Vietnam to Apply New Base Salary for Social Insurance from July 2026; Gold Quality Rules Proposed

Vietnam is set to implement a new base salary of 2.53 million VND (approximately $100 USD) per month for calculating social insurance contributions starting July 1, 2026. This adjustment will affect contributions for social insurance, health insurance, unemployment insurance, and occupational accident and disease insurance.

The new base salary applies to individuals whose salaries are determined by state regulations and those whose social insurance contributions are linked to the base salary. For those participating in voluntary social insurance, the highest monthly income used for contribution calculations will be capped at 20 times the new base salary, amounting to 50.6 million VND per month. This change also impacts individuals whose health insurance contributions are determined by the base salary, including those covered by the social insurance agency, state budget, or receiving state subsidies.

In parallel, the Ministry of Science and Technology is seeking public feedback on draft regulations aimed at enhancing the management of gold quality. The proposed rules cover gold jewelry, art, bars, and raw materials involved in production, import, and circulation. Imported gold bars and raw materials must meet a minimum purity of 99.5% gold. The regulations also specify quality standards and permissible error margins for testing gold content, ensuring that products adhere to declared standards and legal requirements.