Vietnam Public Holidays 2026: Official Dates, Tết Shutdown & Makeup Workdays
6 holiday periods, 25 days off, 2 makeup workday(s). Source: Government Office official dispatch.
2026 Holiday Schedule
| Holiday | Vietnamese | Dates | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Tết Dương lịch | January 1, 2026 (Thu) – January 4, 2026 (Sun) | 4 |
| Lunar New Year (Tết) | Tết Nguyên Đán | February 14, 2026 (Sat) – February 22, 2026 (Sun) | 9 |
| Hung Kings' Commemoration Day | Giỗ Tổ Hùng Vương | April 26, 2026 (Sun) – April 27, 2026 (Mon) | 2 |
| Reunification Day + Labor Day | Ngày Giải phóng + Quốc tế Lao động | April 30, 2026 (Thu) – May 3, 2026 (Sun) | 4 |
| National Day | Quốc khánh | August 29, 2026 (Sat) – September 2, 2026 (Wed) | 5 |
| Vietnam Culture Day | Ngày Văn hóa Việt Nam | November 24, 2026 (Tue) | 1 |
Makeup Workdays — Weekends You Must Work
When the Vietnamese government extends a holiday by incorporating a nearby weekday, they designate a Saturday as a compensatory workday. These dates are set by official dispatch and are mandatory for public sector and government-aligned organizations. Private sector employers may follow different schedules.
- January 10, 2026 (Saturday) — mandatory workday, compensating for New Year's Day
- August 22, 2026 (Saturday) — mandatory workday, compensating for National Day
Tết 2026: Factory Shutdown Timeline
The official Tết holiday is February 14, 2026 – February 22, 2026 (9 days). The practical manufacturing impact is much longer:
| Phase | Typical Timing | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Tết slowdown | ~2–3 weeks before | Workers begin leaving for home provinces; production slows, QC harder to schedule |
| Full shutdown | February 14, 2026 – February 22, 2026 | Factories closed, logistics halted, banks/government closed |
| Gradual restart | 1–2 weeks after | Workers return gradually; factories at 50–70% capacity. Some workers don't return at all (annual turnover wave) |
| Full capacity | ~3 weeks post-Tết | Normal operations resume |
For procurement managers: Vietnam and China observe Lunar New Year simultaneously — dual sourcing from both does not reduce Tết-related risk. Finalize samples by mid-December, confirm POs by early January.
Vietnam vs. China: Holiday System Comparison
| Dimension | Vietnam | China |
|---|---|---|
| Makeup workday mechanism | Ad hoc — government decides case-by-case via official dispatch | Systematic — every major holiday extension triggers mandatory weekend work (调休) |
| Makeup days per year | 1–3 (only when extensions are granted) | 5–7 (tied to every Golden Week and CNY) |
| Schedule announcement | Published across 2–4 separate dispatches, Nov–Dec | Single unified State Council notice, typically November |
| Private sector flexibility | Employers can set their own Tết schedule within legal bounds | All employers follow the same national schedule |
| Lunar New Year shutdown | 5–7 weeks practical disruption | 3–5 weeks practical disruption |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays does Vietnam have in 2026?
Vietnam has 6 official holiday periods in 2026, totaling 25 days off (including weekends within holiday blocks). 2 Saturday(s) are designated as mandatory makeup workdays.
When is Tết (Lunar New Year) 2026?
The official Tết holiday runs February 14, 2026 to February 22, 2026 (9 days). Most factories shut down 1–2 weeks before and don't reach full capacity until 2–3 weeks after — the practical disruption is 5–7 weeks.
Does Vietnam have makeup workdays like China's 调休?
Yes, but Vietnam's system is less systematic. When the government extends a holiday by incorporating a nearby weekday, they designate a Saturday as a compensatory workday. This is announced via official dispatch (công văn) from the Government Office. Unlike China's mandatory annual schedule, Vietnam decides case-by-case — not every holiday extension triggers a makeup day.
When do Vietnamese factories shut down for Tết?
The official holiday is 9 days, but the practical manufacturing shutdown runs approximately 5–7 weeks. Pre-Tết slowdown begins 2–3 weeks before as workers leave for home provinces. Post-Tết, factories run at 50–70% capacity for 1–2 weeks. Full recovery typically takes until mid-March. Place orders 4–6 weeks before Tết to avoid disruption.
Where does this data come from?
Official source: Official Dispatch No. 9859/VPCP-KGVX (2025) + 12729/VPCP-KGVX, December 25, 2025. Vietnam's holiday schedule is governed by Article 112 of the Labor Code 2019. Extended holiday blocks and makeup workdays are announced via Official Dispatches from the Government Office (Văn phòng Chính phủ).
Resources
China Public Holidays 2026 · Working Day API · Is China Open Today?