Vietnam’s Holiday in 2026: How to Plan Your Itinerary Right?

If you are thinking about visiting Vietnam in 2026, checking the public holiday calendar is one of the smartest things you can do before booking anything. Public holidays here are exciting, noisy, colourful, and very local. They are also when millions of Vietnamese people travel at the same time.

Planned well, you can enjoy the festive atmosphere, avoid the worst crowds, and still move around smoothly. If planned badly, you might end up paying more for flights, getting stuck in traffic, or arriving in a city where half the restaurants are closed for family celebrations.

Fear not, this guide will walk you through:

• The official public holiday schedule in 2026
  
  
• The longest holiday blocks you should pay attention to
  
  
• How to time your trip to enjoy the energy without getting stuck in the chaos

And if you want a shortcut, we will also talk about how My Vietnam Tours can help you lock in the good stuff early.

Overview of Vietnam’s 2026 public holidays

Vietnam has 5 main public holiday blocks that really matter for travellers, which are:

• New Year Day
• Lunar New Year or Tet
• Hung Kings Commemoration Day
• Reunification Day and International Labor Day
• National Day

Vietnam Public Holidays Calendar 2026

In 2026, public employees get a total of eleven official public holidays, which turn into longer breaks once weekends and swapped working days are factored in.

The biggest one by far is Tet, with 9 consecutive days off from 14 February to 22 February 2026. There is also a long block around National Day and multi day breaks for Reunification Day and Labor Day and Hung Kings Day.

Before we talk about strategy, here is a simple calendar view you can keep in mind while you plan.

Vietnam Public Holidays 2026 Quick Calendar View

The Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed swapping a working day so that New Year 2026 becomes a 4 day break from 1 January to 4 January. For Tet and National Day, the 9 day and 5 day blocks have already been officially announced.

Long Holiday Periods In 2026 And What They Actually Feel Like

If you ask someone from Vietnam what these holidays are really like, they will not start with dates. They will talk about feelings. Crowds. Empty streets. Flower markets. Full buses. Here is how each big break in 2026 usually feels from a local point of view.

1. Tet Lunar New Year

What happens: This is the heart of the Vietnamese year. Families reunite, cities decorate with flowers and red banners, and transport hubs overflow with people going home or returning to work.

The days just before Tet are busy and colourful. You see flower markets, last minute shopping and a lot of energy. The first days during Tet can feel surprisingly quiet in big cities, as many shops and offices close and people stay home or visit relatives and temples.

For travellers, Tet is both beautiful and intense. It is not something to fear, but it does need planning.

2. Reunification Day and Labor Day

What happens: This four day block is one of the most popular times for Vietnamese families and groups of friends to travel. Beach cities like Vung Tau, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc, and cooler escapes like Da Lat, fill up fast. If you like a lively scene and do not mind crowds, it can be fun. If you prefer peace and lower prices, you may want to adjust your dates or pick less famous spots.

3. National Day

What happens: Flags everywhere, patriotic events, high demand on transport and accommodation, especially around major cities and coastal destinations.

4. Hung Kings Day and New Year

What happens: Hung Kings Day creates a nice long weekend at the end of April, with more visitors at temples and local attractions. While New Year’s Day is quieter compared to Tet. Some Vietnamese combine it with the weekend for a small trip, but it is not as intense as the February period.

How To Plan Your Itinerary To Avoid The Worst Crowds

You do not have to avoid every holiday. The goal is to enjoy the festivals without fighting your way through every queue. Here are some practical ways to do that. Or simply travel with My Vietnam Tours to secure your best spot in 2026. Contact Us Now!

1. Choose the right window around Tet

For Tet, three windows usually work best for international travellers:

Before Tet
Arrive in late January or early February. You will see flower streets, festive markets and pre holiday buzz, then you can move to quieter destinations or leave the country before the main rush.

Just after Tet
Arrive in late February or early March. The weather is still pleasant in most regions. Transport and hotels are easier to book. Daily life is back, but you can still feel a gentle afterglow of the holiday.

During Tet, but in the right place
If you want to experience Tet itself, consider staying in one city for a few days rather than changing locations. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City can be surprisingly calm on the first days, with light traffic and open parks and temples. Some tourist areas and restaurants stay open, especially in the Old Quarter and central districts.

2. Decide if you want to join or avoid peak domestic travel

For Reunification Day, Labor Day and National Day, the main question is:

Do you want to join the wave or step aside from it?

• If you want to join: book early, choose places that can handle crowds, and be ready for a busy, energetic vibe.
  
  
• If you want to step aside: use those holiday blocks for slower travel in less crowded areas, or simply avoid long distance moves on those exact dates.

For example, instead of being in Da Nang on 30 April, you could spend that time in Quy Nhon or inland in the Central Highlands, then head to the coast afterward.

3. Book your “non negotiables” early

As soon as your dates are roughly clear, try to lock in:

• International flights
  
  
• Domestic flights between major regions
  
  
• First and last hotels
  
  
• Any special experiences that are central to your trip, like a Ha Long Bay cruise or a luxury resort stay in Phu Quoc
  
  

Around long public holidays, these can sell out or become much more expensive.

4. Understand how cities change during holidays

Big cities breathe differently during each holiday:

• Before Tet: energetic, busy, full of colour
  
  
• First days of Tet: quieter streets, closed offices, open parks and temples
  
  
• Long weekends: more traffic out of the cities toward the coast or mountains
  
  

If you enjoy wandering and seeing a local side of life, being in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City during a Tet day can actually be lovely. If you want nightlife and a full list of open restaurants, it is better to come a few days later.

5. Mix famous places with quieter corners

Popular spots will always draw crowds in holiday periods. If you have to travel during those times, consider balancing your itinerary:

• Combine Ha Long Bay with quieter Ninh Binh or a village stay
  
  
• Balance Da Nang with less crowded coastal towns or nearby countryside
  
  
• Pair Ho Chi Minh City with a slower Mekong Delta homestay instead of only city time
  
  

This way, even if one place feels full, the next stop can give you space to breathe.

Travel Vietnam in 2026 with My Vietnam Tours

Looking at all these dates, it is clear that 2026 in Vietnam will be full of life. That is part of the charm. It also makes planning more complex, especially if you are trying to fit everything into one or two weeks. This is where a local with 30+ expertise in Vietnam tourism helps a lot.

With My Vietnam Tours, you can:

• Time your trip around the 2026 public holidays instead of accidentally landing right in the middle of a booking crunch
  
  
• Build an itinerary that fits your travel style, from classic highlights to hidden corners
  
  
• Secure trusted hotels, guides and transfers early, before holiday demand kicks in
  
  
• Get support if weather, schedules or local conditions change while you are here
  
  

Whether you want to feel the full energy of Tet in Hanoi, sail between limestone cliffs in Ha Long Bay, wander lantern lit streets in Hoi An or finish with a few quiet days on the beaches of Phu Quoc, our team can help you put the pieces together.

If 2026 is the year you finally make it to Vietnam, planning around the holiday calendar is your secret advantage. Do that well and you will not just visit at the right time. You will see the country in celebration and still have the calm moments that make a trip truly yours.