Are Public Holidays a Good Time to Travel in Vietnam?

You found cheap flights and a free week, then noticed the dates land on a Vietnamese public holiday. Now you wonder whether you will get festive streets or sold-out buses and tripled hotel prices. In 2026, the answer depends on which holiday you pick, where you go, and how early you book.

The 2026 Holiday Calendar: Which Dates Actually Matter

Vietnam has only a handful of public holidays, but some become long breaks when the government shifts working days. These are the windows that affect travellers in 2026:

• New Year’s Day (1 January): A long weekend, but a minor travel event. Expect busy resorts in Da Nang, Da Lat and Phu Quoc, not nationwide chaos.
• Tet, Lunar New Year (17 February 2026, Year of the Horse): The big one. The official break runs about nine days, roughly 14 to 22 February. Check the final government announcement, because swapped working days can shift the exact dates.
• Hung Kings Commemoration (26 April, observed Monday 27 April): A three-day weekend with temple crowds in Phu Tho.
• Reunification Day and Labour Day (30 April and 1 May): A four-day weekend, Thursday to Sunday. This is the peak domestic beach holiday of the year.
• National Day (2 September): Usually 1 to 2 September, sometimes stretched by a swapped working day.

Mid-Autumn Festival (25 September 2026) is not a day off, but cities feel it anyway. Children carry lanterns, and mooncake stalls appear weeks beforehand. It is a cultural highlight without the transport crush.

Tet: The One Holiday That Changes Everything

Tet is not a normal holiday for travellers. It is a family reunion, and about a quarter of Vietnam’s urban population travels to their home village in the days beforehand. In the week before Tet, motorbikes roll out of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City loaded with suitcases, rice cookers and potted kumquat trees. Then the cities go quiet.

On Tet eve and the first three days, Hanoi’s Old Quarter can feel almost empty. Shutters are down and the usual motorbike hum fades to a whisper. The air smells of incense, wet pavement and peach blossom. Hanoi turns pink and white with blossoms, while Ho Chi Minh City fills its flower streets with giant horse displays for the Year of the Horse.

This is genuinely beautiful, but it comes with trade-offs:

• Many family-run restaurants, shops, and small hotels close for 3 to 7 days.
• Tours and local guides are limited, and some attractions shorten their hours.
• Intercity transport is packed in the days before and after.



• Tourist hubs such as Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc stay open and get busy with domestic holidaymakers.

Tet is worth it if you want culture and quiet streets, and if you are flexible and have booked everything in advance. It is a poor choice if you want a packed sightseeing schedule or cheap spontaneous travel.

Domestic Holidays: Why Beaches and Mountains Get Packed

Outside Tet, the holiday that matters most is the 30 April to 1 May break. It falls in the dry, hot season, so everyone heads for the coast at once. Beaches in Vung Tau, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Da Nang and Quy Nhon fill up. On the sand you will hear karaoke, vendors and families calling to each other from the water.

Hill destinations get the overflow. Da Lat, Sapa and Moc Chau see weekend-style crowds all four days, with long queues at viewpoints and slow traffic on mountain roads. Ha Long Bay cruises also sell out early, and popular cabins vanish weeks ahead.

Big cities behave differently. On non-Tet holidays, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City empty out a little, traffic improves, and museums and parks are lively with local families. If your plan is city-based, a holiday can be easier than a normal weekend.

The Hung Kings holiday adds something special. Pilgrims climb to the temple complex at Phu Tho with incense and offerings, which is meaningful if you are interested in ancestor worship traditions. Expect heavy crowds, though, and plan for the heat.

Getting Around: Transport and Booking Reality in 2026

Transport is where holidays hurt most. Domestic flights, sleeper buses and the Reunification Express train all sell out. Train tickets for peak days often disappear within hours of release, and flights on key routes like Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City fill weeks ahead.

Some things have improved since 2024:

• Expressways: More of the north-south expressway is open, and many long drives are faster. Holiday traffic and toll queues still cause jams, especially at exits to beach towns.



• Metro: Ho Chi Minh City’s Metro Line 1 opened in late 2024, and Hanoi’s elevated lines keep expanding. They help you avoid taxi surge pricing and road congestion on busy days.
• Airports: Long Thanh International Airport near Ho Chi Minh City is moving toward operation, which should ease pressure over time. Do not count on it for a 2026 holiday trip until airlines confirm routes.

Ride-hailing apps like Grab apply surge pricing around bus stations, airports and tourist areas during holiday peaks. Wait ten minutes or walk two blocks before ordering, and prices often drop.

2026 Budget Reality: What Holidays Do to Prices

Holiday pricing is not subtle. Based on typical 2026 patterns, here is what to expect for a night’s accommodation. Rates are approximate, with 1 USD at about 26,000 VND.

• Budget (hostels and basic guesthouses): Normally 250,000–450,000 VND ($10–17) per night. Holidays: 400,000–800,000 VND ($15–31).
• Mid-range (3-star hotels): Normally 800,000–1,600,000 VND ($31–62). Holidays: 1,400,000–3,000,000 VND ($54–115).
• Comfortable (4–5 star and beach resorts): Normally 2,500,000–5,000,000 VND ($96–192). Holidays: 4,500,000–10,000,000 VND ($173–385), often with minimum stays.

Transport also rises. A Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City flight that costs 1,200,000–2,000,000 VND ($46–77) on a normal day can reach 3,000,000–6,000,000 VND ($115–230) at Tet peak. Sleeper buses and trains often add 20 to 50 percent. Some tour operators add a holiday surcharge, and some restaurants offer limited set menus at higher prices during Tet.

The cheapest approach is to avoid the first and last days of any break. Arrive a day early, leave a day late, or travel mid-break when most locals are already at their destination.

Who Should Travel on a Holiday and Who Should Skip It

A holiday trip works well if you:

• Want to see Vietnamese culture at its most vivid, from family altars and flower markets to temple processions.
• Can book early and accept higher prices.
• Plan to stay in one or two places rather than move daily.
• Choose a big city, where holiday crowds are thinner than at the coast.

Skip holiday dates if you:

• Have a tight budget or like to book a day or two ahead.
• Want to cross the country by public transport.
• Plan a beach trip on 30 April to 1 May, unless you reserve early.
• Rely on small local businesses, since many close during Tet.

If you are unsure, aim for the shoulder days: one week before or after a major break. You get similar weather, a festive mood left over from the holiday, and normal prices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tet a good time to visit Vietnam?

It can be, if you want culture and quiet cities and you book early. Flower displays, family rituals and decorated streets are memorable. But many businesses close for several days, transport is crowded and prices rise. Beach towns and big hotels stay open, so plan around those.

What is the worst time for travel in Vietnam because of holidays?

The days immediately before and after Tet are the hardest, followed by the 30 April to 1 May break. Flights, buses and trains sell out, and hotels charge peak rates. Beach destinations are especially crowded during these periods, so book early or choose another week.

Do tourist attractions close on public holidays in Vietnam?

Most major attractions stay open on public holidays, often with extra visitors. During Tet, many museums, markets and smaller sites close for one to five days or shorten their hours. Check opening times on official pages or by phone before you go.

How far ahead should I book for a Vietnam holiday trip?

For Tet, book flights, trains and hotels two to three months ahead. For 30 April to 1 May, aim for six to eight weeks. For smaller holidays, three to four weeks usually works. Popular beach hotels and Ha Long Bay cruises fill earlier than city hotels.

Are prices higher during Vietnamese public holidays?

Yes. Hotels often charge 30 to 100 percent more, and flights can double or triple on peak days. Buses, trains and ride-hailing also rise. Prices are lowest in cities with fewer visitors and when you travel a day or two outside the peak dates.

📷 Featured image by Juup Schram on Unsplash.