What are 11 Tet days in Vietnam? Do foreign employees entitled to days off on Lunar New Year in Vietnam?
What are 11 Tet days in Vietnam?
In Vietnam, there are 11 important Tet and festive days throughout the year, including Lunar New Year days as well as several international and national holidays. The 11 Tet holidays in Vietnam are as follows:
[1] Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year or Tet, is the largest and most important festival in Vietnamese culture, taking place on the first day of the new year according to the lunar calendar. This is an occasion for Vietnamese people to welcome the new year and commemorate ancestors, connecting with traditional values, family, and community.
[2] Tet Nguyen Tieu
Tet Nguyen Tieu, also known as the Full Moon of the First Month, occurs on the 15th of the First Lunar Month and is considered the first major full moon of the year. It is one of the important traditional festivals in Vietnam and many Asian countries, including China, where it is known as the Lantern Festival.
[3] Tet Han Thuc
Tet Han Thuc is a traditional festival held on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month annually in Vietnam and some Asian countries, especially China. "Han Thuc" means "cold food," and on this day, people often prepare cold dishes, typically rice dumplings (banh troi, banh chay in Vietnam) to offer on ancestral altars, remembering the deceased.
[4] Tet Thanh Minh
Tet Thanh Minh is a traditional day in Vietnamese culture and many East Asian countries, with the Qing Ming Festival taking place on the 4th of the 4th lunar month for worship. Depending on each family, a specific day might be chosen to hold the Qing Ming Festival.
[5] Tet Doan Ngo
Tet Doan Ngo, also known as the Pest Exterminating Festival, occurs on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month each year. It is one of the important traditional days in Vietnam and other East Asian countries like China and Korea.
This festival originates from agricultural culture, with the initial purpose of repelling pests, protecting crops, and human health as the weather turns hot and diseases might easily spread.
[6] Tet Trung Nguyen
Tet Trung Nguyen, also known as the Full Moon of the Seventh Month or Vu Lan Festival, is a major traditional day in Vietnam, occurring on the 15th of the 7th lunar month annually. It is a day to remember ancestors' merits and express filial piety to parents.
The origin of Tet Trung Nguyen derives from Buddhism and Vietnamese filial culture while also being influenced by the Ghost Festival in Asian culture.
[7] Tet Trung Thu
Tet Trung Thu, also known as Children's Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival, is one of the major traditional festivals of the Vietnamese, taking place on the 15th of the 8th lunar month annually.
On this day, families gather, and children eagerly participate in activities like lantern parades, lion dances, and festive dining under the full moon.
[8] Tet Trung Cuu
Tet Trung Cuu, also known as Chong Yang Festival, occurs on the 9th of the 9th lunar month each year. The name "Trung Cuu" comes from the repetition of the number 9 (cuu) twice (9th day of the 9th month), and because 9 is the largest single-digit number, it is considered a symbol of longevity, strength, and luck.
[9] Tet Trung Thap
Tet Trung Thap, also called the Double Ten Festival, occurs on the 10th day of the 10th lunar month each year. This is one of the traditional festivals of Vietnam and some East Asian countries. The day holds the meaning of honoring harvests and agriculture, as people express gratitude to heaven and earth, ancestors for a year of favorable weather and abundant crops.
[10] Tet Tao Quan
Tet Tao Quan, or the Farewell Ceremony for the Land Genie and Kitchen Gods, is one of the important festivals in Vietnamese culture, taking place on the 23rd day of the last lunar month. This festival is meant to see the Kitchen Gods off to heaven to report on the family's affairs over the past year to the Jade Emperor.
[11] Tet Khai Ha (7th day of the First Lunar Month)
Tet Khai Ha, also known as the lowering the neu tree ceremony or the ending of New Year celebrations, is a long-standing traditional custom of the Vietnamese.
The Khai Ha ceremony is held on the 7th day of the First Lunar Month to conclude the Tet Nguyen Dan period and for everyone to return to their regular work routine.
What are 11 Tet days in Vietnam? Do foreign employees entitled to days off on Lunar New Year in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)
Do foreign employees entitled to days off on Lunar New Year in Vietnam?
Based on Article 112 of the Labor Code 2019:
Article 112. Public Holidays
- Employees are entitled to paid leave on the following public holidays and Tet:
a) Gregorian Calendar New Year: 01 day (January 1st in the Gregorian calendar);
b) Lunar New Year: 05 days;
c) Victory Day: 01 day (April 30th in the Gregorian calendar);
d) International employees' Day: 01 day (May 1st in the Gregorian calendar);
e) Hung Kings' Commemoration Day: 01 day (the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month).
- Foreign employees in Vietnam, in addition to the holidays specified in clause 1 of this Article, are also entitled to 01 traditional Tet holiday of their country and 01 national day holiday.
- Annually, based on actual conditions, the Prime Minister of Vietnam decides the specific days for holidays provided for at points b and e of clause 1 of this Article.
According to the above regulation, foreign employees in Vietnam are entitled to paid leave during the Gregorian New Year and Lunar New Year.
How many annual leave days does an employee get after 5 years of service with the same employe in Vietnam?
Based on Article 113 of the Labor Code 2019 on annual leave:
Article 113. Annual Leave
- Employees who have worked for 12 months for an employer are entitled to annual leave with full pay according to their labor contract as follows:
a) 12 working days for people doing jobs under normal conditions;
b) 14 working days for minors, disabled employees, or people doing heavy, hazardous, or dangerous jobs;
c) 16 working days for people doing specially heavy, hazardous, or dangerous work.
- Employees who have worked for less than 12 months for an employer shall be entitled to annual leave in proportion to the number of months worked.
- In case of employment termination, if annual leave days have not been taken or are incomplete, the employer shall pay wages for untaken days.
- The employer is responsible for setting the annual leave schedule after consulting with employees and must notify employees in advance. employees may agree with the employer to take annual leave in multiple times or accumulate leave for up to 03 years at once.
[...]
According to Article 114 of the Labor Code 2015 on increase of annual leave based on seniority:
Article 114. Increase of Annual Leave based on Seniority
For every 05 years of working for an employer, a employee's annual leave as specified in clause 1 of Article 113 of this Code is increased by 01 day.
According to the above regulations, after working for 05 years for an employer, a employee's annual leave is increased by 01 day as follows:
- 13 working days for people doing jobs under normal conditions
- 15 working days for minors, disabled employees, or people doing heavy, hazardous, or dangerous jobs
- 17 working days for people doing specially heavy, hazardous, or dangerous work.
