1. Increase regional minimum wage from January 1, 2026
The Government has issued Decree 293/2025/ND-CP stipulating the minimum wage for employees working under contracts, applicable from January 1, 2026. Accordingly, the monthly and hourly minimum wage of the four regions will be adjusted up compared to the current level as follows:
Region I: VND 5,310,000/month and VND 25,500/hour (an increase of VND 350,000 compared to the old level).
Region II: VND 4,730,000/month and VND 22,700/hour (up VND 320,000).
Region III: VND 4,140,000/month and VND 20,000/hour (up VND 280,000).
Region IV: VND 3,700,000/month and VND 17,800/hour (up VND 250,000).
The subjects of application include all employees working under contracts and employers under the Labor Code, including enterprises, agencies, organizations, cooperatives, households and individuals with labor leases.
2. Proposal to increase basic salary from January 1, 2026
It is expected that from now until the end of 2025, a Decree will be issued to adjust the basic salary level.
Currently, the basic salary according to Decree 73/2024/ND-CP is 2,340,000 VND/month, applied to the following groups of subjects: cadres and civil servants from the central to commune levels; public employees; people working under contracts in state agencies; armed forces; non-professional workers in communes, villages, residential groups...
3. In 2026, expand sources to adjust pensions and social insurance benefits
According to Resolution 245/2025/QH15 on the 2025 budget estimate, from 2026, ministries, branches and localities will continue to implement solutions to create sources for salary reform. Some fees continue to be excluded when calculating increased revenue sources for salary reform such as: one-time land rent collection, collection from handling public assets, rice-growing land protection fees, relic visit fees, fees for using border gate infrastructure works, wastewater fees, fees from public land funds, etc.
Notably, the central budget has been expanded to use accumulated sources for salary reform to adjust pensions, social insurance benefits, preferential allowances for meritorious people and staff streamlining funds. Local budgets are also allowed to use salary reform funds to implement social security policies issued by the Central Government and streamline staffing.
The Government will review the savings from staff streamlining and restructuring the apparatus; allow localities to add this source to the salary reform fund. From 2026, the Government will proactively use accumulated funds to ensure payment of salary, allowance and income regimes according to regulations.
