🇻🇳 Vietnam · Employment & Labor
Hiring rules, employment contracts, payroll, social insurance, and EOR options.
Quick answer
Vietnamese employment under the Labour Code sets region-based minimum wages, a 48-hour week, at least 12 days' annual leave, and compulsory social, health and unemployment insurance. Written contracts are required; termination follows set grounds and notice, and disputes go through conciliation and the People's Court.
Vietnam employment compliance combines labour contracts, internal labour rules where required, regional minimum wages, social insurance, health insurance and foreign-worker work-permit checks.
- Foreign workers under eligible Vietnam labour contracts may be subject to compulsory social insurance and health-insurance contributions.
- Minimum wages are regional, not a single national private-sector wage floor.
- Employers should align labour, tax and immigration records before onboarding foreign staff.
Step-by-step
- 1
Get a written labour contract
You must have a written labour contract (indefinite or fixed-term) stating job, wage, hours and terms.
- 2
Know your pay and hours rights
You must receive at least the regional minimum wage; normal hours are 8 a day / 48 a week, with capped overtime at premium rates.
- 3
Understand leave entitlements
You are entitled to at least 12 days' paid annual leave (more for hazardous work or seniority), plus public holidays including Tet.
- 4
Register for compulsory insurance
You and your employer contribute to social, health and unemployment insurance.
- 5
Know termination and notice rules
Termination must follow lawful grounds and notice periods; unlawful dismissal can require reinstatement and compensation.
- 6
Resolve disputes
Use labour conciliation and, if unresolved, the arbitration council or the People's Court.
Checklist
- Written labour contract (indefinite / fixed-term)
- Regional minimum wage
- 8h/day, 48h/week + capped premium overtime
- ≥12 days' annual leave + public holidays (incl. Tet)
- Social + health + unemployment insurance
- Lawful termination grounds + notice
- Anti-discrimination protections
- Dispute route (conciliation / arbitration / People's Court)
Official authorities
- MOLISA
Labour authority.
- Vietnam Social Security — foreign workers
Official social-insurance guidance for foreign workers.
Frequently asked questions
Is the minimum wage the same everywhere?
No — Vietnam sets regional minimum wages that differ across four zones.
How much annual leave do I get?
At least 12 days a year, increasing with seniority and for hazardous work, plus public holidays.
Is a written contract required?
Yes — employment generally requires a written labour contract; only very short casual work may be verbal.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.