Vietnam (VN)
Vietnam is a dynamic, rapidly developing Socialist Republic stretching 1,650km down the eastern coast of the Indochinese Peninsula — a country of extraordinary geographical diversity, from the karst mountains of the north and the Red River Delta, through the stunning coastline of the Central region, to the vast Mekong Delta in the south.
2026 Annual Changes — Vietnam
Updated thresholds, benefits, and regulatory changes effective this year.
Key 2026 updates for Vietnam: regional minimum wages increased to VND 5,310,000/month (Region 1 Hanoi/HCMC) from 1 January 2026 under Decree 293/2025; BHXH social insurance ceiling raised to VND 46,800,000/month (July 2026: VND 50,600,000); VAT reduced rate of 8% extended through 31 December 2026 for most goods/services; e-Visa USD 25 (single entry) / USD 50 (multiple entry) at 90 days; New Housing Law 27/2023 allows foreigners with any valid entry permit to purchase property.
Key Changes for 2026
| Category | 2026 Value | Previous | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Wage Regional minimum wages increased 7.2% from 1 January 2026 under Decree 293/2025/ND-CP | Region 1 (Hanoi, HCMC, Hai Phong, Da Nang): VND 5,310,000/month. Region 2 (suburban major cities): VND 4,730,000/month. Region 3 (provincial cities): VND 4,140,000/month. Region 4 (rural provinces): VND 3,700,000/month. | Region 1: VND 5,220,000/month (July 2025, Decree 74/2024). Region 2: VND 4,640,000. Region 3: VND 4,060,000. Region 4: VND 3,640,000. | 1 January 2026 |
| Social Insurance (BHXH) Contribution Ceiling BHXH ceiling = 20× statutory base salary (mức lương cơ sở); base salary increased twice in 2026 | January–June 2026: base salary = VND 2,340,000 → ceiling = VND 46,800,000/month. From 1 July 2026: base salary rises to VND 2,530,000 → ceiling = VND 50,600,000/month. Employee contributions (BHXH 8% + BHYT 1.5% + BHTN 1% = 10.5%) apply on salary up to ceiling. | Ceiling was VND 36,000,000/month before July 2024 adjustments. | January–June 2026: VND 46,800,000; from 1 July 2026: VND 50,600,000 |
| Social Insurance (BHXH) — Contribution Rates Employee and employer contribution rates unchanged | Employee total: 10.5% (BHXH 8% + BHYT 1.5% + BHTN 1%). Employer total: 21.5% (BHXH 17.5% + BHYT 3% + BHTN 1%). Contributions calculated on salary up to monthly ceiling. | Same rates. | 1 January 2026 |
| Personal Income Tax PIT brackets unchanged — 7 progressive brackets from 5% to 35% | 5% (≤VND 60M/year); 10% (VND 60–120M); 15% (VND 120–216M); 20% (VND 216–384M); 25% (VND 384–624M); 30% (VND 624–960M); 35% (>VND 960M). Personal deduction: VND 11,000,000/month. Dependent deduction: VND 4,400,000/month per qualified dependent. Non-resident flat rate: 20%. | Same brackets. Deductions unchanged since 2020 adjustment. | 1 January 2026 |
| VAT — 8% Reduced Rate Extended Through 2026 National Assembly Resolution 204/2025/QH15 extended the 2% VAT reduction; 8% applies to most goods/services through 31 December 2026 | 8% reduced rate on most goods/services (goods previously subject to 10% now temporarily at 8%). 10% standard rate still applies to: telecom, finance, banking, securities, insurance, real estate, metals, IT products, goods subject to Special Consumption Tax. 5% for essential goods (food, medicine, agricultural inputs, educational materials). 0% for exports and international transport. | 8% stimulus reduction had been extended periodically; 10% is the statutory standard rate. | Through 31 December 2026 (Resolution 204/2025/QH15) |
| Corporate Income Tax (CIT) Standard CIT rate unchanged at 20%; SME preferential rate remains 17% | Standard CIT: 20%. SMEs (revenue <VND 200 billion/year): 17%. Hi-tech/software/renewable energy: 10% for 15 years; 0% exemption in first 2–4 years for qualifying enterprises. | Same rates. | 1 January 2026 |
| E-Visa E-Visa 90-day, multiple entry confirmed; fees differ by entry type | Single entry: USD 25. Multiple entry: USD 50. Valid for approximately 190 nationalities. All international border gates. Apply at evisa.gov.vn only. Immediately renewable after expiry — no cooling-off period. | E-Visa was 30 days single entry before August 2023 amendment. | 15 August 2023 (ongoing) |
| Property Law — Foreign Ownership Housing Law No. 27/2023/QH15 fully effective — expanded foreign property rights | Foreigners with valid entry permit (including tourist e-visa) may purchase: apartments (30% quota per building) and houses (250 per ward). 50-year ownership term extendable once. Foreign-owned property can be mortgaged at Vietnamese credit institutions. Resale to other eligible foreigners permitted. | Previous Housing Law 65/2014/QH13 required longer-term visa and stricter documentation. | 1 January 2025 |
| Land Law 31/2024/QH15 New Land Law reforms land valuation, compensation, and auction procedures | (1) Market-price method for land valuation replaces fixed government price tables. (2) Land use right auctions require 20% deposit. (3) Tightened residential land subdivision rules. (4) Agricultural land conversion streamlined. (5) Existing contracts remain valid — no re-registration required. | Land Law 45/2013/QH13 — in force for 11 years. | 1 August 2024 |
| Traffic Fines (Decree 168/2024/ND-CP) Significantly increased traffic fines under Decree 168 remain in force throughout 2026 | Running red light: car VND 4–6M; motorbike VND 800K–1M. Zero-alcohol limit: car VND 6–8M + 22-month suspension; motorbike VND 2–4M + suspension. Wrong-way driving: car VND 10–12M; motorbike VND 4–5M. Child passenger safety (new July 2026): VND 800K–1M. | Decree 100/2019/ND-CP — formally abolished 15 May 2026 under Decree 81/2026. | 1 January 2025 (Decree 168); child safety fine from 1 July 2026 |
| Transport Infrastructure HCMC Metro Line 1 operational; Long Thành Airport Phase 1 targeting 2026 | HCMC Metro Line 1: 19.7km, 14 stations Bến Thành–Suối Tiên (opened December 2024). Fare: VND 6,000–26,000. Hanoi Metro Line 3 (Nhổn–Ga Hà Nội) urban section operational from 2024. Long Thành International Airport Phase 1 targeting first commercial operations by end-2026. | HCMC had no metro prior to December 2024. | December 2024 onwards |
| Work Permit Regulations (Decree 70/2023/ND-CP) Biometric requirements and digital submission strengthened | Work permit validity: maximum 2 years (renewable). Fee: VND 600,000 (government; excluding agency costs). Biometric photo required from approved centres. Online submission via dichvucong.gov.vn for eligible cases. Work permit exemption certificate: VND 400,000. | Decree 152/2020/ND-CP; paper-based submission standard before 2023. | 1 September 2023 (ongoing) |
| Digital Economy — E-Invoicing Mandatory electronic invoicing (hóa đơn điện tử) fully enforced for all businesses | All businesses and sole traders must use e-invoice systems. Penalties for non-compliance: VND 2–5M per violation. Providers: VNPT Invoice, Viettel Invoice, MISA, Fast. Tax authority has real-time access to all e-invoice data. | Mandatory from 1 July 2022; enforcement strengthened through 2024–2025. | 1 July 2022 (ongoing) |
| Personal Data Protection (Decree 13/2023/ND-CP) PDPA fully enforced — affects all employers and businesses handling personal data | Organisations processing Vietnamese personal data must: appoint a DPO if processing sensitive data, maintain a Processing Record, obtain explicit consent per purpose, notify MPS within 72 hours of a data breach. Penalties: up to VND 100,000,000 per violation. Applies to foreign businesses processing data of persons in Vietnam. | Decree 13/2023 in force since 1 July 2023; enforcement ramped up 2024–2025. | 1 July 2023 (ongoing) |
| Global Minimum Tax — QDMTT (Pillar 2) Vietnam Qualified Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax effective from fiscal year 2024 | Applies to MNE groups with global consolidated revenue ≥ EUR 750 million/year. Effective minimum tax rate: 15% on Vietnam profits. Prior investment incentives and tax holidays may be subject to top-up tax under this mechanism. | Resolution 107/2023/QH15 passed November 2023; QDMTT from 1 January 2024. | 1 January 2024 (ongoing) |
| Electricity Tariff (EVN) EVN retail tariff revised upward; tiered residential pricing | Tier 1 (0–50 kWh): VND 1,893/kWh. Tier 2 (51–100 kWh): VND 1,956/kWh. Tier 3 (101–200 kWh): VND 2,271/kWh. Tier 4 (201–300 kWh): VND 2,860/kWh. Tier 5 (301–400 kWh): VND 3,197/kWh. Tier 6 (>400 kWh): VND 3,302/kWh. Typical AC apartment monthly bill: VND 500,000–1,500,000. | EVN increased tariff approximately 4.8% in May 2023 with further adjustments through 2024. | 1 November 2024 |
| Retirement Age Schedule (Labour Code 2019) Statutory retirement age continues gradual annual increase | Men: 61 years (reaching 62 by 2028 at +3 months/year). Women: 56 years 8 months (reaching 60 by 2035 at +4 months/year). Hazardous work: subtract 5–10 years from normal age. Voluntary early retirement: minimum 15 years BHXH contributions. | Men: 60 years 9 months (2025). Women: 56 years 4 months (2025). | 1 January 2026 |
| AML / Banking KYC (AML Law 14/2022/QH15) Strengthened AML requirements with eKYC biometrics for account opening | Enhanced due diligence for transactions over VND 300,000,000 (single) or USD 15,000 (international). Foreigners: passport + TRC required for accounts above basic limits. Cash transactions above VND 100,000,000 in real estate: prohibited. | AML Law 07/2012/QH13 — replaced by Law 14/2022. | 1 March 2023 (ongoing) |
| CPTPP Import Duty Reductions (2026 Schedule) ~97% of tariff lines with CPTPP partners reduced to 0% by 2026 | By 2026: duty-free trade with Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Mexico, Peru, Chile on most goods. Australian beef, NZ dairy, Canadian seafood significantly cheaper than pre-CPTPP baseline. Japanese household appliances: most at 0–5%. | CPTPP in force for Vietnam since 14 January 2019; annual staged reductions. | 1 January 2026 |
| State Bank of Vietnam — Monetary Policy and FX SBV maintained accommodative policy; VND/USD managed float | SBV policy rate (refinancing rate): approximately 4.5% (eased from 6% peak in 2023). USD/VND: approximately VND 25,200–25,500/USD. FX remittance limit: no cap for legitimate documented transfers. Foreigners with TRC can hold USD savings accounts. VND savings interest rates: 4–6% p.a. at 12-month term. | SBV eased rates from 6% (2023) to 4.5% through 2024–2025. | 1 January 2026 |
| International School Fees Ministry of Education Circular 47/2023 tightened curriculum and staffing requirements for foreign-invested schools | Annual tuition 2025–2026: RMIT HCMC USD 8,000–12,000/semester. BVIS: USD 12,000–18,000/year. Saigon South International School: USD 15,000–25,000/year. UNIS Hanoi: USD 20,000–30,000/year. Most schools require 6–18 month waiting lists for new applications. | Circular 13/2011 replaced by tighter 2023 regulations effective 2024–2025. | 1 September 2024 |
January Checklist
Actions to take each January when new rates take effect.
- 1
Confirm BHXH contribution amounts with employer HR — new ceiling VND 46,800,000/month (Jan–Jun); rises to VND 50,600,000 from July 2026.
- 2
Verify minimum wage compliance — Region 1 is now VND 5,310,000/month from 1 January 2026.
- 3
Check VAT rate — 8% reduced rate continues for most goods/services through 31 December 2026 (not 10%).
- 4
Review visa expiry — renew TRC or work permit if expiring within 3 months.
- 5
File Q4 PIT provisional return (self-employed) — deadline 30 January.
- 6
Check e-Visa if applying: single entry USD 25; multiple entry USD 50.
- 7
Update bank KYC if passport or TRC was renewed.
- 8
Review international health insurance renewal.
- 9
Confirm vehicle liability insurance renewal for motorbike/car.
- 10
Review lease terms for annual rent increase clause.
- 11
Confirm children's school enrolment and fee payment schedule.
Where to Track Annual Changes
-
gdt.gov.vn (GDT) — PIT, CIT, VAT rates, tax circulars
-
baohiemxahoi.gov.vn (BHXH) — contribution rates and ceiling changes
-
molisa.gov.vn (MOLISA) — minimum wage decrees, labour code
-
xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn — immigration, visa, e-visa rules
-
xaydung.gov.vn (MOC) — housing law, foreign property purchase
-
sbv.gov.vn (SBV) — banking, FX policy
-
congbao.chinhphu.vn — Official Gazette for all decrees
-
vietnam-briefing.com — English-language regulatory summaries
Vietnam's regulatory environment changes rapidly. Key 2026 corrections from prior estimates: VAT remains at 8% (not 10%) for most goods through December 2026; minimum wage Region 1 is VND 5,310,000 (not 5,220,000); BHXH ceiling is VND 46,800,000 (not 29,800,000); multiple-entry e-Visa is USD 50 (not USD 25). Annual PIT finalisation deadline: 31 March. Official sources: congbao.chinhphu.vn and ministry websites are authoritative.
Annual Changes
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