Japan remained the top importer of manpower from Vietnam, recruiting over 62,700 workers, followed by Taiwan (China) with over 48,500 workers, and the Republic of Korea with nearly 11,000 workers. Other destinations for Vietnamese workers included China, Singapore, and Romania. Vietnam initially set a target to send 125,000 laborers abroad under contractual agreements this year. The department attributed the early fulfillment of the target to the stability of traditional labor markets, which have continued to employ a large number of Vietnamese workers in the reviewed period. At the same time, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has been expanding its reach to European labor markets, which offer higher incomes and jobs, aligned with the skills of Vietnamese workers. According to the ministry, the selection, training, and deployment of workers under labor contracts are being managed more rigorously, while efforts to disseminate information and policies regarding overseas employment have been enhanced./.