Vietnamese Culture Day on November 24 is a newly added public holiday. In 2026, workers will be entitled to a paid day off for the occasion for the first time.

This year, November 24 falls on a Tuesday. The Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed two options for the holiday schedule and is seeking feedback from relevant ministries and agencies.

Option 1: Four days off with one working day swapped

Under the first option, workers would take Tuesday, November 24, off for Vietnamese Culture Day, while the working day on Monday, November 23, would be moved to Saturday, November 28.

If approved, officials, civil servants and public employees would have four consecutive days off, from Saturday, November 21, through Tuesday, November 24.

They would work on Saturday, November 28, to make up for the additional day off.

This option has received support from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, arranging a four-day break would give officials, civil servants and public employees more opportunities to participate in cultural activities, helping reinforce the significance of Vietnamese Culture Day.

A four-day holiday would also facilitate the organization of cultural, tourism and service activities while stimulating consumer demand.

The proposal involves swapping only one working day and would still ensure the required number of working hours.

Option 2: One day off on November 24

Under the second option, workers would take only Tuesday, November 24, off for Vietnamese Culture Day, with no working-day swap.

If this option is chosen, the holiday would last just one day.

For the private sector, the Ministry of Home Affairs emphasized that employees are entitled to take Tuesday, November 24, off with full pay in accordance with regulations.

The ministry is encouraging employers to adopt the same four-day holiday schedule proposed for officials, civil servants and public employees, provided that all employee benefits and entitlements are fully protected.

Businesses may also reach agreements with their employees on holiday arrangements that offer more favorable conditions.

New public holiday comes with full pay

Vietnamese Culture Day on November 24 was added to Vietnam’s list of public holidays under Resolution No. 28/2026/QH16, which took effect on July 1, 2026.

As this is the first year the new holiday will be observed, the Ministry of Home Affairs said a schedule should be finalized early so government agencies, organizations and businesses can make appropriate arrangements.

If the working-day swap is approved, workers could enjoy another four-day break in 2026, from November 21 through November 24, following the five-day National Day holiday around September 2.

In 2027, Vietnamese Culture Day on November 24 will fall on a Wednesday. The Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed observing the holiday on that day without swapping working days.

Vu Diep