Vietnam–Japan IT cooperation has evolved significantly over the past two decades, transitioning from simple outsourcing to strategic partnerships in high-tech innovation. With a growing demand for skilled IT personnel in Japan and Vietnam’s abundant young talent pool, this bilateral collaboration is not only solving workforce shortages but also shaping the digital transformation agendas of both countries. 

Evolution of Vietnam–Japan IT Cooperation 

2000–2010: Laying the Foundation 

During this period, Japan provided strong support for Vietnam in technical training, technology transfer, quality standards, and Japanese language instruction for engineers. Key milestones include: 

– 2007: The launch of Japan ICT Day, the most important annual business networking event between Vietnamese and Japanese IT companies, co-hosted by VINASA and the Vietnam–Japan IT Cooperation Club (VJC). 

– Vietnamese companies such as FPT Software, CMC, and TMA began taking on Japanese outsourcing projects, while Japanese corporations like NTT Data, Fujitsu, and NEC established local subsidiaries in Vietnam. 

2011–2020: Rapid Growth and Scaling Up 

Vietnam’s software outsourcing market experienced annual growth of 20–25%, making it a preferred partner for Japanese firms. According to Japan’s Information Technology Promotion Agency (IPA), Vietnam ranked second among Japan’s outsourcing destinations by 2012, surpassing India and China in preference. 

– Many Vietnamese IT firms grew to 1,000+ employees focused on Japanese clients (e.g., FPT Software, Rikkeisoft, CMC Global).

– High-tech parks emerged in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang to meet growing Japanese demand.

– The collaboration evolved beyond basic coding to include R&D projects in AI and blockchain.

– By 2019, Japan faced a critical IT talent shortage, prompting increased recruitment from Vietnam. 

2021–Present: Moving Toward Strategic Partnerships 

Recent years mark a shift toward deep-tech collaboration and joint product development: 

– Vietnamese engineers now participate across the full project lifecycle, including digital transformation, AI, blockchain, and cloud initiatives.

– Japan introduced policies to attract high-skilled foreign IT talent, including long-term residency and family reunification incentives, benefiting Vietnamese professionals.

– Vietnamese IT firms, such as FPT Japan, expanded their presence in Japan, while Japan continues to invest in Vietnam’s IT infrastructure and talent. As of mid-2024, FPT Japan employs 3,500 Vietnamese professionals across 17 offices in Japan. The Vietnam Association for Digital Transformation in Japan (VADX Japan) was also established during this period. 

Key Models of Vietnam- Japan IT Workforce Collaboration 

Vietnam–Japan IT workforce collaboration has grown significantly, supported by a variety of models that offer mutual benefits.  

Some prominent forms of Vietnam-Japan IT workforce cooperation 

Nguồn: B&Company 

Future Outlook: Toward Sustainable Vietnam-Japan IT Cooperation 

As digital transformation and Industry 4.0 accelerate, Vietnam-Japan IT cooperation is expected to deepen and diversify: 

– High-tech focus: Collaboration is expanding into AI, big data, IoT, green manufacturing, and smart mobility—leveraging Vietnam’s young tech talent and Japan’s advanced experience. 

– Co-creation over outsourcing: The new trend is joint ventures and co-branded product development in fintech, edtech, and enterprise software, rather than traditional outsourcing. 

– Multilingual, multicultural talent: Both countries are prioritizing the training of IT engineers with strong foreign language skills and cross-cultural understanding. Vietnam targets 1.2 million digital workers by 2025 and 1.5 million by 2030. 

– Government support: Both governments are actively supporting this collaboration through policy alignment, trade events, and legal facilitation. Beyond business, the partnership extends to public services such as e-government, smart cities, and digital healthcare. 

B&Company’s Role in Supporting Vietnam-Japan IT Cooperation 

As a market research and business strategy consulting firm based in Vietnam, B&Company provides strategic insights and connections to support IT workforce collaboration between Vietnam and Japan through: 

B&Company service 

Nguồn: B&Company  

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