Why not fix the Lunar New Year holiday schedule every year?

The 2026 Lunar New Year holiday schedule has just been proposed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Many readers have questions regarding this holiday schedule, why is it not fixed every year?

Female students pose at West Lake Flower Valley ( Hanoi ) during the holiday - Photo: NAM TRAN

According to the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs , civil servants and public employees will have Lunar New Year holidays from Saturday, February 14, 2026 (December 27, year of the Snake) to Sunday, February 22, 2026 (January 6, year of the Horse).

Thus, the Binh Ngo Tet holiday lasts 9 consecutive days including 5 Tet holidays according to the Labor Code and 4 weekend days.

For employees in enterprises, the Ministry of Home Affairs recommends that they arrange appropriate leave schedules based on actual conditions.

Specifically, for the Year of the Fire Horse, businesses can choose 1 day at the end of the year of the Fire Snake and the first 4 days of the year of the Fire Horse, or 2 days at the end of the year of the Fire Snake and the first 3 days of the year of the Fire Horse, or 3 days at the end of the year of the Fire Snake and the first 2 days of the year of the Fire Horse.

Enterprises are responsible for notifying the plan to take leave at least 30 days before implementation.

Before the above proposal, reader Thanh Tung asked: "Why not fix or give rules to determine holidays in the year to make it easier for people?"

Similarly, reader Duoc suggested that there should be a rule about holidays, instead of having to propose it every year?

Regarding this, an expert from the Ministry of Home Affairs said that based on Clause 3, Article 112 of the 2019 Labor Code, the specialized agency is responsible for drafting a plan for the Lunar New Year and National Day holidays on September 2 to seek opinions from relevant ministries and branches before submitting it to the Prime Minister for decision.

After the Prime Minister decides, the Minister of Home Affairs will announce the holiday schedule applicable to cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers working in administrative agencies, public service units, political organizations and socio-political organizations.

According to this person, the Lunar New Year holiday schedule is not fixed every year because it must be based on economic and social conditions, from which the most flexible and harmonious holiday plan can be proposed.

Before the 2019 Labor Code took effect, the Lunar New Year holiday was still 5 days. For example, 1 day before Tet and 4 days after Tet or 2 days before Tet and 3 days after Tet.

For the 2026 Lunar New Year, the Ministry of Home Affairs proposed a plan for a 9-day holiday because the 5 official Lunar New Year holidays fall entirely between the 4 weekend days (in case both Saturday and Sunday are off), instead of having 9 Tet holidays.

For employees in enterprises, the drafting agency follows the direction of "open" regulations, encouraging application because many companies have employees far from home, have specific production and business schedules...

Enterprises have the right to decide on their own holiday schedules based on the proposed plan of the Ministry of Home Affairs, but must notify at least 30 days in advance so that employees can proactively buy bus tickets and arrange work and plans.

HA QUAN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vi-sao-khong-co-dinh-lich-nghi-tet-nguyen-dan-hang-nam-20251002213201299.htm