From January 1, 2026, Circular No. 26/2025/TT-BNV officially takes effect, applying a new list of particularly difficult socio-economic regions as a basis for determining whether employees are eligible to retire earlier than the retirement age in normal working conditions.
Accordingly, areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions will be an important basis for determining the right to retire at a younger age. This document also clearly stipulates how to calculate working time by period, including the period before 2021, the period from 2021 to 2025 and the transition milestone from July 1, 2025.
Specifically, the time for employees working in particularly difficult areas from January 1, 2021 to before January 1, 2026 is still used to consider early retirement conditions.
For the working period from July 1, 2025 to before January 1, 2026, the identification of particularly difficult areas is calculated according to the regional situation in June 2025.
From January 1, 2026, the list of particularly difficult socio-economic areas to be used as a basis for early retirement is determined according to Circular 26/2025/TT-BNV, spreading over 24 provinces and cities and some special units.
The list includes many mountainous, remote, island and border areas, such as: Tho Chau Special Zone (An Giang); Truong Sa Special Zone (Khanh Hoa); Co To Special Zone (Quang Ninh); Ly Son Special Zone (Quang Ngai); Con Co Special Zone (Quang Tri); Hoang Sa Special Zone (Da Nang City); Bach Long Vy Special Zone (Hai Phong); Con Dao Special Zone (Ho Chi Minh City) and DK1 rigs.
In addition, many communes in Cao Bang, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Son La, Ha Giang, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Lam Dong provinces... are also included in the list of particularly difficult areas.
The update of the new list aims to accurately reflect the actual working conditions of workers in areas with particularly difficult living, transportation, climate and infrastructure conditions.
Retirement age in normal conditions continues to increase.
According to current regulations, in 2026, the retirement age in normal working conditions is:
Male workers: 61 years and 6 months old
Female workers: 57 years old
In 2027, the retirement age will continue to increase:
Male workers: 61 years and 9 months old
Female workers: 5 years and 4 months old
Thus, for workers who have worked in particularly difficult socio-economic areas according to the new list, being able to retire earlier than the above-mentioned age line will be a very noteworthy benefit from 2026.
This policy is expected to contribute to compensating for heavy and harsh working conditions, while encouraging workers to stick with difficult areas for a long time.
