Origin of the opening day of September 5, do workers get this day off?

The Ministry of Education and Training has announced the school year calendar, on September 5th students nationwide will start the new school year 2025-2026. Why is September 5th chosen every year as the opening day - the day the whole nation takes their children to school?

According to Vietnam News Agency, on September 5, 1945, just 3 days after reading the "Declaration of Independence" giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, President Ho Chi Minh wrote a "Letter to students" on the occasion of the opening day of the first school year of an independent Vietnam.

September 5th has since become the opening day of the new school year in Vietnamese education .

September 5th this year marks exactly 80 years since the opening day of the first school year of independent Vietnam (September 5, 1945 - September 5, 2025).

The opening day of September 5 is always one of the beautiful memories of everyone's student life.

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

According to Vietnam News Agency, in President Ho Chi Minh's "Letter to Students" on the occasion of the opening day of September 5, 1945, there was a passage written: " Today is the first day of school in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. I have imagined before my eyes the bustling and jubilant scene of the first day of school everywhere. All the children are happy because after several months of school break, after many unusual changes, they get to see their teachers and friends again. But even happier, from this moment onwards they begin to receive a completely Vietnamese education... ".

Photo of a copy of President Ho Chi Minh's "Letter to Students" on the occasion of the opening day of September 5, 1945, stored by National Archives Center III

PHOTO: VNA

The whole country will start the new school year on the morning of September 5, 2025 at the same time, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Ministry of National Education.

On August 13, the Ministry of Education and Training issued an official dispatch to the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, universities and vocational training institutions, requesting coordination in directing the organization of the opening ceremony of the 2025-2026 school year in conjunction with the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Ministry of National Education, now the Ministry of Education and Training.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Education and Training will organize the 80th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the Ministry of National Education, now the Ministry of Education and Training, and the opening of the 2025-2026 school year on the morning of September 5, 2025 at the National Convention Center ( Hanoi ), broadcast live on VTV1 channel, connecting online to educational and training institutions nationwide.

September 5, 2025 will be a special opening day when all educational institutions across the country will open at the same time; perform the flag-raising ceremony and sing the National Anthem at the same time as the flag-raising ceremony at the National Convention Center.

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

The Ministry of Education and Training requests the People's Committees of provinces and cities to direct the Department of Education and Training to preside over and coordinate with departments, branches, agencies, and direct educational and training institutions in the area to organize the opening ceremony of the 2025-2026 school year at the same time as the ceremony of the Ministry of Education and Training (from 8:00 to 9:30 on September 5, 2025). Educational institutions need to arrange and prepare adequate transmission lines and equipment to connect online or via VTV1 television channel at all educational and training institutions in the area; coordinate with local telecommunications and television units to ensure stable signals, good image and sound quality.

The school's planned activities (if any) are organized concisely, ending before 8:00 a.m. From 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on September 5, all delegates, teachers, students and pupils fully participate in the contents of the program organized by the Ministry of Education and Training: perform the flag-raising ceremony, sing the National Anthem at the same time as the flag-raising ceremony at the National Convention Center; listen to the speech of General Secretary To Lam...

On the opening day of September 5, do workers get a day off?

The opening day of September 5 is not on the list of holidays that employees are entitled to take off work and receive full pay according to the provisions of the 2019 Labor Code.

Article 112 of the 2019 Labor Code stipulates that employees are entitled to take time off with full pay on the following holidays:

• New Year's Day: 1 day (January 1);
• Lunar New Year: 5 days;
• Victory Day: 1 day (April 30);
• International Labor Day: 1 day (May 1st);
• National Day: 2 days (September 2 and 1 day before or after);
• Hung King's Commemoration Day: 1 day (10th day of the 3rd lunar month).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nguon-goc-ngay-khai-giang-59-nguoi-lao-dong-duoc-nghi-ngay-nay-khong-185250806185008065.htm