Holidays in Vietnam 2023: Gregorian and Lunar Calendar

In Vietnam, holidays are occasions for people to relax and gather with family and friends. However, not all holidays are days off; only significant holidays designated by the state have scheduled breaks. So, what are these holidays and how many days off are there? Let's explore each major holiday of this year with Mytour.

Significance of Major Holidays in the Year

Typically, major holidays commemorate significant events. For example, International Labor Day on May 1st celebrates and appreciates the workforce, while April 30th marks the victory of the Spring Offensive, complete liberation of the South, and national reunification. Besides their monumental significance, holidays are also opportunities for relaxation and leisure. Usually, major holidays have scheduled breaks according to state regulations, with employees entitled to full pay. For instance, May 1st is a one-day break, Hung Kings' Commemoration Day is a one-day break, and National Day is a two-day break.

On holidays, people often gather for meals and conversations. It's also a time for family visits, travel, or romantic dates for couples. After days of exhausting work, holidays provide a chance to unwind and recharge for the upcoming days. Unlike many countries worldwide, Vietnam has more holidays because it observes both Gregorian and Lunar calendar holidays.

Major Holidays in the Gregorian Calendar

Below is a summary table of major holidays in the Gregorian calendar for 2023:

Holidays in Vietnam according to the Lunar Calendar

Below is a summary table of holidays in Vietnam according to the Lunar calendar for 2023:

Cultural Holidays Based on Vietnamese Customs and Traditions

In Vietnam, there are also special cultural holidays based on regional customs, religions, and ethnicities. Let's refer to the information table of cultural holidays based on Vietnamese customs and traditions according to the Lunar calendar to gain more useful knowledge:

Detailed Content of Annual Holidays

So what significance do major holidays in the year hold? Let's explore the details of the following major holidays:

Reunification Day April 30th

April 30th is one of the biggest and oldest holidays in Vietnam. On April 30th, 1975, the Spring Victory marked the end of the war of aggression and domination by the US imperialists in the South. Since then, we have completely liberated the South and reunified the country. It can be said that this is the most important milestone in our people's history of anti-foreign aggression.

International Workers' Day May 1st

Following April 30th is International Workers' Day on May 1st - one of the biggest holidays in our country. This is a day to celebrate the labor force's struggle for peace, democracy, and social progress.

In modern society, May 1st is considered a day off for workers. In Vietnam, all employees are given a day off (May 1st of the Gregorian calendar each year). Sometimes, if the holiday falls on a Sunday, employees will have a compensatory day off on the following day.

Lunar New Year (Tet)

When it comes to holidays, Lunar New Year (or Tet) cannot be missed, which takes place in some countries in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. This is the oldest and most important traditional holiday for the Vietnamese people. On this occasion, people usually have 5-7 days off to return to their hometowns, gather with family, relatives, and friends.

People often clean and decorate their homes together, buy cakes and candies, make traditional cakes like banh chung and banh tet, reunite with old friends, go on trips, etc. In general, there are many activities taking place during the Lunar New Year holiday every year.

New Year's Day

Unlike Lunar New Year, New Year's Day is celebrated in most countries around the world on January 1st each year. This is considered the day marking the beginning of a new year according to the Gregorian calendar (international calendar). And all employees are entitled to exactly 1 day off to enjoy this holiday. In Vietnam, many companies also give gifts or bonuses to their employees.

Mid-Autumn Festival

Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mooncake Festival, is one of the familiar holidays for Vietnamese children. In 2023, the festival day will fall on Friday, September 29th, 2023. On this day, children usually make lanterns, enjoy mooncakes, and especially watch lion dances. Lion dance is a popular form of art in many places in Vietnam.

Moreover, schools, especially preschools and primary schools, often organize Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations for students. It's a time when children receive gifts like candies, lanterns, balloons, etc., from their teachers. Some schools even have cultural performances to add joy to the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Duanwu Festival (Dragon Boat Festival)

This is also one of the familiar holidays for our people. But unlike Lunar New Year or New Year's Day, Duanwu Festival, also known as the Double Fifth Festival or Pest Extermination Festival, takes place on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month each year.

On this day, every household usually sets up an altar with offerings such as flowers, fruits, sticky rice wine, pyramidal cakes, incense, gold leaves, tea, sticky rice, etc. This is done to pray for the gods' help in driving away pests that damage crops, ensuring a fruitful harvest in the second half of the year.

Hung Kings' Commemoration Day on March 10th

Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, also known as the Hung Kings Temple Festival, is held on the 10th day of the third lunar month each year. It's a day to remember and show gratitude to the Hung Kings who founded and protected the nation. On this day, people often visit the Hung Kings Temple to offer incense in remembrance of the Hung Kings.

Vietnam National Day (September 2nd)

September 2nd is one of the biggest national holidays in Vietnam according to Vietnamese tradition. It commemorates the event when President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the precursor to the present Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This event took place on September 2nd, 1945, at Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi.

This year (2023), employees are entitled to a continuous 4-day break for National Day. Specifically, the holiday spans from Friday (September 1st, 2023) to the end of Monday (September 4th, 2023), as stipulated by the Labor Code.

Vu Lan Festival

The Vu Lan Festival usually takes place on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, also known as Parent's Day. On this day, people often visit pagodas to pray for the peace of their parents and express gratitude for their upbringing.

It's also an opportunity for children to express their love and gratitude to their parents through practical actions. For example, you can give your parents gifts, meals, or simply make a long-distance call.

Valentine's Day (February 14th and March 14th)

Valentine has long been one of the familiar holidays for us. There are two Valentine's Days celebrated, on February 14th (Red Valentine) and March 14th (White Valentine).

It's a time for couples to express their affection for each other and exchange meaningful gifts. The most common gifts on Valentine's Day are roses and chocolates. Couples also often go on trips, watch movies, dine out, or simply have conversations together.

Vietnamese Women's Day (October 20th)

Every year, October 20th is a significant day in Vietnam, honoring women's contributions to the country's revolutionary cause. Besides this great significance, October 20th is also a day to think about the women in our lives, such as mothers, sisters, daughters, or girlfriends.

On this day, men often give meaningful gifts to the women in their lives. For example, a child may give a gift to their mother, a grandson to their grandmother, or a boyfriend may express love for his girlfriend. It's also a day when women are most recognized worldwide.

So, this article compiles the annual holidays in both the Gregorian and Lunar calendars of Vietnam. Enjoy the holidays with your loved ones.