National Days of Vietnam: Guides to Public Holidays and Annual Leaves

National Holidays of Vietnam - NetViet

Vietnam’s National Holidays and Annual Leaves: A Guide for Employers

Vietnam’s national holidays and annual leaves can present significant complexities for businesses operating in the country. This guide clarifies the intricacies of Vietnam’s holiday and leave provisions, offering essential information to help employers and HR professionals maintain accurate and compliant practices.

Holidays and Tet

Article 112 of the Labor Code 2019 states that employees receive fully paid leave on the following holidays and Tet:

  • New Year’s Day: 1 day (January 1 of the Gregorian calendar);

  • Lunar New Year: 5 days;

  • Liberation Day / Reunification Day: 1 day (April 30 of the Gregorian calendar);

  • International Labor Day: 1 day (May 1 of the Gregorian calendar);

  • Independence Day: 2 days (September 2 of the Gregorian calendar and 1 adjacent day, either before or after);

  • Hung Kings’ Festival: 1 day (March 10 of the lunar calendar).

In total, employees enjoy 11 days off for holidays and Tet. If any of these holidays fall on a weekly rest day, the employee gets an additional day off on the next working day.

Foreign employees working in Vietnam also receive one traditional New Year holiday and one National Day from their home country, in addition to the Vietnamese holidays listed above.

Annual Leave

According to Article 113 of the Labor Code 2019, any worker who completes 12 months of work with an employer qualifies for fully paid annual leave, based on the terms in their employment contract:

  • 12 working days for employees working under regular conditions;

  • 14 working days for minor employees, employees with disabilities, or those working in hazardous or harmful conditions;

  • 16 working days for employees working in extremely hazardous or harmful conditions.

Employees who work for less than 12 months receive annual leave days calculated proportionally to the number of months worked.

Time Counted as Working Time for Annual Leave (Article 65 of Decree 145/2020/NĐ-CP):

The following periods count as working time for annual leave calculation:

  • Time spent on vocational training or apprenticeship under Article 61 of the Labor Code, if the employee continues working for the employer afterward;

  • Probation period, if the employee continues working after probation;

  • Paid personal leave under Clause 1, Article 115 of the Labor Code;

  • Approved unpaid leave, not exceeding 1 month per year;

  • Leave due to occupational accidents or diseases, up to 6 months;

  • Sick leave, up to 2 months per year;

  • Maternity leave under the Social Insurance Law;

  • Time spent on employee representative organization activities, as recognized by law;

  • Time off due to work stoppages or layoffs not caused by the employee;

  • Time off due to temporary suspension of work, provided the employee doesn’t violate regulations and is not subject to discipline.

Annual Leave Calculation in Special Cases (Article 65 of Decree 145/2020/NĐ-CP):

  • For employees working less than 12 months:
    Annual leave days = (Base annual leave + Seniority-based days (if any)) / 12 × Number of actual working months in the year

  • For employees working less than a full month:
    If the total number of working days and paid leave days (from holidays, Tet, annual leave, personal leave as defined in Articles 112–115) makes up 50% or more of the standard working days in that month, the employer counts that month as a full month when calculating leave.

Additional Annual Leave for Seniority

For every 5 years of service with the same employer, employees gain one additional day of annual leave.

Personal Leave and Unpaid Leave

Employees may take paid personal leave after informing the employer in these cases:

  • Their own marriage: 3 days off

  • Marriage of biological or adopted children: 1 day off

  • Death of biological or adoptive parents, parents-in-law, spouse, or biological/adopted children: 3 days off

In addition, employees may take 1 unpaid day off (with employer notification) in these cases:

  • Death of grandparents or siblings

  • Marriage of siblings

  • Remarriage of parents

For more details about the formula to calculate overtime wages for working on Independence Day, visit Vietnam Independence Day 2024

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NetViet offers comprehensive HR solutions, including PEO, EOR, payroll, and IT helpdesk outsourcing, for businesses entering or expanding in the Vietnamese market. Established in 2000, NetViet commits to providing expert, seamless, and compliant HR solutions.

Legal Disclaimer: The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific legal advice on compliance in Vietnam, schedule a consultation with NetViet or consult legal counsel.

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