Vietnam administrative and regulatory updates

The Vietnamese government has undertaken several regulatory updates to its administrative and legal frameworks.

In mid-September 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau signed Decree 356/2026/ND-CP to repeal or modify 24 outdated decrees. This measure was intended to clean up the legal system by removing documents that were no longer applied in practice, including regulations regarding the National Reserve Department, identity cards, and administrative penalties in cultural activities.

Following this, in early October 2026, the government issued Decree 379/2026/ND-CP, which establishes new standards for automobile usage by state officials. Set to take effect on November 16, 2026, this decree categorizes vehicle usage for various leadership roles. It specifies that certain high-ranking positions, such as the General Secretary and the Prime Minister, are entitled to regular vehicle use without a specified price limit, while setting a 1.7 billion VND cap for other leadership positions.

On October 2, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra signed Decree No. 381/2026/ND-CP, introducing new public service allowance regulations for officials at the commune, ward, and special district levels. The decree applies to personnel within the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front, and affiliated socio-political organizations.

The policy implements a tiered system: officials without additional local salary increases will receive an allowance equal to 55% of their current salary plus leadership and seniority allowances, while those with existing local increases will receive 25%. If local increases fall below the 55% threshold, a differential payment will be provided. This adjustment, which represents a 30% increase from the previous 25% standard for many, is retroactive to July 1, 2026. These allowances are paid monthly and do not serve as a basis for calculating social or health insurance contributions.