Proposal Details
Ministry of Home Affairs (Bộ Nội vụ) has submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister to rearrange the work calendar so that civil servants and public employees enjoy a four‑day continuous paid holiday from Saturday 21 November to Tuesday 24 November 2026. Under the plan, the regular workday on Monday 23 November will be shifted to Saturday 28 November, creating a break that combines the weekend of 21‑22 November, the swapped workday, and the newly recognised Vietnamese Culture Day on 24 November.
Support and Impact
The proposal follows consultations with 13 ministries, agencies and sectors and has received backing from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and several other bodies. Officials say the uninterrupted holiday will encourage participation in cultural, family and community events, boost the cultural industry, tourism and related services, and promote a more civilised lifestyle. While the scheme is mandatory for civil servants, the ministry urges private‑sector employers to adopt a similar schedule, provided workers’ rights and benefits are fully respected, and suggests that companies may negotiate more favourable arrangements with their staff.
Labour Code Amendment
The move also aligns with a draft amendment to the Labour Code that would formally add Vietnamese Culture Day as a paid public holiday, raising the annual count of paid holidays from 11 to 12 days. The amendment is slated for National Assembly review in October.
Current Holiday Calendar
Vietnam currently observes 12 paid holidays: New Year’s Day, Lunar New Year (five days), Hung Kings’ Commemoration, 30 April, International Workers’ Day, National Day (two days) and the new Vietnamese Culture Day. The ministry simultaneously presented holiday calendars for 2027, including a seven‑day Lunar New Year break from 4 to 10 February and a four‑day National Day stretch from 2 to 5 September.