Cybersecurity talent & digital entrepreneurs: Vietnam racing to fill a 700,000-person workforce gap

DNHN - The “Student Cybersecurity Festival & Final Round of the 2025 Vietnam Cybersecurity Student Competition” (CSCV 2025), held on November 15 in Hanoi, became a major focal point for the technology community.

The event brought together more than 3,000 students, over 50 tech enterprises, and hundreds of cybersecurity specialists nationwide.

More than a competition, CSCV 2025 has evolved into a national platform for career orientation and startup inspiration, positioning students as emerging “cyber defenders” of the digital era.

In his remarks, Lt. Gen. Minh praised the exceptional resilience and determination demonstrated by the participating teams. He described CSCV 2025 as a highly competitive yet deeply inspiring arena where the passion and intellect of Vietnamese youth shone brightly. He expressed confidence that today’s contestants will become tomorrow’s cybersecurity experts, safeguarding Vietnam’s digital sovereignty and contributing to global cybersecurity efforts under the spirit of the Hanoi Convention.

One of the most anticipated segments of the program was the panel discussion “Learning – Working – Entrepreneurship in the Age of Digital Security.” Senior experts highlighted the gaps facing technology students today: unclear career orientation, limited real-world exposure, and a lack of understanding of enterprise-level cybersecurity demands in an era of increasingly sophisticated cybercrime.

Colonel, Dr. Nguyen Hong Quan, Director of the Cybersecurity Training Center (A05 – Ministry of Public Security), emphasized that human capital remains the central pillar of all digital ecosystems:
“People are the core resource of every technology and cybersecurity enterprise. National security depends on professionals with strong expertise, integrity, and responsibility.”
His insights on “Personal Data as Strategic Assets” underscored the rising risks and threats confronting individuals and organizations in the digital age.

Echoing this perspective, Mr. Truong Duc Luong, Chairman of Vietnam Cybersecurity Joint Stock Company (VSEC), a pioneering enterprise with more than 20 years of experience, stated:
“Investing in young talent is the most sustainable way to protect national cyberspace.”

VSEC’s journey from a student-led technology group to a leading cybersecurity provider continues to inspire students, demonstrating that knowledge, perseverance, and a sense of mission can shape world-class careers.

As a key organizer, VSEC has also supported students nationwide through talent development programs, cybersecurity playgrounds, hands-on training, and expanded internship and recruitment pipelines, a living example of the university–enterprise–expert ecosystem driving Vietnam’s digital workforce.

While Singalarity, a regional pioneer protecting over 70 million users, introduced its “SINGALARITY R&D TRAINEESHIP.” The program bridges the gap between academic learning, research, and real-world application, supported by a high-level R&D team comprising more than 50% of professionals with advanced degrees in cryptography, AI, and cybersecurity.

The technology and career exhibition featured 43 booths from leading companies, including Viettel Cyber Security, NCS, MoMo, CMC, AWS, and Singalarity. Students were able to test their skills in attack–defense simulations, explore internships, secure scholarships, and connect directly with employers, a vital bridge between academic training and the technology job market.

She underscored that each digital citizen must be trained to recognize manipulation, misinformation, and psychological exploitation, tools increasingly used by high-tech criminals.

In her closing remarks on cyber-psychology, digital citizenship, and youth entrepreneurship, Dr. Lan called on students to embrace a broader mission:
“Vietnamese students today must not only study technology; they must grow into fully developed digital citizens - ethical, intelligent, and empathetic. You are the generation who will safeguard our communities, strengthen national cybersecurity, and help Vietnamese startups rise globally.”

With this message, CSCV 2025 not only celebrated emerging talent but also ignited a deeper sense of national mission: shaping a generation of cybersecurity professionals who are skilled, resilient, innovative, and ready to defend Vietnam’s digital future.

By Dr. Nguyen Thuy Lan

Vietnamese version: https://doanhnghiephoinhap.vn/phat-trien-nguon-luc-va-cong-dan-so-khoi-nghiep-viet-nam-can-them-700000-nhan-su-an-ninh-mang-121611.html?gidzl=ZMmtHN4H8LwBTZz0TGmbNunmFKPg2tTNaNC-7svP90wU86r1PGyZ3CX-Ra4n1NSBody-6sN8IIyfT1KeMm