The Embassies of the Nordic countries in Vietnam (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) jointly organize Nordic Day 2024.

This is an opportunity for Nordic countries to share their experiences and valuable lessons with Vietnam. The theme of this year's event is "Improving the adaptability of the Vietnamese labor market - Nordic experiences and recommendations for Vietnam".

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Speakers discuss and share experiences

Vietnam aims to become a higher-income, net-zero emissions country by 2050. To achieve this, Vietnam is shifting its labor market toward high-tech, high-skilled industries and technologies. This shift requires a focus on innovation, digitalization, vocational training,education , skills development, and investment in research and development.

Norwegian Ambassador Hilde Solbakken stressed: "Dialogue between governments, employers and workers is both a central element in the development of Nordic welfare states and in making our economies and labour markets more adaptable to a constantly changing world. I hope that sharing the experiences of the Nordic countries can contribute to the development of Vietnam and your journey towards a highly skilled, innovative and fair labour market."

Meanwhile, Finnish Ambassador Keijo Norvanto said: "Safety and innovation are key factors in the success of the Nordic region. Social safety nets in the Nordic countries promote innovation by giving individuals the confidence to take risks and think creatively. This security allows individuals to explore new ideas without fear of losing what they have built in their lives.

In addition, the Nordic countries also place great importance on work-life balance. Suitable working hours for employees, flexible working arrangements, a variety of support for families including parental leave for both parents and affordable childcare services, are just some of the many social initiatives we are implementing to ensure a healthy balance between work and personal life. It is no coincidence that the Nordic countries have been ranked among the top 10 happiest countries in the World Happiness Report for many years in a row.”

Nordic model

Vietnam has committed to ratifying the International Labour Organization’s core conventions on labour standards between 2021 and 2030. Strengthening workplace dialogue and improving working conditions are essential components of this commitment. At the same time, Vietnam still faces the challenge of an ageing population, which is a factor that is testing the country’s social welfare system.

According to Swedish Ambassador Ann Måwe: “Employers, trade unions and governments in the Nordic region are working closely together to create a well-developed social safety net for individuals. This model, often referred to as the ‘Nordic model’, has attracted international attention and is recognised for the region’s resilience during the recent economic crisis. Free education and significant investment in research have contributed to the formation of highly educated citizens and a modern, high-tech society.”

She also stressed the importance of developing strong plans including a social insurance system to face challenges such as an aging population, which will soon become an urgent reality for Vietnam as well.

The ‘Nordic model’ offers valuable lessons regarding improving the resilience of labor markets to meet the demands of a global green economy. The Nordic countries are known for their tax-based model of state social service provision, investment in education, childcare, elderly health care, and other services related to human capital.

Danish Ambassador Nicolai Prytz stressed: “The green transition cannot happen without a workforce with the right skills to meet the demands of a greener economy. The green transition brings new job opportunities but also risks leaving behind low-skilled workers, those working in the informal sector or in polluting jobs.

“We are therefore delighted to share with our Vietnamese partners and friends the experiences and lessons that the Nordic countries have learned from the green transition over the past 40 years. We hope that this will inspire Vietnam to develop a labor market that not only effectively meets the needs of the ongoing green transition, but equally importantly, ensures that this is a fair labor transition and takes into account the economic concerns of vulnerable groups.”

Vietnamese worker honored as a successful example in Korea Vietnamese citizen Vu Van Giap was honored by the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor as a successful example after working in Korea.