As part of Vietnam’s Best Workplaces 2026, we’re honoring three organizations that have reached Legend status with five consecutive years of excellence in workplace culture.
Vietnam’s digital economy is growing at over 20% a year. The country’s median age is 32. This is a workforce primed to ride the next wave of technological transformation, the shift toward AI, automation, cloud computing, and the interconnected systems reshaping how industries operate globally.
However, according to PwC, only 11% of Vietnam’s workforce currently possesses the digital skills that shift demands, leaving a gap between where the country is heading and who is equipped to take it there.
Cisco has been operating in Vietnam for nearly three decades, combining cutting‑edge technology work with long‑term investment in local talent. In 2002, the company graduated its first 150 Networking Academy students in Hanoi. Today, that figure has grown to over 160,000 learners trained across the country.
The company’s recognition as a Best Workplace™ in Vietnam by Great Place To Work®, taking the number 2 position on this year’s list in the small category, arrives at a moment when the distance between technological ambition and human capability has never been wider.
What Does People First Really Mean?
“We are incredibly proud to be recognized as a Great Place to Work,” says Managing Director of Cisco Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, Dzung Nguyen Nhu. “For us at Cisco, it is always about putting our people first. We believe that employees are more creative and productive when they feel heard, supported, and can play to their strengths. When our employees succeed, the business succeeds. That has always been a core belief of ours.”
Great Place To Work measures employee experience through its Trust Index™ survey, a research-backed tool that captures how people feel about leadership credibility, respect, fairness, pride, and connection with colleagues. Organizations that score highly enough earn Certification™, and the Best Workplaces lists are drawn from that pool. This year will see Cisco making that list for the fifth time in a row.
“Culture is not static,” Dzung says. “It is dynamic and constantly evolving. Over the years, the way we show up for our employees, engage with them, and build an inclusive workplace culture has transformed. Our priority is to continue listening and adapting our practices and policies to ensure they reflect what our employees need and value most.”
When the Tools Change, the Culture Has to Hold
Vietnam is entering what Cisco sees as its “the agentic era,” where AI systems operate with increasing autonomy alongside human workers. The question for every organizational leader is will your people lead that shift or be overwhelmed by it?
Cisco’s approach starts internally. “For nearly 30 years in Vietnam, we have been a key partner in the nation’s digital transformation, helping customers navigate major technology shifts, from the internet and cloud to the current AI era,” Dzung says. “The journey starts from within. At Cisco, we live and breathe technology, and we empower our employees to do the same. By integrating AI-powered tools into our own workflows, we have freed our teams from manual, repetitive tasks. This allows our employees to focus on high-value, strategic problem-solving for our customers.”
Plenty of companies deploy AI tools, but few redesign workflows so their people spend time on work that requires judgment and human connection.
“Beyond the tools, we foster an AI-first mindset, ensuring our people are not just users of technology, but architects of it,” Dzung says. “This directly impacts how we engage with our customers and communities. Our employees have become catalysts for people and businesses, helping them drive AI adoption, hybrid work and digital transformation.”
Trust Is a Two-Way Street
Trust shows up in every finding Great Place To Work produces. It is the common factor in higher engagement, stronger retention, and better financial performance.
Dzung frames it practically. “It comes down to cultivating an inclusive, high-trust environment where people feel empowered to bring their true selves to work. We believe these are the key tenets of a thriving workforce that can withstand the test of time and change. As a leader, I believe it is our responsibility to bring this culture to life by empowering people to speak up and collaborate effectively.”
The specifics are revealing. “Trust is a two-way street,” Dzung says. “You must trust that you have hired the right people for the right roles, even when you aren’t there to oversee every task. In turn, your people need to trust that you will recognize their contributions and care about their growth.”
Dzung sees transparency as a trust accelerator. “In an industry as dynamic as ours, being transparent about the challenges we face, whether from competitors or the macroeconomic environment, is crucial. Approaching these tough topics as a collective problem for the team to solve is vital.”
From 150 Graduates to 160,000 Learners
Cisco’s investment in Vietnam extends well beyond its own headcount. Through the Cisco Networking Academy, the company partners with over 35 educational institutions and local organizations to provide free and instructor-led courses in AI, cybersecurity, and networking.
“Our commitment to inclusive growth extends deeply into the community through our flagship skills-to-job training program, Cisco Networking Academy,” Dzung says. “To date, we have equipped over 160,000 learners in Vietnam, helping to bridge the digital skills gap and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from the digital economy over the next decade.”
Vietnam needs an estimated 2.5 million digital workers by 2030. Through its Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program, Cisco works directly with government bodies, industry leaders, and academia, from hospital network modernization to preparing telecom operators for 5G and AI.
Building Vietnam’s Future-Ready Workforce
“Our commitment to investing in Vietnam’s workforce is unwavering,” Dzung says. “As we move into the agentic era, our teams are the driving force behind the change we see in the industry, and their ability to lead this transformation is rooted in our high-trust culture.”
“By fostering an environment where employees feel empowered to experiment, learn, and speak up, we are enabling our people to become catalysts for our customers and partners, demonstrating how AI can be a force multiplier for human potential.”
Cisco Vietnam’s story shows what happens when technology leadership and people leadership point in the same direction. The company has been here for 30 years, training the workforce and building a culture that, according to its own employees, earns the recognition it has received.
