When did Vietnamese people celebrate International Labor Day on May 1st?

In Vietnam, International Labor Day May 1 has a special meaning, closely associated with the history of the nation's revolutionary struggle.

The first International Labor Day in Vietnam was associated with important steps in the revolutionary movement and the struggle for national independence. Considered a great festival of the international working class, May 1st has become a symbol of solidarity and strong fighting spirit in Vietnam.

When did the first International Labor Day in Vietnam take place?

Since the 1920s, leader Nguyen Ai Quoc (President Ho Chi Minh ) actively spread Marxism-Leninism in Vietnam through his works, helping workers gain a deeper understanding of the communist and trade union movements around the world. International Labor Day on May 1st has long been associated with domestic revolutionary struggles, thereby creating a connecting force between proletarian internationalism and patriotism.

The first notable event took place on May 1, 1925, when workers in Cho Lon, Di An Railway and Da Nang demonstrated in support of the Soviet Union. In August of that year, workers at the Ba Son Shipyard in Saigon went on strike to demand higher wages and to show solidarity with the workers’ movement in Shanghai, China.

These struggles marked the transformation of the Vietnamese workers' movement from spontaneous to conscious.

The revolutionary climax from 1930 to 1931 further highlighted the significance of May 1st for Vietnamese workers. On May 1st, 1930, many places across the country, from North to South, hoisted the Party flag, organized rallies and marches to demonstrate power. Under the leadership of the Party and the Red Trade Union, thousands of workers and peasants across the country organized rallies and marches, demonstrating solidarity with the international working class and fighting for their practical rights.

From 1936 to 1939, revolutions took place vigorously with the public organization of International Labor Day. In particular, the rally on May 1, 1938 at the Hanoi Exhibition Hall, gathering more than 25,000 people from 25 different organizations, demonstrated the strength of the working people in the democratic struggle.

After regaining independence, President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree No. 22c.NV.CC on February 18, 1946, considering May 1 as one of the official national holidays. Decree No. 56 of President Ho Chi Minh signed on April 29, 1946 stipulated that workers were entitled to receive salary for the International Labor Day holiday of May 1.

May 1, 1946 marked the first time the Vietnamese people celebrated International Labor Day in peace and freedom. 200,000 people attended a rally in Hanoi, listening to President Ho Chi Minh read an appeal, emphasizing the meaning of solidarity and national construction.

President Ho Chi Minh's appeal: “With our compatriots nationwide! With our working brothers and sisters! May 1st is a common holiday for workers all over the world. It has a very profound meaning of solidarity. In our country, this is the first time that our compatriots, our working brothers and sisters, are free to celebrate May 1st. Therefore, it has a much deeper and more special meaning. For us, it is a day to show the world that this day is not only a Labor Day, but also a day of national solidarity. Solidarity to maintain freedom and democracy. Solidarity to build our country. Solidarity to build a new life.”

President Ho Chi Minh attended the International Labor Day celebration on May 1, 1955. (Photo: VNA archive)

During decades of renovation, along with the development of the country, the working class has made progress in both quantity and quality. They have quickly approached advanced science and technology, gradually mastered high technology and techniques, and continued to make strong contributions to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

International Labor Day 1/5 is not only a great holiday but also a symbol of solidarity, will and extraordinary determination of Vietnamese workers in the journey to build a developed and prosperous country.

In 2025, International Labor Day falls on a Thursday, during the April 30-May 1 holiday. Vietnamese workers will have 5 consecutive days off, from April 30 to May 4. To ensure the number of working days in a week, workers will make up for it on April 26.

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