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The shape of the school year in Hanoi depends on whether you choose an international or a Vietnamese state school, but both stop for Tet, the most important holiday in the Vietnamese calendar. Our Hanoi city guide covers the sector; this page sets out the 2026 dates, drawn from the published calendars of major Hanoi international schools and the national public-holiday schedule.
Hanoi public holidays 2026
All Hanoi schools close on Vietnamese national public holidays. The list is short, but the Tet cluster in February is long and dominates the first half of the year.
| Holiday | Date 2026 |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday 1 January |
| Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday | Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 February (official 5 days plus weekends) |
| Hung Kings' Commemoration Day | Sunday 26 April (observed Monday 27 April) |
| Reunification Day | Thursday 30 April |
| International Labour Day | Friday 1 May |
| National Day | Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 September |
The Tet holiday is officially five working days but, with adjacent weekends, the public schedule for 2026 runs across roughly 14 to 22 February. The first day of the Year of the Horse is Tuesday 17 February. International schools usually close for a fortnight around this period, which is the busiest domestic travel window of the year.
Term dates 2025-26 and 2026-27
Vietnamese state schools run a two-semester year from early September to late May, with the Tet break in February. International schools, which most expatriate families in Hanoi choose, follow the northern-hemisphere pattern below, based on the published 2025-26 calendars of leading Hanoi international schools.
| Period (typical international school) | Dates |
|---|---|
| Term 1 begins | Thursday 14 August 2025 |
| Term 1 half-term break | mid-to-late October 2025 |
| Winter break | mid-December 2025 to early January 2026 |
| Tet (Lunar New Year) break | around 9 to 24 February 2026 (about two weeks) |
| Term 3 ends / summer break | mid-June 2026 |
| Vietnamese state schools: year ends | late May 2026 |
Tet break placement varies between schools: some close for two full weeks from 9 February, others for a shorter block from mid-February. The international school rows are indicative of the common shape; confirm against your school's published calendar before booking. Vietnamese state-school dates follow the Ministry of Education framework.
Building your Hanoi school shortlist?
Hanoi's international schools span British, American and IB campuses across Tay Ho and the western districts. Our school finder filters by curriculum, fee tier and location.
International school term dates
International schools dominate the expatriate market in Hanoi and run an August to June northern-hemisphere year. British schools keep a three-term shape with an October half-term; American and IB schools run two semesters. The defining shared feature in Hanoi, and the biggest single break of the year for international schools, is the Tet fortnight in February, which is far longer than the equivalent winter half-term in other regions. The summer break runs from mid-June into August, while Vietnamese state schools finish earlier in late May and reopen in early September. If curriculum choice is open, our curriculum guide explains how each system shapes the year.
Planning the year
Two practical notes for Hanoi families. First, Tet is the single busiest travel period in Vietnam, with domestic flights, trains and resorts booked out weeks ahead and many businesses closed; plan any trip well in advance and expect quieter services in the city itself. Second, international school fees are usually billed by term or semester, so set your Hanoi international school fees against the calendar. For the national context, see our Vietnam country guide, and start a shortlist from the Hanoi city hub.
Common questions
When do schools break up for summer in Hanoi? International schools in Hanoi break for summer in mid-June 2026 and return in mid-August. Vietnamese state schools finish earlier, in late May, and reopen in early September.
How long is the summer holiday in Hanoi? International schools take about eight to nine weeks from mid-June. Vietnamese state schools have a longer summer of around three months, from late May to early September.
When does the 2026 school year start in Hanoi? International schools start the 2026-27 year in mid-August 2026. Vietnamese state schools begin in early September, around National Day on 1 to 2 September.
When is the Tet school break in Hanoi 2026? Most Hanoi international schools close for about two weeks around 9 to 24 February 2026. The Lunar New Year itself falls on 17 February, the first day of the Year of the Horse.
Do Hanoi schools follow the Vietnamese or an international calendar? Both exist. Vietnamese state schools run September to May, while international schools run August to June. Both pause for Tet, but their summer breaks fall at different times.