This paper examines the current state of Vietnam’s social insurance system, highlighting key challenges in coverage gaps, policy fragmentation, and limited sustainability, particularly among informal workers who account for a majority of the labor force. Drawing on international experience, and despite notable progress in expanding coverage, the study proposes a strategic reform framework centered on five dimensions of policy linkage: across tiers, short- and long-term benefits, employment status, governance and data systems, and connections with labor, demographic, and care policies. Strengthening these linkages is essential for building a coherent, inclusive, and sustainable social protection system in Vietnam.