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Public holidays and celebrations in Vietnam
Vietnam has a relatively compact statutory public-holiday list, but Tết expands far beyond its legal entitlement through public-sector scheduling, family travel, supplier closures and the slow restart that follows. The difference between statutory days and the operating reality is the centre of useful planning.
Last verified 30 August 2026
The useful calendar rule
What should a relocating family plan around?
Treat Tết as a multi-week operational season. In 2026, the five statutory public-sector Tết days ran 16–20 February, while the weekend arrangement created a nine-day public-employee break from 14–22 February. National Day carries two statutory days; the 2026 public-sector arrangement created a five-day break from 29 August to 2 September. Private employers should publish their own compliant arrangements.
One date, several authorities
Build the calendar in four layers
A public-holiday app is a prompt, not proof that a school, bank, clinic or employer will operate in a particular way.
Statutory entitlement
New Year, five Tết days, Hùng Kings, 30 April, 1 May and two National Day days make eleven.
Public-sector arrangement
Weekend swaps can create a longer continuous break than the statutory count alone suggests.
Private employer schedule
Employers choose and notify compliant Tết and National Day arrangements within the legal framework.
Operating reality
Family travel, suppliers, clinics, schools and small businesses may slow earlier and restart later.
The visual calendar
Tết is a shutdown curve, not five isolated dates
Plan the ramp-down, closed core and slow restart separately.
The departure wave
Tickets tighten, staff travel and suppliers shorten hours.
Family days
Many services close and the social focus moves home.
Staggered reopening
Government, school, clinic and small-business restarts differ.
Normalisation
Allow buffer before assuming full staffing and delivery.
2026 planning table
Anchor dates and their real family effect
Dates shown are verified for 2026 or clearly marked as annual/lunar patterns. Recheck before booking future years. Swipe on smaller screens.
| Date | Holiday or period | Status | What changes for a family |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year’s Day | One statutory day | Short closure; many international services follow a longer festive pattern. |
| 14–22 February 2026 | Tết public-sector break | Nine days including weekends; statutory days 16–20 February | Peak domestic travel, extensive closures and a gradual restart. |
| Lunar 10th day of third month | Hùng Kings Commemoration | One statutory day | Verify the Gregorian date and substitute treatment annually. |
| 30 April | Reunification Day | Statutory holiday | National commemoration, domestic travel and public events. |
| 1 May | International Labour Day | Statutory holiday | Often combines with 30 April into a longer movement period. |
| 29 August–2 September 2026 | National Day public-sector break | Five days including weekend/swap; statutory days 1–2 September | A make-up workday and travel wave matter to schools and services. |
| Not public holidays | Mid-Autumn, Christmas and local festivals | Widely visible but normally working days | School or community events can still affect traffic and family schedules. |
Beyond legal closure
Celebrations that shape the family week
Not every important celebration is a national day off; local meaning, travel and school activity can be more useful than its legal category.
Tết Nguyên Đán
The major family, ancestor-remembrance and national renewal season.
Hùng Kings Commemoration
A national origin and heritage commemoration.
Mid-Autumn Festival
A prominent children’s and family celebration with lanterns and mooncakes.
Local temple and village festivals
Community observances can be important without national closure.
Book, confirm, buffer
Four systems that feel the holiday first
Research these from home and save the provider-specific answer beside the date.
Tết transport
Do early: Book rail and flights as soon as plans stabilise.
Household supplies
Do early: Refill prescriptions and specialist food before Tết.
School
Do early: Use the exact campus Tết and summer calendar.
Employer
Do early: Obtain the written holiday and make-up-day schedule.
Connect the calendar
Link celebrations to culture, transport and school
Common questions
Questions about holidays in Vietnam
How many public holidays does Vietnam have?
Vietnam has 11 statutory public-holiday days: one New Year day, five Tết days, one Hùng Kings day, 30 April, 1 May and two National Day days. Weekend arrangements can make actual public-sector breaks longer.
Was Tết a nine-day holiday in 2026?
Public employees had a nine-day continuous break from 14 to 22 February including weekends; the five statutory days were 16–20 February. Private employers needed to announce their own compliant schedule.
Does everything reopen immediately after Tết?
No. Government and larger businesses may follow published dates, while small suppliers and family-run services can return gradually. Confirm essential care, deliveries and school transport directly.
Is Mid-Autumn Festival a public holiday?
It is an important visible children’s and family celebration but not normally a statutory day off. Schools and neighbourhoods may still hold events.
Why did National Day produce five days off in 2026?
The public-sector schedule combined the two statutory days with a weekend and a working-day swap, including a make-up Saturday. That arrangement should not be confused with five new statutory days.
Do international schools follow the public-sector Tết break?
Not automatically. They publish their own calendars and may align partly or fully. Use the exact campus dates before booking travel.