Key Takeaways
- Public holidays in Vietnam are left to the discretion of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. If the holiday coincides with a weekly rest day, then an extra day off shall be allowed to the employees on the next working day.
- Public holidays are six in number: New Year’s Day, Tet Nguyen Dan, Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day, Reunification Day, International Workers’ Day, and National Day. The longest holiday is Tet, which has five days off.
- Holiday bonuses are not mandated; it is nonetheless extremely common for companies to provide a Tet bonus and mooncakes during Tet Trung Thu as a benefit to employees. Read the ERA’s Vietnam holidays guide for details.
New Year’s Day
Fireworks to celebrate the New Year in Vietnam. Source: toquoc.vn
In Vietnam, it was sometimes referred to as the Western New Year. While Tet Nguyen Dan is the longest and most important holiday of the year, the people of Vietnam celebrate New Year’s Day on January 1st of the Gregorian calendar.
On this day, all employees are entitled to a day off with pay. Should a company need them to work on New Year’s Day, it is on agreement premises. Moreover, some businesses give bonuses to their employees on New Year’s Day, but it is, of course, at the discretion of every company and hence not compulsive.
Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year)
Among the public holidays in Vietnam, Tet is the most bustling and longest one. Source: noron.vn
The traditional Tet holiday is celebrated on the first day of the lunar calendar and is supposed to be a great occasion for any person in Vietnam. It is also the time when families join together and houses look nicely decorated. According to the solar calendar, Tet can fall at the end of January or mid-February during consecutive days.
According to Labor Law in Vietnam, laborers are entitled to 5 days off during Tet and to be paid for it calculated starting with 2 days before the holiday and 3 days after.
For example, according to the Official Letter issued by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the official Tet holiday in 2025 is from Monday, January 27th, 2025 (December 28th of the lunar calendar), up to Friday, January 31st, 2025 (January 3rd of the lunar calendar).
Although the Tet bonuses are not obligatory under the law, businesses usually provide a Tet bonus or at least present some gifts as a token of appreciation, like cakes and wine, throughout the year. A bonus is one of the retention factors: many tend to shift after Tet if they feel their efforts have not been appraised.
Before the start of the Tet holiday, each company held a year-end party called “Tiec Tat Nien” in Vietnamese. It is a good avenue for management to apprise current business achievements and set targets for the coming year, with some cultural performance entailing sumptuous food.
Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day (Hung Temple Festival)
Hung Temple Festival. Source: nhandan.vn
Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day is a holiday honoring the nation’s founding by the first rulers of Vietnam, the Hung Kings. The Gregorian calendar date normally occurs in April and coincides with the date of the 10th day of the third lunar month. One day off with pay is provided on this holiday. Bonus pay is optional.
Reunification Day (Liberation Day)
Vietnamese people hang flags to celebrate April 30th. Source: thanhuyhanoi.vn
It is a big public holiday that falls each year on April 30th of the Gregorian calendar. It is also known as Liberation Day, which is the time at the end of the Indochina War, and, therefore, the reunification of the country- the most important date in Vietnamese history- is determined.
Workers shall be entitled to one paid day off on Reunification Day by law. Bonus and celebration remain optional for companies.
International Workers’ Day
Meeting to celebrate International Workers’ Day in Vietnam. Source: congdoandaukhi.vn
Similar to most of the other countries in the world, Vietnam also celebrates International Workers’ Day on May 1st of the Gregorian calendar every year to honor the contribution and achievement of the workforce to the country.
On this holiday, businesses and organizations are close to giving employees a paid day off. As a result, by law, workers receive two consecutive Vietnamese holidays each year: Reunification Day on April 30th and International Workers’ Day on May 1st.
Vietnam’s National Day (Independence Day)
National Day, September 2nd, is an extremely important Vietnamese holiday. Source: thanhnien.vn
National Day in Vietnam is a major holiday commemorating the country’s independence from colonial rule. Celebrated on September 2nd of the Gregorian calendar, the day commemorates those brave soldiers who fought and died for the freedom of Vietnam.
According to the Labor law in Vietnam, on this public holiday, workers have two days of paid leave: one day on September 2nd and another day either before or after this one free.
International Women’s Day
Giving gifts on March 8th is a benefit to show gratitude for the contributions of female members. Source: chus.vn
International Women’s Day, March 8th, is not an official holiday in Vietnam. On this day, however, men and children give gifts as a special thought to all the women they love.
Most companies celebrate this day by adopting employee welfare policies related to various activities and programs valuing the contributions of female employees to achieve organizational success. Of course, such acts of thoughtfulness can be in the form of monetary gifts, flowers, movie tickets, or cosmetics.
Mid-Autumn Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam. Source: happybox.vn
The Mid-Autumn Festival, which is named in Vietnamese as “Tet Trung Thu,” is one of Vietnam’s favorite festivals. Traditionally, it falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month; it falls between mid-September and early October in the Solar calendar.
Organizations may take this opportunity to thank those employees for standing by the company in various tumultuous times. Mid-Autumn gifts for employees tend to be more thoughtful rather than high-value gifts. Gifts of mouthwatering mooncakes, shopping vouchers, and cups and thermos bottles with company logos are some examples.
Vietnamese Women’s Day
October 20th, according to the Gregorian calendar, is Vietnamese Women’s Day, which pays respect to Vietnamese women for their great achievements with regard to families and society. It coincides with the formal establishment of the Vietnam Women’s Union in the year 1930.
Gifts for female employees on October 20th. Source: quatangquangvu.com
More often than not, companies give away more than just bonus funds as a respectful attitude to female employees’ commitment and achievement on such a meaningful holiday. Common things given away are fresh flowers with heart-to-heart cards, perfumes, or something useful like nicely designed notebooks or tea cups.
Christmas
Christmas party at a company. Source: growupwwork.com
Although the dominant view in Vietnam is that of Buddhism, Christmas is nonetheless gaining popularity, especially in bigger urban areas. Activities, festive lights, and Masses within Catholic communities are carried out on December 24th and 25th, according to the Gregorian Calendar.
Most companies in Vietnam join in the Christmas activities as part of the welfare policy for the employees by organizing fun events such as preparing Christmas cards, gift lotteries, or parties after work. In fact, all these activities will continue to keep the atmosphere alive and make for good bonding among the employees during the end-of-year season.
Except for the general rule on holidays, the Vietnamese Government may adjust holiday schedules to maximize convenience for employees, such as in the Vietnam Public Holidays 2024 plan, when Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day was swapped to create a 5-day break with Reunification Day and International Workers’ Day.
Therefore, compliance with Vietnam’s holiday and labor laws is crucial for foreign enterprises. The Employer of Record (EOR) service by ERA can help simplify this by acting as the legal employer in Vietnam, managing recruitment, payroll, and tax to ensure full compliance with the latest labor laws.Our service is especially valuable for companies without a local entity or those looking to scale efficiently and conserve resources. To learn more about how our tailored recruitment solutions can drive global growth in Vietnam and more than 100 countries in the world, reach out to us today!
Ms. Tracy has worked in human resource consulting for over 15 years. A driven entrepreneur focused on business expansion and people development. She previously worked as Country Manager for an international Australia firm that specializes in global workforce management, as well as several key roles as Business Growth Director and Executive Search Director for both large local firms to effectively drive their business growth. A strong emphasis is placed on aligning organizational priorities/objectives with business needs. She has a large network of local business leaders and a thorough understanding of the local market.
