Vietnam

Country Fact Sheet

2017

DisclaimerIOM has carried out the gathering of information with great care. IOM provides information

at its best knowledge and in all conscience. Nevertheless, IOM cannot assume to be held accountable for the correctness of the information provided. Furthermore, IOM shall not be

liable for any conclusions made or any results, which are drawn from the information provided by IOM.

Credit: IOM 2005

I. CHECKLIST FOR VOLUNTARY RETURN

II. HEALTH CARE1. General Information2. Medical treatment and medication

III. LABOR MARKET AND EMPLOYMENT1. General Information2. Ways/assistance to find employment3. Unemployment assistance4. Further education possibilities and vocational trainings

IV. HOUSING1. Housing situation2. Way/assistance to find accommodation3. Social grants for housing

V. SOCIAL WELFARE1. Social welfare system2. Pension system3. Vulnerable Groups

VI. EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM1. General Information2. Costs, loans, and stipends3. Approval and verification of foreign diplomas

VII. CONCRETE SUPPORT FOR RETURENEES1. Reintegration assistance programs2. Support to start income generating activities

VIII. CONTACT INFORMATION AND USEFUL LINKS

2You can find further information here:

https://www.returningfromgermany.de/en/countries/vietnam

Before Return

The returnee should:

✓ prepare travel documents with a validpassport or laissez-passer

✓ request documents from the Germanauthorities that might be needed later on,such as birth certificate, marriage certificate,divorce certificate, educational certificates,etc. issued in Germany.

✓ get information concerning the arrival at theairport and the onward journey. There areshuttle buses from the airport to the citycenter and bus stations for onwardtransportation to other provinces and taxisfor specific transport demands.

✓ there are no vaccinations required forVietnamese to enter the country

✓ find a temporary accommodation

I. Checklist for Voluntary Return

After Return

The returnee should:

✓ carry out residence book registration.

✓ register his/her children up to 6 years oldwith free health insurance by thegovernment. Contact: People’s Committee atcommune/precinct level, where the returneehas the residence registration. The birthcertificate of the child is required

✓ apply for social welfare

✓ contact local schools or other educationalinstitutions for the education of the children

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Credit: Muse Moahmmed 2016

II. Health Care

1. General information

Vietnam’s health care system is divided incompulsory health insurance and voluntaryhealth insurance.

Compulsory health insurance:Employees of companies or organizationsparticipating in the compulsory social insuranceneed to join compulsory health insurance. (forthe fees: see Table 1). Pupils and students alsoparticipate in the compulsory health insurance.Participants paying compulsory social insurance,health insurance, and unemployment insurance atthe same time

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Employers (%) Employees (%)

Total (%)

Social

insurance

Health insurance Unemployment

insurance

Social insurance Health

insurance

Unemployment

insurance

18 3 1 8 1,5 1 32,5

Table 1 : % = % of the monthly salaries or allowance of the employees.

Voluntary health insurance:This insurance is open to all members of onehousehold except those paying compulsoryhealth insurance.

Children up to 6 years old are provided with freehealth insurance by the government. Contact thepeople’s committee where registered for the freehealth insurance card, birth certificate andresidence registration documents of the child areneeded.

The first person in the household pays 4.5% ofthe general minimal salary each month; second,third, and fourth person pay 90%, 80%, 70% of thefees paid by the first person; fifth person pays60%. Minimum salaries are defined and adjustedby the government. For registration it isnecessary to contact agencies of social insuranceat people’s committee at the registered area.

Cre

dit: : M

ikel F

lamm

2013

II. Health Care

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Procedure of admission:Health care service are open to everyone;national ID and health insurance card arerequired. If the beneficiary has no insurance,he/she has to bear all costs.

Availability and costs of medication:Most of the common medical generics areavailable inVietnam.

Costs and Benefits:In general, 80% of the costs are covered byinsurance. Costs and benefits provided by privateinsurance companies offering health carepackages, may differ.

2. Medical treatment and availabilityand costs of medication

Please see lists of hospitals in regional centersunder VIII. Provincial hospitals specialized intreating serious diseases, offer all essentialdiagnostic services and are equipped withnecessary facilities.

III. Labor Market and EmploymentI. General information

The employed labours over 15 years areestimated at 53.3 million people in the firstquarter this year, including 22.5 million peopleworking in agriculture, forestry and aquaculturesectors, accounting for 42.3%; 13 million peopleworking in construction and industry sectors,accounting for 24.4%; 17.8 million peopleworking in service sector, accounting for 33.3%.

The formation of the ASEAN EconomicCommunity (AEC) in 2015 is considered acomprehensive economic integration to developa free trade and labor market between membersof ASEAN.

It is expected to result in the growth of theVietnam GDP by 14.5% and a growth of thelabor market by 10.5% by 2025, according to theforecast of International Labor Organization(ILO) and the Asia Development Bank (ADB).Currently the GDP per capita amounts to $2,073(nominal, 2014 est.) and $6,100 (PPP, 2015 est.).

Sou

rce:G

enera

lSta

tisticsO

fficeof

Vietn

am

Indicator 1st quarter 2016

Labor force (million people) 54.4

Employment (million people) 53.3

Rate of employment in

agriculture, forestry and

fisheries sector in total

employment (%)

42.3

Unemployment at working age

(million people)1.12

Unemployment rate at working

age (%)2.23

Urban unemployment rate (%)

Rural unemployment rate (%)

2.96

1.87

Youth unemployment rate (15-24

years old) (%)6.47

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III. Labor Market and Employment

The participants have:• paid unemployment insurance fees for 24 to

36 months before the labor contracttermination.

• a submitted application for unemploymentallowance within 3 months after contracttermination.

Access: All districts have offices for the registration ofunemployment assistance (in Job PlacementCenter or Department of Labour, Invalids andSocial Affairs at district level) to obtain benefits.

Required documents:• Application form• Copy of ID card (the applicant must show the

original for checking)• Copy of labor contract• Copy of the social insurance book indicating

unemployment insurance payment (theapplicant must show the original for checking)

4. Further education possibilities and vocational trainings

Vocational training centers are available in allprovinces. However, many companies provide on-the-job training by themselves after recruitment.

The overall average wage that worker get per dayin manufacturing, mining, and plantation sectorsequals about 272 IND/day.

The unemployment rate among the youth (from15 to 24 years old) is estimated at 6.5%. The ratein urban areas is estimated at 9.5%. While therate in rural areas is at around 5.0%.

2.Ways/Assistance to find employment

Public employment assistance centers areavailable in all provinces. Private services alsoexist in big cities. Vacant positions are announcedin mass media.

• www.vietnamwork.com• www.careerlink.vn• www.mywork.com

3. Unemployment assistanceEmployees with non-fixed term contracts orfixed term contracts of at least 3 months, have toparticipate in the unemployment insurance.

Credit IOM 2005

1. Housing Situation

Costs and facilities of accommodation can differ.They range from VND 1,500,000 with one roomin basic conditions and a shared bathroom. Toabout USD 2,000-2,500 in a modern house of200 square meters with a full complex of publicfacilities environment.

The average price for electricity for a householdconsumption is 1,747 VND/kWh. However, pricesare applied to those who rent apartments only.Those who rent 1 room in dormitory businesshave to pay the electricity at business rate, whichis about 50% higher.

Prices for water for each household are at about5,973 VND/m3 (for the first 10m3), 7,052VND/m3 (from 10 to 20m3), 8,669 VND/m3(from 20 to 30m3) and 15,929 VND/m3 (from30m3 above). The price for service business is22,068VND/m3.

There are plenty of accommodations for renteverywhere at different price range.

Housing facilities for returnees / social housing:There is no social housing available for returnees.

2. Ways/Assistance to find accommodationThere are services assisting at the search forhousing depending on your demands with certainlevels of fees. Most of the services are privatebusinesses. Houses and apartment for rent areadvertised in newspapers, websites or leaflets.

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IV. Housing

Necessary documents: • ID card• form with the “Announcement on changes in

residence book and resident number”• documents serving as a tool to prove legal

ownership of real property: upon differentdwelling houses, proper papers of realproperty shall be presented as regulatedabove

Other papers directly relevant to specific casesas follows:• marriage certificate (in case where wife and

husband live together). In case of absence ofmarriage certificate, birth certificate of theirchildren can be presented instead

• birth certificate (provided that they want toregister permanent residence for newborn)

• decisions on job transfer, recruitment, returnfrom military service, retirement or jobdiscontinuation

• license granted by Immigration Department(depending on specific cases for the purposeof presentation: repatriation certificate orrecommendation letter)

• residence book or collective residenceregistration certificate or identification card (ifany)

3. Social grants for housing

There are no social grants for housing available.

V. Social Welfare1. Social Welfare System

Monthly social relief allowances are provided tofollowing groups:• children less than 16 years old and without

support• citizens between 16 to 22 and without

support but under schooling, vocationaltraining, college, or first decree education

• HIV affected children of poor families andHIV affected people of poor familieswithout labour ability

• single parents of poor families, with childrenunder 16 or aged between 16 and 22 underschooling, vocational training, college, andfirst decree education

• elders above 60 without financial support• elders above 80 without pension or any

monthly allowance

• eligible disabled children defined byregulations

An application and presentation of the currentsituation at the people’s committee and theDistrict people’s committee is required.

Access:There is no specific social welfare forreturnees, except those under categoriesmentioned above.Required documents• Filled form• Copy of household registration or

certification of commune police• Copy of birth certificate, in case of

children• Certificate of HIV infection, in case of HIV

affected• Copy of birth certificate of children, in

case of poor single parents.

Benefits and Costs:There are no costs. Benefits are VND 270.000multiply with 1-3, depending on specificcategories.

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Credit: IOM 2005

V. Social Welfare

Assistance for vulnerable persons:

Government regulations on the assistance tovulnerable groups include the followingprovisions.

Decision 29 dated 26/4/2014: on credits for HIVaffected people and families, post-rehabilitationpeoples, addicted people under treatment ofalternative drugs, former sex workers,implemented by provincial Bank of Social Policieswith the maximum loans of VND20,000,000/individual or VND 30,000,000/family.The loan should be used for husbandry, fruitcultivation, purchasing vehicles and equipment forsmall businesses, vocational training, etc.

44/2016/TT-BLĐTBXH, dated 12/2/2017: ofMinistry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs onvocational training assistance to people whocomplete their sentences.

Law on Natural Calamities Prevention No33/2013/QH13 on assistance to groups affectedby natural disasters. The assistance of projects arevaried are valid during the project durations only.The organisations providing assistance tovulnerable groups are Ministry of Labour, Invalidsand Social Affrairs (MoLISA), mass organisations,Red Cross, UN agencies including theInternational Organisation for Migration (IOM),IOs, and NGOs.

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2. Pension System

Vietnam’s pension system is composed of acompulsory social insurance and a voluntarysocial insurance.Target groups include:• Retirees: men at 60 and women at 55 years• Retirement age applicable to those who

undertake difficult or hazardous jobs orwork in mountainous, bordering areas orremote islands and other exceptional casesshall be regulated by the government

• Any person paying social insurance premiumfor at least 20 years

Costs:Compulsory social insurance: Employees workingon a contract basis for a period of at least 3months or unlimited time according to the legalregulations of labor.Fees: See above,Table 1.Voluntary social insurance: anyone aged from 15willing to participate.Fees are at least equal to the general minimalsalary.

Benefits:Monthly pension allowance is equal to 75% ofaverage monthly salaries of whole periods of timepaying social insurance. This amount will bereduced by 1% for every year of early retirement.An one time allowance is paid to those payingsocial insurance only 3 months to less than 20years. The allowance is equivalent to 1.5 monthof average monthly salaries of whole periods oftime paying social insurance.

3. Vulnerable Groups

There are projects to support different targetvulnerable groups. The assistance variesdepending on the projects. There are governmentand projects providing assistance to vulnerablegroups such as the poor, disable, minorities,women, children, elders, people living with HIV,drug addicted people, sex workers, homosexual,bisexual, transsexual, population affected bynatural disasters and climate change, traffickedvitims, migrants, etc. The regulations on theaccess to public services are applicable to all withno special rules applied for vulnerable groups.

1. General Information

An application for public school is only possible ifthe requirements of the previous classes werepassed. The enrolment at elite schools requiresto meet the schools’ individual criteria. Forhigher education, students must pass entranceexaminations.

Access:Necessary documents for returningpupils/students• school reports of education abroad. These

should be notarized translated intoVietnamese

• Birth certificate (notarised and translated intoVietnamese if issued abroad)

• The universities in Vietnam decide bythemselves on the equivalence of the subjectsthe students have taken abroad in comparisonwith those which the local university providesand decide further subjects or semesters thestudents will need to take in order tocomplete the relevant education inVietnam.

VI. Educational System

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Credit: Muse Mohammed 2016

Educational Level Age

Kindergarten

1-6

(some accept under 12

months)

Primary Level

Primary School 6 – 10

Secondary Level

Lower secondary school 10 – 14

High School 14 – 19

Higher Education

e.g. College, University, Professional

School etc.

From

19

VI. Educational System

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2. Cost, loans and stipendsCosts vary between public, private andinternational schools, and institutions. The gapbetween these types are large. Public schools aresubsidized so that the costs are very low. Privateschools are affordable for higher and middleincome class. The international ones are asexpensive as other international institutions inother countries.

Access and requirements to stipends and/orloans for covering tuition:▪ eligible to students of state universities,

colleges, business schools who are infinancially difficult conditions

▪ loan with a maximum of VND 1,100,000 permonth

▪ interest rates are about 0.6% per month▪ the duration of the loan usually starts and

ends with the term at school

▪ payment right after receiving the first monthlysalary of the first income but not exceed 12months after the end of their education term

▪ overdue interest rates are usually130% of theborrowing interest rate

Stipends for minority students:▪ Pupils and students who come from ethnic

minorities studying in public schools anduniversities are entitled to be granted a policyscholarship and social welfare.

3. Approval and verification of foreigndiplomas

Foreign diplomas and certificates are accepted inVietnamese labour markets.

VII. Concrete Support for Returnees

1. Reintegration assistance programs

The International Organization for Migration(IOM) provides reintegration assistance/grant toirregular migrants voluntarily returned underIOM AVRR programs to ensure the sustainabilityof returns. IOM and partners provide migrantswith socio-economic support to promote theirself-sufficiency and contributions to their localcommunities.

The IOM assistance includes*:▪ post-arrival reception arrangements▪ onward travel to the final destination▪ temporary accommodation, if needed▪ short- and/or medium-term reintegration

assistance. Including business set-ups,vocational training, formal education, medicalassistance, and other tailor-made assistanceaccording to the returnees’ special needs

*vary regarding different programs of the AVRRprojects and resources made available by donors

2. Support to start income generatingactivities

Besides IOM, there is no official scheme tosupport returnees.

3. Financial and administrative support

AGRIBANK - Vietnam Bank for Agricultureand Rural Development regularly providessoft loans for income generating activities topeople with financial difficulties.

VIII. Contact Information and Useful Links

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Medical Facilities:

VIII. Contact Information and Useful Links

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Address: Floor 12A, CMC Building,

Duy Tân Str., Hà Nội

E-mail: hanoi@iom.int

Tel: (84 4) 7366 258; Fax: (84 4) 7366 259

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International, Non-Governmental, Humanitarian Organizations

You can find further information here:

https://www.returningfromgermany.de/en/countries/vietnam