2026 Vietnam Public Holiday Schedule: No Nine-Day April Break Planned

Vietnam’s Ministry of Home Affairs has confirmed that there will be no policy to swap working days to extend public holidays in April 2026, maintaining the previously announced holiday schedule. This article provides updates on all newly approved plans for the 2026 Vietnam public holiday schedule.

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The ministry stated that the April holiday calendar will proceed in line with the Labor Code, with no new adjustments or other arrangements under consideration.

Under the current schedule, the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day (10th day of the third lunar month) falls on a Sunday (April 26), with a compensatory day off on Monday (April 27), resulting in a three-day break from April 25–27.

This is followed by two regular working days (April 28–29) before the Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labor Day (May 1) holiday, which extends to four days off from April 30 to May 3 due to the weekend.

The clarification comes amid public discussion and ad hoc arrangements by some universities and businesses to swap working days or grant additional leave in order to create a continuous nine-day break. However, such arrangements remain optional and subject to employer-employee agreement rather than a nationwide policy.

For employers and employees, the unchanged schedule signals a need for proactive planning, particularly for those seeking extended leave periods through annual leave or internal work arrangements.

Vietnam Culture Day Added as New Public Holiday

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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.

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.

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:

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 April 3, 2026.

This article first appeared on Vietnam Briefing, our sister platform.