SHD and the journey of shaping a comprehensive future for Vietnam’s Young Generation

The Youth in the Mekong Delta in the flow of Vietnam-Germany human resource cooperation

The Mekong Delta holds a particularly strategic position and role in the economy, culture, society, environment, and national security. This region accounts for 17.5% of the country's population, with more than half of its labour force aged 15 and above. This is a rich "human capital", promising to become a driving force for sustainable development.

However, when viewed comprehensively, the policy for developing high-quality human resources in the Mekong Delta still has many limitations. In reality, the unemployment and underemployment rates in the region remain higher than the national average. Particularly, the issue of underemployment in rural areas remains a challenging problem. These figures not only reflect immediate difficulties but also indicate a long-term risk: without access to sustainable training and employment opportunities, the youth of the Mekong Delta may continue to fall into the cycle of "working hard but not earning enough", struggling to fully realise their potential.

The brightest aspect of the Mekong Delta is the spirit and determination of its young workforce. Despite being born in a land with limited opportunities, the youth here carry with them diligence, ambition, determination, and the aspiration to rise. These are qualities that align well with the high standards and requirements of professional ethics in Germany – a nation that values discipline, responsibility, and commitment.

Former SHD trainees from the Mekong Delta are studying and working in Germany.

In recent years, an increasing number of Gen Z youths from the Mekong Delta have chosen the path of vocational training and working in Germany. They not only go to study but also to experience, integrate, and become economic and cultural bridges between the two nations.

SHD – The Bridge from the Mekong Delta to Germany

To realise the aspiration of reaching out to the world, young people need to be fully equipped with language, cultural, and vocational skills to quickly integrate and maximise their potential in Germany. Recognising this need, SHD Corp (formerly SHB) has gradually built a comprehensive ecosystem: language-cultural-skills training, organising career orientation courses, and direct connections with employers in Germany.

Thanks to a methodical development process, SHD has become a strategic bridge bringing young people from Vietnam to Germany, ensuring a complete journey from education to career building.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Huyen, CEO of SHD, announced the rebranding of SHB to the SHD ecosystem on September 13, 2024.

After nearly a decade of operation, SHD has accompanied over 1,000 Vietnamese trainees to study and work in Germany, including many youths from the Mekong Delta. Beyond language, cultural, and vocational training, SHD also supports trainees throughout their journey – from career counselling to settling in Germany. This thorough preparation helps young people with limited access to international education confidently integrate, assert their value, and develop their careers.

Notable examples include Nguyen Minh Tri, a former SHD trainee from Trà Vinh, now part of Vinh Long, a second-year student in Construction at BiW, Germany's leading vocational training group in construction. During his studies, Tri was honoured by a German magazine for his integration efforts and outstanding achievements. Or Tran Thi Cam Nhan, a girl from Vinh Long, who chose Nursing in the state of Sachsen-Anhalt with the desire to build a stable career while contributing to showcasing the image of dedicated, responsible, and compassionate Vietnamese youth in Germany's healthcare system.

The stories of Trj, Nhan, and hundreds of other SHD trainees are authentic slices in the Vietnam–Germany cooperation picture. Each young person not only learns a trade but also becomes a bridge contributing to deepening friendship, mutual understanding, and trust between the two countries.

Towards a Strong, Far-reaching Future

The footsteps of the Mekong Delta youth on the vocational training path in Germany have become a symbol of the long-term connection between Vietnam and Germany, a testament to the half-century-old friendship and strategic cooperation.

Germany is currently Vietnam's largest trading partner in Europe, and Vietnam is also a crucial partner for Germany in Southeast Asia. Cooperation in education, vocational training and human resource development is considered a strategic highlight in bilateral relations, linked to the practical benefits of both sides: Vietnam has the opportunity to improve labour quality and solve sustainable employment locally, while Germany addresses the labour shortage in the context of severe population ageing.

And today, from the Mekong Delta to the modern industrial cities of Germany, a new journey is being written – the journey of Gen Z confidently integrating and reaching out to the world. SHD proudly accompanies Vietnamese youth on their journey to build a comprehensive future in Germany.

Signing ceremony of the tripartite cooperation agreement in the field of training and recruiting Vietnamese labour between SHD, Harz Administrative Region, and the International Federation (IB) in Halberstadt, Germany, on November 25, 2024

In the upcoming journey, SHD will expand cooperation with more states in Germany, opening up diverse career paths for trainees to keep pace with global labour market shifts. Concurrently, SHD continues to collaborate with provincial authorities, organisations in the Mekong Delta, state governments, and partners in Germany to build the most favourable legal, financial, and social corridors for trainees.

The efforts and journey of learning and integration by the youth from the Mekong Delta embody the spirit of overcoming challenges and the aspiration to rise. SHD will continue to accompany and nurture the knowledge and career journey for the younger generation, thereby contributing to strengthening the strategic cooperation between Vietnam and Germany, laying a solid foundation for a sustainable and prosperous community future.

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