Public holidays are not only about allowing employees to relax and unwind after long periods of work; they also impact business staffing plans. This presents a challenge for many companies, as they are legally required to let workers take time off while still needing to ensure that work is not delayed due to those holidays. In this article, we provide you with a detailed list of 2025 public holidays along with human resource management solutions to help you optimize workflow during the holiday season.
Legal Provisions Regarding Public Holidays
Compensatory Leave for Holidays Falling on Weekends
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, employees are entitled to compensatory leave on the following working day, typically Monday. The schedule for compensatory leave will be adjusted and officially announced, so businesses need to monitor government announcements to arrange appropriate leave schedules.
Provisions for Foreign Employees
Foreign workers in Vietnam are entitled to the same official public holidays as Vietnamese employees. Additionally, they are granted 1 day off for their traditional New Year and 1 day off for their national day. As a result, foreign workers in Vietnam are entitled to a total of 13 days off.
Working on Holidays: Rights and Obligations
Employees are not required to work on public holidays unless they are involved in special operations (e.g., continuous production or emergency services). Therefore, if work is required on holidays, employers must reach an agreement with the employees in advance.
Once agreed upon, employees who work on public holidays must be paid at least 300% of their regular daily wage or be given compensatory leave, depending on the agreement with the company.
Annual Leave and Other Benefits
In addition to public holidays, employees are entitled to at least 12 days of annual leave if they work a full 12 months. For foreign workers or those working in hazardous or strenuous environments, annual leave may increase to 14 or 16 days.
Detailed Public Holiday Schedule for 2025
According to Article 112 of the 2019 Labor Code and Official Letter No. 8726//VPCP-KGVX dated November 26, 2024, Vietnamese employees are entitled to the following official holidays, compensatory leave, and rescheduled working days:
| Holiday/Event | Official Days Off | Specific Dates | Total Days Off | Notes |
| New Year’s Day | 1 day | Wednesday, January 1, 2025 | 1 day | Falls on a weekday, no compensatory leave |
| Lunar New Year | 5 days | Saturday to Sunday (January 25 – February 2, 2025) | 9 days | Includes 2 weekends before and after, totaling 9 consecutive days off |
| Hung Kings Commemoration | 1 day | Saturday to Monday (April 5–7, 2025) | 3 days | Includes weekend, totaling 3 consecutive days off |
| Victory Day (April 30) & Labor Day (May 1) | 2 days | Wednesday to Sunday (April 30 – May 4, 2025) | 5 days | Workday on May 2 rescheduled to Saturday, April 26, 2025 |
| National Day (September 2) | 2 days | Saturday to Tuesday (August 30 – September 2, 2025) | 4 days | Includes weekend, totaling 4 consecutive days off |
In total, Vietnamese employees have 22 days off, including 11 official public holidays under the 2019 Labor Code and 11 days from compensatory leave, rescheduled days, and adjacent weekends.
Holiday Season Human Resource Management Solutions for Businesses
When employees are on leave, businesses must find ways to maintain stable operations throughout the holiday season. Although holidays are typically not long, this is not a simple challenge. Below are practical solutions to help you manage your workforce effectively, maintain productivity, and show employees that you care.
Plan Ahead of the Holidays
To avoid work interruptions or backlog after the holidays, plan work schedules at least one week to one month in advance. Require employees to list tasks that need to be completed during this time so you can assess progress and ensure nothing falls behind.
Minimize Unexpected Tasks
During the holiday season, prioritize urgent tasks and limit new assignments. Unplanned work can overwhelm employees and lower morale. Instead, try to anticipate potential issues and support staff in completing remaining tasks quickly before the holiday break.
Arrange Part-Time Staff for the Retail Sector
Retail businesses need to maintain a workforce for sales, customer service, and telesales during the holidays. This ensures that customers aren’t kept waiting, reducing the risk of losing them to competitors. Therefore, consider organizing part-time shifts to keep services running smoothly.
Encourage Remote Work
Fields like marketing and technology allow remote work. You may consider assigning remote work with clear reporting schedules. This flexibility lets employees complete their tasks while still receiving full pay.
Create a Logical Work Schedule
If hiring part-time staff or allowing remote work isn’t feasible, set up a well-structured schedule by dividing shifts among essential departments. This ensures smooth business operations during holidays while still respecting employees’ right to rest.
Offer Attractive Holiday Pay and Bonuses
Working on public holidays means employees sacrifice their personal rest time. Thus, you must ensure overtime pay complies with legal regulations. Ideally, this should include bonuses or commissions if the employee contributes to holiday sales. A fair pay and bonus policy not only motivates employees but also shows that the company values them.
Seek Expert Support
If you need expert guidance on managing human resources during public holidays, choose KMC. Our professional HR compliance services can help you design a streamlined HR management process that still complies with legal regulations.
In summary, during public holidays, to ensure your employees can rest without affecting business operations, you should prepare your holiday plan at least one month in advance. This guarantees that everything is completed on time without piling up after the break.
