"Hot" majors are those for which the market has high human resource demand, attractive income, and suitability with the current development trends of society. However, career guidance experts warn that candidates and parents need to be aware of the risk and danger of "saturation."

Associate Professor Dr Pham Manh Ha (Hanoi University of Science and Technology) noted that hot majors often attract a large number of students, leading to a situation where supply exceeds demand.

"When a major is widely praised by the media for its high salary levels and career opportunities, many people will flock to study it. For example, the Information Technology (IT) sector in Vietnam has recently attracted attention following the success of tech startups and software outsourcing services, but not everyone among the thousands of graduates each year finds a quality job.

“In addition, universities and online courses also quickly expand training programs for hot majors to meet demand. The result is a surge in the number of applicants and graduates in these majors, while the number of jobs does not increase commensurately. In the US, the technology sector once boomed, but many companies are now cutting staff due to saturation," Ha said..

Ha added that the risk of saturation also comes from the labor market undergoing strong changes. 

“Hot majors often depend on temporary factors such as economic booms or emerging technologies. When the cycle ends and demand drops, saturation appears,” he explained. 

“A major that is hot today may be cold tomorrow due to new technologies, economic downturns, or global shifts. For example, the oil and gas industry used to be hot but is now affected by renewable energy. Therefore, choosing a major just because it is hot may lead to unemployment or late career changes,” Ha said.

When students flock to attractive majors, they must also face harsher competition. This results in lower starting salaries and longer job searches.

Tran Thanh Nam, Vice President of the University of Education, a member school of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, noted that saturation risk also stems from many training institutions “racing” to open hot majors without forecasting labor market capacity. 

Their promotional materials are attractive, confusing students, while lecturer quality and output standards vary greatly. Many institutions still equate passing courses with meeting output standards; even if studying a hot major, students lacking skills and competence still have to struggle to find jobs after graduation.

Nam said a major may be hot now, but from the moment schools notice it to when programs are developed and students actually enroll, the delay is usually 5–10 years. By the time students graduate, the major may already be declining.

He went on to say that in the context of the 4.0 technology revolution, the “lifespan” of occupations is shorter than before. Some tech fields may become outdated immediately when newer solutions appear, reminding young people to think carefully before choosing a career.

Nguyen Phu Khanh, Deputy General Director of Phenikaa University, advises students not to rush into any major just because it is currently hot. 

“I think students should not follow ‘hot majors’ blindly. Before choosing a field, they need to answer to the questions: Do you like it? Do you have the ability for it? Does the field have long-term prospects? Is the tuition affordable? Is the expected admission score suitable?” Khanh said.

He added that a major today may not be hot in five years, so students must consider carefully.

Ha believes that choosing careers based solely on popularity without genuine passion may lead to long-term issues.

The first consequence is lack of motivation and easy burnout. “If you do not love the job, it is hard to maintain everyday enthusiasm. Every job has pressure, challenges, and long working hours; without passion, you become discouraged, less productive, and may quit midway. If you do not like it, additional learning feels like a burden, leading to poor performance and weak competitiveness. On the other hand, choosing a field aligned with your interests helps you overcome difficulties and grow sustainably,” Ha said.

He emphasized that careers occupy much of a person’s life. Choosing a major you do not enjoy can cause stress, harm mental health, and reduce quality of life. Ultimately, young people should select careers based on interests, personal skills, and life values instead of following trends.

Thanh Hung