Average per capita income in 2025 was estimated at VND 5.9 million (USD 227) per person per month, up 9.3 per cent from 2024, equivalent to an increase of about VND 500,000 (USD 19), according to preliminary results from the 2025 household living standards survey by the National Statistics Office (NSO).
The rise marked a continuation of the upward income trend, with growth in 2025 higher than that recorded in 2024 compared with 2023, when income rose 9.1 per cent. Part of the increase was linked to income related to public officials and employees retiring or resigning following the streamlining of the political system’s organisational apparatus.
According to NSO director Nguyen Thi Huong, the income structure is shifting in a more progressive and sustainable direction, with wages and wage-like earnings accounting for a rising share of total household income.
Alongside higher incomes, household living standards remained broadly stable throughout 2025. Household income showed a more positive and steady trend than in the same period of 2024. More than 31.3 per cent of surveyed households reported higher incomes, about 65 per cent said their income was unchanged, while 2.8 per cent reported a decline and 0.9 per cent were unsure.
The NSO attributed rising incomes and stable living standards to improved production and business performance across all three economic sectors, supporting job creation and higher earnings for workers and households.
Social security programmes were implemented in a timely and effective manner, generating positive impacts on living conditions. These included continued support and allowances for people who rendered services to the nation, the poor, disadvantaged groups and social protection beneficiaries.
Emergency assistance and post-disaster relief were also delivered promptly, with total support reaching VND 92.4 trillion (USD 3.55 billion), up VND 22.6 trillion (USD 0.87 billion), or 32.4 per cent, from 2024. The nationwide programme to eliminate temporary and dilapidated housing was also highlighted.
Average worker income rose by 8.9 per cent year on year, while employment levels were maintained and the unemployment rate remained low and improved compared with 2024. These trends pointed to a healthier labour market, with higher worker incomes feeding through to household earnings.
Policies affecting public officials, employees, workers and the armed forces in the context of streamlining the political system also helped raise incomes and create new livelihoods for part of the population. Continued support for free health insurance and medical examination cards for eligible groups further eased healthcare-related financial pressures.
However, the NSO noted that a small share of households continued to face difficulties. Among those reporting lower income in 2025, the main reasons were job loss or temporary work suspension (37.5 per cent), reduced production or business scale (24.1 per cent), higher input costs (21.2 per cent) and falling product prices (19.5 per cent).
Natural disasters, including floods, storms and droughts, continued to damage housing and livelihoods, increasing vulnerability, particularly in rural, mountainous and coastal areas.
To sustain income growth and further improve living standards in 2026, the NSO recommended that the government and local authorities continue to implement social security programmes effectively, improve job quality and employment opportunities, maintain timely support for vulnerable groups, and strengthen disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation through early warning systems, safe residential planning and livelihood transition support.