Vietnam Extends National Day Holiday to Five Days for Public Employees

The Vietnamese government has decided to extend the National Day holiday (September 2) to a five-day break for public employees and public service units, allowing for a longer period of rest. According to an announcement from the Ministry of Home Affairs, to accommodate this extended break, the regular working day on Monday, August 31, will be rescheduled to Saturday, August 22. This holiday schedule applies to government administrative agencies, public service units, political organizations, socio-political organizations, enterprises, and other employers. For employees in the private sector, the National Day holiday will be observed in accordance with the Labor Code. Employers may choose to designate either September 1 (Tuesday) or September 3 (Thursday) as an additional day off, alongside the official holiday on Wednesday (September 2). Employers are required to notify employees of the selected National Day holiday schedule at least 30 days before it takes effect. The Ministry of Home Affairs encourages employers to adopt the same National Day holiday schedule as that applied to civil servants and public employees. It also encourages employers and employees to negotiate holiday arrangements that are more favorable to employees while remaining compatible with each enterprise's production and business needs. This measure is expected to promote worker rest and rejuvenation, potentially leading to increased productivity. Extended holidays during national celebrations are viewed in Vietnam as contributing to an improved quality of life for citizens and boosting domestic tourism.