Unemployment benefit in Vietnam explained
Vietnamese employees and employers each pay 1% of salary into unemployment insurance. From 1 January 2026 the scheme is governed by the Law on Employment No. 74/2025/QH15.
1. Number of benefit months
- 12 to 36 months of contributions: 3 months of benefit.
- Each additional full 12 months: +1 month of benefit.
- Maximum: 12 months of benefit.
- Leftover months that do not make a full extra year are carried forward to your next claim.
2. Monthly amount
Monthly benefit = 60% × Average insured salary of the last 6 months
The benefit is capped at 5 times the regional minimum wage that applied in your last month of contributions, for all employees. Regional minimum wages from 1 January 2026 follow Decree 293/2025/ND-CP.
3. Example
An employee in Region I has 40 unused contribution months and an average insured salary of 8,500,000 ₫.
- Months of benefit: the first 36 months give 3 months; the remaining 4 months are carried forward.
- Monthly benefit: 60% × 8,500,000 = 5,100,000 ₫ (below the 26,550,000 ₫ cap).
- Total: 5,100,000 × 3 = 15,300,000 ₫.
4. How to apply
- Application form for unemployment benefit.
- Your termination decision or contract liquidation record.
- Social insurance book (or confirmation of contribution history).
- Citizen ID card. Apply at the Employment Service Centre within 3 months of leaving.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for unemployment benefit in Vietnam?
You must (1) end your labour contract lawfully, (2) have paid unemployment insurance for at least 12 months within the 24 months before leaving, and (3) apply at the local Employment Service Centre within 3 months of the termination date.
Can foreigners claim unemployment benefit in Vietnam?
Generally no. Foreign employees working in Vietnam under a work permit are not required to pay unemployment insurance, so they are not covered by the scheme. This calculator is for Vietnamese employees.
What is the maximum monthly benefit?
The benefit is 60% of your average insured salary for the last 6 months, capped at 5 times the regional minimum wage. In 2026 the cap is 26,550,000 ₫ per month in Region I. Since 2026 the same cap applies to all employees, including the state sector.
What happens if I apply after 3 months?
You lose the benefit for this period of unemployment, but your contribution months are carried forward and counted the next time you become unemployed.