How Dutch Companies Can Build a High-Performing Remote Tech Team in Vietnam

The Challenge: Talent Scarcity Slows Innovation

In 2025, 67% of digital initiatives in the Netherlands are delayed due to IT talent shortages (source: Gartner). Hiring locally takes 3–6 months per role, often at €70k–€100k/year for mid-senior developers — and competition for top talent is fierce.

For Dutch CIOs and IT Managers, this is no longer sustainable. The solution? Build remote teams in reliable offshore markets like Vietnam — where talent, cost-efficiency, and scalability align.

1. Define Roles That Are Offshore-Ready

Not all roles are suited for remote collaboration. Before posting jobs offshore, Dutch companies must classify roles into:

• Offshore-friendly: backend development, mobile app development, DevOps, QA testing

• Hybrid/offshore with local lead: frontend (requires alignment with Dutch product/design), data engineering

• Local-first: product owner, team lead, security architect (roles requiring direct stakeholder proximity)

  
  

Pro tip: Offshore success starts with clarity on scope and boundaries.

2. Understand the True Value of Vietnam’s Tech Talent

Vietnam is often selected for cost reasons, but its strategic value goes far beyond price:

Metric	Vietnam
ICT workforce	1.2 million
Software engineers	560,000
Annual tech graduates	60,000+ from 520+ institutions
Avg hourly rate (Senior Dev)	€20–30/hour
English Proficiency	Ranked #5 in Asia (EF EPI)
Developer strength	Strong in Java, .NET, React, Node.js, Python, AWS

Vietnam’s work culture also aligns well with Dutch values: ownership, learning mindset, and modesty. Many Vietnamese engineers are used to Scrum/Agile setups and have worked with EU/US clients before.

3. Decide: Direct Hire or Outsourcing Partner?

Dutch companies typically choose one of three engagement models:

Model	Description	Pros	Cons
Direct hire (remote)	You recruit and manage directly	Full control	Requires HR/compliance setup
Staffing via IQConnect	You select the team, IQConnect manages contracts/payroll	No admin burden, scalable	Less direct employer branding
Outsourced project delivery	Full project delivered by partner team	Fast, turnkey	Less flexibility, scope must be clear upfront

Key Insight:For scale-ups and SMEs, model 2 (remote staffing via partner) strikes the right balance — control over team selection + flexibility in contracts + no legal exposure.

4. Build a Robust Remote Team Culture from Day 1

Remote developers fail not because of skill — but because of isolation and lack of context. Dutch IT leaders must invest in:

• Structured onboarding: project documentation, coding guidelines, business context

• Cross-cultural rituals: weekly team syncs, Dutch–Vietnamese cultural do’s & don’ts (e.g., giving feedback directly vs diplomatically)

• Shared tools: Jira (tasks), Slack/Teams (chat), Miro (whiteboarding), Confluence (docs), GitHub (code)

🛠️ Practical Tip: Pair each offshore developer with a local “buddy” in the first month — someone who answers ad hoc questions and translates local business nuances.

5. Set Expectations and Measure Impact

Too often, Dutch companies track only output (lines of code, features released). What works better:

• Velocity tracking (via Jira)

• Quality metrics (defects, test coverage)

• Code review quality (GitHub insights)

• Team feedback (monthly NPS or pulse survey)

Real-World Tip: Create shared OKRs for remote + local teams. Example:

• Improve deployment frequency from 1x/week to 3x/week

• Reduce production bugs by 40% in Q2These create shared purpose, regardless of geography.

Final Thoughts: Vietnam Is Not a Backup Plan — It’s a Strategic IT Hub

Dutch companies that thrive in 2025 will build distributed teams intentionally, not reactively. With a deep talent pool, growing innovation ecosystem, and strong cultural fit, Vietnam offers more than just cost savings — it offers global IT capacity with local accountability.

✅ Want to start building your remote team in Vietnam — the right way?Book a free strategy session with IQConnect to explore the best setup for your growth stage.