Vietnam’s first legislation outlining the ‘the legal status, rights and obligations of, and policies toward, teachers’ has been adopted by the National Assembly.
Effective across Vietnam as of 1st January 2026, the new legislation, The Law on Teachers is a ‘major step forward in honouring and developing the contingent of teachers, and improving education quality nationwide’. The legislation is broken down into nine chapters with 42 articles, that are designed to:
- provide legal status and protection for the ‘reputation, honour and dignity of teachers’
- set professional standards to improve and standardise teaching quality
- increase salary and income
- encourage increased recruitment and retention
- incentivise teachers to work in disadvantaged areas for more equitable education across regions
- provide better opportunities for professional development and personal support
- improve teacher welfare
- standardise teaching qualifications
- give the education sector more autonomy in the recruitment and employment of teachers.
The legislation focuses on respect for the profession – valuing and supporting teachers’ skills and contributions, empowering education institutions, and providing incentives to make teaching a more desirable profession. However, it does hold teachers to account by ensuring that all teachers, ‘bear the responsibility of upholding professional ethics’. The standards set out for teachers explain how they should interact with students and their families as well as their colleagues, requiring teachers to ‘lead by example’ in both teaching and ‘social behaviours’. The standards will also set out the requirements for areas such as training, skills etc.
Regarding salary, teachers’ salaries will be ‘ranked highest in the administrative and non-business salary scale.’ There are also other benefits that will be available to teachers such as:
- subsidies
- regular health checks and occupational health care
- access to official housing
- travel expenses support
- earlier retirement age (if desired) for those in early childhood education institutions
- other training support.
The law also says that “Preferential treatment policies will also be provided for teachers with high qualifications, exceptional talent, special aptitudes or advanced professional skills, as well as those working in extremely difficult areas or in essential or critical fields.”
Learn more about the Law on Teachers.
Reference
LuatVietnam (2025) ‘Law on Teacher expected to raise welfare for teachers, education quality’. Available at: https://english.luatvietnam.vn/legal-news/law-on-teachers-expected-to-raise-welfare-for-teachers-education-quality-4729-105857-article.html (Accessed: 05 January 2026)
