Vietnam province seeks longer National Day break for school opening day

The Son La Department of Home Affairs proposed adding September 4 and 5 to the National Day holiday, creating a four-day break from September 2 to 5.

The recommendation was submitted as feedback on a draft law amending parts of the Labor Code and several other laws, which is being appraised by the Ministry of Justice.

The department said the additional days off would give employees more time with their families, particularly as schools across Vietnam traditionally hold opening ceremonies around early September.

It also argued that the longer holiday could be accompanied by measures to raise labor productivity in support of the country’s double-digit growth ambitions.

Other proposals included requiring employers to provide paid time for workers to learn about Party and State policies and laws, strengthening mental health support and burnout prevention in high-pressure workplaces, and introducing more flexible hybrid working arrangements amid the rapid spread of artificial intelligence.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, however, said it would not incorporate the proposals into the draft.

It explained that they fall outside the scope of the amendments, which are mainly aimed at administrative restructuring, decentralization, clarification of authority, simplification of procedures, and the removal of conditional business lines.

The draft law is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration in October 2026.

Labor federation also backs longer holiday

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor has made a similar proposal, calling for two additional National Day holidays so workers could take September 2-5 off.

Ngo Duy Hieu, permanent vice-president of the confederation, said Vietnam has fewer public holidays than the regional average and still has room to increase the number of days off.

He argued that a longer break would have limited impact on businesses while giving workers more time to rest and care for their families, as well as helping stimulate tourism, services, and domestic consumption.

Hieu said many workers had expressed a simple wish: to be able to take their children to school on opening day without having to worry about work.

Some Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper readers also supported the proposal, saying a longer break would help young families attend school ceremonies and encourage more travel and spending.

Under the 2019 Labor Code, employees in Vietnam are entitled to 11 fully paid public holidays each year, including two days for National Day.

With November 24 designated as Vietnam Cultural Day and made a public holiday from 2026, the annual total has increased to 12 days.