Following a directive issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, local authorities are mandated to survey current salary levels, outstanding wages, and proposed bonus schemes for the 2026 New Year and Lunar New Year holidays. Businesses are also urged to formulate bonus plans based on their 2025 performance and disclose these plans transparently to employees, in accordance with the labor code.

The Department of Home Affairs, in collaboration with trade unions and industrial park management boards, will monitor employment conditions and worker welfare. They are tasked with proactively developing strategies to prevent labor disputes and strikes during the Tet holiday period.

May 10 workers in Hanoi receive lucky money upon returning to the factory after the Lunar New Year holiday. *Photo: Ngoc Thanh*

Previous year's data revealed that the average 2025 New Year bonus was 1,46 million VND per person, representing 79% of the 2024 figure. The average bonus for the Tet At Ty (2025 Lunar New Year) reached 7,7 million VND. The highest reported bonus was 1,8 billion VND, awarded to senior management at a foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprise in Ho Chi Minh City.

Under current regulations, bonuses are payments made by businesses to employees, based on business performance and individual work completion. Companies are responsible for issuing and publicly announcing their bonus policies after consulting with employee representative organizations.

The average monthly salary in 2024 was nearly 8,9 million VND, a 4% increase from the previous year. Effective 1/1/2026, the regional minimum wage will increase by 250.000-350.000 VND. The new monthly minimum wages are: 5,31 million VND for region one; 4,73 million VND for region two; 4,14 million VND for region three; and 3,7 million VND for region four. These figures represent the baseline for businesses to negotiate and determine salary payments.

A survey on labor and wages within businesses revealed diverse approaches to salary adjustments: 22% of companies adjusted their salary scales solely for social insurance contributions; over 45% adjusted both salary scales and actual payment levels; 5,3% implemented other forms of adjustments; and 27% made no adjustments, as their current salary payments already exceeded the regional minimum wage.

The Tet Binh Ngo (2026 Lunar New Year) holiday will span nine days, from 14/2 to 22/2 (corresponding to the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month of At Ty until the end of the sixth day of the first lunar month). Employees working overtime or night shifts during the Tet holiday are entitled to a minimum payment of 300% of their regular salary, as stipulated by law.

Hong Chieu