Vietnam, Singapore to exchange 1,000 talented workers each year under new program

The program is part of a memorandum of understanding signed in 2023 between the two to create a channel for their skilled talent to seek short-term employment for up to two years, Kim Ngoc Thanh Nga, deputy director of the Ministry of Finance's National Innovation Center, said at the Vietnam-Singapore Innovation Talent Exchange forum on Wednesday.

ITX is expected to set up its platform enabling businesses and candidates to start registering in July. The start date for worker exchanges has yet to be announced.

Jobs in innovation-related fields such as data science and analysis, cybersecurity and risk management, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, application/system programming, digital innovation, and semiconductors.

"The salary range in Singapore is US$3,000-5,000 per month, with some positions potentially offering double that," Nga said, pointing out that Vietnamese companies also offer competitive salaries for top-notch foreign workers.

Students of the International University, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, attend the Vietnam-Singapore Innovation Talent Exchange forum, June 18, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Hong Chieu

For Singaporean applicants coming to work in Vietnam, the maximum age is 33 for those with a bachelor's degree and 35 for those with a junior college degree. For Vietnamese workers going to Singapore, it is only 30.

Singaporean applicants with a bachelor's or master's degree or Ph.D. must have at least three years' work experience, while those with a college degree need at least five. Vietnamese do not require work experience.

Vietnamese companies wishing to recruit Singaporean workers must post job vacancies on the national job portal, but not employers in Singapore.

Nga said the demand for Vietnamese workers is expected to be higher, and so the program is designed to create favorable conditions for applicants.

"High-quality labor working abroad will have an advantage, a broader experience, and contribute more significantly when returning to Vietnam. It should not be seen as brain drain."

From working with many experts and professionals, she had observed that most want to return to Vietnam to work since income is just one part of it and they want to create value and contribute, she said. With the salary for high-quality labor in Vietnam, many have chosen to return.

Nguyen Viet Tung, 22, a senior year student in automation and informatics at the International University, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, attended the forum and is interested in working in areas like cybersecurity and risk management.

He wanted to know whether the two-year work period could be extended and if workers could switch jobs.

"What are the language requirements, research capacity, program quotas, salary, and work environment specifics?"

Vincent Yu, senior assistant director at Singapore's Ministry of Industry and Trade, said the two years is a fixed duration for the ITX program but participants could apply for other visa programs after completion.

Since the ITX program relates to innovative industries, there are no criteria for scores as in other programs, but proficiency in English is essential in any international work environment, he said.

"If your language skills are not good, it will be difficult to pass the selection process as the number of applicants will be large."

Vietnam is currently the only ASEAN member country with which Singapore has a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Singapore is Vietnam’s second largest investor with over US$80 billion.