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Workers at foreign-invested enterprises often receive higher Tet bonuses. (Illustrative photo: VGP)

As the 2025 Lunar New Year approaches, workers across Vietnam are beginning to receive their annual Tet bonuses, reflecting a year of hard work in various industries.

For many, these bonuses are essential to holiday shopping and expenses. However, while some celebrate significant payouts, others are left struggling with modest rewards.

Hopeful expectations for Tet bonuses

For the majority of workers, Tet bonuses play a crucial role in their holiday preparations.

Le Thi Thuong, who works at a public hospital in Hanoi, shared that her workplace recently announced an improved bonus this year due to better business performance.

“In previous years, the hospital gave Tet bonuses equivalent to 1-2 months of basic salary. This year, we received an additional VND 5 million ($210) for the Gregorian New Year and three months' worth of income for the Lunar New Year,” Thuong said. With a total bonus of nearly VND 30 million ($1,260), her family is better equipped to cover Tet expenses.

Nguyen Mai Phuong, an employee of a Japanese company based in the Nam Thang Long Industrial Zone in Hanoi, also expressed joy over her company's Tet bonus.

Her employer typically offers bonuses equivalent to 7-8 months’ salary annually, but this year, due to increased orders and improved business performance, bonuses rose to 9-10 months’ salary.

With a managerial salary of VND 60 million ($2,520) per month, Phuong's Tet bonus amounts to nearly VND 600 million ($25,200). She shared that the substantial bonus will not only cover her family's Tet expenses but also provide funds for her children’s education and a family vacation in 2025.

Tet bonuses fall short for some

While some workers celebrate large bonuses, others face disappointment.

Nguyen Thi Hong, an employee at a garment factory in Thanh Hoa, revealed that her company has struggled to secure orders, resulting in irregular work schedules and modest monthly earnings of VND 4-5 million ($170-210).

Due to these challenges, the company announced a uniform Tet bonus of just VND 1 million ($42) per worker.

“While the effort to provide a bonus is appreciated given the company's difficulties, this amount hardly helps with Tet expenses when there are so many costs to cover,” Hong said.

Nguyen Thu Giang, director of a construction equipment trading company in Hanoi, explained that her company has faced similar hardships due to poor sales.

“To retain workers, we’ve continued paying salaries despite reduced operations, but bonuses depend on revenue,” she noted. This year, the company managed to offer a Tet bonus equivalent to half a month’s salary, around VND 5-7 million ($210-295) depending on the position.

Broader trends in Tet bonuses

Statistics from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs show that the average Gregorian New Year bonus for 2025 is VND 1.46 million ($61), 79% of the previous year’s figure. However, the average Lunar New Year bonus increased by 13% compared to 2024, reaching VND 7.72 million ($325).

The highest Lunar New Year bonus of 2025 was VND 1.908 billion ($80,000), awarded to a senior manager at a foreign-invested enterprise (FDI) in the electronics and IT sector in Ho Chi Minh City.

Despite being non-mandatory, many companies continue to offer Tet bonuses to retain employees and motivate them for the year ahead.

However, 2024 remained challenging for several sectors, particularly tourism, real estate, and services, which struggled with inventory surpluses and sluggish demand. Consequently, many businesses faced constraints in providing substantial bonuses.

In contrast, sectors like e-commerce, technology, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy maintained stable growth. Companies in these industries are expected to offer competitive bonuses, although not as high as in previous years.

Vu Diep