HÀ NỘI — State employees and workers will get seven days off next year, from January 26 to February 1, for Tết (Lunar New Year), the Ministry of Home Affairs said.

The ministry sent a document yesterday, in response to the proposal sent two weeks ago by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) with two options for the Tết holiday.

Under the labour code, employees are given five days off for Vietnamese New Year. Since 2010, the government has allowed employees to exchange working days and holidays so that holidays can be longer and continuous.

The first and the second days of Tết will fall on January 28 and 29, which are Saturday and Sunday, so workers will get two more days off (January 31 and February 1) as compensation, the Home Affairs Ministry confirmed.

The MoLISA’s second option had proposed that the Tết holiday be for 10 days. However, many thought it would be too long a break.

The Home Affairs Ministry has also said that people will get three days off to celebrate New Year 2017, from Saturday, December 31, 2016 to Monday, January 2, 2017.

Other important holidays for 2017 have also been announced. This includes the Hùng King anniversary holiday from April 6 to 9, though to compensate for the day off on Friday, April 7, employees have to work on Saturday, April 15.

To celebrate South Liberation Day (April 30) and International Labour Day (May 1), people will enjoy four days off, from April 29 to May 2.

Later, people will get a three-day vacation from September 2 to 4 for National Independence Day.

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc will approve the list of national holidays based on the  proposals acceptable to the two ministries. — VNS