Vietnamese public and bilingual schools usually run from early September to late May, with a long summer break from June to August and a week or more off around Tet, the Lunar New Year, in late January or February. Most international schools follow a northern-hemisphere calendar from August to June with breaks in October, December, around Tet and in spring. For most families, the easiest moment to move is in July or early August, a few weeks before the school year starts, but mid-year moves are common and workable with planning.
The dates themselves are published each year by the education authorities and by each school, so this guide does not list exact days. Instead it explains the rhythm of the year, the holidays that shape it, how the weather fits into it, and the pros and cons of arriving at different points. If you are planning a move, ask the schools you are considering for their calendar for the coming year as soon as it is available.
How the Vietnamese school year is set
Each year the Ministry of Education and Training issues a framework for the school calendar, and the provincial authorities set the detailed dates for their schools within it. The framework typically has pupils return in late August or early September, with a nationwide opening ceremony on 5 September, the first semester running to around January, the second semester to around late May, and the national upper secondary graduation examination held in late June.
Within that frame, provinces decide when Tet holidays fall, how long they last, and the exact end of each semester. Because Tet follows the lunar calendar, its date moves each year between late January and mid-February, and the school break moves with it. The length of the Tet break for schools has varied between provinces and years, often around a week to two weeks.
Public holidays also close schools: New Year's Day, the Hung Kings Commemoration Day on the tenth day of the third lunar month, Reunification Day on 30 April, International Labour Day on 1 May, and National Day on 2 September. Around 30 April and 1 May, the holidays sometimes combine into a longer break.
International and Vietnamese calendars compared
The pattern below is typical. Individual schools publish their own dates, and international schools based on a southern-hemisphere system may differ.
| Period | Most international schools | Vietnamese public and bilingual schools |
|---|---|---|
| Start of year | Early to mid August | Late August to early September |
| Autumn break | Often a week in October | Usually none |
| Year-end break | Two to three weeks around Christmas and New Year | New Year's Day only |
| Tet | One to two weeks | One to two weeks, set by the province |
| Spring break | Often a week around March or April | Usually none, apart from public holidays |
| End of year | Mid to late June | Late May |
The difference matters for families with children in two different school types, and for parents whose own work follows a different calendar. A family with one child at an international school and another at a Vietnamese school will find the breaks only partly overlap.
It also matters for travel. Flights home around Christmas and Tet are in high demand, and Tet itself is the most crowded period of the year for domestic travel within Vietnam. Families who want to see grandparents usually book months ahead.
How the weather fits the school year
Vietnam's climate differs sharply between north, centre and south, and this shapes school life. In Ho Chi Minh City and the south, the rainy season usually runs from around May to November, with short heavy downpours in the afternoon that can flood streets during the school run. The dry season from December to April is hot, and the hottest weeks come just before the rains. School sports days and trips are often planned around this.
In Hanoi and the north, there are four seasons. Summer is hot and humid, autumn is pleasant, and winter from about December to February can be cold and damp, with indoor heating rare in homes and schools. Children need warm clothes for winter mornings. Air quality in Hanoi is often at its worst in the cooler months, which some international schools address with indoor air filtering and rules for outdoor play.
Central Vietnam, including Da Nang and Hoi An, has its heaviest rains and highest risk of storms and flooding in the autumn months, roughly September to December. Schools can close for a day or more during severe storms. If you are moving to the centre in autumn, ask the school how it communicates closures.
Moving in summer: the easiest start
Why it works. Children join a new class at the same time as everyone else, friendships form from the first week, and teachers plan for newcomers. You also have a few weeks to settle in, find a home and get over jet lag before school begins.
What to watch. The weeks before the school year are peak relocation season. School offices are busy, rentals near popular schools are in demand, and visa processing can be slower. Start applications early and book temporary accommodation near the school.
For Vietnamese schools. Admissions periods for public schools usually take place in the early summer. A family arriving in late August may find the formal admissions round already over and will need to approach the school directly.
Heat and rain. July and August are hot and, in the south and north, often rainy. Plan house viewings and errands for mornings and evenings, and give children time indoors to recover from the heat.
Moving mid-year: what to expect
Many families move in January, when a parent's new contract starts, or at another point dictated by work. International schools take mid-year arrivals routinely and often run orientation days or buddy programmes for them. The child joins a class whose friendships are already formed, which can feel daunting, but children in international schools are used to classmates arriving and leaving.
In Vietnamese public and bilingual schools, joining mid-year is less common. The school will want records from the previous school and may assess the child before placing them. Arriving just after Tet, at the start of the second semester's main teaching period, can be easier than arriving in the middle of a semester's examinations.
Whenever you arrive, avoid the week of Tet itself for the move if you can. Offices close, landlords and agents travel to their home towns, movers are hard to find, and many shops and restaurants shut for several days. Arriving a couple of weeks after Tet is usually much smoother.
A mid-year move also has an advantage that families rarely expect: the school knows exactly which class has space, the teacher can introduce the newcomer personally, and the child has a clear set of classmates to get to know rather than a whole new year group at once. Ask the school whether a short visit before the first full day is possible, and whether a classmate can be paired with your child for the first weeks.
Holidays and the rhythm of family life
School breaks in Vietnam are a chance to explore the country, and many expatriate families plan beach trips, visits to the mountains of the north, or time in Da Lat when the lowland heat is strong. Domestic travel peaks during Tet and during the national holidays at the end of April and early September, so book early or travel just outside those dates.
Summer is long for Vietnamese school pupils, nearly three months, and many children attend summer classes, sports camps or language courses. International schools and private centres run holiday programmes too. If both parents work, plan childcare for the summer well in advance, because programmes fill up.
Tet itself is worth experiencing with children at least once. Families gather, homes are decorated with peach blossom in the north and yellow apricot blossom in the south, and children receive lucky money in red envelopes. Cities become unusually quiet for a few days as people travel to their home provinces, which many expatriate families find surprisingly peaceful.
Planning a move date: a short checklist
Start with the school calendars of the two or three schools you are considering, then add your employer's required start date, the visa timeline, and the dates when your current school year at home ends. Where these conflict, decide which matters most for each child. A teenager in an exam year may need to finish the year at home before moving, while a younger child may cope well with a mid-year change.
Next, check the season in the city you are moving to and the Tet date for the coming year. Avoid arriving in the week of Tet or at the height of the storm season in central Vietnam if you have the choice.
Finally, leave a buffer. Visa approvals, legalisation of documents and shipping can all take longer than expected. Aiming to arrive two to three weeks before your child's first day gives the whole family time to settle before school life begins.
Families with children in two systems, or two countries
Some families end up with children on different calendars: one at an international school, a younger one in a Vietnamese kindergarten, or an older one at boarding school or university abroad. The breaks rarely line up. Map every child's holidays on one shared family plan at the start of the year and look for the overlaps, which are usually around Tet, part of the summer and sometimes the late April holidays.
Children studying abroad who come back to Vietnam for holidays also need valid entry documents each time. A child who is listed as a dependant on a parent's residence card may still need to check that the card remains valid for their return, and an adult child who has left school may no longer qualify as a dependant at all. Check this before booking flights, not at the airport.
If grandparents visit during the long summer break, remember that they need their own visas or visa exemption, and that the heat of June and July can be hard on older visitors. Many families plan such visits for the cooler months in the south or the autumn in the north instead.
Câu hỏi thường gặp
When does the school year start in Vietnam?
Vietnamese public and bilingual schools usually begin in late August or early September, with an opening ceremony on 5 September. Most international schools start earlier, in early to mid August. Exact dates are set each year by the provincial authorities and by individual schools.
How long is the Tet holiday for schools?
It varies by province and year, but schools typically close for about one to two weeks around the Lunar New Year. Because Tet follows the lunar calendar, it falls between late January and mid-February. International schools set their own Tet breaks, usually of similar length.
Is it better to move before the school year or mid-year?
Arriving shortly before the school year starts is usually easiest for children, because they join a new class with everyone else. Mid-year moves are common in international schools and work well with good preparation, but in Vietnamese schools joining mid-year can be more challenging.
Do Vietnamese schools have a Christmas break?
Vietnamese public schools usually do not close for Christmas, though 1 January is a public holiday. International schools generally take two to three weeks off over Christmas and New Year, which is one of the main differences between the two calendars.
What happens to school during typhoons or floods?
Local authorities can order schools to close during severe storms or flooding, especially in central Vietnam during the autumn. Schools notify parents through their usual channels. Keep the school's messaging group and app notifications switched on during the storm season.
Are there summer programmes for expat children?
Yes. International schools, private centres and sports clubs in the main cities run summer camps and holiday courses, from sports and swimming to arts and languages. Places can fill quickly, so it is wise to book in spring for the following summer.