Vietnam has 11 paid public holiday days a year, but the real effect on travellers is bigger than that number suggests. The government routinely joins holidays to weekends by moving working days, so a “one day” holiday often becomes a 4 or 5 day block. Domestic travel then surges, prices jump and some local businesses close. This guide lists the dates for 2026 and 2027, what shuts and what stays open, and which breaks are worth avoiding or planning around. Dates reflect the official Ministry of Home Affairs notice for Tet and National Day 2027, published in October 2026. Private employers set their own Tet schedules.
Full list of Vietnamese public holidays
| Holiday | Statutory days | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 | Thu 1 Jan | Fri 1 Jan |
| Tet (Lunar New Year) | 5 | Tet Day 1 was Tue 17 Feb | Tet Day 1 is Sat 6 Feb |
| Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day (10th day of 3rd lunar month) | 1 | Sun 26 Apr (Mon 27 Apr off in lieu) | Fri 16 Apr |
| Reunification Day | 1 | Thu 30 Apr | Fri 30 Apr |
| International Labour Day | 1 | Fri 1 May | Sat 1 May |
| National Day | 2 | Wed 2 Sep (break ran about 30 Aug to 2 Sep) | Thu 2 Sep and Fri 3 Sep |
Tet and Hung Kings’ Day follow the lunar calendar, so they move every year. The other four holidays are fixed on the Gregorian calendar. Vietnamese Cultural Day on 24 November is a commemoration, and a day off for it has been reported for state workers, but it is not one of the 11 statutory days and most businesses and attractions run as normal.
Moveable dates: Tet and Hung Kings’ Day
Tet 2026. The Lunar New Year fell on Tuesday 17 February 2026. The official break ran for nine consecutive days, from Saturday 14 February to Sunday 22 February, after working days were swapped with weekends.
Tet 2027. Lunar New Year’s Day is Saturday 6 February 2027. Because it lands on a weekend, the government added compensatory days. The Ministry of Home Affairs notice No. 11483/TB-BNV (October 2026), approved by the government, sets a 7-day break for state workers from Thursday 4 February to Wednesday 10 February 2027, with work resuming on 11 February. That is 5 official Tet days plus 2 compensatory days. Private employers may choose one of three schedules: 3 to 9, 4 to 10 or 5 to 11 February, and must give staff 30 days’ notice. Expect some businesses to close on any of those dates, so plan around the widest window of 3 to 11 February.
Hung Kings’ Day. This honours the legendary founders of Vietnam and falls on the 10th day of the third lunar month. It was Sunday 26 April 2026, with Monday 27 April given as a day off in lieu. In 2027 it is Friday 16 April, which forms a three-day weekend from 16 to 18 April.
Other date patterns to expect
- Reunification Day and Labour Day (30 April and 1 May). In 2026 this was a four-day weekend from Thursday 30 April to Sunday 3 May. In 2027 the two days fall on Friday and Saturday, so expect a three-day block from 30 April to 2 May.
- National Day (2 September). Since 2021 the holiday has covered 2 September plus one adjacent day. In 2027 the block runs from Thursday 2 September to Sunday 5 September, four days in total. The Hanoi celebrations include fireworks and street closures around Ba Dinh Square, which we cover in our National Day holiday and fireworks news.
What is open and closed on public holidays
Banks and government offices. Closed on every statutory day and the weekends inside the block. Visa extension counters, local police registration and most municipal offices follow the same pattern. If you need paperwork, plan it before a break. Our Vietnam visa guide covers timings.
ATMs and money. ATMs keep working, but during Tet many in smaller towns run low. Withdraw extra VND two or three days before the break and carry small notes for tips and taxis (see the tipping guide). Money changers and gold shops close for several days.
Shops and markets. Large malls, convenience chains such as Circle K and 7-Eleven, and hotel restaurants usually open on all holidays except possibly Tet Day 1 to 3. Local wet markets and family stalls often close for 3 to 7 days around Tet. For every other holiday they trade normally.
Restaurants and cafes. Outside Tet, restaurants are busy and open. During Tet in Hanoi, Hue and smaller towns, many street food vendors and local restaurants close from the eve to about Day 4, while hotel dining, international chains and tourist-area restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An and Nha Trang stay open, often with a Tet surcharge.
Attractions. Major sites such as Ha Long Bay cruises, Cu Chi Tunnels, the Imperial City in Hue and Hoi An Ancient Town generally open on public holidays and get crowded. During Tet, some museums and local-run sites close on Tet Day 1 to 3, and some Ha Long Bay cruise operators reduce sailings. Pagodas stay open and are packed with worshippers.
Transport. Airlines, trains and the Reunification Express run, but are at peak demand. Intercity buses cut services on Tet Day 1 and 2, and ride-hailing availability thins out. Metro in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City operates with adjusted hours. See getting around Vietnam for transport basics.
Which holidays are most disruptive for travellers
- Tet (highest impact). Flights and trains sell out three to six weeks ahead, hotel rates in beach resorts rise 30 to 100 percent, and roughly 3 to 7 days of services close in non-tourist areas. Millions of workers travel home, so Ho Chi Minh City empties out while Da Lat, Vung Tau, Phu Quoc and Nha Trang fill up.
- National Day (high). The 2 September block coincides with school holidays, so beach towns, Sapa and Ha Long Bay book solid and prices rise 20 to 50 percent.
- 30 April to 1 May (high). One of the busiest domestic travel periods of the year. Expect full flights, crowded Da Nang and Phu Quoc, and traffic jams on routes to the coast.
- Hung Kings’ Day (moderate). Mostly a local pilgrimage to Phu Tho, with mild impact elsewhere.
- New Year’s Day (low). One day, minimal closures.
Smart ways to plan around holidays
- Book transport early. For Tet and 30 April, reserve flights and sleeper trains as soon as the sales open. Browse tours across Vietnam with free cancellation to keep your plan flexible.
- Read the Tet detail first. Our Tet 2027 guide has the closures and flower-market dates, and Hanoi hotels fill early for the break, so check Hanoi hotel availability as soon as dates are fixed.
- Embrace Tet if you are already here. Hanoi has flower markets around Hang Luoc and Hoan Kiem Lake, and Hoi An has a calm, decorated Old Town. See our Hoi An guide and the lantern festival page.
- Choose tourist hubs during Tet. Hoi An, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Ho Chi Minh City’s central districts keep more businesses open than rural areas.
- Check your SIM and cash. An eSIM for Vietnam saves hunting for open stalls, and cash should be sorted before shops close.
- Use the quiet weeks. The weeks after Tet and mid-week days outside holiday blocks are cheaper and calmer. Our best time to visit Vietnam page has the full seasonal view.
Prices and availability in this guide are indicative as of 2026. Vietnamese authorities confirm each year’s holiday blocks only a few months ahead, so check the latest government announcement and your hotel’s holiday policy before you book.