Vietnam approves 4-day break for 2026 New Year holiday

By Hong Chieu December 24, 2025 | 07:55 pm PT

A firework display to celebrate the new year of 2025 over the Saigon River in HCMC, Jan. 1, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

The Vietnamese government has officially sanctioned a four-day break for the 2026 New Year holiday, spanning from Jan. 1 through Jan. 4.

The extension was made possible by rescheduling the regular working day of Friday, Jan. 2, to Saturday, Jan. 10.

The Government Office announced the decision on Thursday, noting that Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra approved the proposal submitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

This strategic swap allows civil servants and public employees to enjoy four consecutive days of rest starting Thursday next week. While the mandate specifically covers the public sector, the government has encouraged private employers to adopt the same schedule while ensuring all statutory benefits for workers are maintained.

The proposal to extend the holiday through rescheduling received a majority of support in a recent online survey. Conducted by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the poll of 76,000 respondents showed 62% in favor of the plan, while 38% opposed.

While most workers and trade union officials welcomed the extended break, many expressed a desire for the Ministry of Home Affairs to conduct consultations and issue announcements earlier in the year. Stakeholders noted that advanced notice is essential for better production scheduling and personal holiday planning.

Throughout 2026, civil servants and workers in Vietnam are scheduled to have a total of 25 days off for public holidays and the Lunar New Year, a figure that combines 11 official public holidays with 14 weekends and rescheduled days.

This schedule is composed of four days for New Year’s Day, a nine-day break for the Lunar New Year, and three days for the Hung Kings Commemoration Day.

The April 30–May 1 holiday will span four days, while the National Day celebration will last for five days. Despite these arrangements, Vietnam's total number of official public holidays remains below the Asian average.

Several neighboring countries offer more frequent breaks, such as Laos with 12 holidays, Japan with 14, China with 17, the Philippines with 18, and Cambodia, which leads the region with 27 public holidays.