Chef Average Salary in Vietnam 2026
How much money does a person working as Chef make in Vietnam?
LOW
5.2M
VND AVERAGE
11M
VND HIGH
17M
VND
A person working as Chef in Vietnam typically earns around 11M VND. Salaries range from 5.2M VND (lowest) to 17M VND (highest).
Salary Variance
This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Chef salaries in Vietnam vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Chef Pay Scale and Salaries in Vietnam
Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range
Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary
Salaries for the position Chef in Vietnam range from 5.2M VND (starting salary) to 17M VND (maximum salary). It should be noted that the given figure is not the legally mandated minimum wage; rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that included thousands of participants and professionals from all regions of the country.
Median Salary
With a median salary of 10M VND, half of the professionals who work as Chef in Vietnam earn less than this amount, and the other half earn more. The median salary denotes the middle value of salaries. Ideally, you would want to belong to the group earning more than the median salary, located on the right side of the salary distribution graph.
Percentiles and Salary Scale
The median is closely associated with two other values known as the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution chart, it can be determined that 25% of professionals employed as Chef in Vietnam earn less than 8.1M VND, while 75% earn more. Similarly, the chart shows that 75% earn less than 11M VND while 25% earn more.
Pay Scale Structure
To provide a better understanding of expected salaries, we categorized the frequently occurring salaries into different ranges. This approach provides a more precise representation of salary distribution for the job title Chef in Vietnam compared to simply calculating the average. The majority of reported salaries, approximately 65%, fall within the range of 6.2M VND to 8.8M VND. About 20% of salaries are below the 6.2M VND mark, while 10% fall within the range of 8.8M VND to 9.9M VND. Only 5% of individuals have salaries exceeding 9.9M VND.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience / Chef / Vietnam
How do experience and age affect pay?
| 0 - 2 Years | 6.2M VND | |
| 2 - 5 Years | +29% | 8M VND |
| 5 - 10 Years | +38% | 11M VND |
| 10 - 15 Years | +24% | 14M VND |
| 15 - 20 Years | +7% | 15M VND |
| 20+ Years | +7% | 16M VND |
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage. We broke down salaries by experience level for people working as Chef and this is what we found.
Employees with less than two years of experience earn approximately 6.2M VND.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 8M VND, 29% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 11M VND, 38% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, professionals whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 14M VND, 24% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 15M VND, 7% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 16M VND, 7% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Typical Salary Progress for Most Careers
Salary Comparison By Education / Chef / Vietnam
How do education levels affect salaries?
Displayed below is the average salary variance between different education levels of professionals working as Chef.
| High School | 8.8M VND | |
| Certificate or Diploma | +65% | 15M VND |
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down salaries by education level for the position Chef in order to make a comparison.
Level 1: High School
Employees at this education level have an average salary of 8.8M VND.
Level 2: Certificate or Diploma
At this level, the average salary becomes 15M VND, 65% more than the previous level.
Typical Salary Difference by Education for Most Careers
Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Chef / Vietnam
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? For the people who work as Chef in Vietnam, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 9%.
| Male | 11M VND | |
| Female | -9% | 10M VND |
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Chef / Vietnam
How much are annual salary increments in Vietnam for individuals working as Chef? How often do employees get salary raises?
Individuals working as Chef in Vietnam are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 11% every 18 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 9% granted to employees every 17 months.
Vietnam / All Professions
The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
How to calculate the salary increment percentage?
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
Salary Packages and Schemes
Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.
Bonus and Incentive Rates / Chef / Vietnam
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
46% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 54% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 6% of their annual salary.
| Received Bonus | 54% | |
| No Bonus | 46% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based BonusesThe most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
Bonuses Are Not Commissions!
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
The main two types of jobs | |
| Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Average Hourly Wage / Chef / Vietnam
The average hourly wage (pay per hour) for individuals working as Chef in Vietnam is 61,600 VND.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.
About The Hourly Pay Rate
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?
The minimum pay rate per hour for people working as Chef in Vietnam is 30,200 VND. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
Salary comparison with similar jobs
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering | ||
| Airbnb Property Manager | 20M VND |  +100% |
| All Rounder | 6.9M VND | +100% |
| Assistant Executive Housekeeper | 5.4M VND | +100% |
| Assistant Food and Beverage Controller | 10M VND | +100% |
| Assistant Food and Beverage Director | 23M VND | +100% |
| Assistant Hospitality Manager | 25M VND | +100% |
| Assistant Storekeeper | 4.7M VND | +100% |
| Assistant Tour Manager | 12M VND | +100% |
| Baker and Pastrycook | 5.9M VND | +100% |
| Bakery Manager | 13M VND | +100% |
| Bakery Superintendent | 8.8M VND | +100% |
| Banquet Captain | 6.6M VND | +100% |
| Banquet Manager | 8.8M VND | +100% |
| Banquet Server | 5.4M VND | +100% |
| Bar Attendant | 5.7M VND | +100% |
| Bar Manager | 12M VND | +100% |
| Bar Supervisor | 7.9M VND | +100% |
| Barista | 7M VND | +100% |
| Bartender | 7M VND | +100% |
| Bellman | 5.2M VND | +100% |
| Beverage Manager | 13M VND | +100% |
| Bistro Attendant | 5.6M VND | +100% |
| Buffet Chef | 11M VND | +100% |
| Buffet Host | 5.6M VND | +100% |
| Buffet Manager | 13M VND | +100% |
| Butcher and Slaughterer | 4.6M VND | +100% |
| Cafeteria Assistant | 5.8M VND | +100% |
| Cafeteria Manager | 11M VND | +100% |
| Cafeteria Supervisor | 8M VND | +100% |
| Cake Decorator | 6.5M VND | +100% |
| Casino Shift Manager | 19M VND | +100% |
| Chain Store Customer Support | 9.3M VND | +100% |
| Chef | 11M VND | +100% |
| Chef De Cuisine | 16M VND | +100% |
| Club Manager | 21M VND | +100% |
| Cluster Director | 25M VND | +100% |
| Cluster Revenue Manager | 20M VND | +100% |
| Cocktail Server | 5.5M VND | +100% |
| Coffee Shop Manager | 20M VND | +100% |
| Concierge | 5.3M VND | +100% |
| Confectionery Baker | 6.6M VND | +100% |
| Conference and Sales Coordinator | 10M VND | +100% |
| Conference Services Manager | 13M VND | +100% |
| Cook | 9.1M VND | +100% |
| Corporate Sous Chef | 15M VND | +100% |
| Corporate Travel Consultant | 15M VND | +100% |
| Croupier | 7.3M VND | +100% |
| Culinary Assistant | 5.1M VND | +100% |
| Culinary Associate | 4.8M VND | +100% |
| Culinary Tour Guide | 13M VND | +100% |
| Demi Chef | 10M VND | +100% |
| Dietary Aide | 11M VND | +100% |
| Dining Room Supervisor | 9.7M VND | +100% |
| Dishwasher | 4.5M VND | +100% |
| Duty Manager | 13M VND | +100% |
| Events Coordinator | 8.6M VND | +100% |
| Executive Chef | 12M VND | +100% |
| Executive Pastry Chef | 9.9M VND | +100% |
| Fast Food Cook | 8.9M VND | +100% |
| Fast Food Shift Supervisor | 9.2M VND | +100% |
| Fine Dining Cook | 16M VND | +100% |
| Fine Dining Restaurant Chef | 16M VND | +100% |
| Fleet Manager | 27M VND | +100% |
| Food and Beverage Manager | 21M VND | +100% |
| Food and Beverage Trend Analyst | 14M VND | +100% |
| Food Consultant | 16M VND | +100% |
| Food Photographer | 12M VND | +100% |
| Food Policy Analyst | 15M VND | +100% |
| Food Safety Auditor | 14M VND | +100% |
| Food Safety Compliance Manager | 17M VND | +100% |
| Food Safety Coordinator | 12M VND | +100% |
| Food Server | 5.4M VND | +100% |
| Food Service Director | 21M VND | +100% |
| Food Service Manager | 23M VND | +100% |
| Food Service Sales | 13M VND | +100% |
| Food Service Worker | 5.3M VND | +100% |
| Food Stylist | 8.9M VND | +100% |
| Food Sustainability Consultant | 16M VND | +100% |
| Front Desk Agent | 6.3M VND | +100% |
| Front Desk Clerk | 6.3M VND | +100% |
| Front Office Manager | 12M VND | +100% |
| Gastronomy Consultant | 13M VND | +100% |
| Guest Service Executive | 18M VND | +100% |
| Guest Service Representative | 7.2M VND | +100% |
| Head Chef | 13M VND | +100% |
| Head Concierge | 8.5M VND | +100% |
| Hospitality Director | 33M VND | +100% |
| Hospitality Technology Specialist | 14M VND | +100% |
| Hostess / Host | 6.3M VND | +100% |
| Hotel Desk Clerk | 6.4M VND | +100% |
| Hotel Maid | 4.4M VND | +100% |
| Hotel Manager | 32M VND | +100% |
| Hotel Revenue Manager | 18M VND | +100% |
| Hotel Sales Manager | 24M VND | +100% |
| Hotel Service Supervisor | 17M VND | +100% |
| Hotel Staff | 5.8M VND | +100% |
| Inventory Coordinator | 6.8M VND | +100% |
| Kitchen Manager | 11M VND | +100% |
| Kitchen Staff | 6.1M VND | +100% |
| Kitchen Supervisor | 9.6M VND | +100% |
| Line Cook | 9.6M VND | +100% |
| Luggage Porter | 4.5M VND | +100% |
| Molecular Gastronomist | 16M VND | +100% |
| Motel Manager | 17M VND | +100% |
| Pastry Chef | 8.7M VND | +100% |
| Pastrycooking and Baking Assistant | 6M VND | +100% |
| Personal Chef | 13M VND | +100% |
| Production Operator | 9.4M VND | +100% |
| Quality, Health and Safety Coordinator | 10M VND | +100% |
| Receptionist | 6.4M VND | +100% |
| Regional Restaurant Manager | 26M VND | +100% |
| Restaurant Manager | 21M VND | +100% |
| Restaurant Server | 5.6M VND | +100% |
| Room Reservations Manager | 21M VND | +100% |
| Room Service Manager | 19M VND | +100% |
| Sous Chef | 12M VND | +100% |
| Special Events Coordinator | 13M VND | +100% |
| Supervisor of Food Services | 14M VND | +100% |
| Sustainable Catering Coordinator | 13M VND | +100% |
| Sustainable Tourism Consultant | 14M VND | +100% |
| Tour Consultant | 15M VND | +100% |
| Tour Guide | 10M VND | +100% |
| Tour Manager | 15M VND | +100% |
| Travel Agent | 11M VND | +100% |
| Travel Consultant | 16M VND | +100% |
| Virtual / Augmented Reality Tourism Specialist | 13M VND | +100% |
| Waiter / Waitress | 5.3M VND | +100% |
| Wedding Planner | 18M VND | +100% |
Salary Comparison By City
| City | Average Salary |
| Da Nang | 10M VND |
| Ha Noi | 11M VND |
| Hai Phong | 9.4M VND |
| Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh | 12M VND |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in Vietnam is 8% on average across all career fields.
| Private Sector | 17M VND | |
| Public Sector | +8% | 18M VND |
Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide
What is considered to be a good and competitive salary for the job title Chef in Vietnam?
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 10M VND and 11M VND. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.
Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.
Base / Basic Salary
The base salary for a careers like Chef in Vietnam ranges from 5.2M VND to 8.1M VND. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios.