FDI firms lead Lunar New Year bonuses in Vietnam

Foreign-invested companies continued to dominate Lunar New Year bonus payments in Vietnam ahead of the Year of the Horse in 2026, with top payouts exceeding VND1.84 billion ($70,000), according to official data.

Local authorities across the country have largely completed reports on Tet bonuses and submitted them to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The overall picture shows a clear divergence among different types of enterprises, with FDI firms once again leading in both salary and bonus levels.

Provinces and cities recording the highest bonuses are largely those with strong economic growth and sustained inflows of FDI throughout 2025.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the highest Lunar New Year bonus this year was paid by an FDI company, amounting to VND1.84 billion (over $70,000) per worker, down about 3.1% from the peak bonus of nearly VND1.9 billion ($72,300) recorded ahead of Tet 2025.

In Hanoi, the highest reported bonus also came from the FDI sector, at VND286 million ($10,890) per worker, while the lowest was around VND1 million (over $38).

In Dong Nai province, the highest Tet bonus was paid by a domestic private enterprise, reaching VND840 million ($31,970). FDI firms in this southern province reported a maximum bonus of VND700 million ($26,640) per worker, while the lowest was about VND4 million ($152).

Bac Ninh, Vietnam’s electronics manufacturing hub and a major destination for foreign investment, also saw FDI firms topping the bonus rankings, with the highest payout reaching VND400 million ($15,200).

In other localities such as Hue, Quang Ngai, Khanh Hoa, and Danang, foreign-invested enterprises similarly recorded high Tet bonuses, with peak levels of VND300 million ($11,420) or more.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said most companies paid bonuses equivalent to at least one month’s salary, with average bonus levels edging up slightly from 2025 and previous years. However, alongside the headline figures, some workers received only bonuses of only a few hundred thousand dong (VND100,000 = $3.8).

FDI inflows hit five-year high

According to the General Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance, total registered foreign direct investment capital in Vietnam in 2025, including newly licensed capital, expanded capital of existing projects, and capital contributions/share acquisitions, reached $38.42 billion, up 0.5% from a year earlier.

Disbursed FDI in 2025 was estimated at $27.62 billion, up 9% year-on-year and the highest level in five years.

Manufacturing and processing remained the backbone of FDI inflows, accounting for $22.88 billion, or 82.8% of total disbursed FDI nationwide.

Analysts say the strong inflow and disbursement of FDI reflects the resilience of Vietnam’s economy despite global headwinds, including U.S. tariff pressures, geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts.

Higher Tet bonuses at foreign-invested firms not only provide a boost for workers, but also highlight differences in financial capacity, business efficiency, and talent retention strategies between FDI firms and other types of enterprises in Vietnam.

The generous bonuses are seen as a key tool for foreign companies to retain workers, reduce post-holiday job-hopping, and ensure production stability in the early months of the year.