EOR by country · France
Hiring in Vietnam from France.
How French companies employ people in Vietnam without an entity: tax, payments, time zone, staff and cost.
Updated 22 October 2026 · Written and checked by Nhân Kiệt's payroll and employment-law team (labour leasing licence 029/LĐTBXH-GP, employing people in Vietnam since 2009) · About 4 min read · General information, not legal or tax advice
Short answer
How can a French company hire employees in Vietnam?
A French company can employ staff in Vietnam without a Vietnamese entity by using an employer of record such as Nhân Kiệt, which signs the labour contract, runs payroll in dong, pays social insurance and income tax, and charges US$99–199 per employee a month plus VAT. France and Vietnam have a double tax agreement in force. Working-time rules differ: Vietnam allows up to 48 hours a week rather than 35, with overtime capped at 40 hours a month; annual leave is 12 working days rather than five weeks; and a 13th-month salary is customary but not required unless promised. Vietnam is five hours ahead of France in summer and six in winter. French companies often hire customer-support, software, tourism and back-office staff this way.
Key takeaways
- Nhân Kiệt employs your Vietnam team for US$99–199 per employee a month plus VAT, with no entity needed.
- France and Vietnam have a double tax agreement in force.
- Normal hours are up to 48 a week, with overtime capped at 40 hours a month.
- Annual leave is 12 working days plus 12 public holidays in 2026, compared with five weeks in France.
- A 13th-month salary is customary in Vietnam but binding only once promised.
How it works
Hiring in Vietnam from France through an EOR.
Your company in France signs one service agreement with Nhân Kiệt. Nhân Kiệt signs a bilingual Vietnamese–English labour contract with each person, runs payroll in dong, pays social insurance and personal income tax, and applies for work permits for foreign hires. You choose the people, set salaries and direct their daily work, and pay one monthly invoice covering salary, statutory contributions and the service fee. Nothing is registered in Vietnam in your company’s name.
Tax
Tax treaty and tax exposure.
France and Vietnam have a double tax agreement in force, which sets the permanent establishment test for French companies: keep contract signing and pricing in France. Employees resident in Vietnam pay Vietnamese income tax at 5% to 35%, withheld monthly by Nhân Kiệt. Employee data shared with headquarters falls under both the GDPR and Vietnam’s Personal Data Protection Law, in force since 1 January 2026.
Paying
Paying from France.
Nhân Kiệt sends one invoice a month covering salary, statutory contributions and the fee, and French clients usually pay by international transfer in the currency agreed in the service agreement. Employees are paid in dong and join Vietnamese social, health and unemployment insurance.
Working together
Time zone and holidays.
Vietnam is five hours ahead of France in summer and six in winter, so a 9:00 start in Paris is 14:00 or 15:00 in Vietnam. Support teams covering French customers often work late shifts, which must respect Vietnam’s rules on working time and night work, paid at a premium. Easter, Ascension, 14 July and Christmas are working days in Vietnam.
People
Staff, contracts and work permits.
Normal working time in Vietnam is capped at 8 hours a day and 48 hours a week, and overtime at 40 hours a month and 200 hours a year in most sectors, paid at 150% or more. Annual leave is 12 working days, compared with five weeks in France. A 13th-month salary is common, usually paid before Tết, but it is not required by law unless promised in the contract or a bonus policy.
See also social insurance 2026, personal income tax 2026 and work permits.
Worked example
What one hire costs.
A customer-support lead on ₫24,000,000 a month. Employer contributions for a Vietnamese employee are 23.5% — 21.5% social, health and unemployment insurance plus the 2% trade-union fee — or ₫5,640,000, so the monthly employment cost is ₫29,640,000. Add Nhân Kiệt’s fee of US$99–199 plus VAT. The salary is illustrative; use the employer cost calculator for your own figures.
Common mistakes
Mistakes French companies make in Vietnam.
- Running late support shifts without night-work pay and working-time rules in the contract.
- Promising a 13th month in an offer without realising it then becomes binding.
- Paying people as contractors when the work looks like employment under Vietnam’s Labour Code.
- Copying home-country contracts and policies instead of a Vietnamese labour contract.
- Letting Vietnam staff conclude sales contracts, which can create a permanent establishment.
Questions
Hiring in Vietnam from France: FAQ
Do France and Vietnam have a tax treaty?
Yes. A double tax agreement between France and Vietnam is in force.
How many hours can Vietnam staff work?
Up to 8 hours a day and 48 a week, plus overtime of up to 40 hours a month in most sectors.
Is a 13th-month salary required in Vietnam?
No, but it is customary and becomes binding once promised in a contract or bonus policy.
Can Vietnam staff cover French business hours?
Yes, with shifts agreed in the contract and night work paid at a premium.
Does a French company need a Vietnamese entity to hire in Vietnam?
No. Nhân Kiệt employs your staff in Vietnam under one service agreement with your company.
How much does it cost a French company to employ someone in Vietnam?
Salary, employer contributions of about 23.5% for a Vietnamese employee, and Nhân Kiệt’s fee of US$99–199 per employee a month plus VAT.
How quickly can we hire in Vietnam?
A Vietnamese national can start once the service agreement and labour contract are signed; a foreign hire typically takes four to eight weeks for the work permit.
Hiring in Vietnam? We handle all of this as your employer.
Nhân Kiệt employs your team, runs payroll, insurance, tax and work permits. Fee: US$99–199 per employee a month, plus VAT.
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