Public Holidays in Vietnam for 2019
The Vietnam public holiday 2019 is decided by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs of Vietnam (MOLISA). The workers who want to plan in advance and schedule their nine pair holidays every year can now be marked dates in calendars. If a public holiday happens to be a weekend, whether it is Saturday or Sunday, the public holiday will be moved to the following Monday.
Know About the Public Holiday as Entrepreneur
Three important days that are not recognized officially as paid holidays are Christmas, the Anniversary of the Found of the Communist Party, and President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday.
The most important holiday is Tet because it is Vietnam’s New Year; honoring their religious freedom and political independence. The local shops are usually closed during this holiday.
Dates of the Vietnam Public Holiday 2019
| Date/s | Which Day/s | Holiday | Type |
| 1 January | Tuesday | Calendar New Year | National |
| 2 – 10 February | Saturday | Tet (Lunar New Year) | National |
| 13 – 15 April | Saturday | Hung King Festival | National |
| 29 – 30 April | Monday | Reunification Day and International Labor Day | National |
| 1 May | Wednesday | Labor Day | National |
| 31 – Sept. 1 August | Saturday | Independence Day Holiday | Public |
| 2 September | Sunday | Independence Day | Public |
| 23 September | Monday | September Equinox | Season |
| 20 October | Sunday | Women’s Day | Observance |
| 31 October | Thursday | Halloween | Observance |
| 22 December | Sunday | December Solstice | Season |
| 24 December | Tuesday | Christmas Eve | Observance |
| 25 December | Wednesday | Christmas Day | Observance |
| 31 December | Tuesday | New Year’s Eve | Observance |
Due to Vietnam’s dynamic economy, a Vietnam business set-up has become appealing for a lot of foreigners. However, entrepreneurs must be prepared for public holidays because they have nine days in a year.
The labor code applies even to foreign nationals who are working in Vietnam or own a business. The rule is they must comply with the labor laws. The only exception is when an international treaty that Vietnam is a part of says otherwise. If the employment contract was signed with an entity in Vietnam, the laws apply no matter what the parties choose.
Benefits of an Employee Who Work on a Holiday
Employees who work in normal conditions have at least 12 days of paid leave a year, and this includes public holidays. Employees who work in hazardous, heavy, or toxic conditions have at least 14 days of leave a year. The employee must have one yearly leave day every five years of being with the employer.
There are currently ten public holidays and full salary payments from January 1. Another public holiday is added on the day prior to September 2, which is the National Day. If the public holiday is on the weekend, employees must take the next weekday off. Aside from that, expatriate employees are entitled to one day off during the New Year plus another day for his or her country’s national day.
Doing Business in Vietnam
By July 2020, the starting capital must be $130,000 for the founder, and dependents so they can obtain a resident card. The founder will be granted an investor visa, but it does not cover the dependents.
IT Services and Consulting
You can start small-scale market research or consulting business. You can start with as little as $3,000 because you do not require a location. The same is applicable to IT businesses, such as web design.
E-Commerce, Wholesale, and Trading
Retail trading and wholesale are good options for someone who is looking to start a small business. These do not need a location that keeps costs low. The minimum capital ranges from $10,000 to $20,000.
Training Centers and Language Education
A lot of foreign investors open language schools in Vietnam. The required minimum capital for this is about $900 for every student. To have a better idea of the requirement, you must first estimate how many students you want to accommodate. In case the number of students is more than the estimation, you can increase your capital.
You must have a teachers’ room and office for the management. The location must have function rooms and enough teaching space. Each student must have 2.5 sqm of teaching space.
As an entrepreneur, you must observe holidays and the benefits that employees are entitled to have according to the labor laws. You can contact 3E Accounting to help you with the business set-up.
