Manufacturing in Vietnam: How Will Tet Holidays Affect Production?

Tet is Vietnam’s most important holiday, and every year it brings a nationwide production slowdown that affects factories, shipping, and supply chains. For brands manufacturing promotional products in Vietnam—especially those planning campaigns for Q1 and Q2—the Tet holiday directly impacts development timelines, sample approvals, and mass production.

At ODM, we help global brands prepare for seasonal factory closures across Asia. Here’s a clear guide to understanding how Tet affects manufacturing, what has changed for 2026, and how you should plan your promotional product timelines.

Our offices in China and Vietnam will be off from Februaty 15th to February 22, 2026 in line with the Chinese New Year celebration.

Vietnam Holidays for 2026. Please note that these dates are for ODM Group companies in the region.

For this period, 2 key questions need to be asked.

1. How long will factories be closed?
2. How will the factory closures affect me?

Manufacturing in Vietnam

In this blog, we will answer the 2 key questions and give you a better insight into the situation.

Tet 2026 Factory Closure Dates

Official Tet 2026: February 17–21, 2026
However, factories rarely follow the official dates. Most will:

• Stop accepting new PO approvals by early February

• Close operations between February 12–25

• Operate with limited staff 5–7 days before Tet

• Return to full capacity only in early March

Many workers return late after the holidays, making the first two weeks after Tet slower than usual.

If you need promotional products for Q2 launches, sampling, and approvals must begin before December.

How will this affect manufacturing in Vietnam?

1. Product Development & Sampling

Factories rush to complete as many pending samples as possible before closing. If your artwork, dielines, or Pantone confirmations arrive late, sampling may be pushed to after Tet—automatically delaying launches by 4–6 weeks.

Recommended: Finalize sample requests before mid-December 2025.

Manufacturing in Vietnam

2. Mass Production

The final weeks before Tet are high-pressure. Suppliers prioritize clients with confirmed POs and deposits. Any changes made in January (material changes, color adjustments, packaging edits) usually cannot be accommodated.

Recommended: Confirm PO and pay deposits before January 2026.

3. Shipping & Logistics

Ports are congested in the days before Tet. Trucking companies also shut down early, causing:

• Higher freight costs

• Fewer vessel options

• Slow customs processing

Shipments may sit until after the holidays if not booked early.

4. Factory Workforce Return

Workforce return rates vary across regions. It may take 1–2 weeks for staff to return and reach full capacity again.

Production usually normalizes by early March.

Comparison with Chinese factories

Compared to Chinese factories, Vietnamese factories have a shorter break during the New Year Period. This is because, prior to the Chinese New Year break, the Chinese celebrate a traditional holiday called the Laba holiday. Therefore, Chinese factories can close for up to a month, which is significantly longer than that of Vietnamese factories.

Therefore, ordering your products from Vietnamese factories might be better for your company during the new year period. The ODM Group has recently opened an office in Ho Chi Minh City, so do contact us about working with Vietnamese suppliers during this period. Alternatively, you can also read through some blogs on Vietnamese factories, which could pique your interest.

Checklist: How Brands Should Plan for Tet 2026

✔ Approve artwork and dielines before mid-December
✔ Finalize samples by early January
✔ Place POs and secure deposits before Tet rush
✔ Avoid late-stage design changes in January
✔ Pre-book QC schedules
✔ Reserve logistics bookings early
✔ Allow realistic buffer time for Q2 campaigns

Following this sequence helps prevent unexpected delays and protects your launch timeline.

Make sure to stay up to date on the upcoming holidays and events…

This 2026 APAC holiday guide helps business owners, marketers, and procurement teams plan campaigns more effectively, avoiding delays, unexpected rush fees, and missed launch dates.

Here’s a quick walk-through of what you need to know about the Chinese New Year 2026 and how you can prepare your business for it.

As the Lunar New Year 2026 approaches, just three months away, businesses across the globe must prepare for significant factory closures in China.

Conclusion: Plan Ahead and Avoid Production Delays

Tet is a predictable, but often underestimated, manufacturing bottleneck. For brands relying on Vietnam factories to produce promotional products, proper planning ensures you don’t lose momentum during the first quarter.

ODM supports businesses throughout the entire process, from concept to production and delivery. If you’re preparing for seasonal campaigns in early 2026, now is the best time to lock in your timeline.

Explore our wide range of promotional products for 2026 campaigns.

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