Career counseling offers youth expanded access to Hanoi labor market
Hanoi is putting policies in place to support job placement. These policies include improving labor market forecasting, evaluating applications, approving loans, collecting market information, and connecting labor supply and demand.
THE HANOI TIMES — Career counseling festivals in Hanoi have provided admissions consulting and career guidance for high school seniors and students, proving effective over the years.
Mau Danh Quyen, a student of the Automotive Technology Faculty under the Hanoi College of Electromechanics, said in an interview with The Hanoi Times.
“It connects vocational education in the capital with the labor market and contributes to inspiring career passion in the younger generation, helping meet reality-base needs.”
Quyen is among the participants at the career counseling event co-hosted by Hanoi's departments of Education and Training and Home Affairs, and the Hanoi Youth Union on May 11. Featuring a series of practical activities, the festival connected Hanoi’s vocational education with the labor market.
Massive student turnout at the event. Photos: Minh Anh/VGP
The festival features 50 enterprises offering nearly 3,000 job opportunities, including 2,755 positions in the domestic market and over 200 positions for export. In addition, more than 50 vocational training institutions directly participated in enrollment counseling and demonstrated vocational skills at 70 booths.
The event attracted about 10,000 people, including 8,000 students from high schools and vocational training centers in 24 districts, and some 2,000 students from vocational training institutions and workers.
Tuong Thi Bich Ha, a 12th grader at Nguyen Tat Thanh High School in Cau Giay District, visited the booths showcasing vocational skills. After having her makeup done by a teacher from Bac Thang Long College of Economics and Technology and getting information from consultants, Ha realized how interesting the beauty care profession is and the skills and aesthetic sense that the work requires. "I love makeup, so I will think more about it before registering to study this profession at school,” she shared with The Hanoi Times.
Tuong Thi Bich Ha, a 12th grader at Nguyen Tat Thanh High School in Hanoi's Cau Giay District.
Nguyen Thi Hong, Principal of Ba Trai Secondary School in Hanoi's outlying district of Ba Vi, led a group of 30 ninth-graders to the festival. She said: "This is the second year I have brought my students to this event, and they enjoyed the experience which is very useful for their career orientations.”
Tran The Cuong, Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, said this is one of the key events for carrying out the Ministry of Home Affairs' plan to promote synchronized mechanisms and policies for developing vocational education and skilled human resources.
"Covering a series of activities related to vocational training, such as counseling, employment opportunities, and career guidance for students, the event encourages the engagement of vocational training institutions, businesses, parents, students, and workers in the city," said Cuong.
Moreover, the festival draws many companies, which are seeking employees while connecting vocational training institutes with the labor market. The organizers hope to generate positive publicity through various activities at the fair.
Tran The Cuong (middle, wearing a suit), Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, and representatives of the enterprises at the festival.
Pham Xuan Khanh, Principal of the Hanoi High Technology College, told the Vietnam Government Portal that the festival is expected to update market trends and labor recruitment demands and encourage students to join the creative startup movement in Hanoi.
Nguyen Van Huy, Vice Principal of the Hanoi Industrial Vocational College, said it is important for training institutions and companies to work together through training agreements. Skill demonstrations in different career fields, such as tourism, hospitality, cosmetology, and automotive technology, would enable students to explore potential career paths and future employment opportunities.
Nguyen Van Phong, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee and leaders of the units witness the signing ceremony of cooperation agreements between schools and enterprises.
Between 2019 and 2025, five editions of the festival were held, attracting around 35,000 participants. Notably, vocational education institutions have partnered with nearly 1,000 companies to host almost 40,000 students for internships and practical training, hiring over 72,000 students immediately after graduation, and placing orders for training, retraining, and skill development for over 63,000 students and workers.
Additionally, about 300 enterprises provided equipment, materials, and funding during the training process. Furthermore, 110 businesses participated in developing and refining curricula and teaching materials for college, intermediate, and basic training levels.
According to the Hanoi Department of Home Affairs, the city found jobs for 88,000 people in the first four months of 2025 and will fulfill its goal of helping 169,000 workers find employment this year.
To make the goal possible, the city has stepped up administrative reforms, supported vocational schools, facilitated businesses, and developed traditional handicraft industries. At the same time, local agencies improve labor market forecasting, collect market information, and connect labor supply and demand.
The city aims to achieve more results in its vocational training and employment plans for the 2026-2030 period and the following years.
