Nearly 2.6 million students return to school after Tet in Ho Chi Minh City

Students at all education levels in the city got an 11-day Lunar New Year holiday in 2026, with the break running from February 12 to Sunday, according to a decision issued by the municipal administration.

From preschools to high schools, campuses buzzed with excitement and renewed energy.

Attendance rates were higher than in previous years, with students returning in full force and in high spirits.

At Kindergarten 13 in Binh Loi Trung Ward, teachers arrived as early as 6:30 am to welcome children back.

Most youngsters quickly settled into the school routine, aided by the warmth and attentiveness of their teachers.

Cu Thi Quynh Giao, principal at Kindergarten 13, said all staff members had reported back to work on Sunday to clean classrooms and sanitize toys in preparation for the students’ return.

The kindergarten also advised parents to gradually readjust their children’s daily schedules to help them smoothly transition back to structured routines.

On the first day, teachers focused on easing students into the environment rather than placing academic pressure on them, organizing cheerful activities tailored to each age group.

“Students have shown remarkable progress compared to last year,” Giao noted.

“They returned in greater numbers and with fewer tears. Only a handful were a bit clingy, asking to be held and comforted."

Meanwhile, many elementary, middle, and high schools began the week with flag-raising ceremonies combined with New Year greetings and the giving of lucky money before officially resuming the second semester of the 2025-26 academic year.

Preliminary data from the municipal Department of Education and Training indicated that this year’s post-holiday attendance rate surpassed that of previous years.

Officials attributed the improvement to a sufficiently long break, which allowed students to rest fully.