How to Write a CV in Vietnam: Format & Resume Guide 2026

Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economies, with a manufacturing-export base anchored in electronics, textiles, footwear, and food processing, alongside a rapidly expanding services and technology sector. Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is the main commercial hub, while Hanoi is the centre of government and a significant business city. The formal job market is highly competitive for professional roles, and the expectations for CV format differ notably between Vietnamese domestic employers and international or foreign-invested companies.

The Vietnam CV Format

CVs in Vietnam follow two conventions depending on the employer. For domestic Vietnamese companies, government, and state-owned enterprises, a more traditional format is used, often including extensive personal information and a photo. For foreign-invested companies (FDI), multinationals, technology firms, and international organisations, a clean reverse-chronological English CV aligned with international standards is expected. Length is typically one to two pages for professional roles.

Many international-standard companies in Vietnam use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS); a clean, keyword-rich, single-column PDF format performs best. For domestic employers, a structured bilingual or Vietnamese-only format is appropriate.

Language and Personal Information

Vietnamese is the official language and the expected language for domestic employer CVs and all government applications. English is required for most FDI companies, multinationals, technology firms, and international organisations. Many professionals maintain both Vietnamese and English versions.

Include: full name, current address (district and city), phone number, email, and optionally LinkedIn. Date of birth is standard on Vietnamese CVs. Nationality is included. For domestic applications, marital status, gender, and ethnicity are often included per traditional conventions, though they are omitted on international-standard CVs. Do not include your CCCD (Căn cước công dân) or CMND national ID number.

Professional Photo

A professional headshot is expected on Vietnamese CVs for domestic and state-owned enterprise applications. Place it in the top-right corner. Use a formal, recent photo with appropriate dress and a neutral background. For international company and FDI applications, a photo is not required and is increasingly omitted on English-language CVs.

Education

List qualifications in reverse chronological order. The most recognised universities in Vietnam are Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-HN) and Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), the country's two national university systems, Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), the leading technical university, Foreign Trade University (FTU) in Hanoi and HCMC for economics and international trade, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics (UEH), University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, and the National Economics University (NEU) in Hanoi. For law, Hanoi Law University and University of Law, Ho Chi Minh City are the primary institutions. International branch campuses such as RMIT University Vietnam (Australian), Fulbright University Vietnam, and British University Vietnam (BUV) are increasingly valued by FDI employers.

Vietnamese universities use a 4.0 GPA scale or a 10-point scale. A GPA of 3.2 or above (or 8.0+ on the 10-point scale) is considered good and worth stating. Graduates of elite high schools such as Hanoi-Amsterdam High School or Le Hong Phong High School may include this credential as it signals academic selectivity.

Work Experience

List employment in reverse chronological order. For each role, provide employer name, job title, dates, and four to six bullet points of responsibilities and quantified achievements.

Employers recognised by Vietnamese recruiters include Samsung Vietnam (the single largest foreign investor and employer), Intel Products Vietnam, LG Electronics Vietnam, FPT Corporation (Vietnam's largest IT company), Viettel Group (state telecom conglomerate), VNPT (Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group), Vingroup, VinFast (automotive), Masan Group, VPBank, Techcombank, Vietcombank, BIDV (Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam), Unilever Vietnam, P&G Vietnam, Nestlé Vietnam, and multinational consulting firms including Deloitte Vietnam, PwC Vietnam, EY Vietnam, and KPMG Vietnam. For technology, KMS Technology, NashTech, and Axon Active are well-known Vietnamese IT companies.

Key Sectors

Electronics and manufacturing (Samsung, Intel, LG, Foxconn) are the dominant FDI employment sectors and the largest export earners. Technology and IT services, with HCMC and Hanoi as nearshoring hubs, are the fastest-growing white-collar sectors. Financial services (VPBank, Techcombank, Vietcombank) employ large professional workforces. Retail and consumer goods (Vingroup, Masan) are major private employers. The real estate and construction sector, anchored by Vingroup and Sun Group, is significant. E-commerce, driven by Shopee, Lazada, and Tiki, is rapidly growing.

Skills and Certifications

List English proficiency with TOEIC score (the most commonly used benchmark in Vietnam: 700+ is generally required by FDI employers and 900+ for senior international roles) or IELTS/TOEFL. Japanese language skills (JLPT N3 or N2) are a strong differentiator given significant Japanese FDI in Vietnam. For technology: AWS, Microsoft Azure, Cisco CCNA, and Oracle certifications. For finance: ACCA, CPA Vietnam (issued by the Vietnam Association of Certified Public Accountants, VACPA), and CFA. For project management: PMP and Agile/Scrum.

Cover Letter

A cover letter is expected for professional and management applications at FDI companies and international organisations. One page is the standard. For domestic employer applications, a brief personal statement within the CV header is more common than a separate letter. For technology company applications on platforms like LinkedIn or TopCV, a brief tailored message is typical.

Common CV Mistakes in Vietnam

• Photo and personal details on an international CV: Keep domestic and international formats separate; personal details expected on a Vietnamese domestic CV are inappropriate on an international-standard one.
• No TOEIC or English score: FDI employers expect a specific English score; "good English" is insufficient without a test result.
• Responsibilities without results: Listing job duties rather than quantified achievements is the most common weakness in Vietnamese CVs competing for international roles.
• Overly long CV: A three or four-page CV for a professional with five years of experience is too long by international standards; keep to two pages maximum.
• Inconsistent dates: Mixing date formats (e.g. "2020 - present" vs "01/2022 to current") signals poor attention to detail.