"Digital technicians" must not be forgotten if Vietnam aims to meet its strategic goals

DNHN - Vietnam is facing a serious shortage of skilled technical operators. Without retaining its “digital technicians,” the ambition to become an AI hub may never materialize.

General Secretary To Lam emphasized: “Vietnam has clearly chosen a development path: science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and the knowledge economy will be the main drivers of growth in the coming period.” However, amid this forward-looking vision and cutting-edge technologies, a growing gap remains overlooked: Vietnam is not only lacking in high-level technical experts, but is also struggling to retain mid-level technical personnel, those who directly operate and manage technological systems.

In this context, a recent statement from NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang offers a global perspective for Vietnam. He stated that “we will need hundreds of thousands of electricians, plumbers, and carpenters to build all these tech factories.” He stressed that infrastructure technicians and operational engineers are “at the heart of the AI revolution,” and that without them, the entire system would face severe bottlenecks.

At the International Digital Human Resources Forum during Vietnam International Digital Week 2025, experts warned that Vietnam may face a shortfall of 150,000–200,000 mid- to high-level engineers and technicians in the next five years in sectors such as energy, digital infrastructure, smart cities, and healthcare.

This highlights a paradox: while Vietnam is actively recruiting AI experts and data engineers, and rapidly expanding tech-focused university programs, little attention is paid to the "digital workforce", the technicians who install, maintain, and execute technological solutions. If AI is a building, then skilled technicians are its foundation, and without a solid foundation, the building cannot stand.

The challenge is not just training but also retention. Many Vietnamese tech firms struggle to retain skilled staff as international competitors actively “headhunt” talent. Brain drain often occurs shortly after companies have invested heavily in structured training programs.

Mr. Lai Thien Phong, Chairman of Nam Hanoi Cadastral  & Construction Company, explained: “As a tech firm working with both domestic and international partners, we deeply understand this pain. While technology can be bought, human capital must be nurtured early. That’s why we not only develop digital solutions for geospatial and urban infrastructure based on digital twin platforms, but also continuously run training sessions, workshops, and transfer programs to upskill technicians at the local level. Our tech solutions have reduced data collection time by 90%, sped up planning by 2–5 times, and optimized staffing by over 50%. However, the most critical factor is ensuring the solutions help retain skilled professionals rather than losing them to other jobs or organizations.”

From an international perspective, Klaus Wwehage, CEO of 10X Innovation Lab, commented: “Vietnam is doing well in implementing a ‘digital mass education’ strategy, but to make AI work effectively in digital government, civil servants must be trained in data thinking and risk management.” He added that training is meaningless without an enabling environment for decision-making, experimentation, and innovation.

Events such as the 2025 Vietnam International Digital Week in Ninh Binh, the tech forum in Hung Yen, and the A80 Innovation Exhibition, all organized under government leadership, demonstrate Vietnam’s strong commitment. The Ministry of Science and Technology has convened numerous high-level events, drawing not only local firms but also international organizations, creating momentum and a supportive ecosystem for innovation and technical advancement.

Yet Vietnam is at risk: it not only lacks but may soon fail to retain a vital tier of mid-level technicians, the very people who operate and sustain technological systems.

During the forum, experts proposed three key solutions:

Identify and support strategic personnel, including engineers, technicians, and data professionals, with clear career paths, creative environments, and supportive policies.

Integrate digital thinking, critical reasoning, data use, and risk management into education and public sector training, ensuring continuous talent flow from schools to leadership.

Establish a national AI investment fund and controlled legal sandbox to empower technical talent and businesses to experiment, fail, learn, and grow capabilities.

Still, these measures are not enough. Businesses, organizations, and the country must retain talent.

If Vietnam focuses only on training without retention, it may repeat the mistakes of other countries: owning technology and capital, but lacking the human capacity to operate and evolve it. As rapid technological change intensifies, many skilled workers are leaving their jobs, opting for overseas education or higher-paying opportunities abroad.

Without a solid technical workforce, ambitions of becoming an AI hub will lack operational foundations. Crafting a talent retention strategy to prevent brain drain is an urgent, complex challenge. Too often, we chase grand goals while neglecting the small, foundational steps.

Vietnam has a young population, strong aspirations, and commitment from both the government and private sectors. Educational institutions are uniquely positioned to shape the workforce from the ground up. Making these professions financially and socially attractive is a pressing question that needs to be solved now.

Reported by: Dr. Nguyễn Thúy Lan

Vietnamese version: https://doanhnghiephoinhap.vn/tho-so-khong-the-bi-lang-quen-de-viet-nam-dat-duoc-muc-tieu-chien-luoc-119926.html