Key Facts: Vietnam vs Syria Wages
- Vietnam Minimum Wage
- ₫25,500/hr ($1.00 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Vietnam Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₫8,000,000 /mo ($314.96 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 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 ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Vietnam
Syria
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Vietnam is roughly 16 times lower than in Syria in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $315/mo in Vietnam versus $120/mo in Syria, a 2.6:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Vietnam is 3.4x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Vietnam has higher GDP per capita ($16,386 vs $4,772). Vietnam's unemployment rate is 1.5% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Vietnam | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₫25,500 $1.00 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₫5,310,000 $209.06 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₫8,000,000 /mo $314.96 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₫7,200,000 /mo $283.46 | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
| Median individual income /yr | ₫48,000,000 /yr $1,889.76 | N/A/yr |
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.
- Syria
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law No. 17 of 2010 set 48 hours/week as the standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Enforcement is impossible across most of the country due to conflict. Government employees in Damascus and other major cities are the primary remaining formal workforce.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Vietnam earns 1540% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Vietnam
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Vietnam or Syria?
In Vietnam, the minimum wage is ₫25,500/hr ($1.00 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 1540% 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 Syria?
The average gross salary in Vietnam is ₫8,000,000/mo ($314.96 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Vietnam earn approximately 162% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Vietnam and Syria 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 Syria.
How do work hours compare between Vietnam and Syria?
Both Vietnam and Syria mandate a similar standard work week of 48 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.
What is the cost of living difference between Vietnam and Syria?
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 3.4x that of Syria at $4,772. 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.