Vietnam: Why doesn't the Lunar New Year 2025 include December 30, 2024 in the lunar calendar? How many days off are teachers entitled to in a year?

Why doesn't the Lunar New Year 2025 include December 30, 2024 in the lunar calendar?

The Lunar New Year of 2025 is a special case when there is no December 30, 2024 in the lunar calendar, arousing curiosity about the reason and when the Lunar New Year will next have a 30th day again.

The Lunar calendar adjusts according to the cycles of the Moon, Sun, and Earth. A full moon cycle lasts an average of 29.53 days, but every month in the Lunar calendar must have an even number of days. Consequently, there can be a phenomenon of a short month, where the twelfth lunar month has no 30th day and ends on the 28th or 29th day, as is the case in 2025.

The Lunar calendar is built on astronomical principles, where the Moon, Earth, and Sun must align, and the start of the month coincides with the time when the Moon is no longer visible from Earth. After 2024, the Lunar New Year will only have a 29th day, and it won't be until 2033 that the 30th day will return.

Therefore, 2025 is a special year with no December 30, 2024 in the lunar calendar, and we will have to wait another 9 years to celebrate the Lunar New Year on December 30.

Note: The above information is for reference only!

Why doesn't the Lunar New Year 2025 include December 30, 2024 in the lunar calendar? How many days off are teachers in Vietnam entitled to in a year? (Image from the Internet)

How many days off are teachers in Vietnam entitled to in a year?

Under Clause 1, Article 13 of the Law on Public Employees 2010:

Rights of public employees regarding rest

1. They are entitled to annual leave, public holidays, and personal leave according to the labor laws. If, due to work requirements, public employees do not use or use all their annual leave days, they shall be compensated for the unused leave days.

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Referencing Article 113 of the Labor Code 2019 about annual leave:

Annual Leave

- Any employee who has been working for an employer for 12 months is entitled to fully-paid annual leave, which is stipulated in his/her employment contract as follows:

+ 12 working days for employees who work in normal working conditions;

+ 14 working days for employees that are minors, the disabled, employees who do laborious, toxic or dangerous works;

+ 16 working days for employees who do highly laborious, toxic or dangerous works.

- An employee who has been working for an employer for less than 12 months will have a number of paid leave days proportional to the number of working months.

- An employee who, due to employment termination or job loss, has not taken or not entirely taken up his/her annual leave shall be paid in compensation for the untaken leave days.

- The employer has the responsibility to regulate the timetable for annual leaves after consultation with the employees and must give prior notice to the employees. An employee may reach an agreement with the employer on taking annual leave in instalments or combining annual leave over a maximum period of up to 03 years.

- When an employee takes his/her annual leave before salary payment is due, he/she may receive an advance in accordance with Clause 3 Article 101 of the Labor Code 2019.

- When taking annual leave, should the employee travel by road, rail, water and the travel days, the traveling time in excess to 02 days will be added to the annual leave days, and this policy shall only be granted once for an annual leave in a year.

According to Article 112 of the Labor Code 2019 regarding public holidays:

Public holidays

[1] 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).

[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 of Vietnam shall decide the specific public holidays mentioned in Point b and Point dd Clause 1 of this Article on an annual basis.

Under Article 115 of the Labor Code 2019, teachers are entitled to fully paid personal leave in these situations:

- Marriage: 03 days;

- Marriage of his/her biological child or adopted child: 01 day;

- Death of his/her biological or adoptive parent; death of his/her spouse’s biological or adoptive parent; death of spouse, biological or adopted child: 03 days.

According to Clause 3, Article 5 of the working policies for general education teachers issued with Circular 28/2009/TT-BGDDT supplemented by Clause 4, Article 1 Circular 15/2017/TT-BGDDT:

- The annual summer break for teachers is 02 months (including annual leave as prescribed by the Labor Code), with full salary and allowances (if any).

- Lunar New Year and semester breaks are as prescribed by the Minister of Education and Training.

- Other leaves shall follow the Labor Code 2019.

The Principal will determine annual leave for teachers based on the school year plan, scale, characteristics, and specific conditions of each school to ensure conformity.

Thus, teachers may take approximately 2 months of summer break, 12 annual leave days, 12 public holidays, and additional personal leave days (depending on circumstances).

What is the working period for teachers in Vietnam during the school year?

According to Clauses 1 and 2, Article 5 of the working policies for general education teachers issued with Circular 28/2009/TT-BGDDT supplemented by Clause 4, Article 1 Circular 15/2017/TT-BGDDT, the specific working period for teachers in Vietnam during the school year is as follows:

The working period for primary school teachers in the school year is 42 weeks, including:

- 35 weeks for teaching and educational activities according to the annual school plan.

- 05 weeks for study and professional development.

- 01 week for preparing a new school year.

- 01 week for reviewing the school year.

The working period for lower and upper secondary school teachers in the school year is 42 weeks, including:

- 37 weeks for teaching and educational activities according to the annual school plan.

- 03 weeks for study and professional development.

- 01 week for preparing a new school year.

- 01 week for reviewing the school year.

The working period for pre-university teachers is 42 weeks, including:

- 28 weeks for teaching and educational activities according to the school plan;

- 12 weeks for study, professional development, materials preparation, scientific research, and other activities per the school plan;

- Not specified for new school year preparation;

- 01 week for reviewing the school year.