Fireworks light up the sky to celebrate the 2021 New Year in HCMC. Photo by Read/Huu Khoa
We will get a day off on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, for New Year, only to go back to work for one day before taking the weekend off.
New Year’s Day always has a beauty of its own. It is not as bustling as Tet (Lunar New Year), which will be in mid-February, nor is it steeped in traditions, but it marks the start of a new chapter.
It is also a moment when people look back on a year of change and forward to a better one filled with hope, energy and faith. This is the vibe everyone needs, especially amid the many pressures of modern life.
However, the upcoming New Year falls in an awkward situation, with only one day off in the middle of the week, followed by a normal Friday and the weekend.
Holidays that last only 24 hours, especially when they occur midweek, rarely offer any real rest. Those who want to travel cannot make it work; those who stay home feel like they are wasting a holiday; and those who meet up with friends or take their children out feel rushed and frustrated.
That is why I strongly welcomed a recent proposal to let students in Ho Chi Minh City have a four-day break for New Year.
I also believe companies can do the same for working people without disrupting production by letting them take the interrupting Friday off and work the Saturday before that (Dec. 27) instead.
A full four-day break would give people enough time to truly rest, breathe and recharge while also stimulating spending and tourism.
This arrangement will not reduce the total number of working days and likely will not affect business schedules much. But in return, tens of millions of workers would have a more meaningful holiday, the service and tourism sectors would get a boost and society would benefit from a shared festive spirit.
*This opinion was submitted by a reader. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match Read’ viewpoints.
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