Vietnam
Worked in Vietnam? Any pension you built up here is yours to keep and can usually be paid to you abroad — but you have to claim it; it won't start automatically. The full state pension age is 61.5, with early access from 56. On totalization, Vietnam has bilateral totalization agreements, so the years you worked here may combine with other countries you've worked in. Below is Vietnam's system at a glance and what expats should check.
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Overview
Vietnam operates a mandatory social insurance pension system (BHXH – Bảo hiểm xã hội Việt Nam) administered by Vietnam Social Security (VSS), providing earnings-related pensions on a pay-as-you-go defined benefit (PAYG DB) basis. The landmark Social Insurance Law No. 41/2024/QH15, effective July 1, 2025, represents the most comprehensive reform since 2014: it reduces the minimum qualifying contribution period from 20 to 15 years, expands mandatory coverage to part-time workers and a broader range of contract types, restricts lump-sum withdrawals for new participants, and introduces a non-contributory social pension for citizens aged 75 and above (and 70–74 for poor/near-poor households). The retirement age is on a phased increase roadmap, reaching 62 for men by 2028 and 60 for women by 2035. As of 2026, the statutory retirement age is 61 years 6 months for men and 57 years for women.
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The pension formula provides women 45% of average insurable salary at 15 years of contributions, plus 2% per additional year up to a maximum of 75%. Men receive 40% for 15–19 years of contributions (plus 1% per year in that band), then 45% from 20 years onwards plus 2% per additional year, also capped at 75%. Pensions are periodically adjusted by government decree based on CPI and economic conditions; a 15% increase was applied from July 1, 2025, and an 8% increase from July 1, 2026. Foreign workers on labor contracts of 12 months or more have been subject to mandatory social insurance since 2018, with the same benefit entitlements as Vietnamese employees.
The supplementary (Pillar 2) voluntary occupational pension market remains nascent but growing: as of end-2025, four licensed fund managers operated seven funds with approximately 28,560 participants and total net asset value of around USD 88 million. Lump-sum withdrawal of social insurance contributions has historically been widespread, undermining long-term pension coverage, but the 2025 reform locks post-July 2025 contribution years into the pension track and prohibits routine cash-outs for new participants.
40–75%
Pillar 0: Non-contributory social pension (VND 500,000/month) for citizens aged 75+ without pension, and 70–74 if poor/near-poor (from July 2025); Pillar 1: BHXH mandatory compulsory social insurance (PAYG DB) for employees and voluntary social insurance for self-employed/informal workers; Pillar 2: Voluntary supplementary pension funds (employer-sponsored, ~28,560 enrolled, 7 funds, 4 licensed operators as of end-2025); Pillar 3: Individual savings and life insurance products
Multi-tier public pension system — PAYG defined benefit mandatory scheme (Bismarckian contributory core) with a non-contributory social pension floor and voluntary supplementary occupational funds
Employee
8% (social insurance pension/survivorship fund only); 10.5% total including health insurance (1.5%) and unemployment insurance (1%)
Employer
17.5% (social insurance); 21.5% total including health insurance (3%) and unemployment insurance (1%)
Self-Employed
22% of chosen income level (voluntary social insurance, pension and survivorship fund)
Notes
Contribution rates confirmed unchanged under Law 41/2024/QH15. Of the employer's 17.5% SI contribution, 14% goes to the pension and survivorship fund and 3.5% to sickness, maternity, and occupational accident funds. Employee's 8% goes entirely to the pension and survivorship fund. Contribution salary capped at 20 times the reference level (VND 46,800,000/month as of 2026). Foreign workers: total SI rate is 25% (8% employee + 17% employer) under Decree 158/2025/ND-CP — foreign workers are exempt from unemployment insurance. Total combined SHUI for local employees reaches approximately 32% of salary base when health and unemployment insurance are included.
Common questions
What is the retirement age in Vietnam?
The full state pension age in Vietnam is 61.5. Early retirement may be possible from 56.
Can I claim a Vietnam pension if I live abroad?
Yes. A pension you've earned in Vietnam stays yours wherever you retire, and can usually be paid into an overseas account once you reach pension age. It won't start automatically, though — you need to claim it, typically a few months in advance, through Vietnam's pension authority.
Do totalization agreements affect my Vietnam pension?
Vietnam has bilateral social-security (totalization) agreements. These can let you combine the years you worked in Vietnam with years in partner countries to meet a minimum qualifying period, so short stints aren't wasted. Which partners and rules apply depends on your own work history.
How is the pension system structured in Vietnam?
Multi-tier public pension system — PAYG defined benefit mandatory scheme (Bismarckian contributory core) with a non-contributory social pension floor and voluntary supplementary occupational funds Pillar 0: Non-contributory social pension (VND 500,000/month) for citizens aged 75+ without pension, and 70–74 if poor/near-poor (from July 2025); Pillar 1: BHXH mandatory compulsory social insurance (PAYG DB) for employees and voluntary social insurance for self-employed/informal workers; Pillar 2: Voluntary supplementary pension funds (employer-sponsored, ~28,560 enrolled, 7 funds, 4 licensed operators as of end-2025); Pillar 3: Individual savings and life insurance products It includes 3 schemes in our directory.
How do I get a copy of my Vietnam pension record?
Ask Vietnam Social Security (VSS) for your Sổ bảo hiểm xã hội / VssID (the Social insurance book and record). It's free and you can request it yourself — our step-by-step guide on this page walks through the portal, what to have ready, and what to do if the login fails.