62% of workers favor swapping holidays to extend the Giỗ Tổ Hung Vương and 30/4–1/5 break this year

On April 8, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) conducted a broad survey of union members, civil servants, public employees, and workers on how to arrange compensatory day off for the 2026 Giỗ Tổ Hung Vương holiday under different swap options.

Survey options for the 2026 Giỗ Tổ Hung Vương holiday

The VGCL presented three options:

• Option 1: Keep the current leave schedule, with no swap.
• Option 2: Swap April 27 to April 29, allowing workers to have a continuous break of 3 or 5 days depending on each unit’s schedule.
• Option 3: Swap April 27 to May 2, enabling six-day-per-week working groups to have four consecutive days off.

Support for swapping and survey results

As of 7:00 a.m. on April 9, the survey recorded more than 70,000 responses. About 62% supported the holiday swap option, including 47.04% who “strongly desire” the swap and 14.82% who “desire” it.

The VGCL said the majority of workers want compensatory day swaps to extend the holiday for rest, recuperation, and time for family life.

Legal basis and the need for flexibility

Under current law (Clause 3, Article 111 of the 2019 Labour Code): “If the weekly rest day coincides with a holiday, workers are entitled to compensatory leave on the next working day.”

A VGCL representative noted that this is also why, to date, the VGCL has not issued a document requesting the competent authority to study compensatory day-off swaps.

For 2026, the Giỗ Tổ Hung Vương holiday falls on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month, corresponding to 26 April 2026, which is close to the 30/4 and 1/5 break—only two working days apart. The VGCL said that if compensatory time is not arranged properly, workers’ holidays could be split into multiple shorter breaks separated by working days.

VGCL proposal to refine regulations

According to the VGCL, providing an extended holiday is meaningful not only for restoring health and morale and strengthening family ties, but also for stimulating consumption and tourism, thereby supporting economic and social development.

Based on this, the VGCL proposed that competent authorities refine regulations while maintaining the general principle of taking compensatory time off on the next working day, but also adding a flexible mechanism for special cases when holidays are near each other—such as in 2026.

Specifically, the VGCL suggested that the Prime Minister could be empowered, based on proposals from ministries and agencies and the views of workers’ organizations, to consider and decide on swapping holidays before or after to balance the interests of workers, enterprises, and the broader public interest.

Other upcoming holiday proposals

Regarding upcoming holidays, under Politburo Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW, November 24, 2026 is designated as “Vietnam Cultural Day” with a paid holiday. Since it falls on a Tuesday, many union members proposed that the VGCL ask authorities to swap the working day Monday (23/11) to a following Saturday to create a continuous four-day break from November 21 to 24, 2026.

Next steps

The VGCL said it will continue collecting opinions from grassroots units and coordinate with relevant agencies to propose policy improvements that better reflect workers’ real-life needs, enhance welfare, and help stabilize labour relations in the new situation.