Understanding Vietnam's Employee Leave Policies: A Comprehensive Guide for International Employers

Vietnam's labor regulations provide employees with various types of leave entitlements, balancing work commitments with personal and family needs. As global HR professionals, understanding these provisions is crucial for compliant workforce management in Vietnam.

Annual Leave Entitlements in Vietnam

Employees who complete 12 months of service are entitled to a minimum of 12 paid annual leave days, excluding public holidays. Those with shorter service periods receive proportional leave based on months worked. Special provisions apply to specific employee categories: minors, disabled workers, and those in hazardous occupations receive 14 days minimum, while employees in extremely demanding or toxic conditions qualify for at least 16 days. For every five years of continuous service with the same employer, employees gain an additional day of annual leave.

Unused leave can typically be carried forward to the following year, but must be utilized by March 31st or converted to monetary compensation. Upon employment termination, any remaining annual leave is paid out in cash.

Sick Leave Regulations

Vietnam's sick leave system operates through social insurance contributions. Employees must provide medical certification within 48 hours of absence to qualify for paid sick leave. The duration varies based on social insurance contribution history:

Less than 15 years: 30 days annually
15-30 years: 40 days annually
Over 30 years: 60 days annually

Workers in hazardous occupations receive an additional 10 days. Sick pay is provided by social insurance at 75% of the employee's regular salary. For long-term illnesses recognized by the Ministry of Health, employees can access up to 180 days of paid sick leave annually, with extended provisions available at reduced rates (45-65% of salary) if needed.

Personal and Family Leave

Vietnam provides specific leave types for personal circumstances:

Marriage Leave: Employees receive 3 paid days for their own wedding and 1 paid day for a child's wedding. Unpaid leave is available for other family weddings.

Bereavement Leave: Employees receive 3 paid days for the death of a spouse or parent, and 1 unpaid day for other immediate family members.

Adoption Leave: Parents adopting children under 6 months old can take adoption leave, with eligibility requiring 6 months of social insurance contributions in the preceding year.

Maternity and Parental Benefits

Maternity Leave: Female employees with 6 months of social insurance contributions receive 6 months of fully paid maternity leave for single births, with extensions for multiple births. Leave can begin up to 2 months before delivery, with benefits covering 100% of salary through social insurance.

Paternity Leave: Male employees receive 5-14 days of paid leave depending on birth circumstances, with additional provisions if they become the primary caregiver.

Parental Leave: Employees can take up to 20 working days annually until children turn 3, reducing to 15 days until age 7, with social insurance covering 75% of salary.

Additional Female Employee Protections

Vietnam provides specific leave types supporting women's health:

Prenatal check-up leave: 5 sessions with duration based on travel distance
Miscarriage leave: 10-50 days depending on pregnancy stage
Child death leave: 2-4 months based on child's age
Contraception leave: 7-15 days for medical procedures

Public Holidays in Vietnam

Vietnam recognizes several national holidays with full pay entitlement. When holidays fall on weekends, employees receive compensatory days off. International workers additionally receive one day for their traditional New Year and one for their national day.

Holiday	2025 Date
New Year's Day	January 1
Tet Holiday	January 25-February 2*
Hung Kings Commemoration	April 7*
Reunification Day	April 30
Labor Day	May 1
National Day	August 30

*Lunar calendar dates with flexible scheduling options for businesses.

Navigating Compliance with SailGlobal

Understanding Vietnam's complex leave regulations requires specialized expertise. SailGlobal provides comprehensive support for international companies managing Vietnamese workforce compliance, ensuring adherence to local laws while maintaining operational efficiency. Our team helps navigate the intricacies of social insurance requirements, leave management, and employee entitlements specific to the Vietnamese market.

Vietnam Employee Leave Policies 2025: Complete Guide for International Employers