The Ministry of Home Affairs is soliciting feedback on a draft law to amend and supplement several articles of the Labor Code, Archival Law, Gender Equality Law, and Red Cross Activities Law.

The drafting agency proposes that, based on actual annual conditions, the Prime Minister decide specific public holidays. Subsequently, the Minister of Home Affairs would announce the annual public holiday schedule, as determined by the Prime Minister, by 31/12.

Hanoi streets decorated to celebrate the 80th National Day, 9/2025. _AP_

Vietnam currently observes 11 official public holidays: one day for New Year's Day, five days for Lunar New Year, one day for Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, two days for the 30/4-1/5 Liberation Day and International Labor Day, and two days for National Day. The Ministry of Home Affairs also proposes adding Vietnam Culture Day on 24/11 as a paid public holiday. This aims to institutionalize Politburo Resolution 80 on cultural development and a National Assembly resolution from 4.

If approved, the total number of official holidays would increase to 12, distributed across six holiday periods throughout the year.

The current Labor Code stipulates that the Prime Minister annually decides specific dates only for the Lunar New Year and National Day holidays. Other holidays, including New Year's Day, Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, and 30/4-1/5, are observed as mandated by law.

The draft law, therefore, seeks to expand the head of government's authority to determine specific holidays throughout the year, rather than just the Lunar New Year and National Day periods as currently mandated.

The draft is open for public comment until 22/6. It is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly Standing Committee in 9 and passed in 10/2026.

Hong Chieu