Vietnamese teachers paid up to $1,200 a month after salary increase

Vietnam has increased teachers' basic salaries by 30% as of July, raising their monthly income to as much as VND30 million ($1,203), a significant improvement of up to VND7 million from previous levels. In some areas, additional policies allow for even higher earnings. For example, Ho Chi Minh City adjusts the salary coefficients for government workers, including teachers, by 1.8 times, enabling some teachers to earn up to VND40 million ($1,610) per month.

Vietnam has more than 1.05 million teachers who benefit from the national budget. Many educators have expressed their relief at the increase. Nguyen Cong, a middle school teacher in Hanoi, reported his new salary at around VND9.5 million ($382), an increase of VND1.5 million, while Doan Ngoc, a primary school teacher from Phu Tho, saw her salary exceed VND6 million ($241) for the first time. Ha Thu, a kindergarten teacher in Hai Duong, now earns VND8.4 million ($338), also a VND1.5 million increase.

Although the salary increase has improved the financial situation for many, some teachers still find their incomes insufficient. Vu Minh Duc, head of the Department of Teachers and Education Managers, acknowledged that despite the improvements, teacher salaries are still not fully meeting expectations or needs. Currently, new teachers earn between VND6.6-7.4 million ($265-$297) per month, which is lower than the average income of Vietnamese workers.

Teacher attrition remains an issue, with 61% of teachers who quit their jobs being under 35. Many leave due to financial burdens and the demands of the job. Thu, a kindergarten teacher, pointed out that her workload remains heavy, with long hours and additional tasks, such as preparing study materials.

To further support teachers, a draft for a new Law on Teaching proposes waiving tuition fees for the children of teachers from kindergarten through university. This policy would require around VND9.2 trillion ($369 million) in annual government spending. The goal is to create better policies to retain teachers and attract more talent to the profession.