Vietnam is standing at a pivotal moment in its energy journey. With the government’s decision to revive the Ninh Thuan nuclear power projects, the country is signaling its intent to diversify its energy portfolio and secure long-term sustainability. Yet, the success of this ambitious program hinges not only on infrastructure and international cooperation but critically on the development of a highly skilled domestic workforce capable of mastering and maintaining nuclear technology for decades to come.

The Vietnam Institute of Atomic Energy has emphasized that the Ninh Thuan 1 plant is expected to begin operations between 2030 and 2035. To meet this timeline, Vietnam must cultivate a pool of engineers who are not only technically proficient but also deeply specialized in nuclear science. According to the national training scheme approved in 2025, the country will require approximately 4,000 personnel by 2030 to serve both Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2, with more than half holding advanced degrees. This is no small undertaking, as experts acknowledge the current difficulty in finding even hundreds of qualified engineers who meet the stringent requirements of nuclear plant operations.

The challenge lies in the complexity of nuclear engineering itself. Beyond a foundation in nuclear physics and reactor mechanics, engineers must master a wide spectrum of disciplines—heat transfer, material science, automatic control systems, and the integration of turbines and pumps. This breadth of expertise demands a rigorous and highly specialized training program, modeled after the curricula of leading international institutions. Experts caution against dispersing training across too many universities, as this risks diluting quality and producing graduates who fall short of operational needs.

Vietnam’s strategy, therefore, must be twofold: leverage international partnerships in the early stages while simultaneously investing in domestic capacity for the long term. While foreign partners may provide key personnel during the initial phases of plant operation, reliance on external expertise cannot sustain a program designed to last 60 to 80 years. Nuclear power plants are generational assets, and their safe and efficient operation requires a continuous pipeline of local talent capable of carrying the torch from construction through eventual decommissioning.

The government has already taken decisive steps, with the National Assembly approving the restart of nuclear projects in late 2024 and the Ministry of Science and Technology outlining a framework for management and legal oversight. Agreements with Russia on cooperation for Ninh Thuan 1 further demonstrate Vietnam’s commitment to international collaboration. However, the enduring success of this program will depend on Vietnam’s ability to cultivate its own cadre of nuclear engineers—professionals who can ensure that the nation’s energy independence is not compromised by external dependencies.