Foreign workers at a German factory. Photo: ASP
Launched in April 2025 by the German Embassy in Hanoi and the German Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, the program is carried out in partnership with the German development agency GIZ, the German Academic Exchange Service, the Goethe Institutes in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Vietnam, and several German companies.
As part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of Vietnam–Germany diplomatic relations, the initiative will cover nearly 20 provinces and cities across the country.
On Saturday, it stopped at II Polytechnic College in Ho Chi Minh City, attracting strong interest from students, parents, and teachers.
Each stop offers a fair-like day of activities, including consultations on university study, vocational training, visas, and employment opportunities in Germany.
It also features CV-writing and interview workshops, exhibitions by German schools and companies, as well as cultural and culinary activities alongside virtual reality experiences.
Organizers noted that the program coincides with recent immigration and education reforms in Germany designed to attract skilled foreign workers and ease the country's labor shortage.
Under the revised Skilled Immigration Act, international students from non-EU countries in Germany are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week during their studies, doubling the previous limit of 10 hours.
The maximum age for vocational training visa applicants has been raised from 25 to 35, while the period allowed to seek a training placement has been extended from six to nine months.
Applicants with relevant work experience but without formal qualifications may also qualify for permits in certain sectors.
A new 'recognition partnership' mechanism enables candidates to work in Germany while completing the process of having their qualifications officially recognized.
Since early 2025, an online consular service portal has further streamlined visa applications, reducing processing times and paperwork.
According to official statistics, vocational training contracts with foreign nationals in Germany increased by about 17 percent in 2024, with Vietnamese citizens accounting for a notable share.
Priority sectors include healthcare, nursing, engineering, technology, and green energy, where trainees receive stipends of 1,000-1,500 euros (US$1,170-1,755) per month.
Upon graduation, workers can earn between 2,800-3,300 euros ($3,280-3,860) monthly, depending on their field and location.
The German government has also boosted funding for integration and language courses to help foreign workers adapt more quickly.
Ralf Hill, head of the vocational education reform program at GIZ Vietnam, said Vietnam holds an advantage as many vocational schools already meet German training standards, paving the way for students to build careers in Germany.
He noted that German companies value Vietnamese workers for their skills, diligence, adaptability, and ambition.
Bui Van Hung, rector of II Polytechnic College, said closer collaboration with German institutions and businesses is helping Vietnamese universities and colleges adopt modern training models, improve teaching quality, and align curricula with international standards.
Such partnerships, he added, create clearer pathways for students to pursue both domestic study and overseas opportunities.
However, he stressed that language remains the greatest barrier, as German is difficult to master.
The rector urged students to begin early with language training, particularly communication skills, to be well prepared to seize new opportunities.
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