Singapore has five long weekends in 2027 without taking any leave, and with three days of leave in May you can turn Hari Raya Haji and Vesak Day into nine days off. Vietnam is two to three and a half hours away, Singapore citizens don't need a visa, and the courts open at 5:30am. Below is every 2027 public holiday, the leave to take, and the place in Vietnam that suits each one best, with the one weekend you should avoid.
The short version
Long weekends with no leave: 1 to 3 January, 6 to 8 February, 26 to 28 March, 15 to 17 May and 7 to 9 August 2027.
Best leave deal: take 18, 19 and 21 May for nine days off, from 15 to 23 May.
Avoid: Chinese New Year. It's also Tet in Vietnam, and much of the country closes.
Flights: about 2h15 to Saigon, 2h45 to Da Nang, 3h25 to Hanoi. Vietnam is one hour behind.
Visa: none for Singapore citizens, for up to 30 days.
What are Singapore's public holidays and long weekends in 2027?
MOM has gazetted eleven public holidays for 2027. Five of them give a long weekend with no leave, and three more become four- or five-day breaks with one or two days of leave. Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji depend on moon sighting, so confirm those two closer to the date. Holidays on a Saturday (6 February, 1 May and 25 December) give most five-day-week employees another day off or a day's pay in lieu, depending on the employer.
| Holiday | Days off | Leave needed | Go to | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Fri 1 to Sun 3 Jan | None | Ho Chi Minh City or Phu Quoc | Dry season in the south |
| Chinese New Year | Sat 6 to Mon 8 Feb | None | Skip, or Hoi An | Same days as Vietnam's Tet; much is closed |
| Hari Raya Puasa | Wed 10 to Sun 14 Mar | 2 days (11, 12 Mar) | Da Nang and Hoi An | Dry, mild, before the crowds |
| Good Friday | Fri 26 to Sun 28 Mar | None (add Mon 29 for 4 days) | Hanoi and Ninh Binh | Mild spring weather in the north |
| Labour Day | Sat 1 May | Depends on your in-lieu day | Hanoi, if anywhere | Vietnam's own holiday week; beaches packed |
| Hari Raya Haji + Vesak | Sat 15 to Sun 23 May | 3 days (18, 19, 21 May) | Hanoi, Ha Long, Hoi An | Nine days: the year's best value |
| National Day | Sat 7 to Mon 9 Aug | None | Da Nang | Dry, sunny, calm sea on the central coast |
| Deepavali | Thu 28 to Sun 31 Oct | 1 day (29 Oct) | Hanoi and Ha Long Bay | Hanoi's best month; avoid the central floods |
| Christmas Day | Sat 25 Dec | Depends on your in-lieu day | Ho Chi Minh City | Dry, festive, lit up for Christmas |
Still have leave for 2026? Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday, so 25 to 27 December 2026 is a long weekend too. Ho Chi Minh City is dry and decked out for Christmas; see Vietnam in December.
How far is Vietnam from Singapore?
Close enough for a Friday-to-Sunday trip: about 2 hours 15 minutes to Ho Chi Minh City, 2 hours 45 minutes to Da Nang and 3 hours 25 minutes to Hanoi, all nonstop. Scoot, Singapore Airlines, VietJet and Vietnam Airlines cover the main routes, and there are also flights to Phu Quoc and, since 2026, to Nha Trang. Vietnam is one hour behind Singapore, so an early flight lands you before most of the day has started.
On a three-day weekend, take the first flight out and the last flight back, carry hand luggage only, and pack your paddle in it. Our flying with a paddle guide covers the 7 kg cabin limits on budget fares. The companion post, Singapore to Vietnam for pickleball, compares flights, courts and costs in Singapore dollars.
Which weekends are best for each part of Vietnam?
Vietnam has three climates, so match the region to the month: the south from December to April, the central coast from February to August, and the north in spring and autumn. Here is each 2027 holiday in turn.
New Year's Day: Friday 1 to Sunday 3 January
Go south. Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc are in the middle of the dry season, warm and sunny. Hanoi is cool, around 15 to 19°C, which some players love, but grey. In Saigon, play at 6am, eat your way through District 1 and District 3, and watch the city celebrate. See things to do in Ho Chi Minh City and where to play in Saigon, or Phu Quoc for the beach.
Chinese New Year: Saturday 6 to Monday 8 February
Our honest advice: don't go to Vietnam this weekend. Chinese New Year 2027 falls on exactly the same days as Tet, Vietnam's Lunar New Year, which starts on Saturday 6 February. Many family restaurants, shops and some clubs close for several days, domestic flights and trains are full, and taxi prices go up. If you must, Hoi An stays the most open. Otherwise go the following weekend, when the country reopens and the spring festivals begin. Our Tet 2027 guide explains what closes and when.
Hari Raya Puasa: Wednesday 10 to Sunday 14 March
Take Thursday 11 and Friday 12 March off and go to Da Nang and Hoi An. March is one of the best months on the central coast: dry, 21 to 28°C, and calm before the Easter crowds. Five days is enough for sunrise games in Da Nang, a beach afternoon, an evening in Hoi An's old town and a day at Ba Na Hills. See one week in Da Nang and Da Nang's courts.
Good Friday: Friday 26 to Sunday 28 March
Go to Hanoi. Late March is mild in the north, 18 to 25°C, perfect for playing outdoors, and Ninh Binh's rice fields are bright green. Add Monday 29 March as leave for a day trip to Ninh Binh or a night on Ha Long Bay. Easter is busy with European and Australian visitors, so book hotels early. Read Vietnam in March and where to play in Hanoi.
Labour Day: Saturday 1 May
Think twice. Vietnam has its own holiday on 30 April and 1 May, and the whole country travels: beach towns fill up and domestic fares jump. If your employer gives you a day in lieu on Friday 30 April, Hanoi is the best choice, since many residents leave the city. Avoid Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc that weekend.
Hari Raya Haji and Vesak Day: Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 May
This is the best leave deal of 2027: take Tuesday 18, Wednesday 19 and Friday 21 May off for nine days in a row. That's enough for two regions. Start in Hanoi with morning games and a night on Ha Long Bay, then fly to Da Nang for the beach and Hoi An. In May the north is hot, around 30 to 34°C, so play by 8am there; the central coast is at its best. Our Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Ha Long trip fits the first half, and our northern Vietnam itinerary has more ideas.
National Day: Saturday 7 to Monday 9 August
Go to Da Nang. August is dry and sunny on the central coast, the sea is calm and warm, and you can play at sunrise and swim by eight. It's also Vietnam's school holidays, so the beaches are lively; book a hotel early. Avoid Phu Quoc, where August is the wet season. Landing in Da Nang, we can take you straight to Hoi An.
Deepavali: Thursday 28 to Sunday 31 October
Take Friday 29 October off and go to Hanoi. October is the north's best month: dry, clear and 22 to 29°C. Play in the mornings, eat in the Old Quarter at night, and add a Ha Long Bay cruise. Stay away from Hoi An and Hue, where October and November are the flood season.
Christmas Day: Saturday 25 December
Christmas Day 2027 falls on a Saturday, so whether it becomes a long weekend depends on your in-lieu day. If it does, Saigon is the place: dry, warm and full of Christmas lights.
What does a three-day pickleball weekend in Vietnam look like?
Fly out on the first morning flight, play two sessions, and fly back on Sunday night. Here is a typical Da Nang weekend.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Day 1 morning | Early flight from Changi, land in Da Nang mid-morning. Check in near My Khe beach, swim, lunch. |
| Day 1 evening | A drive to Hoi An for the old town at dusk and dinner by the river. |
| Day 2 morning | Pickleball from 6am with local players, then breakfast and the beach. |
| Day 2 afternoon | Marble Mountains or Son Tra, a massage, seafood dinner. |
| Day 3 | One more early session, a late breakfast, the afternoon or evening flight home. |
To find a game, read how to get a game in Vietnam. For a weekend in Hoi An itself, see Hoi An's courts, and check the lantern festival dates; none of 2027's long weekends lands on one, but a day of leave can.
Bring your Singapore group
Long weekends are made for club trips. We book the courts, line up local players to match your levels, and sort hotels and transfers, all on your dates. Every trip is private.
See club trips to VietnamTips for a long weekend from Singapore
- Book flights early for holiday weekends. Fares on Changi's Vietnam routes climb fast before Hari Raya, Good Friday and National Day.
- Get an eSIM before you land. See Vietnam eSIM and SIM cards.
- Bring a card and some cash. Grab and most hotels take cards; small courts and food stalls want dong. See money in Vietnam.
- Plan for the heat. It's no worse than Singapore, but outdoor courts have no shade at noon. Play before 9am; see playing in the heat.
- Check the weather by region in our best time to visit Vietnam guide.
Singapore long weekends and Vietnam: FAQ
How many long weekends does Singapore have in 2027?
Five, without taking leave: New Year's Day (Friday 1 January), Chinese New Year (Saturday 6 to Monday 8 February), Good Friday (26 March), Hari Raya Haji (Monday 17 May) and National Day (Monday 9 August). Hari Raya Puasa, Vesak Day and Deepavali can be stretched with one or two days of leave.
What are the Singapore public holidays in 2027?
MOM has gazetted 1 January, 6 and 7 February (with 8 February off in lieu), 10 March, 26 March, 1 May, 17 May, 20 May, 9 August, 28 October and 25 December 2027. The two Hari Raya dates depend on moon sighting.
How long is the flight from Singapore to Vietnam?
About 2 hours 15 minutes to Ho Chi Minh City, 2 hours 45 minutes to Da Nang and 3 hours 25 minutes to Hanoi. Scoot, Singapore Airlines, VietJet and Vietnam Airlines all fly nonstop. Vietnam is one hour behind Singapore.
Do Singaporeans need a visa for Vietnam?
No. Singapore citizens can visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 30 days. Permanent residents and other foreign residents of Singapore follow the rules for their own passport, and many will need an e-visa. See our e-visa guide.
Is Chinese New Year a good time to visit Vietnam?
Not for a short pickleball trip. Chinese New Year 2027 falls on the same days as Tet, Vietnam's Lunar New Year, when many shops, restaurants and clubs close for several days and domestic flights are full. Go a week later instead.
Where in Vietnam is best for a three-day weekend from Singapore?
Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang. Both are under three hours away, have dozens of courts and are easy to get around without a car. Saigon is better for food and city life; Da Nang adds a beach and the old town of Hoi An 40 minutes away.
The bottom line
Singapore's 2027 calendar gives you five long weekends and one nine-day break in May, and Vietnam suits almost all of them. Go south for New Year, to Da Nang for Hari Raya Puasa and National Day, to Hanoi for Good Friday and Deepavali, and take 18, 19 and 21 May off for the trip of the year. Skip Chinese New Year, which is Tet in Vietnam, and the Labour Day weekend. For flights, courts and costs in Singapore dollars, read Singapore to Vietnam for pickleball.
Find a game in Vietnam
Join Pickleball in Vietnam, our free Facebook group. Ask about courts, find a morning game and swap tips with players who live here.
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