Key Facts: Vietnam vs Guinea Wages
- Vietnam Minimum Wage
- ₫25,500/hr ($1.00 USD)
- Guinea Minimum Wage
- FG440,000/mo ($51.04 USD)
- Vietnam Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₫8,000,000 /mo ($314.96 USD)
- Guinea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FG1,500,000 /mo ($174.01 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA); 2026 regional rates per Nghị định 293/2025/NĐ-CP (eff 2026-01-01) (2026-05-27), ILO / Ministère du Travail et de la Fonction Publique (Guinea) (2026-02-25)
Vietnam
Guinea
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Vietnam is roughly 51 times lower than in Guinea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Vietnam at $315/mo compared to $174/mo in Guinea. GDP per capita (PPP) in Vietnam is 3.6x that of Guinea, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Vietnam has higher GDP per capita ($16,386 vs $4,565). Vietnam's unemployment rate is 1.5% compared to Guinea's 5.2%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Vietnam | Guinea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₫25,500 $1.00 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₫5,310,000 $209.06 | FG440,000 $51.04 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₫8,000,000 /mo $314.96 | FG1,500,000 /mo $174.01 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₫7,200,000 /mo $283.46 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | ₫48,000,000 /yr $1,889.76 | FG3,000,000 /yr $348.03 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Vietnam is higher.
Work Week
- Vietnam
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code 2019 sets standard at 48 hours/week (8 hrs/day, 6 days). Many office/white-collar workers work 40 hrs/week. Overtime capped at 40 hrs/month and 200 hrs/year (300 hrs in special cases). Overtime rates: 150% weekdays, 200% weekends, 300% holidays.
- Guinea
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets standard at 40 hours/week for formal-sector employees. Overtime compensated at 1.5x for weekday hours, 2x for work on rest days. These rules apply to the limited formal sector.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Vietnam earns 4984% less per hour in USD terms than one in Guinea. Standard work weeks differ: Vietnam mandates 48 hours while Guinea mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Vietnam are $48 vs $2,042 in Guinea.
See this comparison from Guinea's perspective: Guinea vs Vietnam
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Vietnam or Guinea?
In Vietnam, the minimum wage is ₫25,500/hr ($1.00 USD). In Guinea, it is FG440,000/mo ($51.04 USD). Guinea has the higher rate by 4984% in USD terms. That nominal gap does not account for local prices; see the purchasing power comparison below for a cost-of-living-adjusted view. Workers in Vietnam may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Vietnam compared to Guinea?
The average gross salary in Vietnam is ₫8,000,000/mo ($314.96 USD), compared to FG1,500,000/mo ($174.01 USD) in Guinea. In USD terms, workers in Vietnam earn approximately 81% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Vietnam and Guinea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Vietnam earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Guinea.
How do work hours compare between Vietnam and Guinea?
Vietnam has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Guinea. Workers in Vietnam work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Guinea working fewer hours may have comparable or better effective hourly earnings depending on the wage levels of each country. Total annual compensation depends on both the wage rate and the number of hours required.
What is the cost of living difference between Vietnam and Guinea?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Vietnam has the higher GDP per capita at $16,386, which is 3.6x that of Guinea at $4,565. From Vietnam's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.