Vietnam Weighs 7 or 10-Day Lunar New Year Break

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs is seeking public feedback on whether to extend the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday in 2027 to seven or ten days. Vietnam currently has 12 paid public holidays. The seven-day option would run from Thursday, February 4, to Wednesday, February 10, 2027, including a weekend. The ten-day option would span Friday, February 5, to Sunday, February 14, requiring workers to swap the workday of February 12 to Saturday, February 27, creating an unbroken ten-day break. Employees would return to work on the tenth day of the first lunar month. The ministry favours the shorter, seven-day break, arguing that an earlier start would allow workers living far from home more time for travel and shopping. The ten-day option, it warned, would compress travel demand into a much shorter window, potentially straining the transport system, especially in major cities and at transport hubs. Separately, the ministry proposed arrangements for Vietnam Culture Day, observed for the first time this November 24. As the date falls on a Tuesday, it suggested swapping the preceding Monday, November 23, to Saturday, November 28, creating a four-day break from November 21 to 24. This would allow people to participate in cultural activities, boosting tourism and spending, while only shifting one workday. For 2027, when November 24 falls on a Wednesday, no swap is proposed. For National Day in 2027, civil servants and public employees would get September 2 and 3 off, which with the weekend gives four days through September 5. Private employers would grant two days off, September 2 plus either September 1 or September 3. The ministry has asked 13 agencies to comment on the holiday proposals by August 10 before submitting its file to the prime minister for a decision. Information source: VnExpress International