Vietnam Teachers’ Day (Nov 20): Gifts & Etiquette (2026)

10/11/2026

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Teachers’ Day in Vietnam falls on November 20. The question most parents face is what to give, and how far to go. The source lists flowers, handmade cards and small gifts as typical expressions of thanks. No official source gives a price range, so this article does not quote any figures. Before offering cash or expensive items, check the school’s policy first.

vietnam school building courtyard flame trees

What Is Teachers’ Day in Vietnam?

It is a uniquely Vietnamese holiday on which people thank their teachers every year on November 20. World Teachers’ Day is October 5, but Vietnam celebrates on a different date.

Here is the timeline of how the date came about.

1076: The Ly dynasty founded the Quoc Tu Giam, the first national university.
1949: The World Federation of Teachers’ Unions (FISE) put forward a 15-chapter charter.
November 20, 1958: The International Charter of Teachers day was celebrated for the first time in northern Vietnam.
September 28, 1982: The Council of Ministers officially set November 20 as Vietnam’s Teachers’ Day.

Behind the holiday is the principle of “ton su trong dao” (tôn sư trọng đạo), which means respecting teachers and valuing morality. The idea dates back to the Ly and Tran dynasties (11th to 14th centuries).

In the past, the order was Quan–Su–Phu (ruler, teacher, father), which placed the teacher above one’s own parents.

The language reflects this respect. Teachers are called “nguoi lai do” (người lái đò, the boatman) and “nguoi uom mam xanh” (người ươm mầm xanh, the one who nurtures green shoots). There is also a saying: “Mot chu cung la thay, nua chu cung la thay” (Một chữ cũng là thầy, nửa chữ cũng là thầy), meaning that anyone who taught you even one word, or half a word, is your teacher.

Schools hold events to honor teachers’ efforts. The source lists videos, art performances, handmade cards and visits to former teachers’ homes as ways to say thanks. Some schools even have teachers sing and dance.

The day is more than an event. It is a day to put gratitude into a visible form, and keeping that in mind makes choosing a gift easier.

If you are a foreign parent, start with any notice from the school. If none has arrived, ask the homeroom teacher or the administration office early.

What Do Parents Usually Give?

The source lists flowers, handmade cards and small gifts as expressions of gratitude.

Here are the easiest options to prepare, in order.

Flowers: Flowers are named as a Teachers’ Day gift.
Handmade cards: A card made by the child is also listed as one way to show thanks.
Small gifts: The source mentions “small gifts”.
Videos and performances: Events in which children take part are also expressions of thanks.
Visiting a former teacher at home: This is listed as another way to say thank you.

bouquet of colorful flowers on wooden table

The table below summarizes the key point for each type of gift.

Gift	In the source	Key point
Flowers	Mentioned	Think about carrying them and arrange them by the day before
Handmade card	Mentioned	Let the child write it in their own words
Small gift	Mentioned	Follow your class’s approach
Cash / gift vouchers	Not mentioned	Ask the school first
Expensive items	Not mentioned	Ask the school first

“Mentioned” means the item appears in the source.

No official source on amounts has been found, so this article does not give any specific figures. If you want a sense of what is normal, the most reliable route is to ask other parents in the same class or the school itself.

Three criteria help you choose.

Check first whether the school or class is organizing a collective gift.
If you give individually, stay within a range that does not stand out from other families.
Put more weight on the message your child writes than on the item itself.

The third point fits the spirit of the day, because it is a day for expressing thanks.

Is It OK to Give Cash or Gift Vouchers?

No official source we found settles this question. The conclusion is to ask the school first.

Policies may differ from school to school. To see whether any notice has been issued, check the school’s announcements or the public information from the Ministry of Education and Training.

Follow these steps.

Reread the notice from the school.
Ask the homeroom teacher or the administration office what range of gifts is acceptable.
Ask other parents in the class what usually happens.
If the class is pooling contributions, follow that method.

When you ask, be specific about these points.

Whether to give individually or as a class
Whether items such as flowers and cards are enough
Whether to hand it over on the day itself, or whether the days before or after are fine

Until you get an answer, sticking to flowers and a handmade card is the safe choice. Both are listed in the source as examples of showing thanks.

If cash is confirmed to be acceptable, pay attention to the denominations of the dong. There are 9 commonly used banknotes, and the highest is 500,000 VND. As of 2022, no coins are in use. To avoid mixing up denominations, check the number and value of the notes twice before handing them over.

A teacher’s gift is also different in nature from a thank-you for a service. For a scenario-by-scenario view, see Do You Need to Tip in Vietnam? A Guide by Situation (2026). A gift to a teacher expresses gratitude and is not payment, so keep that distinction in mind.

Should You Also Give Gifts to Colleagues or Language Teachers?

The customs confirmed in the source center on school teachers. For language teachers or tutors, decide after asking about their policy.

It helps to divide the possible recipients into four groups.

Homeroom and subject teachers at a local school: The school’s policy comes first.
Former teachers who helped you in the past: The custom of visiting them at home is described.
Language or hobby teachers: Treatment differs depending on whether you have a private arrangement or attend a center.
Work colleagues: Unless they are teachers, the source gives no reason to give them anything on this day.

If you do plan to give something to a language teacher, say so beforehand. Asking “I would like to prepare a small token of thanks” makes it easy for them to decline politely. If the teacher does not accept gifts, do not force it, and give a card only.

If a colleague brings up their child’s school, sharing the date and the background is enough. Whether to bring the gift-giving custom into your workplace depends on the atmosphere there.

To get a feel for costs, Thailand vs. Vietnam Cost of Living: Which Is Cheaper? is a useful reference. Still, the value of a gift is not decided by prices alone, so put the school’s and the teacher’s views first.

Will Florists and Restaurants Be Crowded? Where Should You Dine?

We could not find a source showing how crowded things get. The safe approach is to arrange both flowers and a table by the day before.

If you look for flowers on the morning of the day, your choices may be limited. This is a guess, but picking them up the day before keeps things calm.

If you plan a meal, choose by conditions rather than by a specific restaurant. This article does not use restaurants from our database, so no individual names are listed.

Location: Pick somewhere easy to reach from the school or your home.
Opening hours: Some places close between lunch and dinner, so check in advance.
Reservations: Secure a table early, as soon as the headcount is settled.
Dietary restrictions: Ask in advance about ingredients that the children or the teacher avoid.

restaurant dinner table vietnamese dishes

Prepare a backup plan in case the weather turns bad. What to Do on a Rainy Day in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi: Indoor Spots and Ideas offers ideas for spending time indoors. For thinking about clothing and what to carry, What to Wear in Vietnam During the Rainy Season: July and August Clothing and Packing (2026) is also helpful.

The approach to the meal changes depending on whether you invite the teacher or celebrate with family only. If you invite the teacher, their schedule comes first. If it is family only, building the meal around the dishes your child chooses gives them a chance to think about gratitude.

What If Family Is Visiting from Abroad?

If relatives are coming for a short stay, it helps to decide on mobile data ahead of time. That way, you are less likely to lose contact when arranging school events or meeting up for a meal. An eSIM can be set up without swapping a physical SIM card.

Saily eSIM is one option that visitors can prepare before they fly in. The referral code is DOMUEH5022. Check how to enter it and what the benefit includes on the purchase screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Teachers’ Day in Vietnam?

It is on November 20 every year. The Council of Ministers officially set the date on September 28, 1982.

Are schools closed on Teachers’ Day?

We could not find a source showing whether schools close. Check the school’s annual calendar or its notices in advance.

What should I give?

Flowers, handmade cards and small gifts are listed. Decide on the value by following the school’s or the class’s approach.

Should my child write the handmade card?

A handmade card is listed in the source as an example of thanks. Having your child write it in their own words helps the gratitude come across.

Can I give cash?

We found no source that says whether this is acceptable. Ask the school first and follow the policy they give you.

Do people visit former teachers?

The custom of visiting a former teacher at home is described. Get in touch before you visit.

Summary

Teachers’ Day in Vietnam is November 20, a day for thanking teachers. The examples in the source are flowers, handmade cards and small gifts. For cash or expensive items, check the school’s policy first. For colleagues or language teachers, ask about their views before deciding. Arranging flowers and restaurant tables by the day before gives you peace of mind.

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