In the dynamic landscape of Vietnam’s corporate world, the Best Workplaces™ in Vietnam 2024 stand as a testament to high-trust workplace cultures that enable employees to thrive at work. As we approach the mid-point of 2024, a new cohort of companies is raising the bar on what it means to be a great workplace. These companies cultivate workplace cultures that prioritize employee engagement and transparent communications. They ensure that all employees, regardless of their background and demographics, are treated fairly and have equal opportunities for growth and development. They genuinely care for their well-being within and outside the workplace. These companies are helmed by competent leaders who exhibit integrity and intentionally foster inclusive, people-first practices that bring out the best in their employees.
On 23 May 2024, Great Place To Work® named 25 companies on its Best Workplaces™ in Vietnam List. This List was based on an analysis of confidential survey feedback from the Great Place To Work Trust Index™ survey representing over 135,000 employee voices across different industries in Vietnam.1
Overall Trend
When we analyzed the survey data from all the companies that participated in this year’s List (including both list makers and others that participated in this year’s survey cycle but are not on the List), we identified four key factors that correlate with a higher overall Trust Index score .2 3
This means that employees in Vietnam have a more positive workplace experience when the following behaviors are demonstrated:
- Management integrity
– employees’ experiences and observations around management’s actions matching their words and delivering on their promises - Fair treatment and equal opportunities
– fair and impartial decision making, equitable opportunities for recognition and promotions, and providing fair recourse for unfair treatment - Effective communication, collaboration and staff engagement
– intentional efforts to clarify expectations, giving straight answers to questions asked, genuinely seeking and responding to employee feedback and ideas, and involving employees in decision making - Demonstrating support
– showing appreciation for employees’ contributions and extra effort, as well as celebrating their efforts to try new and better ways of doing things
The New Workforce
In Vietnam, about half of the working-age population is under 34 years old with about 1.5-1.6 million more joining the workforce each year.4 This growing younger cohort of employees presents a unique set of opportunities and challenges for businesses. They tend to be more well-educated and tech-savvy, eager to make their mark and contribute to the country’s growth. Traditional management styles may not resonate with this growing cohort of young employees, and new approaches are needed to fully harness their potential and enable them to thrive.
To understand what this growing cohort of younger employees want, we did a correlation analysis to identify statements with a stronger correlation to a positive workplace experience for respondents aged <35 years old. Based on our data, we see that they value equitable recognition for their contributions and fair opportunities for progression, genuine care for them as individuals with diverse needs and aspirations beyond the workplace, management integrity, clarity in communication and active staff engagement.
The top 10 statements are depicted below:
Learning from the Best Workplaces™ in Vietnam
So, what can we learn from the Best Workplaces™ in Vietnam about how they ensure fair and equitable practices, demonstrate care, and intentionally engage with their employees in the workplace?
Highlands Coffee values diversity and inclusion as essential components of its HR strategy. It fosters an inclusive work environment where employees from diverse backgrounds feel valued, respected, and empowered. For instance, Vietnam dedicates two days annually to honor women (Women’s Day), but there hasn’t been a similar recognition for men. Highlands Coffee decided to introduce Men’s Day with company activities and a special radio broadcast with greetings from female employees nationwide, acknowledging the positive impact men have at the company. To ensure fair opportunities for development and progression, all employees are set clear performance expectations, provided regular feedback and performance evaluations, so that they are aware of their progress and areas for improvement. It offers professional development opportunities for its diverse talent and ensures equitable distribution to ensure fairness across employee demographics in all departments and regions nationwide.
Fashion Garments Ltd. upholds the principle of “We listen, we care,” recognizing the invaluable role of feedback in fostering a culture of continuous improvement and employee engagement. It makes a point of responding to employee feedback promptly and transparently, with a view to making improvements and meeting the needs of their employees. With around 11,000 employees across six locations in Vietnam, this is no small feat. Feedback is collected through regular engagement platforms including surveys, focus group interviews, townhalls, employee forums, as well as a variety of digital platforms. This ensures that employees have a variety of opportunities and platforms to share their input and perspectives, and caters to a range of diverse communication preferences. This feedback is then promptly acknowledged and publicly addressed to foster a culture of transparency and accountability. Important feedback and responses are also posted on announcement boards for easy access to all employees. In addition to written communication, feedback and responses are also broadcast via a sound system to reach employees across different areas of the workplace.
F88 Business Joint Stock Company’s Employee Value Proposition is to “Be the Boss”. This drives its culture and shapes a working environment where every member has the opportunity to proactively contribute to the common goal, are given the autonomy to take charge of their careers and supported to thrive in their personal lives. As part of this culture, F88 team members are empowered to express their viewpoints in all situations. Decisions are reached collaboratively, with input and consensus from all relevant departments. Where disagreements arise, contrasting opinions or new proposals are put forward, and only those agreed upon by the majority are implemented. F88 believes that this approach stimulates creativity and proactivity at all levels, allowing team members to weigh in on decisions being made, and also fosters greater understanding and a sense of ownership in the company.
At Hilton, caring for team members (TMs) is not just about company perks. It is viewed as an investment in its culture, in the TMs, and in the communities it serves. Its Care for All platform aims to support TMs beyond their own self-care and enables them to better care for others – especially those closest to them, including sick, disabled, elderly family members, children, and even pets. It provides a range of articles, podcasts, and eCourses organized by type of care, which are tagged by relevant audiences so TMs can easily identify which Hilton-specific benefits and resources are available to them. Mental wellness is also a key part of this platform, and TMs and their families have access to free counseling sessions via its Employee Assistance Program. In the course of the work day, TMs are able to relax, recharge, and reconnect to Hilton’s purpose and with each other in dedicated TM spaces (called Heart of House) which are intentionally designed to be as bright, welcoming, and functional as guest spaces.
These four companies are just some of the list makers on this year’s list of Best Workplaces™ in Vietnam. Together with the others on the List, they stand as a testament to high-trust workplace cultures and stand head and shoulders above their competition. Unsurprisingly, over 9 in every 10 employees among the Best Workplaces™ in Vietnam say they want to work there for a long time, and would tell their friends and family that they work at a great workplace.
As we look towards the future of work in Vietnam, the best workplaces are those that demonstrate management integrity, ensure fair and equitable practices, continuously evolve their staff engagement strategies and find new and better ways to meet the evolving needs and expectations.
With more individuals <35 years old entering the job market and/or looking for their next job, it is a business imperative that companies foster environments that can not only attract, but also inspire and retain this dynamic demographic. The workplaces that succeed in this will not only lead in innovation but also in shaping a vibrant and sustainable economic future for Vietnam.
Interested to find out how you can be part of the Best Workplaces™ in Vietnam 2025 List? The first step is to get Certified™.
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1 Using our proprietary Trust Index™ survey, we measure the core of what we know creates great workplaces — key behaviors that drive trust in management, connection with colleagues, and loyalty to the company.
The survey enables employees to share confidential quantitative and qualitative feedback about their organization’s culture by responding to 60 statements on a five-point scale and answering two open-ended questions.
List rankings are based on this employee feedback, which we analyze to determine the extent to which this experience is shared by the full workforce. Statements are weighted according to their relevance in describing the most important aspects of an equitable workplace.
For the Medium and Large categories, we also consider what a company can tell us about their programs and workplace strategy. Responses are rigorously evaluated and cross-reviewed according to Great Place To Work®’s research-driven criteria.
2 Correlation refers to the statistical relationship between two variables. A positive correlation occurs when two variables move up or down in the same direction together, while a negative correlation occurs when the two variables move in opposite directions.
3 A higher Trust Index score indicates a high-trust workplace culture based on positive employee experiences across five dimensions that make a workplace great: Credibility, Respect, Fairness, Pride and Camaraderie.
4 Việt Nam còn bao nhiêu năm để tận dụng thời kỳ dân số vàng? Tuổi Trẻ Online. Published on 5 January 2024. (Accessed on 5 April 2024)
