4 public holidays in Vietnam you should attend for the first time
Vietnam combines a traditional and modern country with a long-standing culture. There are many public holidays, ceremonies, and festivals. Many of them are recognised to gather members of the family, besides, public holidays also are opportunities to have leisure activities for all Vietnamese people after a hard-working time.
Foreigners who get teaching jobs in Ho Chi Minh City or other job positions should know about some official public holidays in Vietnam below:
1. Tet holiday
Tet or Vietnamese Lunar New Year is one of the most vital public holidays in Vietnam, and most residents tend to spend their time with family after a whole year of hard work. Tet holiday often falls on the first or second month of the year and takes from 5 to 7 days.
To prepare for Tet, the Vietnamese people sweep and wash their ancestors’ tombs. After that, the residents in Vietnam will clean and decorate their houses with flowers including peach blossoms, apricots, and kumquat trees. Because they believe that a neat house represents respect for ancestors’ spirits and visitors and attracts positive things for the new year.
During the Tet holiday, young people will give best wishes to older people, whereas adults give lucky money in red envelopes to children as a wish of luck for their new age. Bright colours such as red or yellow symbolise peace and prosperity, as a result, red envelopes are known as wishes for the new year to have full of lucky things.
2. Reunification Day and Labour Day
Reunification Day or Liberation Day is the short version of the official name “Day of Southern Liberation for National Reunification”. It is one of the most significant milestones in Vietnam’s history.
Labour Day is known as International Workers’ Day in many countries including Vietnam to celebrate global labourers, which occurs annually on the 1st of May. This public holiday is the day of solidarity between the working class and oppressed people worldwide in the struggle for peace, national independence, democracy, and social progress.
On this annual special holiday, the Vietnamese raise Vietnamese flags in front of their houses to commemorate the reunification of Vietnam and Labour Day. If you get a teaching job in Ho Chi Minh City, you can see guards walking in the procession on the 30th of April and many interesting activities.
Vietnamese workers usually leave from 3 to 4 days on this occasion. Therefore, many young people decide to have a short trip to refresh and reduce the stress after their hard work, while others spend time with their family and friends at home.
3. Mid-Autumn Festival
In a lunar calendar, the Vietnamese usually celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. This is the time when the moon becomes the fullest and brightest of the year. Many countries also have this holiday such as China, Japan, and Korea for gathering family, giving praise to God for the bumper crop, or praying for a good future.
“Banh Trung Thu” or Mooncake is one of the festival’s dispensable foods. Mooncake represents the moon’s stature as reunited, comfortably off, and happy.
4. Hung Kings’ Festival
The Death Anniversary of the Hung Kings is organised annually on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month in Phu Tho Province to worship Hung Kings. Vietnamese people remind their children with the sentence “Whoever goes back and forth. Remember the 10th anniversary of March” to ensure young Vietnamese people always remember their ancestors’ merits
Alongside worshipping ceremonies, this festival regards various activities such as rice cooking and the performance of Cheo singing, Quan Ho singing, and Xoan singing.
Furthermore, Vietnam still has other public holidays such as Independent Day, Vietnamese Teacher’s Day, and Vietnam Book Day. Do you want to attend these public holidays in Vietnam? A teaching job in Ho Chi Minh City is a good position for you to experience the culture and customs of Vietnam.
More information:
- Why is teaching job in Vietnam popular with foreigners?
- Independence Day of Vietnam
- Top 5 traditional foods on Tet holiday you should know
EMG Education
