What is the significance of a 21-gun salute according to the law in Vietnam? What is the holiday schedule for the Liberation of Southern Vietnam for students and teachers?

What is the significance of a 21-gun salute according to the law in Vietnam? Is it correct that Ho Chi Minh City plans to fire a 21-gun salute to commemorate the 50th anniversary of national reunification?

(1) What is the significance of the 21-gun salute?

- Initially, firing cannons served security purposes. When a country's battleship arrived at another country's port, all the ship's cannons would fire their rounds, showing goodwill and no intention to harm the host nation.

- The original number of shots fired from battleships was 7. To this day, the number 7 remains a subject of much debate. However, according to Usmc, one hypothesis is that most British warships of the time only had 7 guns. Firing 7 shots signified goodwill by stating, "We have fired all our ammunition." Other theories suggest the number 7 relates to the Bible. God rested on the 7th day (Sunday) after creating the world. The number 7 also symbolizes a ship returning to port after a long journey.

After the warship fired a shot, the cannons onshore would fire back 3 shots to "respond in kind," bringing the total to 7x3=21. Many believe this was the origin of the later 21-gun salute to honor heads of state.

However, there were questions as to why the return shots were not 2 or 4, totalling 7x2=14 or 7x4=28. Since 1685, authorities have believed that odd numbers are luckier than even numbers. Firing an even number of shots to welcome someone often carried the meaning of bidding farewell to a battleship leader.

- The tradition of the 21-gun salute for the U.S. President wasn't always 21 shots. In 1812 and 1821, the salute was 18 and 24 shots, respectively.

Since 1841, the U.S. President has been saluted with 21 shots, and the Vice President was initially saluted with 17 shots. Currently, the U.S. Vice President receives a 19-gun salute.

On August 18, 1875, the U.S. and the UK jointly announced an agreement recognizing that heads of state would be saluted with 21 shots. This is also the highest honor for a nation's leader.

Today, the 21-gun salute has become the highest ceremonial welcoming gesture, used to greet heads of state or heads of government in special cases. In other cases, the number of shots may be reduced, depending on the rank of the honored individual.

(2) Expected 21-gun salute to commemorate 50 years of national reunification in Ho Chi Minh City?

On the afternoon of December 5, the Central Steering Committee for major national holidays and important historical events from 2023-2025, along with the Ministry of Defense, worked with Ho Chi Minh City on preparations for the ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the reunification of the South and national reunification.

It is anticipated that on the morning of April 30, 2025, at Le Duan Street, District 1 (Ho Chi Minh City), a parade and march to mark 50 years of national reunification will feature a 21-gun salute alongside the National Anthem of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Note: This information is for reference purposes only!

What is the significance of a 21-gun salute according to the law in Vietnam? What is the holiday schedule for the Liberation of Southern Vietnam for students and teachers?​ (Image from the Internet)

What is the holiday schedule for Liberation of Southern Vietnam (April 30) for students and teachers in Vietnam?

Recently, in Official Dispatch 8726/VPCP-KGVX of 2024, the Prime Minister approved the proposal of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs in Official Dispatch 5152/BLDTBXH-CATLD of 2024 and Official Dispatch 5621/BLDTBXH-CATLD of 2024 regarding the Lunar New Year, National Day holidays, and the workday exchange during the April 30 and May 1 Labor Day holiday in 2025.

Download Official Dispatch 8726/VPCP-KGVX of 2024

Regarding the holiday schedule for April 30 and International Labor Day (May 1), the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs proposed exchanging the workday from Friday (May 2, 2025) to Saturday (April 26, 2025) to allow a continuous 5-day break, from Wednesday to the end of Sunday, i.e., from April 30 to May 4, 2025.

For the 2025 National Day, a holiday is expected on September 2 and the adjacent day, resulting in a 4-day break from August 30 to September 2, 2025.

According to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs, extended holidays will help employees rejuvenate, stimulate tourism demand, and boost economic growth.

Consequently, students and teachers nationwide will have a continuous 5-day break for the April 30 and May 1 holiday, from Wednesday to the end of Sunday, i.e., April 30 to May 4, 2025.

Which holidays do teachers in Vietnam get off during the year?

According to Article 112 of the Labor Code 2015, employees are entitled to paid leave on the following holidays:

Holidays

1. Employees are entitled to paid leave on the following holidays:

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

b) Lunar New Year: 5 days;

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

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

dd) National Day: 2 days (September 2 of the solar calendar and 1 adjacent day before or after);

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

2. Foreign employees working in Vietnam, in addition to the holidays specified in Clause 1 of this Article, are also entitled to one additional traditional Tet holiday and one National Day of their country.

3. Annually, based on practical conditions, the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam decides on specific leave days stipulated in points b and D of Clause 1 of this Article.

Teachers get the following holiday days off:

- New Year's Day: 1 day (January 1 of the solar calendar);

- Victory Day: 1 day (April 30 of the solar calendar);

- International Labor Day: 1 day (May 1 of the solar calendar);

- National Day: 2 days (September 2 of the solar calendar and 1 adjacent day before or after);

- Hung Kings' Festival: 1 day (March 10 of the lunar calendar).

- If a teacher is a foreigner working in Vietnam, they are entitled to an additional one traditional Tet holiday and one National Day of their country beyond the above-regulated holidays.