In Vietnam’s rapidly developing economy, managing human resources efficiently is vital. However, not every business is ready or able to build a full in-house HR department. That’s where HR outsourcing comes in. Whether you’re a local SME or an international firm entering the market, outsourcing HR functions can help you grow faster, stay compliant, and focus on your core business.
What is HR outsourcing?
HR outsourcing means transferring one or more human resource functions such as payroll, recruitment, or employee relations, to a specialized third-party provider. Instead of managing all HR tasks internally, businesses work with licensed outsourcing firms that already have the systems, technology, experience and expertise to handle HR operations professionally. Below are some examples that differentiate between In-house and Outsource HR
HR Function | Option 1: Build an In-House HR Team | Option 2: Outsource HR Functio |
Talent Acquisition/ Recruitment | Recruit a talent acquisition manager, then build and train a team of 3–5 recruiters. Set up all recruitment processes, including sourcing, interviewing, onboarding. | Sign a contract with a recruitment agency. Let expert recruiters manage the end-to-end cycle: from employer branding, sourcing, screening, interviewing to onboarding. |
Payroll Management | Hire or assign HR/payroll staff. Purchase payroll software. Train staff to process salaries, handle tax deductions, mandatory insurance, and reporting. | Sign a payroll service contract. The provider uses professional technology to calculate salaries, manages declarations, tax filing, and reporting. All reduce risks, ensure accuracy and compliance. |
Legal Compliance & Admin | Keep up with Vietnamese laws. Draft contracts, register insurance, handle onboarding/offboarding, and manage labor reporting. | Provider manages compliant contracts, government reporting, insurance registration, and employee document handling. |
Types of HR Outsourcing Services
HR outsourcing in Vietnam covers a range of solutions designed to meet different business needs, from hiring support to full-cycle employee management. These services typically fall into three categories:
Hiring-focused outsourcing: Permanent recruitment, Headhunter, Executive Search, Mass recruitment, Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), …
Employee relations: Staffing, Outsourcing, Contingent Workforce Management,Expat & Mobility services, …
HR consulting: Legal compliance advisory, Career Transition, Outplacement, Reference check,...
Hiring Support HR Outsourcing
Typical services in this category include permanent recruitment for key roles, mass hiring for large-scale workforce needs, Recruitment Process Outsourcing for a full cycle hiring solution,... These services help businesses scale quickly without building internal recruitment teams.
HR Consulting Services
HR Consulting outsourcing covers payroll processing, tax and insurance compliance, labor contract support, outplacement, and reference checks, ... This type of HR outsourcing is ideal for newly set-up or foreign businesses needing local HR and legal expertise.
Employee relations services
Employee relations services encompass a range of solutions designed to manage and support the workforce effectively. These services include staffing and outsourcing, contingent workforce management, and expat & mobility services. By leveraging these solutions, businesses can ensure smooth operations, maintain compliance with labor regulations, and ease the burden on the internal team.
A guide on vendor selection for HR outsourcing in Vietnam
Choosing the right HR outsourcing provider is a critical step for businesses entering or expanding in Vietnam. A reliable partner helps you scale your workforce efficiently, ensures compliance with complex labor laws, and saves time on administrative burdens. Here are five key criteria to consider when evaluating HR outsourcing firms in Vietnam.
1. Experience and Reputation
A provider’s experience reflects their stability, credibility, and ability to navigate Vietnam’s labor landscape. Firms with years of operation in a specific country and/or international markets understand how to handle workforce challenges at all-level, build local relationships, and anticipate issues before they escalate.
Look for providers with a strong client base across sectors, especially companies with similar hiring volumes or business models to yours. Market recognition, long-term client retention, and positive testimonials are all signs of a trustworthy partner.
How to assess:
Ask for track records or case studies related to your industry or company size
Review their years of experience in Vietnam and global footprint
Check if the firm has won noticeable awards and certifications
2. Customizable and Scalable Services
Your HR needs will change as your business grows, restructures, or shifts direction. The right HR partner should offer a comprehensive service portfolio, from standalone payroll support to end-to-end recruitment or employee management. Whether you’re hiring 10 employees today or 200 tomorrow, your provider should be able to scale seamlessly without compromising service quality. A customizable approach ensures you only pay for what you need, while having the option to expand.
How to assess:
Ask how their services can be tailored to your business model or sector
Inquire how they handle sudden hiring surges or seasonal workforce needs
Request examples of how they scaled services for other clients and their pricing structures
3. Compliance and Legal Expertise
Vietnam’s labor laws, tax rules, and social insurance requirements are complex and change constantly. Your HR outsourcing provider must be well-versed in these regulations to help you avoid compliance errors that could lead to fines or legal complications. A partner with local legal knowledge and strong familiarity with government processes will ensure your business stays on the right side of the law.
How to assess:
Ask about relevant collaborative certifications with local labor authorities in Vietnam
Request details on how they manage tax filing, social insurance, and employee terminations
Inquire about their experience handling labor inspections or audits
4. Dedicated Support and Communication
Your HR partner should function as an extension of your internal team. Consistent communication, fast support turnaround, and a dedicated point of contact make collaboration smoother. Whether you’re onboarding new staff or handling an urgent payroll issue, you need a team that understands your business and reacts quickly when needed.
How to assess:
Ask if you’ll be assigned a dedicated account manager or support team
Inquire about typical response times, escalation processes and client satisfaction measurement (i.e. NPS)
Clarify service-level agreements and communication channels
Top 5 HR Outsourcing Companies in Vietnam (2025)
If you're establishing or expanding your business in Vietnam, finding a reliable HR outsourcing (HRO) partner is crucial to ensuring smooth hiring, payroll, employee relations and legal compliance. Below are five of the most trusted HR outsourcing firms in Vietnam.
Manpower Vietnam
Manpower Vietnam is a leader in innovative workforce solutions, providing recruitment, staffing, outsourcing, and payroll services to companies of all sizes. The firm collaborates with more than 2,000 clients across industries to deliver data-driven talent solutions. With 77+ years of global operations, 17+ years of recruitment experience and numerous satelite hubs across the country, Manpower Vietnam makes informed talent decisions for sustainable growth.
Talentnet
Talentnet is a prestigious local HR outsourcing provider in Vietnam, offering comprehensive HR services including recruitment, payroll, compliance, labor management, and customer service support. With over 10 years of experience, Talentnet serves more than 150 international and local companies across various industries.
Adecco Vietnam
Adecco Vietnam is a multinational staffing firm, operating through a joint venture between the Swiss-based Adecco Group and local partners. Adecco entered the Vietnamese market in 2011 and has since become a key player in recruitment outsourcing. Adecco offers a wide range of HR services, leveraging its global expertise and local knowledge. It is perfect for enterprises in Vietnam looking to scale their talent acquisition and strategy.
Persolkelly Vietnam
Persolkelly Asia, a top-tier HR services company from Japan, has an extensive presence across the Asia Pacific region. For many years, the firm has focused on meeting organizations’ recruitment, HR consulting, and outsourcing needs. Persolkelly leverages deep workforce insights and innovative solutions to enable clients’ talent strategy in Vietnam and Asia. It is ideal for companies looking to benefit from quality regional and localized services.
HR2B
Established in 2011, HR2B has quickly emerged as a leading Vietnam-focused human resources firm. It provides a comprehensive range of outsourcing solutions ,including recruitment, payroll, compliance, HR admin, and consulting.HR2B’s strong local expertise helps clients navigate Vietnam’s complex employment landscape. It is a good fit for foreign companies entering Vietnam and local companies seeking an integrated HR partner with local experience.
Enhance your workforce management with Manpower's expert consultants
In today's dynamic market, outsourcing your HR functions to Manpower Vietnam can transform your workforce management. With over 77 years of global operations and 17 years of recruitment experience in Vietnam, Manpower Vietnam offers data-driven and award-winning HR consulting services such as Staffing, Outplacement, HR Policy Consulting, Reference Checks, and more. Contact Manpower Vietnam by filling out the form below, detailing your challenge, and we will respond within 15 minutes during working hours.