Leave policy in Vietnam 

Vietnam is a popular choice for companies looking to hire in Southeast Asia. But when hiring in a new country, following local employment laws is a must. 

Time-off rules are set by the country where employees work, and employers are required to follow them, even if their own internal policies are different. 

For businesses expanding into Vietnam, understanding these rules is an important step toward staying compliant.

Employee leave laws in Vietnam are governed by the Labor Code of Vietnam, which outlines the minimum requirements employers must meet, including annual leave, public holidays, and other types of statutory leave.

Keep reading to learn more about leave policies in Vietnam and how an Employer of Record (EOR) can help businesses engage talent, manage payroll, and stay compliant with local regulations.

Vacation/annual leave in Vietnam

Employees get at least 12 days of annual leave in Vietnam. However, only those employees who have continuous service of 12 months or more with the same employer are entitled to these leaves. 

 Base entitlement:

• Standard working conditions: Minimum 12 working days per year
• Vulnerable categories: Minimum 14 working days per year (minors, employees with disabilities, heavy/hazardous/dangerous work)
• High-risk roles: Minimum 16 working days per year (especially heavy, hazardous, or dangerous conditions)
• Long service increment: Employees get 1 extra day of annual leave for every 5 years of continuous service with the same employer 

Public holidays in Vietnam

As stipulated in the Labor Code 2019, employees are entitled to enjoy 11 public holidays in Vietnam a year. 

The government officially publishes the dates for these holidays every year, which may vary depending on the calendar year.

The list of public holidays in Vietnam is:

• New Year’s Day
• Lunar New Year (Tet) ( 5 days)
• Victory Day
• International Labor Day
• National Day (2 days)
• Hung Kings Commemoration Day 

If a public holiday lands on a weekend (that is, Saturday or Sunday), employees get another day off instead of the following working day.

Sick leaves in Vietnam

Vietnam’s sick leave system is managed through its social insurance program. The Social Insurance Law sets out sick leave benefits based on an employee’s working conditions and their history of social insurance contributions.

Maternity leave in Vietnam

Under Vietnamese law, female employees receive 6 months of paid maternity leave in Vietnam. 

Paternity leave in Vietnam

Male employees who are part of the mandatory social insurance program in Vietnam are eligible for paternity leave after the birth of their child. 

These vary based on the circumstances of childbirth and must be taken within a threshold period from the date of delivery.

Other leaves in Vietnam

Here are some other leave policies entitled to employees in Vietnam

Bereavement leave

Employees who experience the death of close family members are entitled to 3 days of fully paid bereavement leave. Eligible family members include biological or adoptive parents, parents-in-law, spouse, or biological or adopted children.

Marriage leave

Employees are entitled to 3 days of paid leave for their own marriage.

Childcare leave

Parents can take social insurance-paid leave to care for sick children under 7 years old, up to 20 or 15 days per year per child, depending on age.

Additional leave

• A female employee is entitled to a 30-minute break on every working day during her menstrual period. 
• A female employee nursing a child under 12 months of age shall be entitled to 60 minutes’ breaks in every working day with full salary as stipulated in the employment contract.

Exploring Payoneer Workforce Management in Vietnam

Leave policy in Vietnam is a complex process that involves compliance with regulations and different entitlements depending on the terms and conditions of employment. There’s a lot to understand about leave policy in Vietnam between national and religious holidays.

With an Employer of Record solution like Payoneer Workforce Management, you can expand globally by setting up teams, administering benefits, payroll, time-off management, and more. 

Book a demo today!

FAQs

1. What is the annual leave policy in Vietnam?

After a year of service with a company, employees are entitled to 12 days of annual leave. The bright side is that this number goes up by one day for every five years of service with the same employer. If you are working in a dangerous or difficult line of work, you may be eligible for even more annual leave.

2. What are the public holidays in Vietnam?

There are 11 public holidays in a year that are recognized by the government of Vietnam. The major holidays include Tet (Lunar New Year), National Day, Reunification Day, and International Workers’ Day. Tet usually goes on for a few days, although this depends on what the government says every year. All public holidays are paid, and this is typically mandated by the Labor Code.

3. What is the standard workweek in Vietnam?

The standard workweek in Vietnam is 48 hours, spread over six days. However, many foreign businesses typically follow a five-day workweek with a 40-hour workweek. Overtime is permitted, although there are restrictions; employees can only work a maximum of 4 hours of overtime a day. When employees work overtime, they are paid more.

4. What is the leave policy in Vietnam?

Employees are entitled to maternity leave, paternity leave, sick leave, and personal leave. Male employees get 5 to 14 days of paternity leave depending on the circumstances.  Maternity leave is six months, with at least four months after the birth of the child. Sick leave is provided through the social insurance scheme.

5. What is the notice period in Vietnam?

The amount of notice you must give depends on the type of contract you have. If you have an open contract, you must give 45 days’ notice to resign. For a fixed-term contract, it is 30 days. Employers must also give a reason for termination of employment, and in some instances, they are obliged to pay severance or unemployment benefits.