Overtime and Break Laws in Vietnam (2026)
Labour Code 2019 (No. 45/2019/QH14) · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
At least 150% on normal days, 200% on weekly days off and 300% on public holidays and paid leave days.
Breaks and lunch
At least 30 consecutive minutes for 6+ hours a day (45 minutes for night work).
Overtime in Vietnam
- 1.5x pay for hours past 8 in a day.
- 1.5x pay for hours past 48 in a week.
- Normal hours: 8 a day and 48 a week (10 a day if hours are set weekly). The State encourages a 40-hour week.
- Night work: at least 30% extra. Night overtime: a further 20% on top.
- Overtime caps: 50% of normal daily hours (12 hours total a day on a weekly schedule), 40 hours a month, 200 a year, or 300 a year in listed industries with notice to the provincial labour authority.
- Daily-paid staff get the 300% holiday rate in addition to the holiday's own pay.
Averaging over a pay period: Weekly scheduling allowed (up to 10 hours a day within 48 a week).
What two weeks of work come to
Worked out by the rule above (1.5x after 48h in a week, 1.5x after 8h in a day). Hours.
| Two weeks of | Regular | Overtime (1.5x) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days of 8 hours, two weeks (80h) | 80 | 0 |
| 5 days of 10 hours, two weeks (100h) | 80 | 20 |
| 6 days of 9 hours, two weeks (108h) | 96 | 12 |
| 50 hours, then 30 hours (80h) | 70 | 10 |
Breaks and lunch in Vietnam
- Meal break: 1 × 30 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 6 hours or more.
| Shift | Rest breaks | Meal break |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None | None |
| 6 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 8 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 10 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 12 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
- For continuous shifts of 6+ hours the break counts as working time (paid).
- Employers must also set other short breaks in the internal labour rules.
Pay by Vietnam rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick Vietnam: the overtime and break rules above fill in, and every timesheet, report and payroll export follows them. Change any number to match your own contract.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the overtime rule in Vietnam?
At least 150% on normal days, 200% on weekly days off and 300% on public holidays and paid leave days.
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in Vietnam?
Weekly scheduling allowed (up to 10 hours a day within 48 a week).
What breaks are required in Vietnam?
At least 30 consecutive minutes for 6+ hours a day (45 minutes for night work).