Choosing an Employer of Record in Vietnam: 10 Checks Before You Sign
The best employer of record in Vietnam is not the one with the longest country list. It is the one that can show you which Vietnamese company will employ your hire, how the arrangement meets the labour leasing rules, and what happens when the 12-month period or the role ends. Use these ten checks to compare any Vietnamese employer of record service provider, local or global, whatever it calls the service.
1. Who is the legal employer in Vietnam?
Ask for the name of the Vietnamese company that will sign the employment contract and pay social insurance. Some providers own a Vietnamese entity; many work through a local partner. Either can work, but you should know which, and who answers for mistakes.
2. How does the structure meet the labour leasing rules?
If your team will direct the work, the arrangement is labour leasing, which only enterprises meeting the leasing conditions may provide. Ask on what basis the employing company provides leasing. Be wary of answers that call it “consulting” or “outsourcing” instead. How the rules work
3. Will they review the role before the offer?
Only 20 types of work may be leased, and only for a temporary peak, to cover an absence or for highly qualified staff. A careful provider asks about the job and its purpose. A provider that says yes to every role without questions is taking a risk with your name on it.
4. How long can the assignment last?
One leasing assignment lasts up to 12 months. Ask what contract term the employee will get and what the provider proposes when the period ends.
5. What contract will the employee receive?
Ask to see a sample: a written contract in Vietnamese, with an English version, setting out the term, probation, pay, allowances, working hours and any Tet bonus. Unclear bonus wording can lead to disputes.
6. How is payroll run and filed?
Vietnamese payroll includes three insurance funds with caps, the trade union fee, five-band personal income tax and an annual tax finalisation. Ask who runs it, how payslips and filings are handled and how errors are corrected.
7. What exactly is in the fee, and how is VAT handled?
Ask for a line-by-line proposal: the monthly fee, the employment cost passed through, VAT, the deposit, exchange-rate handling, and charges for onboarding, offboarding, expenses or amendments.
8. Who supports the employee, in Vietnamese?
Your employee will have questions about pay, leave, insurance and Tet. Ask who answers them, in what language and how fast.
9. How does an exit work?
An employer needs a legal ground to end a contract, and final pay is due within 14 working days. Ask how the provider handles a resignation, a performance problem and the end of the assignment, and what you will be charged.
10. Can you move the employee to your own company later?
Ask how a move to your own Vietnamese company works, whether any fee applies, and what records you receive when the service ends.
Good answers and warning signs
| You ask | A good answer | A warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Who employs my hire? | A named Vietnamese company, with its role in the contract chain explained | “Our platform” or “our global entity” |
| Is this legal under the leasing rules? | An explanation of the structure, the role list and the 12-month limit | “It is a service contract, so the leasing rules do not apply” |
| Can you hire for this role? | Questions about the job, its purpose and how long you need it | An instant yes for any role and any period |
| What will it cost? | A line-by-line proposal after a role review, with VAT shown | A headline rate with extras appearing later |
| What if it does not work out? | A clear explanation of the legal grounds for ending a contract and mutual termination | “You can terminate any time with notice” |
How NNRoad answers these questions
NNRoad employs your Vietnamese hire through our Vietnamese employing partner. Before any offer we review the role under the labour leasing rules, and your proposal names the employing company, the term and every charge. You get one point of contact and one invoice per payroll month, and the employee is paid in dong and supported in Vietnamese. See how the service works on our employer of record in Vietnam page, or read about what a Vietnam EOR costs.
Questions about choosing an EOR in Vietnam
What is the best employer of record in Vietnam?
The one whose legal structure, payroll and support you can verify. Compare providers on the ten checks above rather than on headline price or the number of countries they cover.
Is a global EOR better than a local Vietnamese provider?
Not necessarily. A global provider gives you one contract across countries; a local provider may know Vietnamese practice better. What matters is who the employer in Vietnam is and how well they run payroll and compliance.
Is a PEO in Vietnam different from an EOR?
Vietnam has no co-employment PEO model. Providers selling “PEO” in Vietnam are usually offering an employer of record service, so apply the same checks.
Can any EOR hire for any role in Vietnam?
No. If your team directs the work, the arrangement is labour leasing, which is limited to 20 types of work and 12 months per assignment. A provider that promises otherwise should explain the legal basis.
Put these questions to us
Tell us about your Vietnamese hire. Your proposal names the employing company, the term and every charge.