Vietnam’s IT hiring market is tightening at the leadership level
Vietnam’s digital and technology sector is scaling rapidly, supported by clear government direction, including the 2026 Digital Technology Industry Law, which aims to strengthen AI, data, and R&D capabilities. This policy momentum is translating into stronger hiring demand in 2026 across AI, cybersecurity, cloud, DevOps, infrastructure, and senior technology leadership.
ManpowerGroup’s Employment Outlook Survey for Q2 2026 reflects this trajectory, reporting Tech & IT Services at a Net Employment Outlook (NEO) of +39% across Vietnam. However, a significant talent shortage in Tech & IT Services underscores how quickly demand is outpacing supply.
In this landscape, organizations seeking senior IT leaders in Vietnam often gain a significant advantage by partnering with a trusted IT executive search firm - one with the expertise, networks, and discretion needed to reach high‑caliber, passive candidates.
In this blog, you’ll learn about the IT hiring landscape in Vietnam and discover when and how to work with an IT executive search firm - including key services, selection criteria, and the top firms in the country.
Understanding IT recruitment landscape in Vietnam
- Strong employer demand: Hiring activity across technology-related functions remains active, supported by ongoing digital investment and business expansion.
- Persistent talent shortage: 71% of employers in APME still report difficulty filling roles. AI-related capabilities - AI Model & Application Development (27%) and AI Literacy (26%) - are now among the hardest to secure.
This mismatch is becoming more pronounced as Vietnam prioritizes new digital and technology-focused industries, increasing demand for specialized IT and digital leadership faster than the talent market can scale.
When to use an IT executive search firm
Not every IT hire requires a specialist search. In practice, an IT executive search firm is most valuable when the hiring risk is high and the right candidates are unlikely to come through mass recruitment channels.
Manpower’s Executive search is described as a specialized recruitment approach that prioritizes quality over quantity, confidentiality, and long-term strategic alignment, delivered through market mapping, technology-based assessment, and personalized outreach - particularly aimed at high-level leadership talent. In other words, it is designed to be more strategic and outcome-focused than standard recruitment
You should consider engaging an IT executive search firm when:
- The role is senior, confidential, or business-critical: C-suite, VP-level, and key technology leadership roles usually require targeted and discreet outreach rather than open job advertising.
- Internal hiring has stalled: If your in-house team has spent 45 to 60 days without a viable shortlist, the market is likely narrower or more difficult to reach than expected.
- You are entering new or highly specialized technology domains: Fields such as AI, cloud-native architecture, and cybersecurity require deeper networks and more robust candidate evaluation.
- You are establishing a new presence in Vietnam: Foreign investors without established market networks can reduce time-to-hire and execution risk by partnering with an experienced search provider.
Case study: Building a senior IT team for a new tech hub in Vietnam
An Australian operations and business solutions provider planned to establish a new Technology Hub in Vietnam and needed to hire 13 senior IT professionals with strong technical expertise and advanced English proficiency. Limited local market knowledge and low employer visibility made access to qualified candidates challenging.
Manpower Vietnam’s solution
- Deployed a dedicated headhunting team
- Refined the sourcing strategy to target professionals from comparable industries
- Provided employer branding support to strengthen the client’s position in Vietnam
Results
- Delivered 30 qualified profiles within the first week
- 60% of the final hired IT team were introduced by Manpower Vietnam
- Established the foundation for an exclusive partnership, with Manpower later engaged as the client’s end-to-end workforce solutions partner in Vietnam
Key services provided by IT executive search firms
A credible IT executive search firm should deliver far more than CV sourcing. High-value services typically include:
- Targeted market mapping and talent intelligence: Insight into where senior technology talent is located, how they move, and where competitors are hiring.
- Structured technical and leadership assessment: Evaluation of capability, leadership potential, and culture fit.
- Salary benchmarking: Guidance grounded in reliable market data such as the Vietnam Salary Guide 2026 and Employment Outlook Survey 2026.
- Advisory support on role design and succession planning: Helping employers define briefs that are realistic, competitive, and aligned with market conditions.
- Post-placement follow-up: Supporting smoother onboarding and reducing the risk of early attrition.
If a provider only sends CVs, it is functioning as a staffing vendor rather than a true executive search partner.
How to choose the right IT executive search firm
Consider these five criteria when evaluating search capability:
- Industry experience and track record: Ask for verified examples of senior IT placements and in-country delivery experience.
- Access to passive talent pools: Many senior IT leaders are not actively applying for jobs, so relationships matter more than databases.
- Market insights and consulting capability: A strong partner should challenge unrealistic hiring assumptions and provide data-backed recommendations.
- Service range and flexibility: Look for end-to-end capability across permanent recruitment, interim leadership, staffing, and broader HR support.
- Speed, candidate quality, and cultural fit: Ask for time-to-shortlist expectations and details on the firm’s assessment process.
Top IT executive search firms in Vietnam
1. Manpower Vietnam
Manpower Vietnam is a trusted recruitment partner for employers across technology-driven sectors, supporting hiring needs in IT services, software and digital, data and analytics, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and emerging technology roles. The company offers a comprehensive service portfolio spanning permanent recruitment, executive hiring support, talent mobility services, and HR consulting.
With around 20 years in Vietnam and more than 77 years of global experience, Manpower Vietnam combines data-driven talent strategies with deep local market knowledge. Serving over 2,000 clients, the firm supports both large-scale hiring and specialist technical roles, with nationwide reach and tailored recruitment solutions.
2. Navigos
An established recruitment provider operating both VietnamWorks (job platform) and Navigos Search (executive hiring), the firm supports hiring across professional and technical roles for both local and multinational employers.
3. Adecco Vietnam
Adecco Vietnam is a global staffing provider operating in Vietnam since 2011. The company has built a strong presence in recruitment outsourcing and broader HR services, combining international standards with local execution capability.
4. Robert Walters Vietnam
Robert Walters Vietnam is focused on specialist and leadership hiring, with a strong relationship-driven approach and particular strength in senior appointments across multiple sectors, including technology.
5. Talentnet Vietnam
Talentnet Vietnam is a Vietnam-based HR provider offering recruitment, payroll, compliance, and labor management services, making it relevant for employers looking for integrated HR outsourcing support.
Partner with Manpower Vietnam
Manpower Vietnam brings together nearly 20 years of local experience, global research capability, and a consultative, high-governance approach that spans market mapping, assessment, onboarding support, and post-placement follow-up.
If you are evaluating IT executive search partners, contact Manpower Vietnam to define the right hiring approach and implement an operating model aligned with your business needs.