Proactively save
Without billion-dollar bonuses, the actual Tet bonus for workers, especially industrial park workers, and labor-intensive industries shows a different perspective on Tet bonuses in recent years.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Mui is a worker at a garment company in Thuan An commune (Hanoi). Ms. Mui said that after 12 years of working as a worker, transferring to 2 companies, her highest Tet bonus this year is 1 month's salary, at least 200,000 VND per year.
During 12 years as a worker, I received a Tet bonus equivalent to an average of 1 month's salary in that year for 3 years; the lowest year was Lunar New Year 2022, receiving 200,000 VND because the company was struggling with the pandemic. Although I look forward to the Tet bonus, I always determine that I am an unskilled worker, without any qualifications, so I will never have a sudden Tet bonus. To have money to cover Tet, it is best to proactively spend and save from the beginning of the year, said Ms. Mui.
Mr. Do Ba Hung - a worker at a company specializing in electrical equipment manufacturing in Thu Lam commune (Hanoi) - often receives a Tet bonus of 3 million VND, along with a gift bag worth 500,000 VND.
Mr. Hung said that after 7 years of working as a worker, he has never had a bonus of tens of millions of VND: "I read the news in the newspaper and saw many people receiving a Tet bonus of tens of millions of VND, very eager. In the company I work for, there are also departments that receive high bonuses, more than 20 million VND, such as sales and business departments; management positions... Because I am used to fixed Tet bonuses, I proactively spend, determining that the Tet bonus is only enough to celebrate the age of my parents and children".
According to Mr. Hung, if workers expect a Tet bonus to have money to spend, they will be disappointed: "I work hard to work overtime during the year, spend frugally to proactively balance my spending during Tet instead of waiting for a Tet bonus to buy valuable items".
Also proactive in saving and not expecting much in Tet bonuses, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang - a worker at an seafood company in Quang Hung commune (Ninh Binh) - said that she often receives a Tet bonus of 2 million VND and a gift bag worth 500,000 VND.
I am still satisfied, because many people around me do not have jobs and stable income, I still have a monthly salary, so I consider the Tet bonus as an additional amount, as much as I earn, said Ms. Hang.
The basic Tet bonus for workers is 1-5 million VND
According to the announcement of the authorities, the Tet bonus for workers according to the main " bands" is: Under 1 million VND; from 1-3 million VND; and from 3-5 million VND.
In industries with high labor productivity, Tet bonuses have almost no breakthroughs over the years. In 2025, the common bonus for workers in the textile and garment industry is 3-5 million VND/person; some places only give a bonus of 1 million VND; the highest recorded price is 15 million VND/person - in enterprises with stable orders. Some businesses only give bonuses of 200,000 VND/person, some businesses even give bonuses in kind (Tet gifts/purchase vouchers...).
In the footwear industry, the common bonus is 3-6 million VND/person; the highest is about 10 million VND - mainly in large FDI enterprises. Small or medium-sized enterprises with a bonus output of less than VND 1 million.
Electronics industry, component assembly with a bonus of 6-12 million VND/person. In particular, a group of technical/aging personnel in large FDI enterprises (Samsung, LG, Foxconn...) can be rewarded up to 100 million VND. Electronics and component assembly are also the industries with the highest bonuses among the group of enterprises with a large number of employees.
Wood industry - furniture processing with a common bonus of 4-7 million VND/person. Meanwhile, the seafood processing industry has a bonus of only 2-4 million VND/person - the lowest among export industries.
In 2025, besides enterprises with Tet bonuses, many units will only give bonuses in kind, or even no bonuses, and workers will only have Tet holidays according to the general schedule. For that reason, some workers return home for Tet, some are happy because of the additional small bonuses and gift bags from the company; some have enough Tet bonuses to eat a bowl of pho; some have no gifts for cakes after a year of hard work.
