📘 Section 1 covers the current minimum wage.
📊 Section 2 compares regional minimum wages.
🏭 Section 3 answers commonly asked wage questions.
🧭 A floating table of contents is top-right for easy navigation.
Vietnam’s minimum wage is an attractive draw-card for businesses in a broad range of industries.
Among the lowest in Southeast Asia, foreign firms may be able to realise real value by making the most of this low-cost labour.
The minimum wage, however, should not be conflated with the average salary which can be quite a bit higher.
Understanding Vietnam’s minimum wage can still be helpful in developing a broader understanding of Vietnam’s human resources landscape.
In this light, this article runs through some common questions with regard to the minimum wage in Vietnam.
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What is the minimum wage in Vietnam?
The minimum wage is determined by the National Wage Council.
This body meets at least once a year and determines what the minimum wage should be raised to.
It then presents this determination to the government to approve.
The last minimum wage hike was in January of 2026.
Minimum wage from January 1, 2026 (approved November 10)
| Region | VND Month | VND Hour | US$ Month | US$ Hour |
| 1 | 5,310,000 | 25,500 | 202.85 | 0.97 |
| 2 | 4,730,000 | 22,700 | 180.70 | 0.87 |
| 3 | 4,140,000 | 19,900 | 158.16 | 0.76 |
| 4 | 3,700,000 | 17,800 | 141.35 | 0.68 |
Source: Lao Dong
Note, however, that the minimum wage does not necessarily rise every year.
For example, during COVID minimum wage rises were put on hold.
Similarly, as Vietnam’s economy struggled in 2023 minimum wage hikes were delayed until 2024.
Also, Vietnam’s minimum wage is divided into regions which are generally determined by the perceived cost of living in a particular area.
Broadly speaking, Vietnam’s major cities generally fall into Region 1 with rural, isolated, generally mountainous areas falling under Region 4.
Everywhere else falls somewhere in between.
Vietnam minimum wage 2025 (expired December 31, 2025)
| Monthly | Hourly* | |||
| Region | VND | US$ | VND | US$ |
| 1 | 4,960,000 | $195 | 25,306 | $0.99 |
| 2 | 4,410,000 | $173 | 22,500 | $0.88 |
| 3 | 3,860,000 | $152 | 19,694 | $0.77 |
| 4 | 3,450,000 | $136 | 17,602 | $0.69 |
*Hourly rate calculated on 196 hours per month
Vietnam minimum wage 2024 (expired June 30, 2024)
| Region | VND Month | US$ Month | VND Hour | US$ Hour |
| 1 | 4,680,000 | $180 | 23,877.55 | $0.92 |
| 2 | 4,160,000 | $160 | 21,224.49 | $0.81 |
| 3 | 3,640,000 | $140 | 18,571.43 | $0.71 |
| 4 | 3,250,000 | $125 | 16,581.63 | $0.64 |
How does the Vietnam compare regionally?
For context, Vietnam’s minimum wage is at the lower end among its Southeast Asian peers.
Monthly minimum wage, Southeast Asia
| Country | Region | Local Currency | US$ | |
| Indonesia | Jakarta | IDR | 5,067,381 | 325 |
| Malaysia | National | MYR | 1,500 | 322.20 |
| Philippines | Metro Manila^ | PHP | 16,824 | 303.84 |
| Thailand* | Bangkok | THB | 7,986 | 227.82 |
| Vietnam | Hanoi/HCMC | VND | 4,960,000 | 195 |
*Calculated using daily rate times 313 / 12; ^Non-agricultural workers
Indonesia
Like Vietnam, Indonesia sets wages regionally, but its adjustments depend more on GDP and inflation than on local cost-of-living data.
Vietnam’s structure is more centralised, with government-negotiated rates, while Indonesia’s system allows greater provincial discretion.
Explore Indonesia’s minimum wage→
Thailand
Thailand’s daily wage model differs from Vietnam’s monthly system, offering flexibility for part-time and seasonal work.
Vietnam’s approach provides clearer income predictability, which appeals more to manufacturing workers and employers.
Learn more about Thailand’s minimum wage→
Philippines
Both Vietnam and the Philippines have regional wage boards, but the Philippines faces sharper disparities between Manila and rural provinces.
Vietnam’s differences between regions are smaller, creating more uniform labour costs for investors.
Learn more about the minimum wage in the Philippines→
Malaysia
Malaysia applies a single national minimum wage, unlike Vietnam’s tiered structure.
Vietnam’s model offers lower entry-level costs for foreign investors, while Malaysia’s single rate reflects a more mature labour market.
FAQ: Minimum wage in Vietnam
These are come of the most commonly asked questions about Vietnam’s minimum wage.
What is the average salary in Vietnam?
Whereas the minimum wage in Vietnam is set by the government, this does not necessarily represent real labour costs.
In fact, data collected by the General Office of Statistics generally reflects much higher labour costs, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
Explore the average wage in Vientam →
How much is the hourly wage in Vietnam?
Hourly wages are generally determined by dividing monthly wages by 196 hours. Generally, the minimum hourly wage is less than US$1.
This works out to a little less than 10 hours a day five days a week.
In manufacturing, at peak periods, these sorts of hours can be common, however, in professional services, it would be uncommon to work this many hours.
What is the Vietnamese living wage?
The Global Living Wage Coalition, estimated that the Vietnamese living wage in Region 1, in 2024, to be VND 8,970,296 (US$353).
This is not far off double the current Region 1 minimum wage and is about VND 670,000 (US$26.25) short of the current average wage.
The Global Living Wage Coalition makes its calculations based on a family of four with 1.86 workers living in Region 1 areas as defined in Vietnam’s minimum wage regulations.
It uses an estimate of monthly, family living expenses of VND 13,972,133 (US$547.39).
Is US$1,000 a good salary in Vietnam?
A salary of US$1,000 is roughly VND 24,357,500.
This is nearly four times the average wage in Vietnam and about five times the minimum wage.
In this context, US$1,000 is a good salary in Vietnam.
However, it’s worth noting that foreign workers will often command wages much higher as will professionals and high-skilled workers.
The industry and the role will also play big factors in the wages a worker can command.
For the average Vietnamese, US$1,000 is enough to pay rent, buy food, and have a little left over for entertainment.
That said, particularly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, individuals who have more expensive tastes will find they can burn through US$1,000 relatively quickly and easily.
What is the salary in Ho Chi Minh City?
The minimum wage in Ho Chi Minh City is VND 4,960,000 or US$195 per month.
That equates to VND 25,306 or US$0.99 per hour.
This, however, only applies to Vietnam’s lowest-paid workers in fields like hospitality and retail.
As Vietnam’s most expensive city, Ho Chi Minh City workers generally receive a salary well above the minimum wage.
What is the minimum wage in Hanoi?
Salaries in Hanoi vary, however, the minimum wage is VND 4,960,000 or US$195 per month.
This is the same as Ho Chi Minh City, however, notably HCMC is somewhat more expensive than Hanoi.
In this respect, the minimum wage can be stretched further in Hanoi than it can in HCMC.
That said, the minimum wage in Hanoi is usually only in the hospitality sector, with most workers in other industries earning considerably more.
How much tax does a minimum wage worker in Vietnam pay?
Personal Income Tax in Vietnam–locally known as the PIT–is the tax applied to a worker’s income.
This is a progressive tax with seven tiers. Most minimum wage workers in Vietnam should find they are subjected to a 5 percent personal income tax.
That said, at peak periods and with overtime, minimum wage workers may from time-to-time fall into the second tier which is 10 percent.
Progressive income tax rates
What’s next?
This article provides a broad overview of the minimum wage in Vietnam.
To reiterate, however, the minimum wage is a floor rate only. Most workers are generally paid more than this with average wages roughly double the minimum wage.
Foreign firms looking to manufacture goods in Vietnam or open a business in Vietnam should keep this in mind, in that how Vietnam is presented in terms of low-cost labour is not always the reality.
In this light, firms should consult human resources experts for specific advice. They should also make sure to keep up to date with the latest developments with respect to the minimum wage by subscribing to the-shiv.
First published February 7, 2024. Last updated January 8, 2026.