This study examines intra-generational and intergenerational mobility of employment and
income in Vietnam during the 2004-2008 and 2010-2014 periods. It finds rather high mobility
across income quintiles. There was high mobility of individuals by occupational skills but less
mobility by employment status and sectors. The upward mobility of occupation increased over
time because of the increase in skilled occupation. The intergenerational elasticity of earnings
for parents and children is estimated at around 0.36. The intergenerational elasticity is very
similar for 2004 and 2014. Education plays an important role in improving the intergenerational
mobility. The intergenerational elasticity for children without education degrees and those with
post-secondary degrees is 0.51 and 0.17, respectively. With post-secondary degree, 80% of
people whose parents are unskilled have skilled or non-manual occupation.