Workers’ incomes in Vietnam continued to improve in the first quarter of 2026, with average monthly income reaching VND 9.0 million (US$342), up 3.8 percent from the previous quarter and 8.5 percent year on year, according to the latest release from the National Statistics Office.
The increase, alongside controlled inflation, points to an improvement in real incomes and living standards.
Gender and regional income gaps remained pronounced, with male workers earning VND 10.1 million (US$383) on average versus VND 7.7 million (US$292) for female workers, while urban workers earned VND 10.7 million (US$406) compared with VND 7.9 million (US$300) in rural areas.
Among salaried workers, average monthly income reached VND 10.0 million (US$379), up 6.6 percent year on year, with male salaried workers earning VND 10.5 million (US$398) and female salaried workers VND 9.5 million (US$360).
Urban salaried workers earned VND 11.2 million (US$425), around 1.23 times the VND 9.1 million (US$345) earned by rural salaried workers.
By sector, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries recorded the fastest income growth, with average monthly income rising 13.1 percent to VND 5.5 million (US$209).
Average income in industry and construction reached VND 9.8 million (US$372), up 7.4 percent year on year.
The service sector posted the highest nominal income level at VND 10.6 million (US$402), an increase of 7.1 percent from a year earlier.
Overall, the data suggests households saw stronger purchasing power in the first quarter, even as longstanding disparities across gender and geography persisted.