietnam team can get work done during their day and have deliverables ready when you log on in the morning. For UK and European teams, there is a 6 to 7 hour gap, which suits morning shift coverage and async workflows.
Vietnam’s workforce is strongest in tech, back-office, and process-heavy roles. The talent pool is young, detail-oriented, and increasingly familiar with global work environments. English-dependent roles can work well with candidates from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, where proficiency tends to be higher.
Commonly outsourced roles include:
These roles match well with Vietnam’s technical education system, strong culture of detail-focused work, and a growing generation of professionals who are actively building careers with international companies.
National holidays: Vietnam observes several public holidays throughout the year. Keep these dates in mind when planning your team’s schedule:
Tet is the most important one. It is the Vietnamese Lunar New Year and the biggest cultural event in the country. Most businesses slow down or fully close for 5 to 7 days, and it can be hard to reach people in the week before and after. This usually falls in late January or early February depending on the year. Plan your project timelines around it.
Religion & customs: Vietnam does not have a single dominant religion, but Tet and other traditional cultural observances are taken seriously across the country. Workers are respectful and tend to be formal in professional settings, especially at the start of a working relationship.
Outsourcing work culture: Vietnam’s remote work and outsourcing sector has grown significantly over the past decade, particularly in IT and back-office services. Workers are generally flexible with schedules and used to adjusting to client time zones. Major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have a growing community of professionals with experience working on global teams.
Communication style: Vietnamese professionals tend to be polite and indirect. They may not push back openly if they are unsure about something or disagree. Setting clear written expectations, using SOPs, and doing regular check-ins helps reduce miscommunication and keeps work on track.
Infrastructure variability: Internet and power infrastructure is reliable in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where most remote workers are based. Outside these cities, connectivity can be inconsistent. When hiring remote staff, it is worth asking about their internet setup and whether they have a backup connection and power source in place.
Weather considerations: Vietnam has a long coastline and experiences typhoons mainly from June through November. The central and northern regions are the most exposed. Heavy rainfall can occasionally cause flooding that disrupts connectivity for short periods, particularly in areas like Da Nang and parts of the north.
Risk mitigation when hiring: When bringing on remote staff, confirm they have a reliable primary internet connection with a mobile hotspot as backup, a UPS or inverter for power outages, and a quiet professional setup for video calls.
Business risk level: Moderate
Vietnam is politically stable and has been actively attracting foreign investment for years. That said, local labor laws, payroll regulations, and data protection rules can add complexity if you are setting up a formal entity or managing compliance in-country. For remote contractor arrangements, this is generally manageable, but it is worth knowing if you are planning to scale.
Data & compliance: Vietnam has its own cybersecurity and data protection laws, including the Cybersecurity Law that has been in effect since 2019. If your business handles sensitive information such as healthcare records, financial data, or legal documents, make sure your team follows your company’s data security standards from day one. Do not assume staff will know your compliance requirements without proper onboarding and clear written guidelines.
