In Vietnam, a parent who does not live with a child after divorce or separation must pay support until the child turns 18, or longer if the adult child cannot work and has no means of support; the amount is agreed by the parents or, if they cannot agree, set by the court based on the paying parent's actual income and ability and the child's essential needs. Support can be paid monthly, quarterly, every six months, yearly or as a lump sum. If the paying parent stops, the receiving parent can ask the civil judgment enforcement agency to collect it, and enforcement abroad depends on treaties and the law of the other country.
This guide explains who must pay, how amounts are worked out in practice, how to change them, and what you can realistically do when the paying parent lives in another country. It is general information, not legal advice. Laws do not fix a single figure for child support, so be careful with anyone who quotes a "standard amount".
Who must pay and for how long
Vietnamese family law treats support as a duty that flows from the parent-child relationship, not from marriage. A father or mother who does not live with a minor child, or with an adult child who cannot work and has no property to live on, must contribute to that child's upbringing. The duty applies equally to married, divorced and never-married parents, provided the parent-child relationship is legally established. For an unmarried father, that usually means paternity has been recorded on the birth certificate or determined by a court.
Support normally runs until the child reaches 18. It can continue beyond that age if the adult child has lost the capacity to work and has no means of supporting themselves. It ends earlier if the child is adopted by another person, or in a few other situations set out in the law. The receiving parent cannot waive the child's right to support permanently, because the right belongs to the child. Parents can agree on how support is paid, but an agreement that the paying parent will never contribute anything does not bind the child.
Nationality and residence do not change the duty. A foreign parent who leaves Vietnam after divorce still owes support under the Vietnamese judgment, even though collecting it may be harder in practice.
How the amount is set
Vietnamese law does not set a percentage of income or a fixed table. The parents may agree on the amount, and the court generally accepts an agreement that meets the child's needs. If they cannot agree, the court decides, looking at two sides of the balance: the paying parent's real income and financial capacity, and the child's essential needs, such as food, housing, schooling, health care and reasonable activities.
In practice, courts often refer to the regional minimum wage or to evidence of actual expenses when deciding what is reasonable, and the paying parent's salary slips, tax records, business income and assets are central. A parent who hides income makes the court's job harder but does not escape the duty; the court can look at lifestyle, property and spending to estimate capacity. Where a foreign parent earns abroad, evidence of foreign income needs translation and, often, legalisation before it carries weight.
Because no fixed formula exists, outcomes vary between courts and cases. Treat online figures with caution. The best preparation is a clear, documented budget of the child's real costs, backed by receipts, school fee notices and medical bills, plus whatever evidence you can obtain about the other parent's income.
Payment methods compared
The parents can agree how support is paid, or the court chooses. Each method has advantages, particularly in cross-border families where trust and enforcement are issues.
| Method | Advantages | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly payments | Matches regular expenses; easy to track missed payments | Each missed month needs follow-up; currency transfers cost money |
| Quarterly, six-monthly or yearly payments | Fewer transfers; suits seasonal income | Larger sums; a single missed payment hurts more |
| Lump sum | Removes future enforcement risk, valuable if the payer lives abroad | Payer needs substantial funds; hard to adjust later if needs change |
| Direct payment of specific costs | Payer sees where money goes, e.g. school fees paid to the school | Needs precise wording to avoid disputes about extras |
Whatever method is chosen, pay or receive through bank transfer with a clear reference, never only in cash. Records of payment are the first thing a court or enforcement officer will ask to see.
If you agree on direct payment of costs, list exactly which costs are covered: tuition only, or also uniforms, books, transport, extra classes and medical insurance. Vague phrases such as "education expenses" are the most common source of later arguments.
Changing the amount later
Circumstances change: the child grows and school costs rise, the paying parent loses a job or earns much more, or the receiving parent remarries and moves. Either parent can ask the court to change the amount or method of support when there is a legitimate reason. Parents can also agree on a change; to make it enforceable, they should ask the court to recognise the new agreement rather than rely on messages.
A change is not automatic and does not apply retroactively without a decision. A paying parent who simply stops or reduces payments because they believe the amount is too high risks enforcement for arrears. Equally, a receiving parent cannot demand more than the judgment says until a new decision is made, however justified the request.
If you expect future changes, for example the child entering international school or university abroad, consider addressing them in the original agreement. Courts can recognise structured agreements that set different amounts for different stages, which saves another round of proceedings later.
When payments stop: enforcement inside Vietnam
A judgment or decision on support is enforceable like other civil judgments. If the paying parent stops, the usual path is:
- Keep a clear record of what is owed and what was paid, with bank statements.
- Send a written reminder, ideally in a form you can prove later, giving a short time to pay.
- File a request for enforcement with the competent civil judgment enforcement agency, attaching the judgment or decision and your record of arrears.
- The enforcement officer can ask the debtor to pay voluntarily, then apply measures such as deducting from salary, freezing or debiting accounts, or seizing and selling assets.
- If the debtor deliberately evades a final judgment, administrative penalties and, in serious cases, criminal liability may follow; ask a lawyer whether this applies.
Enforcement agencies were reorganised in 2025 along with other public bodies, so confirm which office handles your file before submitting.
Enforcement only reaches what can be found. If you know where the paying parent works, banks or owns property, give that information to the enforcement officer; it shortens the process considerably compared with waiting for the agency to trace assets on its own.
When the paying parent lives abroad
Cross-border enforcement is the weak spot of child support. A Vietnamese judgment does not automatically bind banks or employers in another country. To enforce it abroad, the receiving parent generally needs recognition and enforcement in that country, either under a bilateral treaty on judicial assistance between Vietnam and that country, or under that country's own law on foreign judgments. Vietnam has judicial assistance agreements with a number of countries, but not with all, and the procedures can be slow.
Practical options exist. If the paying parent has assets or income in Vietnam, such as property, a bank account or a salary from a Vietnamese employer, enforcement can target those. If they work for an international company, a lawyer in their country may be able to use local procedures more efficiently than a Vietnamese judgment alone. Some families agree on a lump sum or security, such as a deposit held in Vietnam, precisely because they foresee these difficulties.
The reverse also applies. If a foreign court ordered support and the paying parent lives in Vietnam, the receiving parent may ask a Vietnamese court to recognise and enforce the foreign decision, subject to treaty or reciprocity conditions and to the grounds for refusal under Vietnamese law.
Currency, transfers and paperwork for cross-border payments
When the paying parent earns in one currency and the child lives in Vietnam, small practical questions can become disputes. Which currency is the amount set in? Who bears transfer fees and exchange rate losses? On which day of the month does payment count as made? A Vietnamese judgment will normally state support in Vietnamese dong, so a parent paying from abroad must make sure the amount that arrives matches the order, not just the amount sent.
Keep the paper trail clean. Use the same bank account and a consistent payment reference, and keep statements for every transfer. Receiving parents should keep records of what arrived and when. If you agree to adjust for exchange rates or to pay certain costs directly, put that agreement in writing and, ideally, have the court recognise it.
Foreign exchange rules in Vietnam govern how money moves in and out of the country. Ordinary personal transfers for family support through banks are common, but if you plan large lump sums or payments through a company, ask your bank what documents it needs. Tax treatment of support payments differs by country, so a parent abroad should also check the position at home.
When you need a Vietnamese lawyer
A simple support arrangement between cooperative parents can be recorded in a mutual consent divorce without much help. A lawyer becomes valuable when income is disputed or hidden, when a parent lives abroad, when you want a lump sum or security, or when arrears have built up. A licensed Vietnamese lawyer can draft terms that enforcement officers can apply without argument, and work with a lawyer in the other country if collection abroad is needed.
If you want to understand your position before deciding, you can ask a lawyer on AI Co Van (aicovan.com) a specific question about your judgment or your arrears. Bring the judgment, payment records and any evidence of the other parent's income to any consultation. Precise documents save time and cost more than any other preparation.
Paying parents benefit from advice too. A lawyer can help you propose a realistic amount backed by evidence of your income and other obligations, structure a lump sum fairly, or seek a reduction properly when your situation changes, instead of falling into arrears that later attract enforcement measures.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a fixed amount of child support in Vietnam?
No. The law does not set a percentage or table. Parents may agree, and if they cannot, the court sets an amount based on the paying parent's income and capacity and the child's essential needs. Be cautious about any figure presented as standard.
Can the mother waive child support in a divorce agreement?
Parents can agree on how support is paid, but the right to support belongs to the child and cannot be permanently waived. An agreement that one parent will never contribute may not bind the child, and support can be claimed later if needed.
Until what age is child support paid in Vietnam?
Normally until the child turns 18. It can continue for an adult child who has lost the capacity to work and has no property to support themselves, and it can end earlier in specific situations such as adoption by another person.
What can I do if my ex-spouse abroad stops paying support?
You can enforce the judgment against any assets or income the parent has in Vietnam through the civil judgment enforcement agency. To enforce abroad, you generally need recognition in that country under a treaty or its own law, which usually requires a local lawyer.
Can child support be paid as a lump sum?
Yes, if the parents agree or the court decides so. A lump sum removes future collection risk, which is attractive when the paying parent lives abroad, but it is harder to adjust later if the child's needs change significantly.
Can I reduce support if I lose my job?
You can ask the court to change the amount when your circumstances change, or agree a change with the other parent and have it recognised. Until a new decision exists, the old amount remains owed, so do not simply stop paying.