Headhunting Headaches: Finding the Best Recruitment Agency in Vietnam Without the Stress
Finding top talent in Vietnam often feels like navigating a motorbike through rush-hour traffic in District 1. It’s chaotic and requires split-second decisions.
Scaling a tech team in Ho Chi Minh City demands different tactics than staffing a factory in Hanoi, yet both challenges share the same “war for talent” intensity.
High turnover rates and salary inflation mean you can’t afford to guess when choosing a partner.
I have dug into the local market to identify agencies that deliver actual results rather than just LinkedIn sales pitches.
This guide cuts through the noise to help you find the best recruitment agency in Vietnam that understands your specific industry vertical, understands local labor laws, and respects your budget constraints.
How much does recruitment cost in Vietnam?
Newcomers to the Vietnamese market should prepare for a model that leans heavily on “success fees.” Most professional agencies work on a contingency basis, typically charging between 18% to 27% of the candidate’s first-year gross salary.
Beyond the salary itself, budgeting for the agency fee is essential. This usually equates to two or three months of salary, plus Vietnam’s mandatory employer insurance contributions, which hover around 21.5% of the gross salary. For Executive searches (C-level), agencies often require an upfront retainer, usually amounting to one-third of the estimated total fee.
1. Manpower Vietnam
Website: https://www.manpower.com.vn/
Address:
- Ho Chi Minh City: 16th Floor, Sailing Tower, 111A Pasteur Street, Sai Gon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
- Hanoi: 4th Floor, Thaisquare Caliria Building, No. 11A Cat Linh, O Cho Dua Ward, Hanoi City
Contact: HCMC: 028 3911 0950, Hanoi: 024 3974 4574 | [email protected]
Schedule: Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Hiring at scale, such as staffing a new factory with 50 workers or building a sales force from scratch, requires a heavyweight partner, and Manpower fits that description perfectly.
They excel at workforce solutions and mass recruitment, specifically in industries like manufacturing, logistics, and technical operations.
Their operational capacity allows them to handle the messy logistics of high-volume hiring that smaller boutique firms simply cannot manage. They have the resources to ramp up quickly, ensuring you hit critical operational deadlines without administrative bottlenecks.
However, their global scale can sometimes result in a process that feels standardized rather than bespoke.
If you need a highly personalized, white-glove experience for a single creative director role, you might find their approach a bit industrial.
But for pure speed and volume, they remain the most capable option in the market.
Customer Reviews
I felt supported every step of the way.
I had a fantastic experience with Manpower Vietnam. Their team was professional, attentive, and genuinely committed to helping me find the right opportunity. The process was smooth and transparent, and I felt supported every step of the way. Highly recommend their services to anyone seeking reliable recruitment support in Vietnam!
- Chau Bui Minh | Google Review
Exceptional staffing services.
I’m thoroughly impressed with Manpower Vietnam’s exceptional staffing services. Their professionalism and expertise in recruitment are unparalleled. The team’s approach is highly personalized, ensuring that all our staffing needs were met with precision and care. The quality of candidates they provided was outstanding, reflecting their commitment to excellence. Their service has not only met but exceeded our expectations, making the hiring process smooth and effective. I highly recommend Manpower Vietnam for their top-notch service and professional integrity.
- Hoàn Võ | Google Review
2. Adecco Vietnam
Website: https://www.adecco.com/en-vn
Address:
- Ho Chi Minh City: 14th Floor, E. Town Central, 11 Đoàn Văn Bơ, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
- Hanoi: 7th Floor, Prime Center, 53 P. Quang Trung, Street, Hai Bà Trưng, Hà Nội
Contact: 028 3636 5811 (HCMC), 024 3218 1190 (Hanoi)
Schedule: Mon-Fri 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Adecco operates best as a comprehensive HR partner rather than a transactional headhunter.
Their services center on their full-service “Payroll & Staffing” offering, which serves as a critical tool for foreign companies entering the market.
If you have not yet established a legal entity in Vietnam, Adecco can legally employ your staff and manage complex local taxes and social insurance obligations. This effectively functions as an Employer of Record service, saving international firms from months of bureaucratic setup.
While their corporate structure ensures compliance and safety, it can also mean rigid administrative processes.
Approving a custom contract often involves multiple layers of sign-off, so you should budget extra time during the onboarding phase.
For administrative roles and payroll compliance, however, their reliability is unmatched.
Customer Reviews
Great service with high quality.
Passionate teams of headhunters who love what they do in a company that “great place to work” is promoted. No doubt that if you love your job, you deliver a great service with high quality.
- Chuong Nguyen | Google Review
Highly recommend ADECCO services to both candidates and clients
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience working with ADECCO staffers. The employees conducted themselves in very professional manners and helped me wholeheartedly in my job-hunt journey. Thanks to the wonderful workforce here, I was able to find a a great job at a great place with great future opportunities. Would highly recommend ADECCO services to both candidates and clients in need of top-notch HR solutions services
- Lisa Thai | Google Review
3. Robert Walters Vietnam
Website: https://www.robertwalters.com.vn/
Address: Unit 1, Level 9 and Unit 4, Level 3, The Metropolitan, 235 Dong Khoi Street, Saigon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
Contact: 028 3520 7900
Schedule: Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Robert Walters targets the premium segment of the market, specifically for senior managers, directors, and specialized finance professionals.
Their reputation is built on deep market intelligence, evidenced by their annual Salary Survey, which serves as a benchmark for HR managers across Saigon. This data-driven approach ensures they consult on realistic compensation packages rather than simply forwarding CVs.
Utilizing their market reports during negotiations often leads to more accurate budgeting and faster closures. That said, their high level of service commands fees at the top end of the market spectrum.
That can also mean they are rarely the right choice for entry-level or casual staffing needs. This is because their model is designed strictly for high-stakes placements where precision matters more than cost, making them the go-to for “grown-up” hires.
Customer Reviews
Truly Vietnam’s leading recruitment agency
Robert Walters is truly Vietnam’s leading recruitment agency, evidenced by the consultants’ professionalism, dedication to their candidates and insights on the job market. I definitely recommend engaging with the agency as having them in your network would be tremendously beneficial. If you are looking for new opportunities or your company is looking to find the right people, don’t hesitate to contact Robert Walters and their consultant for a quick chat.
- Trung Nam Tran | Google Review
I highly recommend their services.
I had the distinct pleasure of working with Robert Walters Vietnam, specifically with Mai Linh, during my recent career transition. The team at Robert Walters Vietnam, and Mai Linh in particular, were incredibly professional, transparent, and supportive throughout the entire process.
I would like to express my special gratitude to Mai Linh. She did more than just find me a job, she provides deep market insights, actively listened to my career expectations, and offered thorough analysis to ensure the perfect fit. Her dedicated care during the recruitment process and follow-up after onboarding truly set a high standard. I highly recommend their services.
- Hoang Ngo | Google Review
4. Michael Page Vietnam
Website: https://www.michaelpage.com.vn/
Address: 20th Floor, Unit 20.01, The Hallmark Tower, 15 Tran Bach Dang Street, An Khanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
Contact: 028 6284 8200
Schedule: Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Speed and specialization define the Michael Page approach. They operate with a distinct team structure where recruiters focus solely on specific verticals.
If you need a Sales Director, you work with a recruiter who lives and breathes sales. This specialization allows them to present qualified shortlists faster than generalist agencies.
When you face a critical gap in your team and need candidates by the end of the week, their responsiveness is difficult to beat.
However, this aggressive, KPI-driven culture can sometimes alienate candidates. Job seekers often report that communication drops off abruptly if they are not an immediate fit for a role.
This fast-paced environment prioritizes closing roles quickly, which benefits employers on tight deadlines but can feel transactional to applicants.
Customer Reviews
Reliable partner for anyone seeking expert recruitment
Michael Page Vietnam provides exceptional consulting services with a professional approach and deep market insight. Their team takes the time to truly understand the needs of both clients and candidates, ensuring well-matched and sustainable solutions. I’m impressed by their responsiveness, clear communication, and ability to offer valuable advice based on real market knowledge. A reliable partner for anyone seeking expert recruitment and talent consulting services.
- Tu Nguyen Phuong | Google Review
I believe Michael Page is the great Recruitment & Headhunter Agency
I’ve had the best experience with Headhunter with Michael Page Vietnam so far. I feel lucky and motivate to discover new journey through lots of inspiring conversations with my headhunt buddy before decided to move to new job, new company, new city. Caring to follow up all conversations, professional in the processing and transparent in every stage of the whole of journey, from scan resume to onboarding new place. I believe Michael Page is the great Recruitment & Headhunter Agency to help people to find the right movement and elevate you in your career path. Thanks Michael Page Vietnam!
- Anh Quach | Google Review
5. JAC Recruitment Vietnam
Website: https://www.jac-recruitment.vn/
Address:
- Ho Chi Minh City: 19th Floor, Doji Tower, 81-83-83B-85 Ham Nghi, Sai Gon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
- Hanoi: 15th Floor, Prime Center, 53 Quang Trung, Ba Dinh Ward, Hanoi
Contact: 028 3821 7730 (HCMC), 024 3633 2115 (Hanoi)
Schedule: Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
JAC Recruitment occupies a vital niche as the bridge between Vietnam and international standards, specifically for Japanese manufacturing.
While they recruit across various sectors, their core strength lies in their disciplined focus on technical and engineering roles. They vet technical skills and cultural fit with a thoroughness that often exceeds that of generalist Western agencies.
For Japanese companies or firms that value high precision and long-term loyalty, this approach ensures a high success rate.
The trade-off is speed, as their rigorous, traditional methodology can feel slow compared to the “move fast” style of other firms.
They prioritize a perfect match over a quick one, so if you need a seat filled immediately, their process might feel like a bottleneck.
Customer Reviews
Kindly supported me throughout the selection
I obtained a job in this country through this agent. They provided me with detailed information regarding visas, introduced me to job offers that matched both my past experience and future aspirations, and kindly supported me throughout the selection process and after receiving my job offer.
- Shin’ichi BAMBA | Google Review
Provides good services and has professional staffs
This headhunter company provides good services and has professional staffs. Also, they helped me get great job across the country when I was looking for new job. Beside these reasons, I’m sure that you should ask them when your company faces any recruiting difficulties and you want to find new job.
- 青木宏太 | Google Review