Vietnam Proposes 4-Day Holiday for Vietnamese Culture Day via Workday Swap

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister to swap a workday, creating a four-day holiday for the inaugural Vietnamese Culture Day. If approved, citizens will enjoy a consecutive four-day break from November 21 to November 24. Under the proposed plan, civil servants and public employees would shift their workday on November 23 (Monday) to November 28 (Saturday). This adjustment would result in a four-day holiday period, spanning from Saturday, November 21, to Tuesday, November 24. This break includes the weekend days of November 21-22, the swapped workday on November 23, and Vietnamese Culture Day on November 24. November 24 was designated as Vietnamese Culture Day by the Politburo, commemorating the first National Cultural Conference in 1946, chaired by President Ho Chi Minh. The holiday aims to provide citizens with more opportunities to participate in and enjoy cultural activities, fostering cultural creativity and promoting a civilized lifestyle. During its April session, the National Assembly decided to establish November 24 annually as Vietnamese Culture Day, granting workers a paid day off. In early September, the Government further proposed incorporating this day into the Labor Code, increasing the total number of paid public holidays and festivals from 11 to 12 days per year. The draft law is expected to be considered and passed by the National Assembly in its October session. In addition to the Vietnamese Culture Day holiday proposal, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has also submitted plans for the 2027 Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, which would extend for seven days from February 4 (28th day of the 12th lunar month) to February 10 (5th day of the 1st lunar month). For the 2027 National Day, a four-day break is anticipated from September 2 to September 5. Currently, Vietnam observes 12 paid public holidays annually. These include New Year's Day (1 day), Lunar New Year (5 days), the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day (1 day), National Reunification Day (April 30, 1 day), International Workers' Day (May 1, 1 day), National Day (2 days), and the newly established Vietnamese Culture Day (1 day).