In early 2026, numerous foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises announced job openings. At Thang Long Industrial Park (Thien Loc Commune, Hanoi), dozens of companies posted vacancies for factory workers.
Competitive Hiring Incentives
Each company is hiring from a few dozen to several hundred workers. SEI Electronics Co., Ltd. is recruiting 300 workers. Many companies are hiring 50 workers in January alone, including Meiko Electronics Co., Ltd., KYB Industrial Co., Ltd., Aikawa Co., Ltd., and Ryonan Electric Co., Ltd.
Job seekers at an employment fair in Bac Ninh. Photo: Bac Ninh Employment Service Center
Beyond the basic salary of VND 5.6-6.9 million per month, companies offer various allowances: housing (VND 200,000–1 million), cost of living, and environmental allowances (VND 200,000–1 million), summer allowance for six months (VND 250,000/month), and skill allowance (VND 200,000). Companies provide daily shuttle services from Hanoi’s city center to the factories. Childcare allowances range from VND 200,000 to 300,000 per month.
Companies offer competitive benefits to attract workers. Photo: NGOC LINH
Additional benefits include free milk, yogurt (worth ~VND 350,000/month), summer lemonade, and a VND 500,000 birthday bonus. New workers receive a VND 500,000 bonus for the first four months.
A representative from an electronics company in Thang Long Industrial Park noted that the 2026 hiring surge is partly due to new year orders and to preempt post-Tet turnover.
Companies now accept online applications and QR code registrations for interviews. Age limits are being relaxed, with male workers up to 55 and females up to 50. Referrers receive a VND 700,000 bonus per successful hire.
Previously, companies often excluded college-educated workers. Now, monthly allowances are offered for diplomas (VND 300,000–600,000) and language certifications (e.g., TOEIC).
Hanoi’s Employment Service Center reports increased hiring demand across wholesale, retail, manufacturing, construction, and transportation sectors.
Manufacturing hubs like Bac Ninh expect to hire 180,000 workers in 2026, primarily in electronics and textiles. Unskilled labor accounts for 80-85% of demand.
Seojin Vina (Bac Ninh) aims to hire 2,300 workers in 2026, including 2,000 factory workers and office staff.
Early-Year Growth Optimism
Businesses anticipate strong Q1 2026 performance. Ho Chi Minh City’s statistics office reports 33% of companies expect improved production, with 45% stable. Over 77% of state-owned and FDI firms foresee better business conditions.
EuroCham’s Q4 2025 Business Climate Index (BCI) reached 80, a seven-year high, signaling robust European investment in Vietnam.
Workers at a Bac Ninh garment export factory. Photo: Nguyen Thang
Eighty-two percent of firms expect improved performance in 2026, driven by post-Tet demand and peak consumption.
EuroCham notes large firms (>500 workers) focus on talent retention, automation, and AI, while small firms (1-10 workers) prioritize diversification and cost optimization.
FDI companies like TOTO Vietnam and Pegatron Vietnam are hiring to meet production targets, with Pegatron recruiting 5,000 workers in Q1.
In 2025, Vietnam had 52 million employed workers, with 764,000 underemployed, down 150,600 from 2024.
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