This report estimates a living income for minimum wage Region 4 of Vietnam using the Anker Methodology. Region 4 is one of four regions used by the Government of Vietnam for setting minimum wages and includes rural areas across the north, center, and south of the country. For Region 4, we estimate a living income of VND 10,095,308 (USD 423) per month, as of November 2022. This is the income required for a typical family of 2 adults and 2 children to afford a nutritious, low-cost diet, healthy housing, adequate health care, education through secondary school, and all other expenses, plus a small margin for unexpected events. Our estimate of a living wage for Region 4 is VND 6,132,865 (USD 257), based on one adult in full-time employment and one adult in part-time employment. These values were calculated using secondary data on household expenditure, labor force activity, and population from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam combined with primary data on local costs of food, housing, health care, education, and transport for a sample of 6 districts in 6 provinces in Northern, Central, and Southern Vietnam. Our living income estimate is around 70% higher than family income based on the 2022 minimum wage for Region 4 (with one adult in full-time employment and one adult in part-time employment).

This report estimates a living wage for minimum wage Region 1 of Vietnam using the Anker Methodology. Region 1 is one of four regions used by the Government of Vietnam for setting minimum wages and covers the two largest cities – Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. For Region 1, we estimate a living wage of VND 8,545,680 (USD 358) per month, as of November 2022. This is the gross wage required for a typical family of 2 adults (one in full-time employment and one in part-time employment) and 2 children to afford a nutritious, low-cost diet, healthy housing, adequate health care, education through secondary school, and all other essential expenses, plus a small margin for unexpected events. This value was calculated using secondary data on household expenditure, labor force activity, and population from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam combined with primary data collected on local costs of food, housing, health care, education, and transport for a sample of 2 districts in Ho Chi Minh City and 2 districts in Hanoi where workers live. Our living wage estimate is around 80% higher than the minimum wage for Region 1 that was set in July 2022.

This report estimates a living wage for minimum wage Region 2 of Vietnam using the Anker Methodology. Region 2 is one of 4 regions used by the Government of Vietnam for setting minimum wages and is mostly comprised of major urban areas in Northern, Central, and Southern Vietnam, excluding Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. For Region 2, we estimate a living wage of VND 7,611,979 (USD 318) per month, as of March 2022. This is the gross wage required for a typical family of 2 adults (one in full-time employment and one in parttime employment) and 2 children to afford a nutritious, low-cost diet, healthy housing, adequate health care, education through secondary school, and all other essential expenses, plus a small margin for unexpected events. This value was calculated using secondary data on household expenditure, labor force, and population from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam combined with primary data collected on local costs of food, housing, health care, education, and transport for a sample of 12 districts in 6 Region 2 provinces. Our living wage estimate is around 80% higher than the minimum wage for Region 2 that was set in July 2022.

This report estimates a living wage for minimum wage Region 3 of Vietnam using the Anker Methodology. Region 3 is one of four regions used by the Government of Vietnam for setting minimum wages and includes districts in three main areas: the Red River Delta in the north (around Hanoi), the Central Coast, and across the southeast and the Mekong River Delta in the south. It consists mostly of smaller size cities and towns. For Region 3, we estimate a living wage of VND 7,392,372 (USD 309) per month, as of March 2022. This is the gross wage required for a typical family of 2 adults (one in full-time employment and one in part-time employment) and 2 children to afford a nutritious, low-cost diet, healthy housing, adequate health care, education through secondary school, and all other expenses, plus a small margin for unexpected events. This value was calculated using secondary data on household expenditure, labor force activity, and population from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam combined with primary data on local costs of food, housing, health care, education, and transport for a sample of 6 districts in 6 provinces in Northern, Central, and Southern Vietnam. Our living wage estimate is around twice the minimum wage for Region 3 that was set in July 2022.

This report was commissioned by Superunie, in partnership with Foppen Eal and Salmon and FairFood International for the Global Living Wage Coalition. The Global Living Wage Coalition (GLWC) brings together Fairtrade International, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), GoodWeave International, Rainforest Alliance (RA), Social Accountability International (SAI), Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), and UTZ, in partnership with the ISEAL Alliance, and world-remowned living wage experts Richard Anker and Martha Anker.

This report was commissioned by Superunie, in partnership with Foppen Eal and Salmon and FairFood International for the Global Living Wage Coalition. The Global Living Wage Coalition (GLWC) brings together Fairtrade International, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), GoodWeave International, Rainforest Alliance (RA), Social Accountability International (SAI), Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), and UTZ, in partnership with the ISEAL Alliance, and world-remowned living wage experts Richard Anker and Martha Anker.