Vietnam Culture Day: One Day Off Without Workday Swap, Aiming to Maintain Year-End Work Pace

Vietnam's Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed to the government that Vietnam Culture Day in 2026, falling on November 24, be observed as a one-day holiday without a compensatory workday swap. This decision aims to maintain productivity and stabilize business activities during the concentrated year-end work period. Initially, the ministry considered a proposal to swap November 23 (Monday) for a workday on November 28 (Saturday), creating a four-day holiday from November 21 to 24. However, after considering public feedback and practical work demands, a revised proposal was submitted to observe only November 24 (Tuesday) as a holiday, with no workday swap. This policy is intended to apply to civil servants as well as workers in the private sector. The Ministry of Home Affairs cited the end of November as a critical period when agencies and businesses focus on completing annual work plans and targets. It explained that minimizing disruptions and maintaining work pace is crucial, as production lines, deliveries, business objectives, and preparations for the following year are all in progress. This approach is expected to support the stability of production and business activities, particularly for enterprises operating on shifts, seasonal schedules, or continuous operations. The proposal is said to fulfill the objectives of allowing citizens to enjoy cultural activities, promote business development, and maintain administrative functions. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year) holiday in 2027 will span seven days, from February 4 to February 10, 2027. For National Day (September 2, 2027), the holiday is expected to be a four-day break from September 2 to September 5, including the preceding weekend. Currently, Vietnam observes a total of 12 paid public holidays annually: New Year's Day (1 day), Lunar New Year (5 days), Hung Kings' Commemoration Day (1 day), Reunification Day (April 30, 1 day), International Workers' Day (May 1, 1 day), National Day (2 days), and Vietnam Culture Day (1 day).