Decree 337 Explained on Electronic Employment Contract in Vietnam

Sometimes, we come across clients whom dispute against their employers but could not provide a signed labour contract. For some cases, there are a contract version filed at authority for work permit application, and another contract version agreed with the employee.

That could be changed now with electronic employment contract in Vietnam being introduced in 2026.

With the electronic employment contract in Vietnam, a hiring day should end with a digitally signed contract.

Decree 337/2025/ND-CP regulates a clear, standardized way to sign and manage electronic employment contract in Vietnam with digital signatures, timestamps, a provider certification step, and a national platform that assigns each contract a unique ID. 

What Decree 337 is About?

What is an electronic employment contract in Vietnam?

An electronic employment contract in Vietnam is a labor contract created as a data message and it has the same legal value as a paper written contract when done correctly under the law. 

Effective date and operation date

• The Decree takes effect from 1 January 2026.
• The national Electronic Labor Contract Platform must be officially operating no later than 1 July 2026, and the Decree’s e-contract signing and performance rules are applied from 1 July 2026.

What is required?

Decree 337 uses a simple structure:

1. eContract: the system where employer and employee create, sign, store, and manage the electronic contract.
2. National platform: a centralized platform managed by the government authority to manage e-contract data.
3. Contract ID: a unique number issued by the national platform for each electronic contract including converted paper contracts.

Does it apply to foreign employees?

Yes. Decree 337’s identity document rules explicitly include a valid passport, and for foreigners, a valid visa or proof of visa exemption as applicable. 

Are paper contracts still allowed after 1 July 2026?

Yes. Paper contracts are not banned. Decree 337 encourages employers to use electronic labor contracts to replace paper in HR management and related administrative procedures, but it does not abolish paper contracts. 

Why now introducing electronic employment contract in Vietnam?

Decree 337 will help fix three problems:

1. Proof in disputes: Digital signature and timestamp and provider certification make strong evidence.
2. Version difference: A contract ID helps keep the contract and related documents including appendices, and other notices in one traceable history.
3. Standardization: A national platform creates a consistent structure for data storage, security expectations, and compatable to other government related procedures i.e. Work permit.

How it works?

How a new electronic employment contract in Vietnam is signed

1. Create the contract on an eContract system.
2. Verify identity of both parties, including foreign employees with passport and visa related documents where required.
3. Both sides sign digitally, using a timestamp service.
4. The eContract provider performs the required certification step inside the electronic contract workflow.
5. Within 24 hours after the last party signs, the provider must send the contract to the national platform to attach the contract ID.
6. Both employer and employee receive the contract as a data message through the agreed electronic method.

What happens to paper contracts after July 2026?

Option 1: Keep paper contracts as paper

Decree 337 encourages e-contracts, but it does not force conversion. 

Option 2: Convert old paper contracts into e-contracts when it helps

This is useful if you want:

• clean digital proof,
• easier appendices management later.

Option 3: Keep paper now, convert later only when you need electronic amendments

If a paper contract is later amended via data messages, Decree 337 requires the contract to be convered into electronic version before any future electronic amendments. 

How to convert a paper contract signed years ago into an e-contract?

1. Authenticate the parties.
2. Create the electronic version on an eContract system.
3. The employer’s authorized person must digitally sign the converted version to confirm it is accurate and complete compared to the paper original.
4. The converted electronic contract must be attached with a contract ID from the national platform.
5. The converted contract has value like the original when it meets e-transaction conditions.

What this means for employers and employees

For employers

• Faster onboarding, especially with remote managers and cross city teams.
• Cleaner HR records with less paper storage, easier retrieval.
• Stronger evidence trail in disputes signing time, identity checks, contract history.
• New responsibility including data security, access control, and choosing an eContract provider that meets technical and security requirements.

For employees

• A contract you can actually keep i.e. digital copy.
• Clearer protection woth timestamps and signing records support what was agreed.
• Easier for renewals and appendices online.

FAQ on Electronic Employment Contract in Vietnam

Is an electronic employment contract legally valid in Vietnam?

Yes. Decree 337 treats it as a data message labor contract with the same legal value as a paper written contract when signed and handled properly. 

When does an electronic employment contract become effective?

By default, it becomes effective when the last party signs, the timestamp is attached to the signatures, and the provider’s certification step is applied unless the parties agree otherwise. 

Do paper employment contracts still exist after 1 July 2026?

Yes. The Decree encourages electronic contracts, but it does not eliminate paper contracts. 

Do we have to convert old paper contracts?

No. Keeping old paper contracts is allowed. Conversion is optional, and mainly useful if you want a fully digital HR workflow or you plan to handle changes electronically later. 

How do we convert a paper contract into an electronic one under Decree 337?

Authenticate the parties, create an electronic version, employer’s authorized person digitally signs to confirm accuracy, attach a platform-issued contract ID. 

Does Decree 337 apply to foreign employees working in Vietnam?

Yes. The Decree’s identity document rules include a valid passport and valid visa or proof of visa exemption, as applicable. 

What is the contract ID and why should we care?

It is a unique ID issued by the national platform for each e-contract including converted ones. It helps keep the contract and related documents linked and traceable over time. 

Do we need to print the e-contract after signing?

Not necessarily. The electronic form is legally valid. If you need paper for internal use, conversion is available under the legal conversion rules. 

About ANT Lawyers, a Law Firm in Vietnam

We help clients overcome cultural barriers and achieve their strategic and financial outcomes, while ensuring the best interest protection, risk mitigation and regulatory compliance. ANT Lawyers has lawyers in Ho Chi Minh city, Hanoi, and Danang, and will help customers in doing business in Vietnam.