2026 Vietnam Public Holiday Schedule: Vietnam Culture Day Added as New Public Holiday
November 24 has been officially designated as Vietnam Culture Day and recognized as an annual public holiday, with employees entitled to a day off on full pay. This article provides updates on all newly approved plans for the 2026 Vietnam public holiday schedule.
The addition of Vietnam Culture Day to the national holiday calendar is expected to directly affect annual leave schedules, supplementing existing public holidays and Tet.
The policy is outlined in Politburo Resolution No. 80 on the development of Vietnamese culture, issued on January 7, which emphasizes expanding public access to cultural activities, encouraging creativity among artists and cultural practitioners, and promoting a civilized and culturally rich way of life nationwide.
With November 24 confirmed as an official public holiday, the total number of public holidays and Tet-related days off in 2026 will rise to 26 days, including weekends and substituted days off. This change allows residents and visitors to better plan their time to participate in cultural events, leisure activities, and domestic travel during the period.
|
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 |
Sunday, April 26, 2026 |
Public holiday |
1 |
|
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 |
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) is responsible for notifying administrative agencies, public service units, political and socio-political organizations, enterprises, and employees in accordance with applicable regulations.
Relevant agencies and units are required to arrange duty staffing and work schedules to ensure continuity of operations and uninterrupted public services during the holiday period.
Flexible schedule for private sector
Private companies may set their Tet and National Day holidays according to business conditions, provided employee rights are protected, and the schedule is announced at least 30 days in advance.
For the 2026 Lunar New Year (Tet) holidays, enterprises can choose one of 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.
As stipulated in the Labor Code, if a holiday falls on a weekly rest day, employees are entitled to a compensatory day off on the next working day. With that, the three options suggested by the government can be scheduled as the following table:
|
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 |
For National Day, employers must provide a day off on September 2 and one additional day either before or after the holiday, depending on operational needs.
The government encourages private enterprises to follow the same holiday schedule as the public sector or adopt more favorable arrangements for their workers.
Overall, the 2026 holiday plan aims to balance rest and productivity, ensuring convenience for workers while supporting economic and administrative continuity.
See also: Unlock Your Retail Growth For Vietnam’s 2026 Holiday Season
This article was first published October 14, 2025, and was last updated January 13, 2026.
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