| Independence Day Ngày Quốc khánh | |
|---|---|
 President Ho Chi Minh reads theDeclaration of independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam atBa Đình Square, 2 September 1945. | |
| Official name | Ngày Quốc khánh |
| Observed by | Vietnam |
| Type | National |
| Significance | DeclaringVietnamese Independence fromFrench and Japanese Colonizations |
| Date | 2 September |
| Next time | 2 September 2026 (2026-09-02) |
| Frequency | Annual |
Independence Day (Vietnamese:Ngày Quốc khánh) is anational holiday inVietnam observed on 2 September, commemorating PresidentHồ Chí Minh reading theDeclaration of Independence of Vietnam atBa Đình Square inHanoi on 2 September 1945. It is the country'sNational Day.[1]
During World War II, the Japaneseoccupied Vietnam and allowed the French to remain and exert some influence. Atthe war's end in August 1945, apower vacuum was created in Vietnam. Capitalizing on this, theViệt Minh launched the "August Revolution" across the country to seize government offices. EmperorBảo Đạiabdicated on 25 August 1945, ending theNguyễn dynasty. On 2 September 1945, atBa Đình Square,Hanoi,Ho Chi Minh, leader of theViet Minh, declared Vietnam's independence under the new name of theDemocratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN) in a speech that invoked theUnited States Declaration of Independence and theFrench Revolution'sDeclaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen.[2]
The day was deliberately chosen, as it was also the dayJapan formally signed the document to officially surrender to the Allies, ending World War II.[3]
Leading up to, and then following, the end of the Vietnam War, theCommunist Party of Vietnam (thereafter the government of a united Vietnam) established a unified list of national holidays. These new holidays were to include theInternational Labour Day on 1 May, the anniversary of theAugust Revolution on 19 August, Viet Nam's National Day on 2 September, and Ho Chi Minh's birthday on 19 May.[4] The lunar new year,Tết Nguyên Đán and the mid-autumn moon,Tết Trung Thu, continued to be observed as traditionally.[citation needed] 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.[5]
The list of fullpublic holidays in Vietnam has been revised since 2007 but National Day, 2 September, remains a full public and bank holiday.[6][7] By 2019, the holiday was lengthened by one day by adding one day immediately before or after 2 September.[8]
