HR Staffing Solutions Cost Guide | Build Your Team in Vietnam with THIENTU BPO

Every business needs human resources—from recruitment to payroll to employee engagement, that's a long-established business fact. Building and maintaining HR teams often comes at significant cost, yet another business fact.

But should that cost always be so high?

Yes, as companies grow, HR responsibilities scale quickly, and with that comes rising expenses. For medium to large businesses in the US, Europe, and Australia, maintaining a full in-house HR team can easily become one of the biggest overhead expenses—especially when specialized HR skills are in high demand and short supply.

That's why more organizations are turning to Vietnam-based HR staffing solutions as a smarter, more cost-efficient approach to building their HR capacity.

This raises the critical question: how much does it actually cost to build HR teams in Vietnam compared to hiring locally?

The answer is nuanced. Costs vary depending on the provider, scope of services, team size, required skill levels, and engagement model. However, by examining industry benchmarks and our 24 years of operational experience, we can provide realistic estimates that business leaders can use to guide strategic decisions.

With over 24 years of proven BPO leadership, triple ISO certification for security and quality, and recognition as a Top Global Performer by Samsung, THIENTU BPO helps international businesses build dedicated HR teams in Vietnam that deliver 30-70% cost savings while maintaining enterprise-grade operations and full employment compliance.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll break down:

• Why businesses build HR teams in Vietnam
• The engagement models we offer for HR staffing
• What HR roles and functions work best offshore
• Detailed cost comparisons: Vietnam vs US/Europe hiring
• Key factors that influence HR staffing costs
• Pricing models and how services are structured
• Whether Vietnam-based HR staffing is worth the investment

By the end, you'll have a clear picture of the investment required—and why building HR teams in Vietnam with THIENTU BPO could be one of the smartest financial and strategic moves for your growing company.

Why International Companies Build HR Teams in Vietnam

While the default used to be maintaining a full in-house HR department in your home country, more businesses are now building dedicated HR teams in Vietnam with specialized providers. For medium to large businesses looking to scale operations efficiently, this is a far more sustainable option—a strategic approach that empowers your organization with experienced HR professionals without the excessive overhead costs of domestic hiring.

Before we examine the actual costs of building HR teams in Vietnam, it helps to understand why several international companies choose Vietnam as their HR staffing destination. Here are the key reasons:

Significant Labor Cost Advantages

As most businesses already know, the costs of building teams in Vietnam are significantly lower compared to hiring in the US, Europe, or Australia. The same applies to HR roles. While hiring a skilled HR specialist in the US might cost around $70,000-$100,000 annually in base salary alone (plus benefits bringing total cost to $98,000-$150,000), a comparable, highly capable HR professional in Vietnam costs approximately $1,200-$2,500 per month fully loaded through our services—translating to $14,400-$30,000 annually. That represents 60-80% cost savings for your business.

Strong English Proficiency and Professional Skills

Vietnam's education system produces over 600,000 university graduates annually, with strong emphasis on business administration, human resources management, and English language skills. Our HR professionals communicate effectively in English and understand international business practices, ensuring minimal friction in complex HR matters like benefits administration, compliance management, or internal coordination.

The high level of English proficiency in Vietnam's professional workforce—particularly in Ho Chi Minh City where we're based—minimizes communication barriers and reduces the chances of miscommunication on sensitive HR topics.

Mature BPO Infrastructure and HR Expertise

Vietnam's maturity in the BPO industry translates to a ready supply of HR professionals trained in international standards and best practices. We operate with established, globally recognized processes supported by our triple ISO certification (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 for information security, ISO 27701:2019 for privacy management, ISO 9001:2015 for quality management).

This environment is supported by mature HR technology platforms, rigorous compliance frameworks, and reliable infrastructure—giving international companies confidence that their HR operations and sensitive employee data are handled professionally and securely.

Rapid Scalability and Flexibility

When working with THIENTU BPO to build HR teams in Vietnam, businesses can rapidly scale their HR capacity to handle growth periods and then adjust as needed during slower phases. This ability to flex capacity efficiently is crucial for operational health and cost management.

We deploy qualified HR professionals in 7-14 working days for standard requirements, or 3-5 days for urgent needs. Complete team deployment including onboarding and systems integration typically occurs within 10-15 days. This speed eliminates the significant financial and administrative burden associated with traditional domestic hiring—including lengthy recruitment cycles, onboarding complexity, and the legal issues related to workforce adjustments.

Time Zone Coverage for Extended Operations

While the time difference between the US and Vietnam is substantial (approximately 12-15 hours behind Eastern Time), this gap can be strategically leveraged. Vietnam-based HR teams can handle administrative tasks, process payroll updates, manage employee records, or respond to routine inquiries during US evening and night hours—effectively extending your company's HR coverage to nearly 24 hours a day when combined with your onshore team.

Our GMT+7 time zone also provides excellent coverage for APAC operations and reasonable overlap with European business hours, making Vietnam an ideal location for companies with global or distributed operations.

Legal Compliance Framework Through EOR

One of the biggest challenges in building international teams is navigating local employment laws, tax regulations, and compliance requirements. Our Employer of Record (EOR) Vietnam service eliminates this complexity by managing all legal employment responsibilities on your behalf—including employment contracts, payroll processing, tax compliance, social insurance contributions, and regulatory reporting.

This means you can build HR teams in Vietnam without establishing a legal entity, understanding Vietnamese labor law in detail, or managing local compliance obligations yourself.

With all these advantages considered, building HR teams in Vietnam through THIENTU BPO is a clear strategic move for agile, growing companies looking for both significant cost reduction and increased operational efficiency.

THIENTU's HR Staffing Engagement Models

We offer several distinct engagement models that define the scope of services, the degree of control you maintain, and the legal relationship between your company and your Vietnam-based HR team. Choosing the correct model is the first critical step in a successful partnership, as it determines whether you want full control over your team, comprehensive employment compliance support, or flexible capacity augmentation.

If you're looking to build HR teams in Vietnam, we generally offer four options:

1. Offshore Staffing for HR Teams

Our offshore staffing model is ideal for companies that want to build a dedicated HR team in Vietnam while maintaining full operational control. You control daily operations, priorities, and performance management—we provide the recruitment, infrastructure, compliance support, and operational framework.

This model works best for companies establishing a long-term HR presence in Vietnam, such as building a recruitment team, compensation and benefits administration unit, or HR operations center. You get the cost advantages of Vietnam-based talent with the control of an in-house team.

Key characteristics:

• Client maintains full control over team operations and priorities
• THIENTU handles recruitment, infrastructure, and administrative support
• Ideal for building dedicated, long-term HR functions
• Typical deployment: 10-15 days for complete teams

2. Employer of Record (EOR) Vietnam

Our EOR Vietnam service is designed for companies that want to hire HR professionals in Vietnam quickly and legally without establishing a local entity. We become the legal employer of record, handling all employment compliance, payroll processing, tax obligations, benefits administration, and regulatory reporting—while you manage the day-to-day work relationship.

This model is perfect for companies expanding into Vietnam or building dedicated teams without the complexity and cost of entity setup. It's also frequently used in combination with our offshore staffing model to provide comprehensive employment compliance coverage.

Key characteristics:

• THIENTU is the legal employer, managing all compliance obligations
• You maintain operational control over work assignments and performance
• No local entity required for hiring in Vietnam
• Full compliance with Vietnamese labor law, tax regulations, and social insurance requirements
• Triple ISO-certified data security for employee information

3. Staffing Services (Recruitment and Placement)

Our staffing services focus specifically on talent acquisition—sourcing, screening, and placing qualified HR professionals for your organization. This model is ideal when you have entity presence in Vietnam (or use our EOR service) and need recruitment expertise to fill specific HR roles quickly.

We leverage our database of 30,000+ pre-vetted candidates and our 24 years of recruitment experience to identify and place the right HR talent for your needs—from HR generalists and recruiters to compensation specialists and HR managers.

Key characteristics:

• Focus exclusively on talent acquisition and placement
• Access to extensive candidate database and recruitment expertise
• 7-14 day standard placement timeline, 3-5 days for urgent needs
• Can be combined with EOR for complete solution
• Ideal for companies that need recruitment support but want to manage employment directly

4. Staff Augmentation for HR Functions

Staff augmentation provides flexible capacity for specific HR functions or projects. Need additional recruiters during high-volume hiring periods? Require temporary benefits administration support during open enrollment? Want specialized HR expertise for a compliance project or system implementation?

Our staff augmentation model delivers skilled HR professionals who integrate with your existing team for defined periods—providing the capacity and expertise you need without permanent headcount commitments.

Key characteristics:

• Flexible, project-based or temporary engagement
• Specialists integrate directly with your existing HR operations
• Ideal for seasonal peaks, special projects, or skill gaps
• Rapid deployment (10-15 days typical)
• Can be combined with EOR for employment compliance

Ultimately, the choice of engagement model—whether building a dedicated offshore team, utilizing EOR for compliant hiring, sourcing talent through staffing services, or augmenting capacity temporarily—depends entirely on your strategic goals, current HR pain points, and desired level of control.

What HR Roles Can You Build in Vietnam?

Now that our engagement models are clear, let's discuss the specific HR roles and functions that work well when built in Vietnam. While some companies build comprehensive offshore HR operations, others focus on specific functions based on their needs.

To guide you, here are the most commonly staffed HR roles and functions we help companies build in Vietnam:

Recruitment and Talent Acquisition

• Recruiters and talent acquisition specialists
• Sourcing specialists and research analysts
• Interview coordinators and candidate experience managers
• Employer branding and recruitment marketing support

HR Operations and Administration

• HR generalists and HR coordinators
• HRIS administrators and data management specialists
• Employee records management and documentation specialists
• HR helpdesk and employee inquiry support

Compensation and Benefits

• Compensation analysts and benefits administrators
• Payroll coordinators (working with your payroll systems)
• Benefits enrollment and open enrollment support
• Total rewards analysis and reporting

Employee Relations and Engagement

• Employee relations coordinators
• Onboarding specialists and new hire coordinators
• Employee engagement and culture program support
• Exit interview and offboarding coordination

Learning and Development

• Training coordinators and learning program administrators
• LMS (Learning Management System) administrators
• Training content development support
• Professional development program coordination

HR Compliance and Reporting

• HR compliance coordinators
• HR reporting and analytics specialists
• Audit preparation and documentation support
• Policy documentation and handbook maintenance

As you can see, your business has the flexibility to choose specific HR roles that align with your operational needs—whether you need a comprehensive offshore HR operations team or specialized support for targeted functions.

The ultimate purpose of this strategic approach to building HR teams is to achieve dramatic financial efficiency while accessing skilled professionals. Therefore, the next logical step is to move beyond function and focus squarely on the bottom line: analyzing the actual costs of building HR teams in Vietnam compared to domestic hiring.

Cost Comparison: Building HR Teams in Vietnam vs Hiring in US/Europe

As we go through the numbers, keep in mind that these are general estimates based on industry benchmarks and our 24 years of operational experience. For a customized quote that matches your exact requirements, team size, and engagement model, contact our team at THIENTU BPO.

In the meantime, let's establish a focused cost comparison to demonstrate the true financial advantage of building HR teams in Vietnam.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire HR Staff in the US?

To accurately frame the savings, we first benchmark the full cost of comparable domestic talent. A mid-level HR Specialist or Generalist in the US typically commands an annual base salary in the range of $70,000 to $100,000 depending on location, experience, and specialization.

However, base salary represents only part of the total employment cost. When including additional expenses—mandatory employer taxes (Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance), health insurance, retirement contributions, paid time off, and other benefits—the employer's total cost is significantly higher.

For private industry workers, total benefit costs average approximately 30-42% of base wages according to US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This brings the total annual cost per HR staff member to approximately $98,000 to $150,000 when all expenses are included.

For senior HR roles (HR Managers, Compensation Managers, Talent Acquisition Managers), these costs escalate to $120,000-$180,000+ in total annual employment cost.

How Much Does It Cost to Build HR Teams in Vietnam with THIENTU?

Now consider the investment required to staff equivalent HR functions through THIENTU BPO in Vietnam:

The fully loaded cost per HR professional in Vietnam—including competitive salary, government-mandated benefits (social insurance, health insurance, housing fund, 13th-month pay), our operational margin, infrastructure costs, and management oversight—generally falls in the following ranges:

HR Coordinator / Junior HR Specialist: $1,200 - $1,800 per month
Mid-Level HR Specialist / Recruiter: $1,500 - $2,500 per month
Senior HR Specialist / HR Manager: $2,000 - $3,500 per month
Specialized HR Roles (Compensation, HRIS): $2,200 - $4,000 per month

These monthly rates translate to annual costs of $14,400 to $48,000 depending on role level and experience—representing 60-80% cost savings compared to equivalent domestic hiring in the US.

Real-World Cost Comparison Examples

Let's look at specific scenarios:

Scenario 1: Building a 3-Person Recruitment Team

US Hiring (3 Recruiters):

• Base salaries: $240,000 (3 × $80,000)
• Benefits & taxes (40%): $96,000
• Total Annual Cost: $336,000

Vietnam Team with THIENTU:

• 3 Recruiters @ $2,000/month each: $72,000 annually
• Total Annual Cost: $72,000
• Annual Savings: $264,000 (79% reduction)

Scenario 2: Building an HR Operations Team (5 professionals)

US Hiring:

• 1 HR Manager ($120,000), 2 HR Specialists ($160,000), 2 HR Coordinators ($120,000)
• Base salaries: $400,000
• Benefits & taxes (40%): $160,000
• Total Annual Cost: $560,000

Vietnam Team with THIENTU:

• 1 Senior HR Specialist ($3,000/month), 2 Mid-Level HR Specialists ($4,500/month total), 2 HR Coordinators ($3,000/month total)
• Monthly cost: $10,500
• Total Annual Cost: $126,000
• Annual Savings: $434,000 (77% reduction)

These calculations demonstrate the substantial financial advantage of building HR teams in Vietnam while maintaining high-quality operations backed by our triple ISO certification and 24 years of proven BPO expertise.

Additional Cost Advantages

Beyond direct salary savings, building HR teams in Vietnam through THIENTU provides additional cost benefits:

No recruitment costs: We handle all sourcing, screening, and placement from our 30,000+ candidate database No infrastructure investment: Our Ho Chi Minh City facilities provide workspace, technology, and operational infrastructure Reduced turnover costs: Our employee retention programs minimize the expensive cycle of rehiring and retraining Flexible scaling: Add or reduce capacity without the fixed cost burden of permanent domestic hiring Compliance included: EOR services eliminate legal entity costs and ongoing compliance management expenses

Key Factors That Influence HR Staffing Costs in Vietnam

Having established the significant financial advantage of building HR teams in Vietnam and detailed the cost benchmarks for specific roles, the critical next step is understanding how those costs are structured and what factors drive pricing variations.

Here are the key factors that influence your investment:

1. Role Complexity and Skill Level

Cost is directly driven by the seniority, specialization, and complexity of the HR roles you're filling. Entry-level HR coordinators handling administrative tasks represent the lowest cost tier. Mid-level specialists with 3-5 years of experience and specific functional expertise (recruitment, compensation, HRIS) command higher rates. Senior HR professionals and managers with 7+ years of experience and strategic capability represent the premium tier.

The more specialized or senior the role, the higher the monthly cost—but even our senior-level professionals deliver 65-75% savings compared to equivalent US hiring.

2. Team Size and Scale

We typically reward volume with improved pricing. Small engagements (1-2 professionals) often incur higher per-person rates due to fixed overhead allocation. However, once you scale to 5 or more dedicated HR team members, you qualify for tiered pricing and volume efficiencies that effectively drive per-person costs downward.

Larger teams also benefit from shared management oversight and infrastructure costs, creating additional economies of scale.

3. Engagement Model Selected

Your chosen engagement model influences the pricing structure:

• Offshore Staffing: Typically involves setup fees plus monthly per-person rates covering salary, benefits, infrastructure, and management
• EOR Vietnam: Usually structured as per-employee-per-month (PEPM) pricing covering all employment compliance, payroll, and legal responsibilities
• Staffing Services: May involve placement fees (one-time or percentage of annual salary) for recruitment and placement
• Staff Augmentation: Often project-based or monthly rates for defined engagement periods

Hybrid models combining multiple services (e.g., Offshore Staffing + EOR) provide the most comprehensive solution but involve multiple fee components.

4. Technology and Systems Integration

The inclusion of advanced technological capabilities can influence costs. If your engagement requires integration with specific HRIS platforms, ATS systems, payroll software, or custom reporting dashboards, there may be additional setup or ongoing technology fees.

Our THIENTU Cloud platform provides standard collaboration and communication tools at no additional cost, but specialized system integrations or custom technology requirements may incur supplementary fees.

5. Recruitment Timeline and Urgency

Standard recruitment timelines (7-14 working days) are included in our base pricing. However, urgent requirements needing deployment in 3-5 days may involve priority recruitment fees to expedite sourcing, screening, and placement processes.

Planning ahead and providing adequate lead time helps optimize costs while ensuring you get the best-fit candidates from our talent pool.

6. Vietnamese Employment Compliance Requirements

When building teams in Vietnam, the total operational cost must account for mandatory local employment obligations. These legally required expenses are included in our pricing but it's important to understand what they cover:

• Social Security (SSS/BHXH): Employer contributions approximately 17.5% of gross salary
• Health Insurance (PhilHealth/BHYT): Employer contributions approximately 3% of gross salary
• Unemployment Insurance: Employer contributions approximately 1% of gross salary
• Housing Fund (Pag-IBIG/BHXH): Minimal employer contribution
• 13th Month Pay: Legally mandated annual bonus equivalent to one month's salary

Our EOR Vietnam service handles all these compliance requirements automatically, ensuring accurate calculation, timely payment, and full regulatory compliance. These government-mandated costs are built into our transparent pricing—you never receive surprise bills for compliance obligations.

Understanding these factors allows you to make informed decisions about team composition, engagement models, and expected investment levels. A good provider—and we pride ourselves on this—discusses all cost components upfront so you're never surprised by hidden fees.

How THIENTU Structures HR Staffing Pricing

When you partner with THIENTU BPO to build HR teams in Vietnam, costs are delivered through clear, transparent pricing models designed to align with your budget requirements, management preferences, and scale. Here's how we typically structure engagements:

Per Employee Per Month (PEPM) - Most Common

This is our most common pricing model, particularly for EOR Vietnam services and offshore staffing engagements. You pay a fixed, recurring monthly rate for each HR professional on your team. This rate includes:

• Competitive salary appropriate for the role and experience level
• All government-mandated benefits and employer contributions
• Our operational and management margin
• Infrastructure costs (workspace, equipment, utilities)
• Management oversight and quality assurance

Typical PEPM ranges:

• Junior roles: $1,200 - $1,800/month
• Mid-level roles: $1,500 - $2,500/month
• Senior roles: $2,000 - $3,500/month
• Specialized roles: $2,200 - $4,000/month

This model offers clear, predictable budgeting and is ideal for teams you're building for ongoing operations rather than short-term projects.

Flat Monthly Retainer

For certain engagements, particularly staff augmentation or defined-scope projects, we may structure pricing as a flat monthly retainer covering the agreed services regardless of minor workload variations.

This model works well when you need consistent HR support capacity but the specific daily activities may vary. Flat retainers typically range from $3,000 to $15,000+ monthly depending on team size and scope.

Placement Fees for Staffing Services

When you use our staffing services for recruitment and placement (where you'll employ the candidate directly or through your own legal entity), we may charge placement fees rather than ongoing monthly rates.

Placement fees are typically structured as:

• Percentage of annual salary: 15-25% of first-year compensation
• Flat placement fee: $3,000 - $8,000 depending on role seniority

This one-time fee covers our full recruitment process: sourcing, screening, interviewing, assessment, and placement. If combined with our EOR Vietnam service, placement fees may be waived or reduced with ongoing PEPM pricing.

Setup and Onboarding Fees

For offshore staffing engagements establishing new dedicated teams, we may charge one-time setup fees covering:

• Infrastructure preparation and workspace allocation
• Technology setup and systems integration
• Initial training and onboarding programs
• Process documentation and workflow establishment

Setup fees typically range from $2,000 to $10,000 depending on team size and complexity, and are separate from ongoing monthly costs.

Volume Discounts and Tiered Pricing

We reward scale with volume-based pricing improvements. As your team grows, per-person costs decrease through:

• 1-4 professionals: Standard PEPM rates
• 5-9 professionals: 5-10% volume discount
• 10-19 professionals: 10-15% volume discount
• 20+ professionals: 15-20% volume discount (custom enterprise pricing)

These tiered discounts make it increasingly cost-effective to build larger HR operations in Vietnam.

Transparent, No-Hidden-Fees Approach

Throughout our 24 years of operations, we've built our reputation on pricing transparency. Our proposals clearly outline:

• All monthly or per-person costs
• Any setup or one-time fees
• Technology or systems integration costs (if applicable)
• Payment terms and invoicing schedule
• Volume discount thresholds
• Contract terms and flexibility

We never surprise clients with hidden fees, undisclosed charges, or unexpected cost escalations. Our triple ISO certification includes quality management standards that require documented, transparent pricing practices.

The specific pricing model for your engagement will be determined based on your chosen services, team size, and engagement structure. Our team works with you to design the most cost-effective framework that aligns with your budget and operational needs.

Is Building HR Teams in Vietnam Worth the Investment?

The short answer: absolutely yes—when done strategically with the right partner.

Let's examine why this investment makes sense from multiple angles:

The Immediate Financial Impact

The most obvious advantage is cost efficiency. We've established that building HR teams in Vietnam delivers 60-80% cost savings compared to equivalent US or European hiring. For a five-person HR operations team, this translates to $400,000+ in annual savings. That's not marginal improvement—it's transformational budget reallocation.

These savings allow you to either reduce HR operational costs dramatically or reinvest those resources into growth initiatives, technology platforms, or strategic HR programs that were previously unaffordable. The ROI is visible immediately in your operational expenses.

Strategic Capacity and Capability Expansion

Beyond cost reduction, building HR teams in Vietnam fundamentally expands what your HR function can accomplish. Consider what becomes possible:

Scale recruitment capacity: Build a 3-5 person dedicated recruitment team for less than the cost of one US-based recruiter, dramatically accelerating your hiring capability.

Add specialized expertise: Access compensation analysts, HRIS specialists, or employee engagement coordinators that were previously cost-prohibitive to hire domestically.

Extend operational coverage: Leverage Vietnam's time zone (GMT+7) to provide near 24-hour HR support coverage when combined with your onshore team.

Invest in technology: Use your cost savings to implement HRIS platforms, ATS systems, or analytics tools that improve HR effectiveness across your entire organization.

Freeing Internal Leadership for Strategy

Perhaps the most undervalued benefit is what Vietnam-based HR teams enable for your onshore HR leadership. By delegating transactional and administrative HR work—payroll processing, benefits administration, recruitment coordination, employee records management—to your Vietnam team, your high-cost domestic HR leaders are freed to focus on activities that actually drive business value:

• Talent strategy and workforce planning
• Leadership development and succession planning
• Culture development and organizational design
• Strategic compensation and total rewards design
• Change management and organizational effectiveness

This shift from operational firefighting to strategic value creation is where building offshore HR capacity truly differentiates itself from simple cost cutting. You're not just saving money—you're fundamentally upgrading your HR function's strategic contribution.

Enterprise-Grade Quality and Compliance

Some executives worry that cost savings come at the expense of quality or compliance. With THIENTU BPO, the opposite is true. Our triple ISO certification (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 for information security, ISO 27701:2019 for privacy management, ISO 9001:2015 for quality management) ensures that your Vietnam-based HR operations meet the same rigorous standards as your onshore operations.

Our recognition as a Top Global Performer by Samsung validates our ability to deliver enterprise-quality operations at scale. Our EOR Vietnam service provides complete employment compliance coverage, eliminating legal risk and ensuring full adherence to Vietnamese labor law, tax regulations, and employment standards.

Long-Term Sustainability and Growth

Building HR teams in Vietnam isn't just a cost-reduction tactic—it's a sustainable operational model that grows with your business. As your company expands:

• Scale efficiently: Add HR capacity in weeks (10-15 days), not months
• Adjust flexibly: Increase or decrease team size based on business needs without the constraints of domestic labor markets
• Maintain cost predictability: Lock in favorable cost structures even as domestic salaries and benefits continue escalating
• Access continuous talent: Tap into Vietnam's growing pool of business graduates and HR professionals year after year

The Competitive Advantage

Finally, consider the competitive dimension. While your competitors struggle with expensive, capacity-constrained domestic HR teams, you operate with cost-efficient, scalable HR operations that allow you to:

• Out-recruit competitors through superior recruitment capacity
• Respond faster to market changes with flexible HR scaling
• Invest more in employee experience and strategic HR initiatives
• Maintain better margins while delivering equivalent or superior HR services

In today's competitive business environment, operational efficiency isn't optional—it's existential. Building HR teams in Vietnam with a proven partner transforms HR from a cost center into a competitive differentiator.

At the end of the day, the question isn't whether building HR teams in Vietnam is worth it. The question is: can you afford not to when competitors are already gaining these advantages?

Frequently Asked Questions About HR Staffing Costs in Vietnam

What's included in your per-employee-per-month pricing?

Our PEPM pricing includes everything needed for a fully operational HR professional: competitive salary appropriate for the role and experience level, all government-mandated employer contributions (social insurance, health insurance, unemployment insurance, housing fund), 13th-month pay, workspace and infrastructure in our Ho Chi Minh City facilities, equipment and technology access, management oversight and quality assurance, and our operational margin. You receive a single, transparent monthly invoice with no hidden fees or surprise charges.

How do your costs compare to hiring in India or the Philippines?

Vietnam-based HR staffing typically offers 30-50% cost savings compared to equivalent roles in India or the Philippines, while maintaining comparable or superior English proficiency and cultural alignment with Western business practices. Our location in Ho Chi Minh City provides access to Vietnam's deepest professional talent pool, and our 24 years of operational experience ensure quality and reliability that newer market entrants can't match. When you factor in our triple ISO certification and proven track record with enterprises like Samsung, the total value proposition strongly favors Vietnam.

What's the minimum team size or contract length required?

We're flexible based on your needs. For offshore staffing engagements, we typically work with teams of 1-3 professionals minimum, though larger teams (5+) receive better volume pricing. Our EOR Vietnam service has no minimum team size—we can employ a single individual if that's what your business requires. Contract lengths are negotiable, though we find that 6-12 month initial commitments allow time to realize the full value of the partnership. Staff augmentation engagements can be as short as 3-6 months for specific projects.

How quickly can we deploy a team and what are the setup costs?

We deploy qualified individual professionals in 7-14 working days for standard requirements, or 3-5 days for urgent needs. Complete team deployment including onboarding, training, and systems integration typically occurs within 10-15 days. Setup costs vary by engagement model: EOR Vietnam services typically have minimal or no setup fees, offshore staffing engagements for dedicated teams may involve $2,000-$10,000 in one-time setup costs depending on team size and infrastructure requirements, and staffing services (recruitment only) involve placement fees rather than setup costs.

What happens if a hired HR professional doesn't work out?

We stand behind our recruitment process with clear performance guarantees. If a candidate doesn't meet agreed-upon standards during the probationary period (typically 60-90 days in Vietnam), we'll replace them at no additional recruitment cost—you only pay the ongoing PEPM or salary costs. Our rigorous vetting process, cultural alignment screening, and skills assessment minimize this risk. Our typical retention rate exceeds 90% after the first year, reflecting our focus on quality placement and ongoing employee engagement.

Do we need to establish a legal entity in Vietnam to build a team?

No. Our Employer of Record (EOR) Vietnam service allows you to hire HR professionals legally in Vietnam without establishing a local entity. We become the legal employer of record, handling all employment compliance, contracts, payroll, tax obligations, and regulatory reporting—while you maintain full operational control over work assignments and daily management. This eliminates months of entity setup time, legal complexity, and ongoing compliance burden while providing immediate access to Vietnam's talent market.

How do you ensure data security for sensitive HR information?

We hold ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification for information security management and ISO 27701:2019 for privacy information management—the gold standards for data protection. Our security framework includes role-based access controls ensuring team members only access data necessary for their functions, encrypted communication systems and secure data storage, comprehensive incident response and breach notification procedures, regular security audits and penetration testing, and full compliance with GDPR and international data protection standards. Our security protocols have been validated by enterprises with the most stringent requirements, including Samsung and other Fortune 500 clients.

Can we start small and scale up over time?

Absolutely—and we recommend this approach for companies new to building offshore HR teams. Many clients start with 1-3 professionals in a single function (like recruitment or benefits administration) to prove the model, then expand to 5-10+ team members across multiple HR functions once comfortable with the partnership. Our flexible engagement models and volume-based pricing rewards this growth trajectory with better economics as you scale. We've grown with clients from single-person pilots to 20+ person HR operations centers over multi-year partnerships.

What if we already use an HRIS or ATS system—can you integrate?

Yes. We have extensive experience integrating with major HR technology platforms including Workday, BambooHR, ADP, Paychex, Greenhouse, Lever, iCIMS, and other HRIS, ATS, and payroll systems. Our THIENTU Cloud platform provides collaboration and communication tools, but we adapt to your existing technology ecosystem rather than forcing you to change systems. We handle integration planning and implementation during the onboarding phase to ensure seamless data flow and system alignment before your team goes live.

How do currency fluctuations and exchange rates affect pricing?

Our pricing is typically quoted in USD to provide stability and predictability for international clients. While our operational costs are in Vietnamese Dong (VND), we manage currency risk internally rather than passing fluctuations to clients mid-contract. We review and may adjust pricing annually or at contract renewal based on significant currency movements or market changes, but you'll never see unexpected monthly cost variations due to exchange rate fluctuations. This approach provides the budget predictability businesses require for financial planning.

Build Your HR Team in Vietnam with Proven Expertise

You now understand the economics: building HR teams in Vietnam with THIENTU BPO delivers 60-80% cost savings compared to domestic hiring while providing access to skilled professionals, enterprise-grade infrastructure, and full employment compliance through our EOR Vietnam service.

The financial advantage is clear and immediate. A five-person HR operations team that would cost $560,000 annually in the US costs approximately $126,000 when built in Vietnam through our services—a $434,000 annual saving that can be reinvested in growth, technology, or strategic HR initiatives.

But the value extends beyond cost reduction. Building HR teams in Vietnam with THIENTU means:

• Rapid deployment: 10-15 days for complete teams, not months of recruiting and onboarding
• Flexible scaling: Add or reduce capacity based on business needs without domestic labor market constraints
• Strategic capacity expansion: Afford specialized HR expertise (compensation analysts, HRIS specialists, employee engagement coordinators) that were previously cost-prohibitive
• Enterprise-grade operations: Triple ISO certification ensures security, privacy, and quality standards equivalent to your onshore operations
• Proven track record: 24 years of BPO expertise and recognition as Samsung's Top Global Performer validates our operational excellence
• Complete compliance: EOR Vietnam service eliminates legal entity requirements and manages all employment obligations

If your business is ready to scale HR capacity efficiently while maintaining quality and compliance, the question isn't whether to build teams in Vietnam—it's who you should partner with for this strategic initiative.

At THIENTU BPO, we specialize in building dedicated HR teams tailored to your business needs. From recruitment and talent acquisition to HR operations, compensation administration, and employee engagement support, we deliver solutions that let you focus on strategy while we handle the complexities of team building, employment compliance, and operational management.

Whether you need comprehensive offshore HR teams, compliant hiring through EOR Vietnam, targeted recruitment through staffing services, or flexible capacity via staff augmentation, we offer proven engagement models that help you scale with confidence.

Ready to explore how building HR teams in Vietnam can transform your operational economics? Contact THIENTU BPO today for a customized assessment and transparent pricing proposal.

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