Going abroad to settle down but still receive a monthly pension in Vietnam

The Lao Dong Newspaper Legal Consulting Office replied:

Clauses 1, 2, 6, Article 70 of the Law on Social Insurance 2024 (effective from July 1, 2025) stipulate the one-time social insurance benefits as follows:

1. Subjects specified in Clause 1, Article 2 of this Law who have stopped participating in social insurance but have a request are entitled to receive one-time social insurance if they fall into one of the following cases:

a) Be of retirement age but have not paid social insurance for 15 years.

In case the employee does not receive one-time social insurance, he/she can choose to receive a monthly allowance according to the provisions of Article 23 of this Law;

b) Go abroad to settle;

c) People suffering from one of the following diseases: cancer, paralysis, decongested liver fibrosis, severe tuberculosis, AIDS;

d) People with a working capacity reduction of 81% or more; people with severe disabilities;

d) Employees who have paid social insurance before the effective date of this Law, after 12 months are not subject to compulsory social insurance but also do not participate in voluntary social insurance and have paid social insurance for less than 20 years;

e) In the cases specified in Points d, d and e, Clause 1, Article 2 of this Law, when a demobilized, discharged, or quit his/her job and is not subject to compulsory social insurance, but also does not participate in voluntary social insurance and is not eligible for pension.

2. Subjects specified in Clause 2, Article 2 of this Law who have stopped participating in social insurance but have a request are entitled to receive one-time social insurance if they fall into one of the following cases:

a) Meeting the retirement age but not having paid social insurance for 15 years;

b) People suffering from one of the following diseases: cancer, paralysis, decongested liver fibrosis, severe tuberculosis, AIDS;

c) People with a working capacity reduction of 81% or more; people with severe disabilities;

d) Employees who are eligible for pension according to regulations but do not continue to reside in Vietnam;

d) Employees whose labor contracts or labor licenses, practice certificates, or practice licenses expire without an extension.

6. In case the employee specified in Points b, c and d, Clause 1 and Points b, c and d, Clause 2 of this Article is both eligible for pension and one-time social insurance, the employee can choose to receive a monthly pension or one-time social insurance.

7. The Government shall detail this Article.

Thus, in the case of employees who are eligible for both pension and one-time social insurance benefits and settle abroad, they have the right to receive monthly pension in Vietnam.