Vietnam · Salaries
Typical salaries by role in Vietnam — pay ranges, taxes, and cost-of-living context.
AI-drafted, editorial review pending. The official links below are checked — confirm specifics with the authority.
Vietnam has regional minimum wages rather than one national private-sector figure — official reporting sets separate monthly minimums for Regions I to IV, so the applicable floor depends on where the work is located. A distinct trap: the public-sector base salary is a separate concept and should not be mixed with the regional private-sector minimums, though the two are often confused. Use official wage rules first, and avoid proprietary salary tables for immigration or compliance decisions.
Vietnam has regional minimum wages rather than one private-sector national minimum wage. Salary benchmarks should be read by region, industry and foreign-work-permit context.
- From 01 Jan 2026, official government reporting lists monthly minimum wages of VND 5.31m, 4.73m, 4.14m and 3.70m for Regions I-IV.
- Public-sector base salary is a separate concept and should not be mixed with regional private-sector minimum wages.
- Use official wage rules first; avoid proprietary salary tables for immigration or compliance decisions.
- 1
Identify the region the work sits in
Minimum wages are set by region, with separate monthly figures for Regions I to IV. The applicable floor therefore depends on location rather than on a single national rate.
- 2
Do not average across the regions
There is no single national private-sector minimum, so a figure derived by averaging the four regions is not an entitlement anywhere. Use the specific regional figure.
- 3
Keep public-sector base salary separate
Public-sector base salary is a separate concept and should not be mixed with regional private-sector minimum wages. The two are commonly confused, and conflating them produces a figure that governs neither.
- 4
Read benchmarks by region and industry
Salary benchmarks should be read by region, industry and foreign-work-permit context. A national average tells you very little once the floor itself is regional.
- 5
Use official rules for permit decisions
Use official wage rules first and avoid proprietary salary tables for immigration or compliance decisions. Where a figure supports a work permit, an unofficial source will not stand behind it.
- Work location mapped to Region I, II, III or IV
- Regional monthly minimum taken from official reporting
- No cross-region average used
- Public-sector base salary kept out of the comparison
- Industry context factored into the benchmark
- Work-permit context considered
- Official wage rules used rather than salary tables
- Government Portal — 2026 regional minimum wage
Official government report on 2026 regional minimum wages.
- MOLISA
Labour authority.
Frequently asked questions
Does Vietnam have a national minimum wage?
Not one figure for the private sector. Minimum wages are regional, with separate monthly amounts for Regions I to IV, so the applicable floor depends on where the work is located and a cross-region average is not an entitlement anywhere.
Is Vietnam's public-sector base salary the same as the minimum wage?
No — it is a separate concept and should not be mixed with the regional private-sector minimum wages. The two are commonly confused, and conflating them produces a figure that governs neither the public nor the private side.
Can I use a salary website for a Vietnamese work permit?
No. Use official wage rules first and avoid proprietary salary tables for immigration or compliance decisions. Where a figure supports a work permit, an unofficial source will not stand behind it if the number is questioned.
Government portals
- Viet Nam Government Portal — Central government portal for ministries, policy and legal documents.
- National Portal on Immigration — e-Visa application, visa extension and temporary residence cards.
- Vietnam Customs — Tariff schedules, import and export procedures and the customs single window.