From 1 January 2026, Vietnam has taken a decisive step to raise the status and compensation of its teaching workforce. The newly enacted Teachers Law places Vietnam teachers’ salaries in the highest tier of the public administrative salary scale and charges the Government with issuing detailed regulations on implementation.
Vietnam teachers’ salaries set at top of public pay scale
The law, effective immediately, frames the change as a recognition of the professional responsibilities and social importance of teachers. It seeks to correct long-standing discrepancies between teacher pay and the demands of the profession. Under the new framework, teachers will no longer be grouped in the mid-range of public sector pay but allocated to the highest band when the Government constructs the revised salary table.
Officials say the shift will be accompanied by a package of allowances. Teachers working in early childhood education, specialist schools, inclusive education, and those serving in remote, mountainous, border, island and ethnic minority areas will receive preferential professional allowances and region-based supplements. The law also clarifies pay arrangements for educators in private institutions, which will continue to follow labour law provisions.
For occupations where multiple special-pay policies overlap, teachers will receive the single highest applicable benefit. The Government is due to publish detailed guidelines on salary grades, allowance rates and transitional arrangements in the coming months.
Officials frame the move as part of a broader strategy to attract and retain qualified personnel in the education sector and to improve teaching quality nationwide.
New urban classification and administrative standards
Also effective 1 January are two National Assembly Standing Committee resolutions that update urban classification and administrative unit standards. The resolutions redefine criteria for cities of special status, type I, II and III urban centres, and set population and area thresholds for provinces, districts and communes.
Key changes include higher population and area thresholds for provincial status, new density and urbanisation ratios for city designation, and distinct standards for mountain and island communities. The resolutions aim to streamline planning, align local development plans with national five-year strategies and promote balanced regional growth.
Market gains close year on a high note
The announcements come as Vietnam’s stock market closed the final trading day of 2025 with robust gains. The VN-Index finished strong at 1,784.49 points, up 39% year to date, with the Vingroup group of stocks a major contributor to the rally. Vingroup’s shares ended 2025 at a level seven times higher than at the start of the year. Forbes reports that chairman Phạm Nhật Vượng saw his net worth rise by about 1.6 billion US dollars in a single day, bringing his estimated wealth to roughly 30 billion US dollars for the year.
Regulatory oversight also featured in year-end activity. The State Securities Commission issued fines to several companies for failures in timely and accurate information disclosure, reinforcing compliance norms as market activity intensifies.
Taken together, the legislative and regulatory changes signal a concerted push by policymakers to strengthen public sector incentives, refine administrative geography and sustain investor confidence as Vietnam enters the new year.
Key Takeaways:
- Vietnam enacts the new Teachers Law, placing Vietnam teachers’ salaries in the highest tier of the public pay scale from 1 January 2026.
- The Government will issue detailed regulations and maintain additional allowances for teachers in disadvantaged and specialised roles.
- New resolutions update urban classification and administrative unit standards, affecting planning and development.
- Vietnam’s stock market closed 2025 strongly, driven by Vingroup, lifting billionaire Phạm Nhật Vượng’s net worth and highlighting broader market momentum.
