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. 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 social insurance pension system (BHXH - Vietnam Social Security) providing earnings-related pensions on a PAYG basis.
All employees with labor contracts are covered. The system provides old-age pensions after 20 years of contributions (reduced to 15 years under 2024 reform effective July 2025).
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Foreign workers in Vietnam have been required to participate since 2018. Lump-sum withdrawal of social insurance is common, undermining long-term pension coverage.
45-75%
Pillar 1: BHXH mandatory social insurance (PAYG DB); Pillar 2: Supplementary pension fund (voluntary occupational, limited coverage ~20,000 enrolled); Pillar 3: Individual savings and life insurance
Multi-tier public pension system with mandatory and voluntary components
Employee
8%
Employer
14%
Self-Employed
22% on chosen income level (voluntary social insurance)
Notes
Contribution rates based on applicable salary base. Foreign workers do not pay unemployment insurance. Rates apply to salary from minimum wage up to 20 times the regional minimum wage as of 2025.
Common questions
What is the retirement age in Vietnam?
The full state pension age in Vietnam is 61.
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 with mandatory and voluntary components Pillar 1: BHXH mandatory social insurance (PAYG DB); Pillar 2: Supplementary pension fund (voluntary occupational, limited coverage ~20,000 enrolled); Pillar 3: Individual savings and life insurance It includes 3 schemes in our directory.