The turnaround journey of young people
Not attached to fixed office jobs, more and more young people choose the path of freelance work as a way to be more proactive in life.
In that trend, "freelance" - a form of freelance work, and "freelancers" - people who choose this path, are gradually becoming familiar concepts, reflecting a clear shift in the professional thinking of the new generation.
According to a survey by a reporter on Google Trends, the keyword "freelancer" in Vietnam in the period from March 31, 2025 to March 31, 2026 maintained an interest rate ranging from 40% to 100% per day, with a clear upward trend. Notably, search volume peaked after the Lunar New Year 2026 (ranging from February 15 - 22). This development shows the increasing interest of users in freelance work.
Do Khanh Huyen (23 years old, Hanoi) used to work as a marketing staff at a media company. After nearly a year of working with a fixed schedule, Huyen decided to quit her job to freely pursue her passion.
I want to be more proactive in terms of time, not be constrained by 8 hours in the office. Freely pursuing event organization helps me feel more comfortable not only in terms of time but also in terms of mind," Ms. Huyen shared.
Also choosing a similar path, Minh Anh (24 years old, Hanoi), a freelance designer, said that the freelance model gives her the feeling of being in control of her life.
I feel like I have controlled my own time, chosen projects that suit my interests and worked with many different customers, so I also learned more," said Minh Anh.
However, according to Minh Anh, behind that freedom is no small amount of pressure. The income of freelancers is often unstable, depending on the quantity and quality of the project.
You should understand yourself and the market
According to psychologist Tran Thuy Tien - NHC Vietnam Center for Human Development and Psychology, the attraction of the freelance working model comes from meeting the self-assertive needs of young people.
“Freelance jobs directly impact a core value of today's youth, which is the need to express personal identity. When basic needs are met, you tend to aim for higher values such as freedom and recognition,” expert Tran Thuy Tien shared.
Freelance brings many benefits such as not being constrained by time, space, not having to work or take leave. However, experts also emphasize that this is not complete freedom, but a transition from one boss to many different bosses.
To pursue freelance, young people need to have solid expertise, understand themselves and find a suitable market. Without a clear personal identity, it is very difficult to compete," the expert emphasized.
For young people who choose this working trend, it is necessary to prepare psychologically for income instability. Emotional management, stress control, and maintaining personal discipline are key factors for long-term survival in this environment. One of the important pieces of advice is that young people should have a financial reserve fund of 3-6 months before switching to freelance work.
When you have a financial reserve fund, this helps reduce pressure in the early stages when there is no stable source of income. Along with that, you need to prepare skills such as time management, self-management and personal brand building, because those are things that play an important role in helping you firmly step on the freelance journey," expert Tran Thuy Tien said.
