In 2025 labour and social insurance policies in Vietnam will see a gradual increase in retirement age while the eligibility age for social pensions will decrease. These moves will benefit more senior citizens as the country ages rapidly.
Vietnam’s social insurance law 2024 has also introduced measures to reduce the eligibility age for social pension benefits, offering more support for senior citizens.
The retirement age, aligning with the roadmap outlined in existing labour and social insurance laws will continue to be increased in phases.
The retirement age in Vietnam will be gradually increased to 62 years for men by 2028 and 60 years for women by 2035 under the country’s labour code of 2019 and government decree No. 135/2020. Since 1 January 2021, the retirement age for workers in normal labour conditions has been increased incrementally, starting at 60 years and three months for men and 55 years and four months for women. Each year, the retirement age is increased by three months for men and four months for women until the target ages are reached.
In 2025 male workers will retire at 61 years and three months, while women will retire at 56 years and eight months. Workers in specific vocations, such as those in hazardous environments or economically disadvantaged areas, may retire up to five years earlier than the standard age, provided they meet certain conditions.
Beginning 1 July 2025, the new social insurance law will also reduce the minimum contribution period for pension eligibility from 20 years to 15 years. This change will ensure that workers who have contributed to social insurance for 15 years or more can receive a pension once they reach the required retirement age.
Female workers with 15 years of contributions will receive 45% of their average wage, while male workers with 15 years of contributions will receive 40%.
The Social Insurance Law 2024 has also introduced new provisions for social pension benefits. From 1 July 2025, Vietnamese citizens aged between 70 and 75 from poor or near-poor households, who do not receive pensions or monthly social insurance benefits, will qualify for government-funded social pension benefits.