Teachers may retire early or older than the prescribed age
From January 1, 2026, the Law on Teachers officially takes effect. The Law stipulates professional activities, rights and obligations of teachers; titles, professional standards of teachers; recruitment and use of teachers; salary and remuneration policies for teachers; training, fostering and international cooperation for teachers; honoring, rewarding and handling violations for teachers; teacher management. Accordingly, the retirement regime for teachers from 2026 is regulated as follows:
In Article 26 of the 2025 Law on Teachers, the retirement regime for teachers is stipulated, the retirement age of teachers is implemented according to the provisions of the Labor Code and other relevant legal regulations, except for cases specified in Clause 2 of this Article and Article 27 of this Law;
Teachers in preschool education institutions, if they wish, can retire at an age lower than the retirement age of employees in normal conditions but not exceeding 5 years old. In case they have paid social insurance for 15 years or more, the percentage of pension benefits is not reduced due to early retirement.
In addition, Article 27 of the 2025 Law on Teachers stipulates the retirement regime at a higher age for teachers in public educational institutions. Accordingly, the subjects who may enjoy the retirement regime at a higher age include teachers holding professor, associate professor titles or doctoral degrees and teachers working in specialized and specific industries and fields.
The retirement regime at a higher age is implemented when educational institutions have a need; teachers are healthy enough, voluntary and meet the standards and conditions of educational institutions.
The retirement time at a higher age is regulated as follows:
- Not exceeding 5 years old for teachers with doctoral degrees;
- Not exceeding 7 years old for teachers holding the title of associate professor;
- Not exceeding 10 years old for teachers holding the title of professor.
According to the above regulations, teachers in preschool education institutions, if they wish, can retire at an age lower than the retirement age of employees in normal conditions but not exceeding 5 years old. In case they have paid social insurance for 15 years or more, the percentage of pension benefits is not reduced due to early retirement.
What is the retirement age in 2026?
Articles 4 and 5 of Decree 135/2020/ND-CP stipulating the retirement age clearly state: "From January 1, 2021, the retirement age of workers in normal working conditions is 60 years and 3 months for male workers and 55 years and 4 months for female workers; then, every year, an increase of 3 months for male workers until reaching 62 years old in 2028 and every year an increase of 4 months for female workers until reaching 60 years old in 2035".
According to the current Labor Code, the retirement age of employees working under normal conditions gradually increases until reaching 62 years old for men in 2028 and 60 years old for women in 2035.
Employees are entitled to early retirement for a maximum of 5 years compared to the prescribed age if they fall into one of the following cases: reduced working capacity; working in a particularly heavy, hazardous, and dangerous profession or job; or working in areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions.
Conversely, people with high professional and technical qualifications or belonging to some special cases may retire later, but not more than 5 years from the prescribed age at the time of retirement.
