What is Decree 80 Training Support?

Decree 80/2021/ND-CP, issued by Vietnam's government in September 2021, establishes comprehensive support for small and medium enterprise (SME) workforce development. It's Vietnam's most accessible training subsidy program, specifically designed to help smaller companies compete for talent and build capabilities.

Key Program Details (2026)

Subsidy Coverage: 70-100% of training costs

Maximum per Employee: VND 50,000,000 annually

Maximum per Company: No explicit limit, subject to provincial budget availability

Eligible Company Size: Under 200 employees (SME definition per Decree 39/2018/ND-CP)

Training Types Covered: Vocational training, technical skills, soft skills, management development, digital transformation, language training

Approval Authority: Provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (DOLISA)

Who Qualifies as an SME?

Under Vietnamese law (Decree 39/2018/ND-CP), SMEs are defined by sector:

Manufacturing & Construction

• Micro: Under 10 employees
• Small: 10-100 employees
• Medium: 100-200 employees

Services & Commerce

• Micro: Under 10 employees
• Small: 10-50 employees
• Medium: 50-100 employees

Important: Companies with 200+ employees in manufacturing or 100+ in services do NOT qualify for Decree 80. Consider Decree 182 instead.

Subsidy Rates: 70% vs 100%

Decree 80 offers variable subsidy rates based on location and employee type:

100% Subsidy (Full Coverage)

Available for:

• Employees in disadvantaged areas (mountainous regions, islands)
• Ethnic minority employees
• Employees with disabilities
• Training in priority occupations (healthcare, education, high-tech)
• Companies in less-developed provinces (see provincial classification)

70-90% Subsidy (Partial Coverage)

Standard rate for:

• SMEs in developed provinces (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang)
• General employee population
• Standard vocational training

Provincial Variation: Some provinces offer higher rates (90%) to attract business investment. Check with local DOLISA for specific rates.

Eligible Training Categories

Technical & Vocational Training

• Manufacturing operation and maintenance
• Quality control and testing procedures
• Equipment operation certifications
• Safety and occupational health training
• Technical drawing and CAD software

Digital Skills Development

• Microsoft Office and productivity software
• Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems
• Digital marketing fundamentals
• E-commerce platform management
• Data analysis with Excel/Power BI

Management & Soft Skills

• Supervisory and team leadership
• Project management basics (not necessarily PMP-level)
• Communication and presentation skills
• Customer service excellence
• Time management and productivity

Language Training

• English for business communication
• Technical English for manufacturing
• Chinese, Japanese, Korean for trade roles

Ineligible Training: Purely recreational courses, hobby classes, training unrelated to business operations, degree programs (university/college).

Application Process: Complete Walkthrough

Step 1: Verify SME Status (Week 1)

Confirm:

• Current employee count (per labor contracts)
• Business registration aligns with SME definition
• Company has no outstanding labor violations
• No previous subsidy fraud or abuse

Documents to Prepare:

• Business registration certificate
• Latest tax filing confirmation (CIT return)
• Labor contracts for all employees
• Social insurance payment records

Step 2: Assess Training Needs (Weeks 1-2)

Conduct:

• Skills gap analysis by department
• Employee feedback on development needs
• Supervisor input on critical skills
• Alignment with business strategy

Output: Training needs assessment document listing:

• Number of employees requiring training
• Specific skills to develop
• Expected business impact
• Timeline for training delivery

Step 3: Select Training Provider (Weeks 2-3)

Requirements:

• Provider must have valid vocational training license from MOET
• Or be a recognized university/college
• Or be an enterprise with approved training division

Obtain Quotations from minimum 3 providers including:

• Course curriculum and duration
• Trainer qualifications
• Training location and facilities
• Total cost breakdown
• Assessment and certification methods

Provider Verification: Request copy of vocational training license and check status at MOET website.

Step 4: Prepare Application Dossier (Week 3-4)

Required Documents:

1. Application Letter: Formal request to DOLISA on company letterhead
2. Training Plan: Detailed plan including:
   • Training objectives aligned with business needs
   • Course content outline
   • Participant list with current roles
   • Training schedule and duration
   • Expected outcomes and assessment methods
3. Budget Documentation:
   • Training provider quotations (all 3)
   • Cost breakdown: trainer fees, materials, venue, assessment
   • Calculation of requested subsidy amount
4. Company Documents:
   • Business registration certificate (certified copy)
   • Tax compliance certificate
   • Employee roster with labor contracts
   • Social insurance payment confirmations
5. Provider Documents:
   • Vocational training license (certified copy)
   • Trainer CVs and qualifications
   • Training facility information

Step 5: Submit to Provincial DOLISA (Week 4)

Submission Methods:

• In-person at DOLISA office (most provinces)
• Through provincial online portal (Hanoi, HCMC, select provinces)
• By registered mail (not recommended—processing delays)

What to Expect:

• Receipt confirmation within 3-5 working days
• Request for additional documentation (if needed) within 1 week
• Preliminary review within 2 weeks
• Approval decision within 30 days of complete submission

Step 6: Receive Approval & Execute Training

Approval Letter Includes:

• Approved subsidy amount and rate
• Approved training provider
• Training timeline and participant list
• Reporting requirements
• Payment terms

During Training:

• Maintain attendance sheets (signed daily by participants)
• Document training delivery (photos, materials)
• Conduct assessments per approved plan
• Keep all receipts and invoices

Minimum Requirements:

• 80% attendance rate per participant
• Passing score on final assessment (if applicable)
• Training completion within approved timeline

Step 7: Submit Completion Documentation (Post-Training)

Within 30 Days of Training Completion, Submit:

1. Training completion report
2. Attendance records with signatures
3. Assessment results and certificates issued
4. Photos of training sessions
5. Payment receipts and invoices from provider
6. Employee confirmation letters (acknowledging training received)
7. Post-training evaluation results

Step 8: Receive Reimbursement (60-90 Days)

Processing Timeline:

• Initial review: 2-3 weeks
• Document verification: 2-4 weeks
• Payment approval: 1-2 weeks
• Bank transfer: 1-2 weeks

Payment: Direct transfer to company's registered bank account

Typical Delays: Missing signatures, unclear photos, payment receipts not matching quotations, attendance below 80%

Maximizing Your Subsidy

Strategy 1: Combine Multiple Training Programs

Don't send everyone to one large course. Instead:

• Group employees by role and skill needs
• Run multiple smaller, targeted training programs
• Maximize the VND 50M per-employee annual cap
• Spread training across the year to manage cash flow

Example:

• Q1: Digital marketing for sales team (5 people × VND 8M)
• Q2: Quality control for production (12 people × VND 6M)
• Q3: Leadership for supervisors (4 people × VND 12M)
• Q4: English for customer service (8 people × VND 10M)

Total subsidy: VND 210M+ vs. one VND 60M program

Strategy 2: Target 100% Subsidy Opportunities

If your company employs:

• Ethnic minorities → 100% subsidy available
• People with disabilities → 100% subsidy
• Or operates in less-developed provinces → Check for 100% rates

Prioritize training for these employees to maximize funding.

Strategy 3: Use Long-Duration Programs

The VND 50M cap is annual, not per-course. Longer programs (3-6 months) can maximize the cap:

• 6-month digital transformation program: VND 45M per employee
• vs. 2-day workshop: VND 5M per employee

Both count toward the VND 50M annual cap, but longer programs provide more value.

Strategy 4: Plan Early in Fiscal Year

Provincial budgets are allocated annually. Applying in Q1-Q2 ensures funding availability. Q4 applications may face budget constraints.

Common Rejection Reasons

Incomplete Documentation (40% of rejections)

Missing: Business registration, tax certificates, provider licenses, detailed budget

Prevention: Use DOLISA's official checklist, submit complete dossier at once

Ineligible Training Provider (25%)

Issue: Provider lacks proper licensing or uses unlicensed subcontractors

Prevention: Verify provider's MOET license before contracting, request certified copy

Training Not Job-Related (20%)

Issue: Cannot demonstrate clear connection between training and employee's current role

Prevention: In training plan, explicitly state how each course relates to specific job responsibilities

Company Exceeds SME Definition (10%)

Issue: Company grew beyond 200 employees or changed sector classification

Prevention: Verify current employee count matches SME criteria before applying

Outstanding Compliance Issues (5%)

Issue: Company has unpaid taxes, labor violations, or previous subsidy abuse

Prevention: Resolve all compliance issues before applying, obtain tax clearance certificate

Real Company Examples

Case Study 1: Manufacturing SME in Binh Duong

Company: Plastic components manufacturer, 85 employees

Training: Industry 4.0 automation and quality management

Cost: VND 180,000,000 total

Subsidy: 80% (VND 144,000,000) - higher provincial rate

Outcome: Reduced defect rate 35%, qualified for new automotive client

Timeline: Applied March 2025, approved April, training May-June, reimbursed September

Case Study 2: Technology SME in Hanoi

Company: Software development, 45 employees

Training: AWS certifications and agile project management

Cost: VND 220,000,000 total

Subsidy: 70% (VND 154,000,000) - standard Hanoi rate

Outcome: Won new cloud migration projects, 30% revenue increase

Challenge: Needed to demonstrate AWS training qualified as vocational training (not just certification)

Case Study 3: Logistics SME in Mekong Delta

Company: Warehousing and distribution, 120 employees

Training: Forklift operation, warehouse management systems, safety

Cost: VND 156,000,000 total

Subsidy: 100% (VND 156,000,000) - less-developed province incentive

Outcome: Zero cost training, achieved ISO 45001 safety certification

Key: Located in province offering 100% rate to attract logistics investment

Working with Pertama Partners

Pertama Partners specializes in helping Vietnamese SMEs access Decree 80 funding:

Services:

• SME eligibility verification and optimization
• Training needs assessment aligned with subsidy criteria
• Approved provider network connections
• Complete application dossier preparation
• Submission and follow-up with provincial DOLISA
• Reimbursement claim management

Typical Results:

• 95%+ approval rate (vs. 60% self-application average)
• 30-40% faster processing with complete documentation
• VND 50M-300M average subsidy per client annually
• Zero rejected reimbursement claims

Contact Pertama to maximize your Decree 80 benefits.