Vietnam Just Made Teachers Its Highest-Paid Civil Servants

In June 2025, Vietnam's National Assembly passed the Teacher Law with an overwhelming 94 percent majority, marking a turning point in the country's education history. The law's core promise: teacher salaries will be the highest in the entire civil service system. Starting January 1, 2026, about 1.6 million educators — from kindergarten teachers to university lecturers — are getting a meaningful raise.

Why does this matter? In Vietnam, "respect for teachers" isn't just a slogan. It's woven into the culture. Every November 20, students and parents celebrate Teachers' Day with flowers and gifts, and educators hold a revered place in society. But for decades, that respect never showed up on their paychecks.

The old reality: dignity without a living wage

A fresh primary school teacher in Vietnam earned the equivalent of about USD 280 per month. Even senior teachers rarely topped USD 800. In expensive cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, that barely covered rent and basic living costs.

Many teachers took on private tutoring jobs to make ends meet. Some left the profession entirely for better-paying industries. Official statistics show roughly 120,000 teaching positions remain unfilled across the country — a quiet crisis that the education system could no longer ignore.

How the new system works

The reform introduces "special salary coefficients" — essentially multipliers applied on top of existing pay scales. Kindergarten teachers get a coefficient of 1.25, an immediate 25 percent raise. Primary and secondary school teachers get 1.15, or a 15 percent bump. Special education teachers receive the highest multiplier at 1.3.

For a mid-career primary school teacher earning about VND 10 million per month, the new system pushes pay to VND 11.5 million — the equivalent of nearly two extra months of salary per year.

Beyond the paycheck

The real significance goes beyond numbers. Vietnamese teachers were long described as holding an "iron rice bowl, but a poor one." Now, the law explicitly mandates that teacher pay must top all other civil service categories, codifying their professional value in statute.

The law also extends protections to private school teachers for the first time, granting them the same professional status as their public school counterparts. It introduces legal safeguards for teachers' reputations, banning the spread of unverified accusations before official investigations conclude.

UNESCO called it "an impressive milestone in legislation."

The hard question: where does the money come from?

Over a million teachers stand to benefit. Across-the-board raises mean a significant jump in government spending. The Ministry of Education is drafting implementation guidelines, but the final plan still needs central government approval.

Some local governments are already strapped for cash. Whether they can deliver full and timely funding will determine if this reform actually works on the ground.