Vietnam, June 2026 — The Vietnamese Government has announced plans to train a minimum of 35,000 railway workers between 2025 and 2030 to meet growing demand from the country's expanding rail sector. The initiative forms part of a long-term workforce development strategy aimed at supporting major infrastructure programmes, including the North–South high-speed railway and urban metro networks.
The training programme will produce approximately 1,000 postgraduates, 14,000 university graduates, 11,000 college graduates, and 9,000 intermediate-level technicians. Priority disciplines include railway construction, signalling and communications, power supply systems, locomotives and rolling stock, as well as railway operations and maintenance. To accelerate capability development, the government will invest around US$88 million in scholarships, laboratory facilities, and specialised training programmes.
A key challenge identified by the government is the lengthy training period required for railway engineers, which can take between five and seven years, while several strategic railway projects are scheduled to commence in the near future. In response, universities and technical institutions are expanding programmes to strengthen engineering capacity and prepare graduates for advanced railway technologies.
For the rail sector, the initiative highlights Vietnam's commitment to developing domestic expertise alongside major infrastructure investment. Building a highly skilled workforce will be critical to supporting the construction, operation, and maintenance of high-speed rail, electrified corridors, and urban transit systems while reducing reliance on foreign technical expertise.
Looking beyond 2030, Vietnam plans to train an additional 70,000 railway workers between 2031 and 2035 while establishing specialised railway training and technology transfer centres by 2045. The long-term strategy underscores the importance of human capital development in creating a modern, self-sustaining railway industry capable of supporting the country's ambitious transport expansion plans.
Source: Vietnam News Agency (VietnamPlus)
Vietnam Targets 35,000 Skilled Railway Workers By 2030
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Developing a skilled workforce is becoming a strategic priority as countries accelerate investment in modern railway infrastructure. Vietnam has unveiled a national plan to train at least 35,000 railway professionals by 2030, supporting the delivery of high-speed, electrified, and urban rail projects across the country.
