For many workers, the bonus is more than a 13th-month salary. It is seen as recognition of their contribution and a signal of whether a company intends to retain its workforce in an increasingly competitive labour market.

Leader of the Ha Phong Export Garment JSC trade union presents Tet gifts to disadvantaged union members.

Nguyen Thi Tinh, Chairwoman of the trade union and head of production at ASKEY Vietnam Technology Co Ltd in Que Vo Industrial Park said Tet bonuses are the most frequently discussed topic in the weeks before the Lunar New Year.

This year, ASKEY will pay a 13th-month salary to about 1,600 workers, based on company profits, with an average bonus of 6 million VND per person. Employees with outstanding performance ratings will receive additional rewards under different assessment levels, she said.

To strengthen cohesion and morale, the company and its trade union have also organised activities such as a trade union festival, year-end celebrations and a lucky draw programme. With sponsorship funding of more than 600 million VND, workers received practical gifts alongside entertainment after a year of demanding work.

Despite headwinds facing the global garment and textile industry, Ha Phong Export Garment JSC in Hiep Hoa commune has continued to maintain production in 2025. The company reported that average monthly income for workers reached nearly 12 million VND.

For the 2026 Lunar New Year, the company is allocating a significant budget for Tet bonuses, maintaining its long-standing approach that “workers are the most valuable asset”. The average bonus this year stands at 14.5 million VND per worker, about 3% higher than last year.

For workers, Tet bonuses help cover travel costs to their hometowns, household expenses and preparations for the most important holiday of the year. For employers, the bonuses are part of a broader human resources strategy, especially at a time when labour shortages and post-holiday turnover remain a risk.

Many companies have chosen a cautious approach, avoiding a race to offer the highest bonuses. Instead, bonus levels are calculated based on length of service, job performance and overall production results. This helps workers see a direct link between individual effort and corporate recognition.

Pham Van Trung, Chairman of the trade union at Goertek Vina Science and Technology Co Ltd in Que Vo Industrial Park, said labour volatility often rises before and after the Tet holiday. While companies need to recruit thousands of workers to meet production demands, employees are also deciding whether to return after the long break or seek new jobs.

“In that context, welfare policies, including Tet bonuses, become a decisive factor,” Trung said. “Taking care of workers’ lives, especially during Tet, has been systematically implemented for many years as part of our goal to stabilise the workforce in the long term”.

Goertek Vina currently employs more than 63,000 workers, with average monthly income of around 11 million VND. For the upcoming Tet holiday, in addition to trade union gift packages worth 400,000 VND each, workers are expected to receive a 13th-month salary equivalent to one month of basic pay, or about 5.1 million VND per person.

Across Bac Ninh province, more than 26,000 businesses are operating, providing jobs for about 820,000 workers. Tran Van Ha, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Home Affairs, said Tet bonuses are not mandatory under Vietnam’s Labour Code, meaning companies may choose whether or not to provide them.

The trade union of ASKEY Vietnam Technology Co Ltd presents Tet gifts to worker.

However, he said firms should consider their production and business performance to offer bonuses, regardless of size, as a way to motivate workers and encourage long-term commitment.

Labour authorities note that not all employers fully understand the nature of Tet bonuses or handle them appropriately. Reviews of collective work stoppages toward the end of the year show that many disputes stem from bonus-related issues, including unsatisfactory bonus levels, sudden changes to bonus policies, late or poorly timed announcements, payment in multiple instalments, or withholding bonuses from eligible workers who leave before the payout date.

Without timely dialogue and clarification, such grievances can escalate into labour conflicts and collective strikes, officials said.

To minimise disputes, the Department of Home Affairs is working with the provincial Industrial Parks Management Board, the provincial Labour Federation, social insurance agencies and local authorities to closely monitor businesses, assess potential risks and propose timely solutions.

More than 1,000 attend “Homeland Spring – Great Unity Tet Osaka 2026”

The “Homeland Spring – Great Unity Tet Osaka 2026” programme was held at Ikuno Park in Osaka, Japan, on January 4, attracting more than 1,000 participants.

 

Hanoi to deliver nearly 90,000 Tet gifts to needy people

The Hanoi VFF Committee will advise on and coordinate Tet visits and gift-giving activities by central and city leaders; organise working delegations to deliver gifts under the city’s unified programme; and facilitate connections with businesses and benefactors to mobilise additional support for disadvantaged people.

 

Ensuring all union members and workers enjoy Tet

BAC NINH - With the theme “Warm Tet, grateful spring to the Party,” trade unions across the northern province of Bac Ninh are stepping up a wide range of practical and meaningful activities to care for union members and workers ahead of the Lunar New Year 2026. Priority is being given to financial support in order to share difficulties and provide encouragement for workers facing hardship.

Government to provide cash gifts to social policy beneficiaries ahead of Tet 2026

People who rendered meritorious services to the revolution, those entitled to social protection, and social pensioners as defined by respective national ordinances, and decrees, together with orphans without guardians or those living in orphanages will receive a cash gift of 400,000 VND (15.2 USD) per person on the occasion of the 14th National Party Congress and the 2026 Lunar New Year (the Year of the Horse).

 

Vietnam Red Cross Society launches Tet gift campaign

The campaign aims to mobilise social resources to support 1.5 million disadvantaged individuals, including people with disabilities, the elderly, orphaned children and those affected by natural disasters, for the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

 

Binh Dien Spring Flower Market offers festive gateway to Tet 2026

More than a flower market, the event showcases the traditions of southern flower-growing villages, offering visitors an immersive Tet experience.