Ministry of Home Affairs: no plan to swap working days to extend Hung Kings' Festival and the 30/4–1/5 holidays in 2026; holiday schedule follows Labour Code 2019

The Ministry of Home Affairs has reiterated that it has no proposal to swap working days to create a continuous nine-day holiday during Hung Kings’ Festival (the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month) and the holidays of 30 April and 1 May in 2026. The Ministry said the 2026 holiday schedule will be implemented in accordance with the 2019 Labour Code.

Ministry denies plan for a nine-day holiday

In a letter dated April 10 to ministries, ministerial agencies, government bodies, and provincial and city People’s Committees, the Ministry of Home Affairs addressed recent information and public discussion suggesting that civil servants, employees, and workers might take consecutive days off by exchanging working days with weekly rest days to extend the break.

The Ministry stated again that it does not propose any plan to swap working days to lengthen the holiday period. It said Hung Kings’ Festival and the 30/4–1/5 holidays are observed in line with the Labour Code 2019, and therefore there is no plan to create a nine-day consecutive holiday during this time.

The Ministry asked ministries, sectors, and local authorities to continue implementing the holiday schedule according to the Labour Code.

2026 holiday arrangements for state sector and workers

For this year’s Hung Kings’ Festival, public servants and workers in the state sector will have a three-day break from 25–27 April, with normal work resuming on 28–29 April.

For the 30/4 and 1/5 holidays, workers will have a four-day break from 30 April to 3 May. The break includes two official holidays and two weekend days.

Government approval and consultation process

Earlier, on 3 April, at a press briefing on the 2026 Labour Safety Action Month, Mr. Vu Trong Binh, Director of the Employment Department (Ministry of Home Affairs), said the 2026 holidays were approved by the Government and that the Ministry issued guidance in October 2025.

The Ministry said the holiday arrangement process under the Labour Code involved seeking opinions from ministries, central agencies, and trade unions at all levels.

Survey results on connecting holidays

By 8 April, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour conducted a quick survey among union members, civil servants, and workers regarding a plan to connect the Hung Kings’ holiday with the 30/4–1/5 period.

The Ministry reported that the survey recorded more than 70,000 responses by 7 a.m. on 9 April, with about 62% supporting the plan to swap compensatory days to extend the Hung Kings’ and 30/4 holidays.

The Ministry noted that the majority of workers want longer rest to recuperate and to handle family matters.

Holiday entitlements under Labour Code 2019

The Ministry reiterated that Labour Code 2019 provides for 11 days of holidays with full pay, including: New Year’s Day (1 day); Lunar New Year (5 days); Hung Kings’ Festival (1 day); Victory Day (1 day); International Labour Day (1 day); and National Day (2 days).

It said that if any of these holidays coincide with weekly rest days, workers receive a compensatory day off on the following day. Each year, the Prime Minister decides the exact holiday dates based on conditions.

For foreign workers in Vietnam, beyond the standard holidays, the Ministry said they are entitled to one additional traditional Tet day and one additional day for their home country’s National Day.

Key point: While the survey showed about 62% of workers supported swapping compensatory days to extend the Hung Kings’ and 30/4 holidays, the Ministry of Home Affairs said there is no plan to swap working days to create a continuous nine-day holiday in 2026.