Vietnam has rapidly emerged as one of Asia’s most attractive destinations for offshore software development. With a population of over 100 million and a fast-growing digital economy ranked 35th globally, the country blends strong talent availability, competitive labor costs, and a stable business environment. Vietnam’s major technology hubs—Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang—are home to more than 67,000 ICT enterprises and an ICT workforce exceeding 1 million people, supported by 149 IT universities and 520 vocational institutions producing more than 55,000 new IT graduates every year.

The guidebook provides a data-driven overview of Vietnam’s economic environment, political stability, talent market, digital infrastructure, and cost structure — all essential criteria for companies evaluating offshore development centers (ODCs). Key macroeconomic indicators include strong GDP growth (7.38% in 2024), FDI inflows from 144 countries, and a highly supportive environment for high-tech investments. These factors make Vietnam an increasingly strategic location for global engineering expansion.

From a cost perspective, Vietnam offers significantly lower living expenses and competitive wages across developer roles. Salary benchmarks for developers range from $500–$3,000 per month depending on level and specialization, while employer insurance contributions remain relatively stable and predictable. Operational costs such as office rental, internet, cloud infrastructure, and digital security are also among the most affordable in Southeast Asia.

The guidebook also outlines recruitment channels, workforce culture, English proficiency, communication practices, ODC operating models, and SLAs for security, compliance, and quality assurance. It concludes with a practical offshore setup checklist — from defining project scope to building your ODC team — giving companies a clear roadmap for expansion into Vietnam.

What’s Inside This Guidebook

• Vietnam’s economic landscape, including GDP performance, growth rate, FDI inflows, and the country’s rising position in Southeast Asia.

• An overview of the ICT sector, covering revenue growth, talent expansion, infrastructure readiness, and the evolution of Vietnam’s digital economy.

• Talent pool & workforce insights, including annual IT graduate output, recruitment channels, workforce distribution across major cities, and English proficiency considerations.

• Cost structure for offshore development, featuring salary benchmarks for key tech roles, employer insurance contributions, and living cost comparisons across Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City.

• Operational infrastructure essentials, such as office rental ranges, internet & cloud costs, and digital infrastructure readiness.

• Cultural & communication dynamics, including work-hour overlaps, cultural alignment, and remote collaboration tools.

• A breakdown of ODC models, including Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT), Managed Services, and Global Delivery Center models.

• A practical offshore setup checklist, helping businesses evaluate location, select the right model, plan operations, and build a high-performing ODC team in Vietnam.