In 2025, one trend is becoming unmistakably clear: U.S. startups are hiring remote teams in Vietnam at record pace.
Why? Because building a startup is harder—and more expensive—than ever before.
With rising payroll costs, fierce competition for U.S.-based developers, and a global push toward lean, agile operations, startup founders are now looking east—toward Vietnam—to scale smarter, stretch their runway, and access world-class tech talent without breaking the bank.
Here’s why Vietnam has become the go-to destination for high-growth U.S. startups in 2025.
💸 1. Extend Your Runway by 2–3x with Cost-Effective Talent
Hiring a mid-level developer in the U.S. today can cost $140K–$180K+—before benefits, taxes, and equity dilution. In contrast, top Vietnamese engineers with equivalent skills can be hired for $20K–$35K annually.
That’s 60–70% in payroll savings, allowing you to:
“We built our MVP with a Vietnam-based team and saved over $250K in year one.” – Seed-stage CTO, San Francisco
🧠 2. Access a Growing Pool of Skilled Developers, Designers & QA Talent
Vietnam produces over 50,000 IT graduates each year, and its tech talent ecosystem is rapidly maturing.
Startups are hiring for roles like:
Many candidates have experience working with Western companies and are proficient in English and modern tools (GitHub, Figma, Slack, Jira, Notion). Vietnamese professionals are young, driven, and increasingly remote-native.
🌎 3. Time Zone Advantage for Agile Development
Vietnam’s time zone is 11–14 hours ahead of U.S. time zones—creating a “follow-the-sun” model:
With the right processes, your startup can move faster without burning out your U.S. team.
✅ 4. Higher Retention and Lower Burnout
While developer turnover is notoriously high in places like India and even the U.S., Vietnamese tech talent tends to:
Startups that invest in culture, onboarding, and inclusive management see strong retention from Vietnam-based hires. Build it right, and your Vietnam team becomes a long-term strategic advantage—not just a stopgap.
⚖️ 5. No Legal Entity Required — Thanks to EOR Services
Many founders assume hiring overseas is a compliance nightmare. Not anymore.
With an Employer of Record (EOR) service like VietAssist, you can:
It’s the fastest way to scale internationally without risk—and without lawyers charging $500/hour.
🏗️ 6. Vietnam’s Infrastructure and Tech Ecosystem Is Booming
Vietnam’s government has invested heavily in:
Multinationals like Intel, Samsung, Grab, and Google are already investing heavily in Vietnam. Startups are now following suit—because the talent is not just there, it’s hungry to grow.
🚀 Why Startups Are Choosing Vietnam Now
Here’s what makes Vietnam perfect for startups in 2025:
For many early-stage companies, hiring in Vietnam is no longer a “maybe”—it’s a competitive edge.
💬 Ready to Explore Vietnam Talent?
At VietAssist, we help U.S. startups: