Vietnam possesses a “golden population” structure and a young, eager-to-learn workforce, yet its labor productivity remains the lowest in the region, and the lack of soft skills is proving to be a significant bottleneck that needs urgent resolution.

According to the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), Vietnam’s labor productivity is only one-tenth that of Singapore and roughly three-quarters that of China.

At a recent conference on human resource development, infrastructure, and policies for strategic technology sectors on October 2, Tran Van Xuan, founder and chairman of Brain-Life, expressed concern that Vietnam’s labor productivity is “the lowest in the region.”

“How can we say we’re entering a new era when one Singaporean can accomplish as much as ten Vietnamese workers? How can we compete under such circumstances?” he asked.

Understanding productivity beyond hard work

Xuan argued that the issue does not stem from a lack of diligence - Vietnamese workers are known for their industriousness - but from insufficient understanding of how the brain functions and how to sustain focus. He shared a personal anecdote: “When I studied abroad, my French classmates partied until 5 a.m. but still got A’s, while I studied like crazy and only got a B.”

He described focus as a type of resource that must be managed and optimized across three dimensions: increasing concentration capacity, deepening engagement in work, and improving flexibility in shifting between focus and relaxation.

Vietnamese workers are eager to learn but lack soft skills

Experts agreed that Vietnam still has many advantages. Ngo Tuan Anh, Chairman of the Innovation Network and cybersecurity expert at ViSecurity, noted that the country is currently in its “golden population” phase, with a high learning spirit. Nguyen Thanh Tung, Vice President of CMC Group and President of CMC University, added that Vietnamese workers have strong mathematical foundations - an essential base for fields like AI and cybersecurity, two of the 11 strategic technology sectors.

Vo Duc Thang, Chairman of the Vin Taiwan Network, who has lived and worked in Taiwan for 14 years, shared that many Taiwanese professors highly appreciate the capability of Vietnamese students.

Another competitive edge lies in cost. Xuan recounted that his foreign partners were surprised that with the same budget, in 18 months, they could only develop a prototype abroad, while in Vietnam, the product was already ready for market launch.

However, Vietnam still faces critical weaknesses: low work efficiency, limited soft skills such as foreign language and teamwork, and shallow specialized knowledge. Xuan also warned of potential labor imbalance, as the rush to study AI and semiconductors could leave foundational sectors like mechanics, chemistry, and materials short of skilled workers.

Businesses want to co-train students, but it's not simple

Experts agreed that a major weakness in Vietnam’s education system is the gap between theory and practice. While universities want students to gain long-term experience through enterprise internships, the costs for both businesses and schools are often prohibitively high.

Nguyen Thanh Tung cited real numbers: “Each year, CMC University trains around 600 students. The cost of providing hands-on training is significant, including expenses for facilities, meals, and supervision.”

He proposed that while practical training is essential, the government should offer incentives - such as tax benefits or policy support - to encourage businesses to participate in co-training programs with universities.

International experience shows that in Japan, South Korea, and the United States, universities are closely linked with companies, requiring students to work from four to eight months to accumulate practical skills. In Taiwan, schools and enterprises collaborate to create the most suitable curricula, ensuring students are job-ready upon graduation. Meanwhile, China goes even further, “rolling out the red carpet” to lure overseas Chinese talents back home with special incentives such as housing and salaries three times the national average.

According to Ngo Tuan Anh, human capital remains the most critical factor. Vietnam must reform its education system and policies to align more closely with real-world demands, improve productivity, and enhance efficiency. With a population of over 100 million, such reforms could significantly strengthen Vietnam’s capacity for innovation, mastery of strategic technologies, and sustainable socio-economic growth in the new era.

Du Lam