What is the significance of mooncakes? Are students entitled to a day off during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam?

What is the significance of mooncakes?

There are various legends about the origin of mooncakes, but the most popular story is related to the uprising against the Yuan Dynasty in China.

The people used mooncakes to transmit information about the timing of the uprising by hiding small pieces of paper inside the cakes. The round shape of the cakes symbolized unity and the unified spirit of the people.

* Common Types of Mooncake Fillings in Vietnam:

Mung Bean Filling: Traditional, mildly sweet flavor.

Mixed Filling: A combination of various nuts and meats, creating a delicious, rich flavor.

Lotus Seed Filling: Refreshing and nutritious.

Salted Egg Filling: Rich and flavorful.

Chocolate Filling: Modern taste, popular among the youth.

*Note: Information is for reference purposes only./.

What is the significance of mooncakes? Are students entitled to a day off during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam?​ (Image from the Internet)

Is the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2024 a major holiday in Vietnam?

Based on Article 4 of Decree 145/2013/ND-CP regulating major holidays:

Major Holidays

Major holidays in the country include:

1. Lunar New Year (1st day of the Lunar calendar).

2. Founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930).

3. Hung Kings' Commemoration Day (10th of the 3rd Lunar month).

4. Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975).

5. Victory of Dien Bien Phu (May 7, 1954).

6. Birthday of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890).

7. August Revolution (August 19, 1945) and National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945).

Hence, according to these regulations, the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2024 is not considered a major holiday in Vietnam by law.

Are students entitled to a day off during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam?

Currently, there is no specific regulation allowing students to take a day off on the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Moreover, according to Article 112 of the Labor Code 2019, the regulation on holiday leave is as follows:

Holiday Leave

1. Workers are entitled to leave with full pay on the following 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);

e) National Day: 2 days (September 2 of the Gregorian calendar and 1 day immediately before or after);

f) Hung Kings' Commemoration Day: 1 day (10th of the 3rd Lunar month).

2. Foreign workers in Vietnam in addition to holidays mentioned in clause 1 of this Article are entitled to one traditional holiday and one National Day of their country.

3. Annually, based on actual conditions, the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam decides the specific day off for holidays mentioned at points b and e of clause 1 of this Article.

Workers are entitled to leave with full pay on the following holidays:

- New Year’s Day: 1 day (January 1 of the Gregorian calendar);

- Lunar New Year: 5 days;

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

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

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

- Hung Kings' Commemoration Day: 1 day (10th of the 3rd Lunar month).

Thus, the Mid-Autumn Festival is not one of the days on which workers are entitled to leave.

Since students usually follow the teachers' schedule, and according to the aforementioned regulations, teachers do not have a day off on the Mid-Autumn Festival 2024.

Therefore, students do not have a day off on the Mid-Autumn Festival either.

However, students can participate in activities in the evening after school.

What are the rights of students in Vietnam?

For primary school students

According to Article 35 of the Primary School Charter issued with Circular 28/2020/TT-BGDDT, primary school students have the following rights:

- Right to Education

+ To be educated and to develop fully to maximize their potential; to attend a school and a class that implement the primary education program conveniently for them within their residential area.

+ Students may choose a school or transfer to another school outside their residential area if that school can accommodate them.

+ Primary school-age students returning from abroad, children of foreigners studying or working in Vietnam, and children due to difficult circumstances not yet in school who wish to attend primary school may be assessed by the principal and placed in appropriate classes.

+ Students with disabilities can study inclusively in a primary school; are ensured conditions for studying and practicing; are educated and assessed according to an individualized education plan.

+ Students can shorten the time to complete the program, study beyond the prescribed age, extend the time of study, or repeat a grade.

+ Students with good physical condition and early intellectual development may advance a grade within the primary education level. The procedures are as follows:

++ Parents or guardians of students make a request to the school.

++ The principal forms a council for assessment and consultation, including the principal or vice-principal, the school's Parent Association representative, teachers of the student's current class, teachers of the next grade, medical staff, and the school's team leader.

++ Based on the council's assessment, the principal completes the documentation and reports to the Head of the Department of Education and Training for consideration and decision.

+ Students with limited academic performance, despite direct guidance and help from teachers, parents, or guardians, and still not achieving the expected outcome, depending on the extent of uncompleted learning tasks and behavioral training, teachers will report to the principal for consideration to advance or repeat a grade, and together with the family decide appropriate educational measures.

- Right to protection, care, respect, and fair, democratic treatment; to guarantees of legitimate rights and benefits; to full information on personal learning and behavioral progress; to clean, safe, and adequate materials for studying and practicing.

- Right to participate in activities to showcase personal abilities; to express opinions and personal aspirations.

- Right to receive scholarships and social policies as per regulations.

- Right to other rights as per the law.

For lower and upper secondary school students

The rights of lower and upper secondary school students are specified in Article 35 of the Regulations issued with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT:

- Equal rights to access comprehensive education, ensured conditions for time, facilities, hygiene, and safety for studying in class and self-study at home, provided information regarding personal study and behavioral progress, and use of school resources for academic, cultural, and sports activities as per the regulations.

- Right to respect and protection, fair and democratic treatment, right to appeal against school decisions and higher education authorities regarding personal decisions; right to transfer schools for a valid reason as per current regulations; right to advance academically, study beyond the prescribed age, as per Article 33 of the Regulations issued with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT.

- Right to participate in activities to develop skills in subjects, sports, arts organized by the school if conditions allow.

- Right to receive scholarships or other benefits according to regulations for students entitled to social policies, facing economic difficulties, and students with exceptional abilities.

- Right to transfer schools if they fulfill conditions per the regulations; transfer procedures follow the Ministry of Education and Training's provisions.

- Right to other rights as per the law.