The Ministry of Home Affairs recently issued a circular amending Joint Circular 11/2005 and replacing Circular 23/2025, providing guidance on the regional allowance regime effective 1/7. Circular 11 was initially promulgated when the common minimum wage was 290,000 VND. In the new circular, the term "common minimum wage" has been replaced with "base salary".
 |
Naval soldiers perform sovereignty protection duties in Truong Sa – an area receiving an allowance coefficient of 1 from 1/7. *Photo: Bao Nam* |
This policy applies to cadres, civil servants, public employees, and contract workers whose salaries are classified according to the state's wage scales, working in state agencies and public service units. It also covers officers, professional military personnel, non-commissioned officers, soldiers, public employees, and personnel within units of the Army and Public Security.
The seven allowance levels remain unchanged: 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.7, and 1. The highest level, 1, applies to the special zones of Truong Sa and Hoang Sa, and to forces under the Ministry of National Defense directly performing duties in Vietnam's sea areas.
Regional allowances are paid concurrently with monthly salaries and benefits. They are calculated using the formula: Regional allowance amount = Regional allowance coefficient x base salary. Effective 1/7, the base salary will be adjusted to 2.53 million VND per month, an 8% increase. Consequently, regional allowance payments will also increase as follows:
| Coefficient | Regional Allowance Amount |
| 0.1 | 253,000 VND |
| 0.2 | 506,000 VND |
| 0.3 | 759,000 VND |
| 0.4 | 1,012,000 VND |
| 0.5 | 1,265,000 VND |
| 0.7 | 1,771,000 VND |
| 1.0 | 2,530,000 VND |
Regional allowances are determined by natural factors such as climate, altitude, and geographical areas distant from economic and political centers, which impact people's material and spiritual lives. They also account for particularly difficult conditions like border regions and islands. This allowance is primarily granted based on administrative boundaries; an agency located in a commune will receive the allowance corresponding to that commune, with adjustments made if the locality changes.
To look up areas where these allowance levels apply:
Hong Tan
