From short-term to long-term investment
Unlike previous regulations that focused on salaries based on training and competition days, the new policy expands to both performance bonuses and long-term allowances, thereby creating a fundamental change in the way the State invests in high-performance sports.
Accordingly, training fees have doubled compared to the old Decree 152. National team athletes currently receive 550,000 VND/person/day of training and competition, while the nutritional regime is also adjusted to 400,000 VND/person/day.
For teams preparing for SEA Games, ASIAD, Olympics or groups of athletes capable of competing for medals, the nutritional level is also increased to 600,000-800,000 VND/person/day for a certain period of time.
However, the change is leverage-oriented not only in terms of wages, but also in the policy of bonuses and post-performance allowances. For the first time, the bonus system is designed in a direction that approaches the values of major arenas.
An athlete who wins an Olympic gold medal and breaks the record can receive a total bonus of up to 4.9 billion VND, a figure that has never appeared before.
The prize framework at familiar arenas for Vietnamese sports has also been clearly raised. The ASIAD gold medal is awarded 280 million VND, the silver medal 170 million VND and the bronze medal 110 million VND. If the athlete breaks the congress record, the corresponding bonus level is 110 million VND.
With SEA Games, the value of each gold medal is 54 million VND, silver medal 30 million VND and bronze medal 24 million VND, plus 24 million VND if a new record is set.
More importantly, Decree 349 does not stop at "one-time bonuses", but supplements a monthly allowance regime lasting a full 4-year cycle, helping athletes have more stable income during the peak performance period.
Ensuring income, confidently contributing
Athletes who maintain long-term achievements, especially in Olympic and ASIAD sports, are the group that benefits most clearly from Decree 349. Not only receiving bonuses after each Games, they are also guaranteed monthly allowances for many years.
The case of Nguyen Thi Phuong is a typical example. With 5 consecutive SEA Games gold medals and ASIAD 2023 gold medals, applying a new spending level can bring a stable income.
More importantly, the ASIAD gold medal helps Nguyen Thi Phuong qualify for a monthly allowance of 20 million VND for 4 years, equivalent to nearly 1 billion VND for a congress cycle.
In parallel with that, the new policy also improves nurturing conditions throughout the process of creating achievements. As a national team athlete who regularly trains and competes internationally, Nguyen Thi Phuong is entitled to a training fee of 550,000 VND/person/day.
In the preparation stages for the SEA Games and ASIAD - target tournaments where she once won gold medals, the nutritional level can be increased to 600,000 VND/person/day, even 800,000 VND/person/day if they belong to the group of athletes identified as likely to compete for ASIAD gold medals.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, martial artist Nguyen Thi Phuong shared: "The adjustment of wages, bonuses and long-term allowances helps athletes feel more clearly the recognition for their persistent efforts over the years.
She also said that the important thing is not only the reward after each tournament, but also the stability throughout the training process, maintaining form, helping athletes can focus entirely on professionalism without worrying too much about long-term income.
In addition, better living and nutritional conditions will help athletes ensure physical condition, limit injuries and prolong their career, thereby helping Phuong to be attached to karate for longer, contribute and bring achievements to the country's sports.
Meanwhile, swimmer Vu Thi Phuong Anh of the Vietnamese swimming team said: "With the adjustment in salary, bonuses and nutrition, my teammates and I feel more recognized for my training and competition efforts.
I myself am also more reassured about life, reducing external pressure so that I can completely focus on my profession. In terms of spirit, I have more motivation to try because I know that my achievements and contributions are appreciated.
