1. 1995 –Viet Nam Social Security was established

The Government issued Decree No 19/CP on February 16, 1995 to establish Viet Nam Social Security on the basis of uniting social insurance organisations of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Labour Confederation system at central and local levels. The Viet Nam Social Security system is organised and managed centrally and uniformly from central to district levels.

2. 2002 –Uniting social insurance and health insurance organisations

On January 24, 2002, the then Prime Minister issued Decision No 20/2002/QĐ-TTG to include the Viet Nam Health Insurance in Vietnam Social Security. On December 6, 2002, the Government issued a decree regulating the functions, obligations, rights and structure of Viet Nam Social Security.The Viet Nam Social Security system still consists of three levels, but the organisational structure of the Viet Nam Social Security at the central level increased from 8 units to 17 units.

3. 2006 –The Law on Social Insurance was adopted

On June 29, 2006, the Law on Social Insurance was approved by the 11th National Assembly at its 9th session. This event marked an important step in creating a legal foundation to improve the effectiveness of the implementation of social insurance policies.

4. 2008 –The Law on Health Insurance was approved

On November 14, 2008, the 12th National Assembly approved the Law on Health Insurance at its fourth session. The Government decided to make July 1 each year as the Day of Viet Nam Health Insurance.

5. 2012 – The Politburo issues a Resolution on Social Insurance and Health Insurance

On November 22, 2012, the Politburo issued Resolution No 21-NQ/TW on strengthening the Party leadership for tasks relating to social insurance and health insurance during the 2012-2020 period, marking an important step in meeting social security goals with many breakthroughs in implementing social insurance and health insurance policies, improving the role and responsibilities of the whole political system in organising the implementation of these policies.

6. 2013 – The Employment Law was issued

On November 16, 2013, the National Assembly issued the Employment Law No 38/2013/QH13, which took effect from January 1, 2015. The law separates the unemployment insurance policy from the Law on Social Insurance and adds new policies on unemployment insurance in order to increase benefits for employees such as vocational training allowance, provision of free employment consultancy and introduction and provision of training to improve their professional skills.

7. 2014 – The Laws on Social Insurance and Health Insurance amended

On June 13, 2014, the 13th National Assembly approved a draft law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Health Insurance, which clearly states that “health Insurance is compulsory”; encouraging household health insurance participation. On November 20, 2014, the National Assembly approved the amended Law on Social Insurance towards two main goals of increasing social insurance coverage and adding more suitable policies and supplementing important tasks for the social insurance sector in the field of inspection. 

 8. 2016 – Continuing to finalise functions and obligations

On January 5, 2016, the Government issued Decree No 01/2016/NĐ-CP, regulating the functions, tasks, rights and organisational structure of the Viet Nam Social Security. Accordingly, the Viet Nam Social Security at the central level consists of 24 units.

9. 2018 –The Party Central Committee issues a Resolution on reforming social insurance policies

On May 23, 2018, the 12th Party Central Committee at its 7th session approved Resolution No 28-NQ/TW on reforming social insurance policies, affirming the deep and consistent interest of the Party in ensuring social security for every people. 

10. 2020 – Developing a modern social insurance sector

Strengthening the goal of developing the social insurance sector towards modernity, ensuring full capacity and conditions to improve the quality and effectiveness of the implementation of social insurance and health insurance policies, meeting the demand of industrialisation, modernisation and global integration./.