The May 2026 pension and social insurance allowance payment schedule has just been updated by the Social Insurance agency.
Accordingly, the payment schedule for pensions and social insurance allowances in May 2026 at social insurance agencies in provinces and cities across the country: Regional social insurance agencies in 21 provinces and cities have payment schedules on the first working day of the month; regional social insurance agencies in 13 provinces and cities have payment schedules on the second working day of the month.
Thus, people receiving pensions and social insurance allowances will receive money after the April 30-5 holiday.
Many retirees expressed their desire to receive pensions before the holidays. Ms. Tran Thi Chien (Thu Vu commune, Hung Yen province) has been retiring for 10 years now. On April 4, she received her April pension from the People's Credit Fund.
Currently, her salary is nearly 6.5 million VND/month. This pension helps her spend and cover the living expenses of her and her husband.
I really hope to receive my pension before the April 30 - May 1 holiday to have more money to spend before this holiday," said Ms. Tran Thi Chien.
Although retired, she still works part-time to earn extra income to compensate for her pension.
In Tuyen Quang province, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Nga (residing in Minh Xuan ward) currently has a very low pension, at over 2.8 million VND/month. Every time pension money is transferred to her account, she transfers it directly to her children. Her children are studying at university in Hanoi, the cost is very expensive.
My pension is too low, not enough for my children to spend in Hanoi," Ms. Nga said.
To earn extra income, Ms. Nga has to work as a hired babysitter. Each month, she is paid 5.5 million VND. She still has to deduct a part of this money to send to her children, and a part for herself to spend and cover living expenses.
She has to spend sparingly, but often does not have enough money to cover expenses, and has to borrow more. "In old age, with many illnesses, I have to spend a considerable amount of money to buy medicine every month," Ms. Nga shared.
Previously, Ms. Nga worked as a worker in a joint-stock company. She retired in 2019. Around May 1 every month, she receives her pension through her account. "I want to receive my pension before the upcoming holidays so that I can soon have money to send to my children, helping them soon have money to cover living expenses when studying far from home in Hanoi," Ms. Nga expressed.
Ms. Nga also hopes that in the near future, pensions will be increased, especially for those with low pensions like her, so that life will be less difficult in old age.
According to the guidance sent by the Ministry of Home Affairs to ministries, branches and localities, this year's holiday schedule is in accordance with the 2019 Labor Code. Previously circulated information about the possibility of employees having continuous leave for up to 9 days is inaccurate, because there is no official proposal to change working days to holidays.
Accordingly, the Hung Kings Commemoration Day holiday (March 10th of the lunar calendar) in 2026 falls on Sunday (April 26th of the solar calendar). Because it coincides with the weekend holiday, workers will have compensatory leave on Monday (April 27th). Thus, the holiday lasts 3 consecutive days, from April 25th to the end of April 27th.
For the holiday schedule from April 30 to May 1, workers are entitled to 2 days off as prescribed. If applying the Saturday and Sunday holiday regime, the total holiday period can last 4 days, from April 30 to the end of May 3.
Notably, these two holidays take place close together but are not consecutive. After the Hung Kings Commemoration holiday, workers will return to work for 2 days, April 28 and April 29, before entering the next holiday. The normal working schedule is resumed from May 4.
