When does Tet Han Thuc 2024 fall in the week? Do employees get a day off on the Tet Han Thuc in Vietnam in 2024?
Vietnam: When does Tet Han Thuc 2024 fall in the week?
In folklore culture, Tet Han Thuc, also known as the Cold Food Festival (“han thuc” means “cold food”), takes place on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month. Tet Han Thuc primarily appears in China and Vietnam.
Tet Han Thuc 2024 takes place annually on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month. This year, Tet Han Thuc falls on Thursday, April 11, 2024 in the Gregorian calendar.
Tet Han Thuc originates from China, based on a legendary story passed down through many generations about a sage named Gioi Tu Thoi. According to the meaning of Chinese characters, "Han" means cold, and "thuc" means food. Tet Han Thuc signifies the festival of eating cold food.
When does Tet Han Thuc 2024 fall in the week? What is the significance of Tet Han Thuc in Vietnam? (Image from the internet)
What is the significance of Tet Han Thuc in Vietnam?
In Vietnamese, “Han” means "cold" and “thuc” means "food." Tet Han Thuc means the festival of eating cold food.
Though Tet Han Thuc originates from a legend in China, upon arriving in Vietnam, the day acquires a distinct spiritual significance, with certain adjustments to suit Vietnamese culture.
In Vietnam, Tet Han Thuc has merged with the Tet of floating cakes and bean cakes upon integration. The March festival in Vietnam clearly reflects the Vietnamese cultural characteristics and lifestyle. Tet Han Thuc for Vietnamese people bears the meaning of honoring ancestors, remembering the deceased, and paying respects to origins.
On this festival, family members gather around the table for a family reunion meal. On this day, Vietnamese families prepare floating cakes and bean cakes to worship Buddha, ancestors, and in many places, the village deity, showing heartfelt sincerity.
The offering tray for Tet Han Thuc includes incense, flowers, fresh fruits, and betel nuts. Avoid using fruits with many thorns for the five-fruit altar. The altar must also have one clean cup of water to signify the household's purity and serenity during the ceremony.
Additionally, the offering tray for Tet Han Thuc cannot lack floating cakes and bean cakes. Always include 5 or 3 trays of floating cakes and 3 bowls of bean cakes on the altar.
Do employees get a day off on Tet Han Thuc 2024?
Based on Article 112 of the Labor Code 2019 which stipulates holidays as follows:
Holidays and Tet
1. Employees are entitled to time off from work with full pay on the following holidays:
a) New Year’s Day: 01 day (January 01 in the Gregorian calendar);
b) Lunar New Year: 05 days;
c) Victory Day: 01 day (April 30 in the Gregorian calendar);
d) International Labor Day: 01 day (May 01 in the Gregorian calendar);
dd) National Day: 02 days (September 02 and 01 day immediately before or after);
e) Hung Kings' Commemoration Day: 01 day (March 10 in the lunar calendar).
2. Foreign employees working in Vietnam, apart from the holidays prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article, are also entitled to an additional day off for their national traditional holiday and one day off for their national National Day.
3. Annually, considering the actual conditions, the Prime Minister will decide specifically on the days off stipulated at points b and dd of Clause 1 of this Article.
Accordingly, employees are entitled to time off with full pay on the following holidays:
- New Year’s Day: 01 day (January 01 in the Gregorian calendar);
- Lunar New Year: 05 days;
- Victory Day: 01 day (April 30 in the Gregorian calendar);
- International Labor Day: 01 day (May 01 in the Gregorian calendar);
- National Day: 02 days (September 02 and 01 day immediately before or after);
- Hung Kings' Commemoration Day: 01 day (March 10 in the lunar calendar).
In addition, Article 111 of the Labor Code 2019 stipulates as follows:
Weekly rest
1. Employees are entitled to at least 24 consecutive hours of rest every week. In special cases where due to work cycles, employees cannot take weekly rest, employers must ensure that employees have an average of at least 04 days off per month.
2. The employer shall determine the weekly rest day either on Sunday or another specified day and must state it in the internal labor regulations.
3. If the weekly rest day coincides with a holiday as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 112 of this Code, employees are entitled to take compensatory rest on the next working day.
The weekly rest day will be determined by the employer. Generally, weekly rest days are arranged on Saturday, Sunday, or only Sunday.
Therefore, Tet Han Thuc 2024 is not included in the statutory holidays that entitle employees to time off, and since Tet Han Thuc 2024 falls on a Thursday, employees are not entitled to special leave. Employees with a work schedule must attend work as usual on Tet Han Thuc.
If Tet Han Thuc 2024 coincides with a weekly rest day, employees will have time off.
However, employees can also proactively request leave either as annual leave or unpaid leave on Tet Han Thuc 2024.
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