Paternity Leave in Vietnam

All paternity leave is beneficial to fathers, but paid paternity leave delivers additional social and economic benefits. Research has shown that men are much more likely to use paternity leave when it is paid at an income replacement rate, is provided for fathers only (often referred to as ‘ring-fenced leave’, or ‘use or lose’ leave) and when their right to return to their job is protected. Although Vietnamese fathers are entitled to paid paternity leave, traditional gender roles, the statutory prerequisites, and working in the informal economy can pose challenges to access and its implementation.

This fact sheet discusses the benefits of paternity leave, the state of paternity leave in Vietnam and the policy challenges that are preventing the advancement paternity leave in the country.