What is the significance of Tet Han Thuc in Vietnam in 2024? What day of the week does Tet Han Thuc fall on in 2024? Are employees entitled to days off on Tet Han Thuc in 2024?
Vietnam: What day of the week does Tet Han Thuc fall on in 2024?
In folklore, Tet Han Thuc (Cold Food Festival) is also known as the Sticky Rice Dumpling Festival ("Han Thuc" means "cold food"), which takes place on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month. Tet Han Thuc is mainly celebrated in China and Vietnam.
In 2024, Tet Han Thuc falls on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month, which is Thursday, April 11th, 2024 in the Gregorian calendar.
Tet Han Thuc originated from China, based on a legendary story passed down through generations about a virtuous man named Jie Zi. In Vietnamese, "Han" means cold, and "Thuc" means food. Tet Han Thuc signifies a day to eat cold food.
What is the significance of Tet Han Thuc in Vietnam in 2024? What day of the week does Tet Han Thuc fall on in 2024? Are employees entitled to days off on Tet Han Thuc in 2024? (Image from the Internet)
What is the significance of Tet Han Thuc in Vietnam in 2024?
"Han" means cold, and "Thuc" means food. Tet Han Thuc signifies a day to eat cold food.
Tet Han Thuc originated from a legend in China, but when it came to Vietnam, it acquired a different spiritual significance, with certain adaptations to fit Vietnamese culture.
In Vietnam, Tet Han Thuc has been merged with the festival of sticky rice dumplings and vegetarian food. The March festival in Vietnam reflects the distinct cultural characteristics and way of life of the Vietnamese people. Tet Han Thuc for the Vietnamese carries the meaning of paying respects to ancestors, remembering the contributions of those who have passed away.
Every time this festival comes, family members gather around the table to have a meal together. On this day, Vietnamese families prepare V for offering to Buddha, ancestral worship, and in some places, they also offer to deities, expressing their gratitude.
The Han Thuc offering tray typically includes incense, flowers, fresh fruits, and betel leaves. It is important to avoid using fruits with sharp edges and arrange five types of fruits in a set. The altar should also have a cup of clean water, symbolizing the purity and tranquility of the host's mind during the ceremony.
At the same time, the Han Thuc offering tray cannot be without sticky rice dumplings and vegetarian food. There should always be five or three plates of Sticky Rice Dumplings and three bowls of Vegetarian Food presented on the altar.
Are employees working in Vietnam entitled to days off on Tet Han Thuc in 2024?
Pursuant to Article 112 of the 2019 Labor Code, regulations on public holidays are as follows:
Public holidays
1. Employees shall be entitled to fully paid days off on the following public holidays:
a) Gregorian Calendar New Year Holiday: 01 day (the 1st of January of the Gregorian calendar);
b) Lunar New Year Holidays: 05 days;
c) Victory Day: 01 day (the 30th of April of the Gregorian calendar);
d) International Labor Day: 01 day (the 1st of May of the Gregorian calendar);
dd) National Day: 02 days (the 2nd of September of the Gregorian calendar and the previous or next day);
e) Hung Kings Commemoration Day: 01 day (the 10th of the third month of the Lunar calendar).
2. Foreign employees in Vietnam are entitled to 01 traditional public holiday and 01 National Day of their country, in addition to the public holidays stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article.
3. The Prime Minister shall decide the specific public holidays mentioned in Point b and Point dd Clause 1 of this Article on an annual basis.
Thus, employees shall be entitled to fully paid days off on the following public holidays:
- Gregorian Calendar New Year Holiday: 01 day (the 1st of January of the Gregorian calendar);
- Lunar New Year Holidays: 05 days;
- Victory Day: 01 day (the 30th of April of the Gregorian calendar);
- International Labor Day: 01 day (the 1st of May of the Gregorian calendar);
- National Day: 02 days (the 2nd of September of the Gregorian calendar and the previous or next day);
- Hung Kings Commemoration Day: 01 day (the 10th of the third month of the Lunar calendar).
In addition, Article 111 of the 2019 Labor Code stipulates as follows:
Weekly breaks
1. Each week an employee is entitled to a break of at least 24 consecutive hours. Where it is impossible for the employee to have a weekly day off due to the work cycle, the employer has the responsibility to ensure that on average the employee has at least 04 days off per month.
2. The employer has the right to determine and schedule the weekly breaks either on Sunday or for another fixed day in a week, which must be recorded in the internal labor regulations.
3. In case a public holiday falls on an employee’s weekly break coincide with a public holiday as prescribed in Clause 1 Article 112 of this Labor Code, he/she will have compensatory time-off on the next working days.
Thus, the weekly break will be determined by the employees themselves. Typically, the weekly break is arranged on either Saturday, Sunday, or only on Sunday.
Therefore, Tet Han Thuc in 2024 does not fall on one of the public holidays when employees are entitled to have a day off, and it also falls on a Thursday. Therefore, employees will not have a day off on Tet Han Thuc, and those who have a working schedule will still have to work as usual.
If Tet Han Thuc in 2024 coincides with the weekly day off, then employees will have a day off.
However, employees can also proactively request leave under annual leave or unpaid leave on Tet Han Thuc in 2024.
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