New policies take effect from September 2026

Pension and allowance payments via VNeID

Decree No. 320/2026/ND-CP on electronic identification and authentication shall take effect on September 28.

For the first time, the Decree stipulates social security benefit accounts on VNeID. These are identification information that enable people to integrate bank accounts, e-wallets or mobile money accounts to receive support, pensions, social security payments and other lawful funds.

Children under six to be issued with ID cards

Decree No. 301/2026/ND-CP shall come into effect from September 1, adding the procedure for issuing ID cards to children under six.

Accordingly, when carrying out procedures for birth registration, permanent residence registration and issuance of health insurance cards for children under six, their legal representatives may simultaneously request an ID card for the child.

This means that parents who need an ID card for their child will not have to complete a separate procedure, but can make the request as part of the interconnected birth registration process online.

Information from the child's birth certificate and health insurance card will also be integrated into the child's ID card and electronic identification account as prescribed.

The Decree also strengthens data exchange among the National Public Service Portal, civil status and residence databases, and the system for issuing, producing and managing ID cards, helping reduce paperwork and processing time.

New penalties for violations involving foreign workers

Decree No. 283/2026/ND-CP, coming into effect on September 10, regulates administrative penalties in the fields of labor, social insurance and overseas employment, including violations involving foreign workers and their employers.

For foreign workers in Viet Nam, the Decree does not establish an entirely new work-permit system. Instead, it sets out penalties applicable from September 10 and reinforces the responsibilities of both workers and employers.

Foreign workers working in Viet Nam without a work permit or a certificate confirming exemption from the work-permit requirement may be fined from VND15 million (US$573) to VND25 million ($955).

The same penalty shall apply to those using an expired work permit or exemption certificate.

Depending on the violation, additional sanctions may be imposed, including deportation and confiscation of altered, falsified or forged papers and documents.

Employers that use foreign workers without valid work permits or exemption certificates, or employ workers whose documents have expired, shall be fined based on the number of workers involved.

The fine ranges from VND30 million (US$1,146) to VND45 million (US$1,720) for violations involving one to 10 workers; VND45 million (US$1,720) to VND60 million (US$2,292) for 11 to 20 workers; and VND60 million (US$2,292) to VND75 million (US$2,868) for 21 or more workers.

Employers may also be fined from VND5 million (US$191) to VND10 million (US$382) for each foreign worker employed in a position that does not match the contents of the work permit or exemption certificate, with the total fine capped at VND75 million (US$2,868).

The same penalty applies when employers fail to recover or return work permits or exemption certificates as required.

Each land plot assigned a 12-digit identification code

Decree No. 326/2026/ND-CP regulating location identification shall take effect from September 1.

Under the Decree, a location identification code is a unique 12-digit numerical sequence established by the location identification database. Each location is assigned a separate, non-duplicated code.

Objects subject to identification include land plots, architectural works, construction works and structures, place names, physical structures and other objects specified in the relevant list.

The identification system aims to establish a unified basis for linking, integrating, connecting, sharing and exploiting information among databases nationwide.

Organizations and individuals may access public location-identification data on VNeID, as well as information concerning locations under their ownership or management in accordance with regulations.

For objects on the location-identification list with sufficient minimum information, ministries and ministerial-level agencies will synchronously implement the Location Identification Database when the Decree takes effect. For objects lacking sufficient data, competent authorities will establish a roadmap for data collection, supplementation and synchronization.

Foreign-language proficiency requirements for teachers

Decree No. 222/2025/ND-CP regulating the teaching and learning of foreign languages in educational institutions sets requirements for teachers' expertise, professional skills, qualifications and foreign-language proficiency.

Accordingly, teachers must meet the requirements prescribed for their respective education and training levels and have foreign-language proficiency of at least Level 4.

Primary and lower-secondary school teachers must have at least Level 4 proficiency under Viet Nam's six-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework or an equivalent qualification, while upper-secondary school teachers must have at least Level 5 proficiency.

Teachers at vocational education institutions must have at least Level 5 foreign-language proficiency.

Lecturers teaching at higher education institutions must have foreign-language proficiency appropriate to the teaching requirements of their training programs and at least Level 5 proficiency.

Ban on imports of goods produced using forced labor

Decree No. 292/2026/ND-CP, issued by the Government on July 22, details the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Foreign Trade Management, including regulations on goods prohibited from export and import.

Under Article 5 of the Decree, goods prohibited from export and import are subject to current legal regulations and the lists set out in Appendix I to the Decree.

The list of goods prohibited from export includes weapons, ammunition and explosives; round wood and sawn timber of all kinds originating from domestic natural forests; rough diamonds prohibited from export under the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme; e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

Goods prohibited from import include weapons, ammunition and explosives; firecrackers of all kinds, except maritime safety firecrackers as guided by the Ministry of Construction; sky lanterns; devices used to interfere with vehicle speed-measuring equipment; e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

The list also covers used consumer goods and used vehicles and equipment, including textiles, footwear and clothing; electronics, refrigeration and household appliances; interior decoration products; household goods made of ceramics, porcelain, glass, metal, plastic, rubber and other materials; bicycles, motorcycles and mopeds; used medical equipment; and used digital technology products.

Notably, Decree No. 292/2026/ND-CP adds a prohibition on the import of products and goods that are wholly or partially extracted, produced or manufactured using forced labor.

The import ban applies to goods originating from enterprises, countries and territories in accordance with relevant international treaties to which Viet Nam is a contracting party.

Decree No. 292/2026/ND-CP shall take effect on September 5, 2026./.