Vietnam's semiconductor industry sees golden opportunity amid surging demand for chip design engineers

Semiconductor industry leaders highlighted a growing demand for integrated circuit (IC) design engineers in Vietnam, forecasting job availability through 2026, during an IC design competition in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday.

Koh Siang Yong Kevin, CEO of Faraday Technology Vietnam, emphasized the industry’s booming demand for semiconductor talent.

“Even though it’s just the first quarter of 2025, we already have projects scheduled through the end of 2026,” Kevin said, noting most orders come from the automotive and high-performance AI computing sectors.

He cited global chip giant MediaTek based in Taiwan, which employs 20,000 engineers but still struggles to fill new project demands.

“For students, this is a golden opportunity. IC design jobs are not just available, they're in high demand,” he told the participants.

David Nghiem, founder and chief scientist at U.S.-based Global Wireless Technology, urged Vietnam to invest heavily in training high-quality semiconductor engineers.

He suggested that the Vietnamese government and educational institutions support advanced learning for skilled graduates.

Despite being a latecomer to the global chip race, Vietnam still has room to grow by focusing on mastering specific techniques and processes, as even simple designs can create substantial influence, he added.

Assoc. Prof. Le Quoc Cuong, deputy head of the Saigon High-Tech Park Management Authority, said the annual IC design competition has become a national event, reflecting the enthusiasm and potential of Vietnam’s young engineers.

"Semiconductors are the foundation of pioneering technologies like AI, Internet of Things, and big data. They are the key to driving digital transformation, green transition, and the knowledge economy,” Cuong noted.

The competition, hosted by the Saigon Hi-Tech Park Management Authority in collaboration with various state-run agencies, attracts 68 teams nationwide, including 44 from southern Vietnam, seven from the northern part, and 17 from the central region.

Preliminary rounds were taking place concurrently in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang on Sunday.

The finale and awards ceremony are scheduled for this May.

Minh Duy - Cong Trieu / Tuoi Tre News

(2025/03/24-17:59)