National Day (Vietnam)

History

During World War II, the Japanese occupied Vietnam and allowed the French to remain and exert some influence. At the war's end in August 1945, a power vacuum was created in Vietnam. Capitalizing on this, the Việt Minh launched the "August Revolution" across the country to seize government offices. Emperor Bảo Đại abdicated on 25 August 1945, ending the Nguyễn dynasty. On 2 September 1945, at Ba Đình Square, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, leader of the Viet Minh, declared Vietnam's independence under the new name of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN) in a speech that invoked the United States Declaration of Independence and the French Revolution's Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen.

The day was deliberately chosen, as it was also the day Japan formally signed the document to officially surrender to the Allies, ending World War II.

Establishment

Leading up to, and then following, the end of the Vietnam War, the Communist Party of Vietnam (thereafter the government of a united Vietnam) established a unified list of national holidays. These new holidays were to include the International Labour Day on 1 May, the anniversary of the August Revolution on 19 August, Viet Nam's National Day on 2 September, and Ho Chi Minh's birthday on 19 May. The lunar new year, Tết Nguyên Đán and the mid-autumn moon, Tết Trung Thu, continued to be observed as traditionally. In 2025, Vietnam held the largest military parade in history to celebrate the 80th anniversary of National Day, on land, in the air and at sea.

The list of full public holidays in Vietnam has been revised since 2007 but National Day, 2 September, remains a full public and bank holiday. By 2019, the holiday was lengthened by one day by adding one day immediately before or after 2 September.

References

References

1. [[Lonely Planet]] ''Southeast Asia'' 2010 Page 927 "Independence Day 2 September; commemorates the proclamation of the Declaration of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam by Ho Chi Minh in 1954"
2. '' A brief chronology of Vietnam's history'' Anh Thư Hà, Hò̂ng Đức Trà̂n – 2000 "On September 2, 1954, President Hổ Chí Minh made public the Declaration of Independence at Ba Đình Square (Hanoi), thus founding the Democratic Republic of Vietnam with Hanoi as its capital."
3. (9 February 2010). "Vietnam declares its independence from France | September 2, 1945".
4. Shaun Kingsley Malarney ''Ritual and revolution in Viet Nam'' 1993 "To realize this goal, the Party created a series of new national holidays in which villagers would come together and celebrate the great achievements of the people, the nation and socialism. These new holidays were to include May Day, the anniversary of the August Revolution on the 19th of August, Viet Nam's National Day on 2 September, and Ho Chi Minn's birthday on the 19th of May. Two traditional Vietnamese celebrations of the lunar New Year (Tet Nguyen Dan) and the mid-autumn celebration for children (Tet Trung Thu) were also to remain as national holidays."
5. (2 September 2025). "[Trực tiếp]: Lễ diễu binh, diễu hành kỷ niệm 80 năm Quốc khánh 2/9/2025". Tạp chí Kinh tế Việt Nam - VnEconomy.
6. '' Vietnam'' – Page 107 Nick Ray, Peter Dragicevich, Regis St. Louis – 2007 "Vietnam's National Day (2 September) Celebrated with a rally and fireworks at Ba Dinh Sq, in front of Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum."
7. ''Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos'' Jock O'Tailan, Claire Boobbyer, John Colet – 2006 "Following Ho's declaration, 2 September became Vietnam's National Day. Coincidentally, 2 September was also the date on which Ho died in 1969, although his death was not officially announced until 3 September in order not to mar ..."
8. Hương Quỳnh. (20 November 2019). "Bổ sung 1 ngày nghỉ lễ dịp Quốc khánh 2/9". Vietnamnet.