9 days off for Tet isn't enough for Vietnamese families

Tet, or the Lunar New Year, is the nation's most important cultural and family celebration, and nine days can barely contain it.

Tet has never been just another holiday. It is a spiritual homecoming, a once-a-year reunion that has shaped Vietnamese identity for millennia. Families gather, rituals are observed, ancestors are honored and entire hometowns come alive with festivals and traditions. To truly take part in these rituals takes more than a week, it takes breathing room.

Yet the current plan for 2026 offers nine days off, stitched together from five official days and a pair of weekends. On paper, it looks like a decent stretch. In reality, for the millions of workers in Ho Chi Minh City or southern industrial zones with hometowns in the central or northern provinces, two to three days are consumed just by travel. Long train rides, endless queues and congested highways eat up the holiday at both ends.

That leaves families cramming reunions, ceremonies and rest into a narrow window. It also leads to the quiet truth many acknowledge: the days before Tet and immediately after are often unproductive, as businesses slow down and employees half-work while already preparing for the break or recovering from it.

Critics fear a longer official holiday would dent productivity. But international studies, and Vietnam’s own experience, suggest the opposite. OECD research shows countries like France, Germany and the Netherlands, which enjoy longer holidays, maintain high productivity and healthier workforces by balancing rest and labor. In Vietnam, too, the post-Tet surge in energy and optimism often fuels stronger economic activity.

A formal extension to 11 or 12 days would not derail the economy. It could actually reduce chaos by creating a unified schedule for travel, tourism and services, instead of leaving each company to quietly adjust around the official dates. Workers would return more rested, businesses could plan more effectively, and the cultural integrity of Tet would be respected.

Nine days may look long on a calendar. But when measured against Vietnam's traditions, family needs and the reality of modern life, it feels short. A little more time could make all the difference between a rushed visit home and a truly meaningful holiday.