Students in Ho Chi Minh City are expected to have a two-week Lunar New Year holiday in 2026.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training will submit a proposal to the People's Committee regarding the duration of the Lunar New Year holiday in 2026, which is expected to be around two weeks. If weekends are included, the holiday could extend to 16 days.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training will submit a proposal regarding the Lunar New Year holiday schedule for 2026. (Photo: Nguyen Hue)

At the meeting to discuss the development of educational activities in schools, representatives from public and private secondary schools offered their opinions on the framework for the 2025-2026 school year.

Currently, Ho Chi Minh City has not yet set regulations regarding the Lunar New Year holiday period in 2026. Schools have proposed that the Department of Education and Training issue regulations soon so that schools can proactively arrange learning plans for students from the beginning of the school year.

Mr. Ho Tan Minh, Chief of the Office of the Department of Education and Training, stated that the timeframe for the 2025-2026 school year in Ho Chi Minh City follows the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training . Specifically, the school year will begin on September 5th and end on May 31st, ensuring a full 35 weeks of teaching. During this period, schools can proactively arrange their teaching and learning plans to ensure the required number of teaching weeks. The Lunar New Year holiday schedule will be arranged appropriately, provided that the required number of teaching weeks is met.

Regarding the Lunar New Year holiday in 2026, the Department will propose a full week-long holiday schedule, meaning students will have a break on weekends and return to school at the beginning of the week. The Department of Education and Training is expected to propose to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee that students have a two-week Lunar New Year holiday. Therefore, if weekends are included, students in Ho Chi Minh City could have a 16-day Lunar New Year holiday in 2026.

"Previously, the Department planned to propose a Lunar New Year holiday of about two weeks for students. However, to avoid last-minute changes like in previous years, this year, like other localities, the Lunar New Year holiday schedule will follow regulations within the school year timeframe. The Department will study and propose a Lunar New Year holiday schedule that includes a full week, meaning the holiday falls on the weekend and students return to school at the beginning of the week," Mr. Minh informed.

According to the 2025-2026 academic year schedule issued by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the school year will begin on September 5, 2025, with the first semester lasting 18 weeks, and the second semester starting on January 19, 2026, with 17 weeks of actual learning. All levels of education will conclude the school year before May 31, 2026, after which graduation assessments will be conducted and enrollment for the following academic year will be completed.

According to a decision by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the holidays for students in the city are regulated by the Labor Code and guiding documents throughout the year; if a holiday falls on a weekend, students are entitled to a compensatory day off on the following working day. School principals are responsible for developing appropriate educational plans for their institutions in accordance with regulations.

Teachers' leave is taken during the summer break or may be scheduled at other times of the year to suit the specific characteristics and timetable of the school year.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/hoc-sinh-tp-ho-chi-minh-nghi-tet-nguyen-dan-2026-du-kien-trong-2-tuan-327336.html