Vietnam proposes workday swap to create 4-day weekend for Culture Day holiday in November

The Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed a workday swap that would extend the inaugural Vietnamese Culture Day holiday into a four-day weekend at the end of November. After consulting with 13 government agencies, ministries, and sectors, the ministry recommended that civil servants and public employees swap their Monday, Nov. 23 workday for Saturday, Nov. 28.This adjustment, pending the Prime Minister's approval would create an uninterrupted break from Saturday, Nov. 21 through Tuesday, Nov. 24. The extended holiday period consists of the standard weekend, the swapped day off, and the official Culture Day on Tuesday.This marks the first year workers will receive full pay for this newly established holiday.The ministry emphasized that a continuous four-day break will give citizens ample time to engage in family, community, and local events. Officials believe this will improve public access to the arts while simultaneously boosting the cultural, tourism, and service industries. Vietnamese Culture Day holiday is proposed to be extended to four consecutive days, Nov. 21-24, 2026. Graphics by Ta Lu The Politburo, the top decision-making body of the Communist Party of Vietnam, selected Nov. 24 to commemorate the first National Cultural Conference in 1946, which was chaired by President Ho Chi Minh.By designating this date as a public holiday, the government aims to encourage creativity, foster a civilized lifestyle, and give the public more opportunities to enjoy national heritage.The legislative National Assembly officially approved the paid day off during its April session. In early September, the government moved to codify this provision into the Labor Code. The bill is expected to pass during the National Assembly's October session. Vietnamese women during an ao dai fesitval in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung In addition to the Culture Day proposal, the Ministry of Home Affairs also submitted its recommended schedule for the 2027 Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.This proposed break would span seven days, beginning on Feb. 4, 2027, and concluding on Feb. 10, 2027. Under this plan, civil servants and public employees would return to work on Feb. 11.Furthermore, the 2027 National Day holiday is slated to be a four-day weekend from Sept. 2 through Sept. 5, combining the two official public holidays with the standard weekend.With the recent addition of Culture Day, Vietnam's 12 annual paid public holidays now include: New Year's Day (one day), Lunar New Year (five days), Hung Kings' Commemoration Day (one day), Reunification Day on April 30 (one day), Labor Day on May 1 (one day), National Day (two days), and Vietnamese Culture Day (one day).