Before you start

A Vietnamese labour contract of 12+ months
A work permit
(Your employer runs enrolment — you don't apply yourself)

Step-by-step

1
Confirm whether you're in scope
From 1 July 2025, foreign workers on 12-month+ labour contracts must join compulsory social insurance — unless you're an intra-company transferee on a foreign payroll or from a country with a bilateral SI agreement.
Via employerWho: Employer + youAt onboarding—
2
Employer enrols & deducts
Your employer registers you and deducts from payroll. Social insurance: 8% employee + 17% employer. Health insurance (BHYT) is enrolled in parallel under the 2024 Health Insurance Law.
Via employerWho: Your employerMonthly8% of salary (employee share)
3
Use public care — or top up privately
BHYT covers public hospitals at subsidised rates. Many expats add private/international insurance for English-speaking and international clinics.
In personWho: You—Private insurance optional/extra

Documents you’ll need

Work permit
Labour contract (12+ months)
Passport / TRC
(Employer handles SI/BHYT registration)

Things most newcomers don’t know

It's mandatory and automatic — not a choice (since July 2025).

Foreign workers on 12-month+ contracts must be in the scheme; it's deducted from payroll. Budget for the 8% employee share rather than expecting take-home to match the headline salary.

Source: EY / PwC / law-firm consensus

You might be exempt — check before contributing.

Intra-company transferees on a foreign payroll, and nationals of countries with a bilateral SI agreement who already contribute abroad, can be exempt. Confirm with HR.

Source: law-firm consensus

Public BHYT ≠ international-clinic access.

BHYT covers public hospitals at subsidised rates, but most expats want private/international clinics (English-speaking, shorter waits) and carry separate private cover for that.

Source: provider consensus

There's a contribution cap, and it moved this year.

Contributions are capped at 20× the statutory reference level, which rose to VND 50.6 million a month on 1 July 2026 (from VND 46.8 million). Very high earners don't pay 8% on the entire salary — but the ceiling is re-set whenever the reference level is, so check the current figure rather than the one in an older payroll guide.

Source: PwC / Vietnam Social Security

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming public BHYT gets you into international clinics
Not budgeting for the 8% employee deduction
Missing an exemption you qualify for (intra-company transfer / treaty country)

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

Make it your personal checklist

Globe Quest turns this into a tracked, AI-personalized plan for Ho Chi Minh City — timed to your move date, with reminders so nothing slips. Free to start.