On the first morning of Tet, Hanoi’s busiest streets go almost quiet while temples fill with incense and families in new clothes. For travel partners sending groups to Vietnam in 2027, the calendar comes down to two layers: official public holidays set by the government, and lunar festivals that move to a different date every year. The main 2027 dates are Tet from 4 to 10 February for public sector workers, Hung Kings Commemoration Day on 16 April, Reunification Day and Labour Day from 30 April to 3 May, and National Day from 2 to 5 September, plus the new Vietnam Culture Day on 24 November. In this guide, Viet Dan Travel DMC lists each date, the festivals worth building into itineraries, and what the calendar means for hotels, guides, transport, and pricing.
Festivals and Public Holidays in Vietnam at a Glance (2027)
| Item | 2027 detail |
| Tet (Lunar New Year) | First day Saturday 6 February 2027, Year of the Goat. Public sector break: Thursday 4 to Wednesday 10 February |
| New Year’s Day | Friday 1 January. Break from 1 to 3 January |
| Hung Kings Commemoration Day | Friday 16 April. Break from 16 to 18 April |
| Reunification Day and Labour Day | Friday 30 April and Saturday 1 May. Break from 30 April to 3 May |
| National Day | Thursday 2 September. Public sector break from 2 to 5 September |
| Vietnam Culture Day | Wednesday 24 November, one paid day |
| Mid-Autumn Festival (not a public holiday) | Wednesday 15 September |
| Highest operational impact | Tet, 30 April to 3 May, 2 to 5 September |
| Dates not yet confirmed | Hue Festival 2027, Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2027 |
The Tet details are worth reading closely. Public sector staff get seven consecutive days off, from 4 to 10 February, made up of five statutory holidays and two compensatory days. The private sector is more flexible. In practice, some suppliers will close earlier and reopen later than others, so one hotel, restaurant, or transport company may not match the next.
Vietnam Culture Day is new. It was added to the list of public holidays under Resolution No. 28/2026/QH16, which took effect on 1 July 2026. It will fall on a Wednesday in 2027, and the Ministry of Home Affairs describes it as a one-day public holiday. The resolution also provides for free or discounted admission to public cultural and sports facilities on that day, subject to decisions by competent authorities, so state museums can be busier than usual.
10 Major Festivals in Vietnam
Festivals are listed in calendar order for 2027. Dates marked “derived” are calculated from the lunar rule and should be confirmed locally before quoting.
1. Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year)
- When: First day Saturday 6 February 2027. Tet Eve is Friday 5 February
- Where: Nationwide
- Best for: Cultural immersion, family-style programs, flower markets and temple visits
- Planning note: Official public sector break runs 4 to 10 February. Expect closures and surcharges
Tet is the most important celebration in Vietnam. It begins on the first day of the first lunar month and combines traditional ceremonies, special foods and ancestor worship. For visitors, the experience is memorable but the logistics are tight, which is why the operational section below spends the most time on it.
2. Perfume Pagoda Festival
- When: From the 6th day of the 1st lunar month to the end of the 3rd lunar month. The season opens around 11 February 2027 (derived from the Tet date)
- Where: Huong Son, Hanoi
- Best for: Pilgrimage culture, boat rides on the Yen Stream, scenic hiking
- Planning note: Weekdays are quieter. Boat and entrance tickets are required
The festival is one of Vietnam’s largest and longest Buddhist pilgrimage festivals, combining worship with boat travel on the Yen Stream and a hike to the pagoda. It starts right after the Tet break, which makes it a natural add-on for departures in the second half of February.
3. Hung Kings Temple Festival
- When: Main ceremony Friday 16 April 2027. The wider festival program runs 7 to 16 April
- Where: Hung Temple Complex, Phu Tho Province, about 85 km northwest of Hanoi
- Best for: Ancestral worship rituals, Xoan singing, a cultural day trip from Hanoi
- Planning note: Very large crowds on the main day
In 2027 the commemoration will be linked to Phu Tho’s Ancestral Land Tourism Year, with the wider festival program scheduled for 7 to 16 April. Scale matters here: Phu Tho welcomed nearly 6.5 million visitors during the 2026 commemoration. For international groups, a non-festival day is easier to run, while the festival days suit cultural specialists who accept crowds.
4. Hue Festival
- When: 2027 dates not confirmed in the sources reviewed
- Where: Hue Imperial City and surrounding sites
- Best for: Royal court music, heritage performances, Hue cuisine
- Planning note: Check the schedule with Hue authorities before quoting
Hue Festival is a major cultural event built around the former imperial capital’s heritage. The date and format change from year to year. One Vietnam travel source notes that the provincial government usually publishes the schedule in November or December of the previous year. Treat any 2027 date you see elsewhere as unconfirmed until Hue’s tourism authorities announce it.
5. Buddha’s Birthday (Vesak)
- When: 15th day of the 4th lunar month. In 2027 this falls on Thursday 20 May
- Where: Pagodas nationwide, with notable processions in Hue and Hoi An
- Best for: Lantern processions, temple culture, vegetarian food
- Planning note: Not a public holiday, so services run normally
Some sources list 13 May as the date, which is the 8th day of the 4th lunar month. Vietnam’s main observance is on the full moon, which is 20 May in 2027.
6. Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF)
- When: 2027 dates not confirmed. The 2026 edition ran from 30 May to 11 July
- Where: Han River, Da Nang
- Best for: Summer coastal programs, MICE evenings, family groups
- Planning note: Hotels with river views sell out early on competition nights
The festival typically runs from late May to mid-July, with several competition nights. Because the 2027 plan is not yet published, avoid committing specific competition dates to clients until Da Nang’s city government announces the schedule.
7. Vu Lan (Wandering Souls Day)
- When: 15th day of the 7th lunar month. Mid-August 2027 (derived)
- Where: Pagodas nationwide, with atmospheric ceremonies in Hue
- Best for: Spiritual and cultural travelers
- Planning note: Not a public holiday. Temple etiquette matters
The Vietnamese believe the spirits of ancestors return on this day. Families offer prayers, flowers and fruit at graves, and burn paper offerings for use in the afterlife.
8. Mid-Autumn Festival (Tet Trung Thu)
- When: Wednesday 15 September 2027
- Where: Nationwide. Hanoi’s Old Quarter and Hoi An are popular
- Best for: Families, lantern walks, mooncake tasting
- Planning note: Not a public holiday, but it is a strong storytelling moment for family groups
Mid-Autumn is a popular observance rather than a public holiday, with events and decorations across the country. It falls on the full moon of the 8th lunar month, so it shifts each year. Treat any source listing 27 September 2027 as an error.
9. Oóc Om Bóc and the Ngo Boat Race
- When: Night of the 14th day of the 10th lunar month. In November 2027 (derived; confirm locally)
- Where: Soc Trang Province, Mekong Delta
- Best for: Khmer culture, boat racing, a Mekong extension
- Planning note: Regional event, so check transport and accommodation locally
This Khmer festival thanks the moon god for the harvest. Soc Trang is where Khmer culture is everywhere, and the festival offers a glimpse into Vietnam’s diversity.
10. Hoi An Full-Moon Lantern Festival
- When: The 14th day of every lunar month
- Where: Hoi An Ancient Town, Quang Nam
- Best for: Evening programs, photography, lantern floating on the river
- Planning note: Monthly event with varying crowd sizes
The festival is a monthly event on the 14th day of the lunar month, strongest on the August full moon that coincides with Mid-Autumn. Because it repeats every month, it is the easiest festival to add to a Central Vietnam itinerary without a once-a-year date risk.
What Holidays and Festivals Mean for Travel Partners
Supplier closures and service levels
Tet is the only holiday that genuinely reshapes the supply side. Ground operators have long warned that restaurants, shops and several sites close, so itineraries and restaurants may be adjusted. Hotels in major tourist areas generally keep operating, but family-run restaurants, guides, drivers and small suppliers may take leave. Because private employers can choose among three holiday patterns, closure dates will differ supplier by supplier, so confirm each one rather than assuming a single Tet window.
Pricing and surcharges
Vietnamese tour companies reported that Tet 2026 tour prices ran about 5% to 15% above regular rates, mainly because of airfare, restaurant and hotel costs. These figures describe the domestic tour market, not inbound net rates, so treat them as a direction rather than a quote. A common practice among ground operators is to build guide and transport surcharges into Tet-period rates. Ask for holiday supplements in writing at the quotation stage.
Domestic transport
Millions of Vietnamese travel at the same time. For the 2026 Tet period, Vietnam Airlines added more than 60,000 seats, about 300 extra flights, between 9 February and 3 March. Even with extra capacity, domestic flights, trains and long-distance buses are tight around the holiday blocks. Sequence internal flights carefully for departures that touch 30 April to 3 May or 2 to 5 September.
Avoid, shift or feature
There are three sensible approaches for each date:
- Avoid: for large first-time groups, incentive programs with fixed agendas or tightly timed MICE events, steer departures away from Tet and from 30 April to 3 May.
- Shift: move arrivals a few days either side of the holiday block when the client has flexibility.
- Feature: build the festival into the program on purpose. Hoi An lantern nights, a Hung Kings day trip from Hanoi or a Mid-Autumn evening in the Old Quarter work well for cultural and family segments.
Contracting and communication
Put holiday dates into quotations and contracts explicitly, including which supplier closures or supplements apply. Tell clients early that some experiences may run in modified form during Tet. State the date source (official schedule or lunar conversion) so that your own clients can double check.
How to Confirm Dates Before You Quote
Use three layers. For public holidays, rely on announcements from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Vietnamese government portal. For lunar festivals, convert the lunar date to Gregorian and cross check with the provincial authority hosting the event, since local committees publish the final schedules. For events with floating formats, such as Hue Festival and the Da Nang fireworks event, wait for the organizer’s confirmed announcement. Lunar dates cannot be projected from last year’s pattern: Tet moved from 17 February in 2026 to 6 February in 2027.
FAQ
How many days off is Tet 2027 in Vietnam?
Public sector workers have seven consecutive days off, from Thursday 4 to Wednesday 10 February 2027. Five of those are statutory holidays and two are compensatory days. Private companies can choose among three arrangements with five statutory days in total, so actual closures vary by business.
When is Tet in 2027?
The first day of Tet is Saturday 6 February 2027, the start of the Year of the Goat. Tet Eve is Friday 5 February.
Is the Mid-Autumn Festival a public holiday in Vietnam?
No. It is a widely celebrated cultural festival, but offices and banks stay open. In 2027 it falls on Wednesday 15 September.
Is Vietnam Culture Day a public holiday?
Yes. It was added to the list of paid public holidays by a National Assembly resolution effective 1 July 2026, and it falls on 24 November. In 2027 it is a one-day holiday on Wednesday.
Which dates should travel partners avoid for large groups?
Tet, the 30 April to 3 May break and the 2 to 5 September National Day break create the heaviest pressure on suppliers and domestic transport. The decision depends on the program: some segments choose to feature the festival rather than avoid it.
Do tours operate during Tet?
Many do, but with changes. Hotels in tourist areas generally stay open, while restaurants, shops and some attractions may close. Itineraries may need adjusting to the opening hours of each supplier.
Are the Hue Festival and Da Nang Fireworks Festival dates for 2027 confirmed?
Not in the sources available in November 2026. The 2026 fireworks festival ran from 30 May to 11 July. Wait for official announcements before fixing dates.
Why do festival dates change every year?
Most traditional festivals follow the lunar calendar, which does not align with the Gregorian calendar. The same lunar date lands on a different Gregorian date each year.
Plan Holiday-Period Departures with Viet Dan Travel DMC
Holiday blocks, supplier closures and festival timing can decide whether a Vietnam program runs smoothly. Viet Dan Travel DMC supports travel agents, tour operators and MICE planners with ground services across Vietnam, from our offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and a representative office in Mysore, India. Contact our team to check holiday-period availability, discuss Tet and festival supplements, and build itineraries that avoid or feature the dates that matter for your clients.
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