Vietnam's calendar mixes fixed national holidays with major lunar celebrations. They can be wonderful times to visit, but they also affect transport, opening hours and hotel demand.
Tết — Vietnamese Lunar New Year
Tết is Vietnam's most important annual celebration and normally falls in January or February. Families travel home, cities fill with flowers and decorations, and transport becomes especially busy. Some businesses close or reduce hours, so travelers should book trains and flights early and keep plans flexible.
Reunification Day and Labour Day
30 April marks Reunification Day and 1 May is International Labour Day. Because the two holidays sit together, they can create a busy domestic travel period with higher demand for flights, trains, hotels and attractions.
National Day
Vietnam celebrates National Day on 2 September. Major cities may have flags, public events and celebrations, and domestic travel can be heavier around the holiday period.
Hùng Kings Commemoration
This national holiday honours the legendary Hùng Kings and is observed according to the lunar calendar, on the 10th day of the third lunar month. The date therefore changes on the Western calendar each year.
Mid-Autumn Festival
Tết Trung Thu is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Lanterns, mooncakes and lion dances are central to the festival, and Hoi An is an especially atmospheric place to experience the evening celebrations.
Check dates before booking
Several Vietnamese festivals follow the lunar calendar, and local event dates can change from year to year. Before booking a trip around a festival, confirm the year's dates on an official tourism or government calendar.