VIETNAM PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2026

Vietnam Public Holidays 2026. Vietnam's Ministry of Home Affairs has declared that there would be no policy of swapping working days to lengthen public holidays in April 2026, according to the already planned holiday schedule. This page gives an update on all newly authorized plans for the 2026 Vietnamese public holiday calendar.

Vietnam Public Holidays 2026 Information:

The ministry noted that the April holiday schedule will follow the Labor Code, with no additional amendments or alternative arrangements being considered.

Under the present calendar, the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day (10th day of the third lunar month) is on a Sunday (April 26), with a compensatory day off on Monday (April 27), resulting in a three-day holiday from April 25 to 27.

In addition to the official holidays specified above, foreign personnel working in Vietnam are entitled to one traditional public holiday and one National Day in their home country.

This is followed by two ordinary working days (April 28-29) before the Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labor Day (May 1) holidays, which stretch to four days off owing to the weekend (April 30–May 3).

Name	Date	Type	Days off
New Year’s Holiday	Thursday, January 1, 2026	Public holiday	4
	Friday, January 2, 2026	Public holiday
	Saturday, January 3, 2026	Weekend
	Sunday, January 4, 2026	Weekend
Lunar New Year (Tet) Holidays	Saturday, February 14, 2026	Weekend	9
	Sunday, February 15, 2026	Weekend
	Monday, February 16, 2026	Public holiday
	Tuesday, February 17, 2026	Public holiday
	Wednesday, February 18, 2026	Public holiday
	Thursday, February 19, 2026	Public holiday
	Friday, February 20, 2026	Public holiday
	Saturday, February 21, 2026	Weekend
	Sunday, February 22, 2026	Weekend
Hung Kings Commemoration Day	Saturday, April 24, 2026	Weekend	3
	Sunday, April 26, 2026	Public holiday/Weekend
	Monday, April 27, 2026	Make-up day for April 26
Reunification Day International Labor Day	Thursday, April 30, 2026	Public holiday	4
	Friday, May 1, 2026	Public holiday
	Saturday, May 2, 2026	Weekend
	Sunday, May 3, 2026	Weekend
National Day Holidays	Saturday, August 29, 2026	Weekend	5
	Sunday, August 30, 2026	Weekend
	Monday, August 31, 2026	Public holiday
	Tuesday, September 1, 2026	Public holiday
	Wednesday, September 2, 2026	Public holiday
Vietnam Culture Day	Thursday, November 24, 2026	Public holiday	1

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The explanation comes amid public debate and impromptu plans by some colleges and companies to swap working days or provide additional vacation in order to achieve a continuous nine-day holiday. However, such arrangements are still discretionary and subject to employer-employee agreements rather than a national mandate.

For businesses and employees, the unchanging timetable indicates the necessity for proactive preparation, especially for those seeking prolonged leave periods through annual leave or internal work arrangements.

Vietnam Culture Day is added as a new public holiday:

November 24 has been officially declared as Vietnam Culture Day and is honored as an annual public holiday, with employees receiving a full-pay day off. The inclusion of Vietnam Culture Day in the national holiday calendar is likely to have a direct impact on yearly leave schedules, augmenting current public holidays such as Tet.

The policy is outlined in Politburo Resolution No. 80 on the development of Vietnamese culture, which was issued on January 7. It emphasizes expanding public access to cultural activities, encouraging creativity among artists and cultural practitioners, and promoting a civilized and culturally rich way of life across the nation.

With November 24 recognized as an official public holiday, the overall number of public holidays and Tet-related days off in 2026 will be 26 days, which includes weekends and substituted days off. This adjustment enables residents and tourists to better organize their time for cultural events, recreational activities, and domestic travel throughout the period.

Flexible timetable for the private sector:

Private enterprises can arrange their Tet and National Day holidays based on business conditions, as long as employee rights are maintained and the schedule is posted at least 30 days in advance.

For the 2026 Lunar New Year (Tet) holidays, businesses can select from the following options:

• One day off at the end of the old lunar year and four days at the beginning of the new year;
• Two days off at the end of the old year and three at the beginning of the new year; and
• Three days off at the end of the old year and two at the beginning of the new year.
  

According to the Labor Code, if a holiday occurs on a weekly rest day, employees are entitled to a compensating day off on the next working day. As a result, the government's three alternatives can be planned as shown in the table below:

Option	Main holiday period	Weekend overlap	Compensatory days off	Total actual days off	Remarks
1 day at end of old year + 4 at start of new year	Monday, February 16 → Friday, February 20, 2026	None	None	5 consecutive days	Fits standard working schedule
2 days at end of old year + 3 at start of new year	Sunday, February 15 → Thursday, February 19, 2026	Sunday, February 15	Friday, February 20	6 consecutive days	1 make-up day added
3 days at end of old year + 2 at start of new year	Saturday, February 14 → Wednesday, February 18, 2026	Saturday, February 14 and Sunday, February 15	Thursday, February 19 and Friday, February 20	7 consecutive days	2 make-up days added

Employers must give a day off on September 2 and one additional day before or after the holiday, depending on operational requirements.

The government encourages private businesses to follow the same holiday calendar as the public sector, or to make more beneficial arrangements for their employees.

Overall, the 2026 vacation plan strives to strike a balance between relaxation and production, assuring worker convenience while promoting economic and administrative continuity.

How do these public holidays affect you as a traveler?

The following are the most prevalent impacts of public holidays on tourists visiting Vietnam:

If you apply for a visa just before or after a public holiday, be prepared for unexpected delays owing to increased document processing demand.

If your arrival date falls on a public holiday and you have not received your visa, you will be unable to enter Vietnam.

You can withdraw cash from ATMs but cannot perform in-person banking activities.

Famous tourist destinations, particularly beaches, may become congested with local tourists who have days off.

During Lunar New Year (also known as Tet), many establishments, including well-known restaurants and cafes, are closed for at least New Year's Eve and Day.Advisory for foreign investors and business visitors in Vietnam:

Foreign investors in Vietnam's industrial sector should plan for prolonged public vacations in 2026, notably during Tet (Lunar New Year), which includes nine consecutive days off for state employees. MOLISA offers three holiday choices for private firms, allowing them to follow comparable schedules. These holidays might have an influence on production schedules, logistics, and personnel availability.

Business travelers are encouraged to schedule their visits around major holidays, with Tet holidays often resulting in widespread closures in both the governmental and private sectors, affecting official work and business meetings. Schedules with local partners must be confirmed ahead of time, and operating and travel plans must be flexible.

Employers must complete and disclose holiday plans to their personnel in Vietnam at least 30 days in advance, as mandated by MOLISA, to ensure seamless company continuity during this time.

List of Public Holidays in Vietnam 2026 & 2027:

This is a great area to hang out on both weekdays and holidays. On big holidays like Tet and Lunar New Year, fireworks displays, special activities, and music performances will be counted down here. This is also a wonderful site to experience culture, Vietnamese life and taste Hanoi food in the Old Quarter, such as pho, vermicelli, spring rolls, fish cakes, and Trang Tien ice cream.

Year	Date	Public Holiday	Day	Holiday Duration
2026	February 16 – 24	Lunar New Year (Tết)	Monday–Friday	9 days
	April 26	Hung Kings Commemoration Day	Sunday	2 days (Apr 26–27)
	April 27	Hung Kings Holiday	Monday
	April 30	Reunification Day	Thursday	1 day
	May 1	Labor Day	Friday	1 day
	September 2	National Day	Wednesday	1 day
	November 24	Vietnamese Cultural Day	Tuesday	1 day
2027	January 1	New Year’s Day	Friday	1 day
	February 5 – 13	Lunar New Year (Tết)	Friday–Saturday	9 days
	April 15	Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day	Thursday	1 day
	April 30	Reunification Day	Friday	2 days (Apr 30 – May 1)
	May 1	International Labor Day	Saturday
	September 2	National Day	Thursday	2 days (Sep 2 – 3)
	September 3	National Day Holiday	Friday
	November 24	Vietnamese Cultural Day	Wednesday	1 day

Among the seven public holidays, Tet Holiday (Lunar New Year) and Hung King Commemoration Day are based on the Lunar Calendar; they will vary from year to year. Meanwhile, the other four holidays are set on a certain day on the normal calendar, so they are the same every year.

If a public holiday falls on a weekend, the holiday duration will be extended by one day, according to Vietnamese regulations. If they fall on a weekday, people are only entitled to the specified public holidays.

>> View tour details: Hanoi Shore Excursions - Journey to Discover the Thousand-Year Capital from Ha Long Port

• Lunar New Year (Tet Holiday):

Tet, or Lunar New Year, is Vietnam's most important and traditional festival. It typically lasts seven days, it can be extended at the discretion of the Vietnamese government. Tet Holiday may begin on December 28th or 29th and continue until January 5th or 6th in the lunar calendar, which might occur between mid-January and mid-February in the solar calendar.

Although the key Tet days are December 30 (occasionally December 29) and January 1, 2, and 3, everyone is given an early break to prepare for the holiday, followed by an extra 1-2 days to recuperate and prepare to return to work.

The Lunar New Year is an opportunity for all Vietnamese to reunite with their family. During Tet, various traditional activities take place, including adorning houses with traditional trees, visiting pagodas/temples to pray for luck and happiness, visiting relatives, sending offerings to ancestors, and giving lucky money.

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In addition to the major public holidays listed above, there are a few festivals that you should not miss when visiting Vietnam:

Date	Festivals	What is special?
13th Lunar January	Lim Festival	Quan Ho folk singing, folk games, traditional costume and activities.
15th Lunar January	Huong Pagoda Festival	Boat trip to watch limestone mountains, rice fields, Huong Tich Cave, showing the religious spirit and wishing luck.
15th Lunar January	Phu Giay Festival	Folk songs, traditional games, cultural activities.
3rd Lunar March	Tet Han Thuc	To honor ancestors and the merits of the deceased. Activities: making and enjoying rice ball sugar cake (banh troi), and rice ball bean cake (banh chay).
April/May/June every 2 years	Hue Festival	Maintain traditional customs, cultural activities: Ao Dai show (Vietnamese traditional dress), art exhibition, kite flying, etc.
8th Lunar April	Buddha’s Birthday	Beautifully decorated pagodas, prayer sessions of Buddhists, and procession.
15th Lunar July	Wandering Souls Day	Show respect to ancestors by going to the pagoda to pray, preparing offerings on the altar, etc.
14th - 15th Lunar August	Mid-Autumn Festival	Family reunion day, lion dance performance, lantern procession, enjoying full moon cakes,…
Every 14th lunar month	Hoi An Lantern Festival	Paper lanterns being held in every corner of Hoi An Ancient Town, electricity replaced by lanterns, taking a boat trip and dropping lanterns on the river to make a wish.

>> View tour details: Hoi An Shore Excursions - Journey to Discover UNESCO World Heritage from Chan May Port

Travel recommendations while visiting Vietnam during public holidays:

Make sure all vital paperwork, including as your passport, visa, approved visa letter, and so on, are handled well in advance of your trip, as all government offices will be closed on public holidays.

To prevent unavailability, book hotel rooms, flights, and local excursions ahead of time.

Traffic may be severe, particularly on the first and last days of the vacation, so allow plenty of time to transfer to prevent being late.

Take care of your bags and belongings, especially in crowded areas.

Most stores and businesses are closed during the Tet holiday, particularly on Lunar

December 30 and January 1, 2, and 3. Hence, you should check the opening and closing times of the place you want to go to in advance.

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