Two proposed options for the National Day holiday in 2025 in Vietnam

Two proposed options for the National Day holiday in 2025 in Vietnam

Recently, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) proposed plans for the Lunar New Year 2025 holiday, the April 30-May 1, 2025 holiday, and the National Day holiday in 2025.

In particular, for the 2025 National Day holiday schedule, MOLISA proposed two options:

Option 1: A 2-day holiday as prescribed, including September 2 and 1 day immediately preceding September 2. Public officials and employees will be off from Saturday, August 30, 2025, to the end of Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

Thus, with this option, for the National Day holiday in 2025, officials and public employees will have a 4-day break (including 2 National Day holidays and 2 regular weekend days).

Option 2: The National Day holiday in 2025 will be 2 days as prescribed; including September 2 and 1 day immediately following September 2.

Public officials and employees will be off for the National Day holiday in 2025 from Tuesday, September 2, 2025, to the end of Wednesday, September 3, 2025.

Thus, with this option, for the National Day holiday in 2025, officials and public employees will have a 2-day break.

Of the two options, MOLISA proposed the National Day holiday in 2025 according to option 1.

The reason for option 1 is that it allows officials and public employees to have a continuous 4-day break, which is longer than option 2.

The longer break helps officials and public employees to rejuvenate their workforce, as well as boost tourism and social consumption, promoting economic growth.

Two proposed options for the National Day holiday in 2025 in Vietnam​ (Image from the Internet)

Public holidays for students in 2025 in Vietnam

Currently, there is no specific regulation on public holidays for students. Therefore, students will study and have holidays according to the schedules set by schools and teachers.

According to the provisions of Article 112 of the Labor Code 2019:

Public holidays

1. Employees are entitled to fully paid days off on the following public holidays:

a) New Year's Day: 1 day (January 1 of the Gregorian calendar);

b) Lunar New Year: 5 days;

c) Victory Day: 1 day (April 30 of the Gregorian calendar);

d) International Labor Day: 1 day (May 1 of the Gregorian calendar);

đ) National Day: 2 days (September 2 of the Gregorian calendar and 1 day immediately preceding or following);

e) Hung Kings' Commemoration Day: 1 day (March 10 of the lunar calendar).

2. Foreign employees working in Vietnam, besides the public holidays stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article, are also entitled to 1 traditional national holiday and 1 National Day of their own country.

3. Annually, based on the actual conditions, the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam shall decide the specific holidays stipulated at Points b and đ of Clause 1 of this Article.

Thus, the public holidays for students in the academic year 2024-2025 may include:

(1) New Year's Day

(2) Lunar New Year

(3) Victory Day (April 30 of the Gregorian calendar)

(4) International Labor Day (May 1 of the Gregorian calendar)

(5) National Day (September 2 of the Gregorian calendar)

(6) Hung Kings' Commemoration Day (March 10 of the lunar calendar)

Note: The Chairperson of the Provincial People’s Committee or Central-affiliated City People’s Committee will decide the specific academic schedule for each locality.

Furthermore, the number of days off will need further announcements and guidelines from the relevant authorities.

How many days can secondary students in Vietnam be absent from school besides legally mandated public holidays?

According to Clause 1 of Article 12 of Circular 22/2021/TT-BGDDT:

Promotion, summer review, and non-promotion

1. Students who meet the following conditions may be promoted or recognized as having completed the lower secondary or upper secondary program:

a) The annual results of conduct (including the reassessed results after the summer review as prescribed in Article 13 of this Circular) are rated as Pass or higher.

b) The annual academic results (including the reassessed results of subjects as prescribed in Article 14 of this Circular) are rated as Pass or higher.

c) No more than 45 absences in a school year (according to the educational plan of 1 session/day prescribed in the general education program, including both excused and unexcused absences, and both continuous and non-continuous absences).

2. In cases where students need to review during the summer, it should comply with the regulations in Article 13 of this Circular; students must take examinations, reassess the subjects during the summer as prescribed in Article 14 of this Circular.

3. Students who do not meet the requirements stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article shall not be promoted or recognized as having completed the lower secondary or upper secondary program.

4. For students with disabilities: The principal shall base on the assessment results for students with disabilities as prescribed in Article 11 of this Circular to consider promotion or recognition of program completion for students with disabilities.

Secondary students can be absent for a maximum of 45 days in a school year besides legally mandated public holidays.

If secondary students exceed 45 absences in a year, they will not be eligible for promotion.