Vietnam has 26 days off in 2026 once makeup days are counted, but only three or four windows will genuinely change how your trip runs. Here’s which dates matter, what they do to flights and opening hours, and how to plan around them.
The next big one is close. The National Day break runs from 29 August to 2 September, five days from Saturday to Wednesday, and domestic routes are already tight. Tet, back in February, is the holiday worth building an entire itinerary around.
Most of the rest barely register for foreign visitors. This guide gives you the full 2026 date table, a ranking of which holidays actually affect travellers, what stays open, and how holiday periods change the picture at Vietnam’s international airports.
Vietnam public holidays 2026: The Full Calendar
| Holiday | 2026 dates | Days off | Days of week |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year | 1-4 January | 4 | Thursday to Sunday |
| Tet (Lunar New Year) | 14-22 February | 9 | Saturday to Sunday |
| Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day | 26 April, observed 27 April | 1 plus makeup | Sunday, Monday |
| Reunification Day and Labour Day | 30 April – 3 May | 4 | Thursday to Sunday |
| National Day | 29 August – 2 September | 5 | Saturday to Wednesday |
| Vietnam Culture Day | 24 November | 1 | Tuesday |
This is the public-sector schedule announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and it’s the one that drives domestic travel demand. Private employers usually follow it, though they aren’t required to match it exactly. For National Day, Monday 31 August was swapped for Saturday 22 August to create the five-day run.
Vietnam Culture Day on 24 November is new for 2026, added as a paid public holiday under Politburo Resolution No. 80. It’s a single day and has almost no effect on visitors.
Which holidays actually affect your trip
Impact tracks the length of the break, not the cultural weight of the holiday. A one-day observance moves almost nobody. A nine-day break moves the whole country.
| Holiday | Impact | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Tet, 14-22 February | High | Domestic flights and trains sold out; many small businesses closed; peak hotel rates |
| National Day, 29 Aug – 2 Sep | High | Coastal routes near capacity; government offices closed; public events in Hanoi and HCMC |
| Reunification and Labour Day, 30 Apr – 3 May | Moderate | Busy beach destinations, higher domestic fares, most businesses open |
| New Year, 1-4 January | Moderate | Steady tourist traffic, offices closed, minimal retail disruption |
| Hung Kings’ Day, 26-27 April | Low | Crowds at Phu Tho temple sites only |
| Vietnam Culture Day, 24 November | Low | Offices closed, everything else normal |
Tet 2026 (14-22 February): The one that reshapes everything
Nine consecutive days off produces the largest internal migration of the year. Millions of people travel from the cities back to home provinces, and they all book the same routes in the same fortnight.
What that means in practice:
- Domestic flights and north-south trains sell out four to six weeks ahead
- Family-run restaurants and shops close for three to seven days, especially outside tourist districts
- Hotel rates in Hanoi, Hoi An and Phu Quoc climb well above normal
- International arrivals stay strong while domestic capacity is squeezed, so terminals feel fuller than the arrival numbers suggest
Immigration halls run heavier than usual through this window. Our guide to Noi Bai wait times during Lunar New Year breaks down which hours are worst.
Planning ahead? Tet 2027 falls on 6 February, so the same nine-day pattern will land in the first half of that month.
The National Day break, 29 August to 2 September
Five days, Saturday through Wednesday. It’s the second-largest domestic travel surge of the year and the last major one on the 2026 calendar.
- Coastal routes fill first: Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang and Quy Nhon
- Beach hotels run near capacity, with minimum-stay rules common
- Government offices close for the full window, including services travellers may need
- Parades, flag ceremonies and evening events take place in central Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which affects road access downtown
If the islands are on your route, our Phu Quoc travel cost plan covers what to budget during peak weeks.
What stays open and what closes
| Category | During Tet | Other public holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Airports and airlines | Open, full schedule | Open, full schedule |
| Hospitals and pharmacies | Open, reduced staffing | Open |
| Banks | Closed; ATMs run low | Closed; ATMs normal |
| Government and immigration offices | Closed full window | Closed |
| Shopping malls and chain cafes | Mostly open, shorter hours | Open |
| Family-run shops and street food | Many closed 3-7 days | Open |
| Museums and major sights | Variable, check ahead | Mostly open |
Recovery varies by area. Tourist districts in Hanoi’s Old Quarter or District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City reopen within a couple of days, while residential neighbourhoods can stay quiet for the better part of a week.
Important: government offices, including counters handling visa extensions and document services, close for the full Tet and National Day windows.
Deal with any paperwork before the break starts. Current entry and visa rules are published on Vietnam’s Immigration Portal.
How holidays affect airports and immigration
International arrival volumes don’t drop during Vietnamese holidays. What changes is the pressure on shared terminal space, because domestic traffic surges through the same buildings, car parks and access roads.
| Airport | Holiday pressure point | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
| Tan Son Nhat (SGN) | Domestic Terminal 1 congestion spills into T2 access roads | Allow extra transfer time to District 1 |
| Noi Bai (HAN) | Evening immigration queues heavier than midday | Avoid 8pm to 11pm arrivals where possible |
| Da Nang (DAD) | Sharp domestic inbound spikes on the first holiday day | Book transport in advance |
| Phu Quoc (PQC) | Newest airport in the network, smallest arrival hall | Expect slower baggage delivery at peaks |
We’ve written separately on What Tan Son Nhat is like during public holidays. Tan Son Nhat handles over 40 million passengers a year, and standard immigration clearance there can take one to two hours at peak. With an agent escorting you through the priority lane, that typically drops to 10 to 20 minutes, depending on flight load.
If you’re landing in Ho Chi Minh City inside a holiday window, the Tan Son Nhat fast track service covers arrival and departure at the international gates. For Hanoi, we’ve written a side-by-side look at fast track versus the regular queue at Noi Bai.
Planning around the 2026 holiday calendar
- Book domestic flights six to eight weeks out. For Tet and National Day, prices climb steeply and popular routes disappear entirely.
- Handle visa and document business before the break. Immigration offices close for the full window, with no exceptions for tourists.
- Carry cash. Banks close and ATMs in smaller towns run empty during Tet.
- Shift by a few days rather than cancelling. Arriving two days after a holiday starts often means normal prices and thinner crowds.
- Add arrival assistance if you land mid-peak. Useful for families, older travellers and anyone with a tight onward connection.
Vietnam’s digital arrival card applies year-round, holiday or not. Our walkthrough of the digital arrival card process at SGN covers what to complete before you fly.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does Vietnam have in 2026?
There are 11 statutory public holidays, which extend to 26 days off once weekends and makeup days are included. They fall across six windows: New Year, Tet, Hung Kings’ Day, the Reunification and Labour Day pair, National Day, and the new Vietnam Culture Day in November.
Is it a bad idea to visit Vietnam during Tet?
Not necessarily, though it changes what you get. Cities are quiet and atmospheric, temples are busy, and family-run food spots close for several days. Book domestic transport well ahead and expect a slower pace in the first three days.
Do international flights still run during Vietnamese public holidays?
Yes. International schedules at Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai, Da Nang and Phu Quoc operate normally through every public holiday. Domestic capacity is what tightens, so connecting flights within Vietnam are the part worth booking early.
Will restaurants and shops be open during the National Day holiday?
Most will. Unlike Tet, the National Day break doesn’t close down small businesses, and malls, cafes and restaurants keep normal hours. Banks and government offices are the main exceptions.
Do Vietnamese immigration counters close on public holidays?
Airport immigration operates continuously, so arrivals and departures are unaffected. Immigration administrative offices handling visa extensions and in-country paperwork do close for the full holiday window.
When is Tet in 2027?
Tet falls on 6 February 2027. Expect a similar multi-day national break around that date, with domestic travel demand peaking in the week either side.
Landing in the middle of a holiday rush
Holiday weeks don’t add international flights, but they do add people to every hall, kerbside and access road between your gate and the exit. Arriving tired after a long-haul flight into that is where a lot of Vietnam trips get off to a slow start.
Fast Track Vietnam puts an agent at your gate when you land, walks you through the priority immigration lane, and typically gets you to the arrivals hall in 10 to 20 minutes instead of one to two hours