Guide · Probation
Probation in Vietnam.
How long a trial period can last for each kind of role, what it must pay, and how it ends.
Updated 22 October 2026 · General information, not legal or tax advice
Short answer
How long can probation last in Vietnam?
Probation in Vietnam is capped by the type of role under Article 25 of the Labour Code 2019: up to 180 days for an enterprise manager, 60 days for a job requiring a college-level qualification or higher, 30 days for a job requiring an intermediate vocational qualification or for technical workers, and 6 working days for any other job. Probation pay must be at least 85% of the job's full salary, only one probation is allowed per job, and a contract shorter than one month cannot include probation at all. Probation can be written into the labour contract or agreed in a separate probation contract. During probation either side may end it without notice or compensation, and at the end the employer must tell the employee the result.
Maximum length
Maximum probation by role.
| Role | Maximum probation |
|---|---|
| Enterprise manager | 180 days |
| Job requiring a college-level qualification or higher | 60 days |
| Job requiring an intermediate vocational qualification; technical workers | 30 days |
| Other jobs | 6 working days |
During and after
How probation works.
- Pay: at least 85% of the salary for the job. Many employers pay 100% to attract candidates.
- Insurance: a separate probation contract is outside compulsory social insurance; probation written into a labour contract is covered from the start.
- Ending early: either side may end probation without notice or compensation.
- The result: if satisfactory, employment continues on the full contract; if a separate probation contract was used, a labour contract must follow.
- One per job: the same employee cannot be put on probation twice for the same job.
For a role on ₫30,000,000 gross, minimum probation pay is ₫25,500,000. Read more in employment contracts in Vietnam.
Source: Labour Code 2019, Articles 24–27.
Questions
Probation in Vietnam: frequently asked questions
What is the minimum probation salary in Vietnam?
At least 85% of the salary for the job.
Can probation be extended in Vietnam?
Not beyond the legal maximum for the role, and only one probation is allowed per job.
Is notice needed to end probation?
No. Either side may end probation without notice or compensation.
How long is probation for a software engineer?
A role requiring a college-level qualification or higher can have up to 60 days.
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