Vietnam weighs two new paid public holidays, which would bring the total to 12

Vietnam may add two paid public holidays to the calendar. The National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Social Affairs is reviewing a proposal to make July 27, War Invalids and Martyrs Day, a paid public holiday. The committee has also approved November 24 as Vietnam Culture Day, with paid time off for workers.

Current status

These are proposals. A deputy minister, Cao Huy, said July 27 remains under consideration and that no official decision has been announced. Nothing has taken effect.

The numbers

If both proposals are adopted, Vietnam would have 12 official paid public holidays each year.

Who would be covered

The report discusses employees in general. It does not say whether the provisions would apply specifically to foreign workers, so the question of how they would apply to expats on local contracts is not answered by this source.

What it means for residents

For now, the holiday calendar is unchanged. Foreign residents who work for Vietnamese employers, or who manage staff in Ho Chi Minh City, may want to watch for a final decision, since extra paid holidays would affect work schedules and leave planning. Employers and employees should wait for the official outcome and any implementing guidance before changing plans. Employment contracts and company policies remain the first reference for how holidays are applied in a given workplace.

The proposal also shows that the holiday list is still being debated in the National Assembly's committees, so the final outcome could differ from what is described here. Details such as how the holidays would be observed, and from which year, were not given in the report.

Source: VietnamNet.