According to a report by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), Vietnam's semiconductor industry is projected to need approximately 15,000 integrated circuit (IC) design engineers by 2030. Currently, Vietnam only has about 5,000 engineers across all stages of chip design. Vietnam faces a significant gap in chip design human resources that needs to be filled within the next five years.

Speaking at a semiconductor chip design seminar organized by the National Innovation Center (NIC, Ministry of Science and Technology ) in collaboration with FPT Jetking, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Yen - General Director of CoAsia SEMI Vietnam, said that the average annual salary of a chip design engineer in the US is approximately $100,000 to $300,000.

In Vietnam, the income of chip designers ranges from $10,000 to $100,000 per year. Engineers with 1-3 years of experience earn between $10,000 and $15,000 per year. Those with 4-6 years of experience can earn between $16,000 and $25,000 per year. Income can increase to $46,000 to $80,000, or even higher, for those with over 11 years of experience.

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Semiconductor expert Nguyen Thanh Yen. Photo: The Dai

Mr. Le Thanh Nam – Director of VIETA Solutions Vietnam (a subsidiary of ETA Semiconductor) – stated that at his company, the salary for a chip design engineer with one year of experience is approximately $1,000 per month. The increasing number of educational institutions offering semiconductor training has also opened up opportunities to supplement the workforce for Vietnamese chip design companies.

Sharing insights on how to become a chip design engineer, Mr. Hoang Nam Tien - Vice Chairman of the FPT University Board of Directors, stated that in addition to long-term courses at universities, those interested in semiconductor industry job opportunities can access vocational training courses. FPT Jetking's chip design courses are providing opportunities to enter the semiconductor industry in that direction.

Regarding the income levels of chip designers, experts agree that there is still a significant gap between Vietnam and the US. However, chip design is currently a high-paying profession in Vietnam compared to the general average.

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Mr. Vo Xuan Hoai – Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center. Photo: Trong Dat

According to Mr. Vo Xuan Hoai, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center, the fact that chip workers' wages in Vietnam are lower than in the US can be seen as an opportunity for foreign technology companies and semiconductor corporations to come to Vietnam to hire workers, set up representative offices, and factories.

Vietnam has good relationships with leading chip manufacturers such as the US, South Korea, and Taiwan (China). Taiwan, in particular, is looking to shift and diversify its semiconductor supply chain. Vietnam's geographical location and potential intellectual resources also present opportunities for the country.

" In fact, many semiconductor companies have sought investment opportunities through the National Innovation Center ," said Mr. Vo Xuan Hoai.

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Young people explore career opportunities in the semiconductor industry. Photo: Trong Dat

Speaking at a chip design seminar, Mr. Le Hai Anh – Director of Dolphin Technology Vietnam Center – said that foreign semiconductor companies will look at costs and opportunities when deciding whether or not to invest in Vietnam.

“ Besides attractive investment opportunities, one advantage of Vietnam is the large number of Vietnamese engineers working in chip design in the US, South Korea, and Singapore. They will help global semiconductor corporations see the quality of Vietnamese human resources, thereby indirectly impacting the demand for opening offices and businesses, ” Mr. Le Hai Anh shared.

According to Vo Hoai Xuan, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center, the semiconductor industry requires enormous investment if it wants to develop. This demands significant investment from the State, which is a challenge for Vietnam.

The semiconductor industry also requires unprecedented policies. This is a crucial stage in perfecting the institutional framework for the development of the semiconductor industry. Simultaneously, Vietnam needs to prepare both its infrastructure and human resources to be ready to participate in this industry.

Is a 3-6 month training program for chip design engineers feasible? Vietnam's semiconductor industry is facing a shortage of chip design engineers. Short-term training and retraining programs for engineers are being considered as a solution to Vietnam's current situation.