Thanksgiving in Vietnam 2026: Do Vietnamese Celebrate It?

Thanksgiving in Vietnam is an occasion you can celebrate with a restaurant meal, a hotel buffet or dinner with friends, although it is not a Vietnamese public holiday. American Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, 26 November 2026. Local events run on different dates, so check the dinner you want before planning your evening around it.

☑ Flying in for the holiday? Vietnam-visa.com can help check and submit your eVisa application and arrange airport arrival assistance. Message us with your nationality and arrival date so we can explain the options for your trip.

Planning the celebration yourself? This guide explains the dates, advertised dinner options, what to confirm when booking and the entry checks to make before flying.

Do Vietnamese people celebrate Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is not a traditional national holiday in Vietnam. You can still join celebrations organized by international restaurants, hotels and business communities, including events that welcome Vietnamese and overseas guests.

The holiday is not included in the statutory holiday list in Article 112 of Vietnam’s Labour Code. If you work in Vietnam and want time off, check your employer’s arrangements.

Choose a family meal, a buffet with friends or a community event. You can also host a gathering and invite guests to bring a dish.

When is American Thanksgiving in 2026?

American Thanksgiving is Thursday, 26 November 2026, while Canadian Thanksgiving falls earlier, on Monday, 12 October 2026.

Best places to celebrate Thanksgiving in Vietnam

The best choice depends on your dates, location and whether you want a family meal, a hotel buffet or a community evening. Our shortlist below draws on published 2026 offers in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and the Hoi An coastal area. Contact the linked venue or organizer to confirm availability.

Listings checked on 12 November 2026. All serving times below are local Vietnam time. Prices marked “++” are before the venue’s additional charges.

Ho Chi Minh City

For a restaurant celebration, Eddie’s Thanksgiving announcement lists its feast for 26–28 November, with dine-in and delivery options. It also advertises a vegetarian feast, making it an option to compare if your group has different meal preferences. Reservations and pre-orders are required.

For a community evening, AmCham’s Giving Thanks Dinner is scheduled at Le Méridien Saigon on 19 November. The program includes a Thanksgiving-inspired meal and recognition of member companies’ community contributions. Check registration, ticket availability and guest arrangements with AmCham.

Hanoi

If you want to dine on Thanksgiving Thursday, Sheraton Hanoi West’s festive offer lists a buffet at The Market on 26 November. Contact the hotel to confirm the serving time and your reservation.

For the following evening, InterContinental Hanoi Westlake’s Gather & Gratitude buffet is on 27 November. Its announcement includes roast turkey, lamb and a portion of lobster, with children’s rates shown in the table. Check the conditions if you plan to use a dining-membership discount.

Da Nang and the Hoi An coast

If you are staying in Da Nang, ask your hotel about local Thanksgiving menus and check the serving date. A dinner advertised for Hoi An or the surrounding coast should be planned with its actual location and return transport in mind.

One published option is Bliss Hoi An’s Thanksgiving set menu, offered at Binh Minh Terrace on 26 November. Check the resort’s location before reserving; it should not be treated as a restaurant in central Da Nang or Hoi An’s Old Town.

Where can you have Thanksgiving dinner in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang?

Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have advertised dinner options, but you should confirm the details before booking. For Da Nang, contact hotel restaurants about their current plans rather than relying on an older Thanksgiving announcement.

The Hanoi figure is an advertised base price, not the final bill. Use the checklist below to confirm the additions before paying.

For transport planning, our airport guides explain the journeys from Tan Son Nhat to central Ho Chi Minh City, Noi Bai to Hanoi and Da Nang airport to the city. Leave room between landing, reaching your hotel and getting to dinner.

How do you book a Thanksgiving dinner?

Contact your chosen venue as soon as you’ve decided, and request a written booking confirmation. Confirm the menu, total price and dietary needs before paying a deposit.

Use these six checks when you make your reservation:

• Headcount and children’s prices: Give the number of adults and children, including children’s ages, so the venue can quote the right rates.
• Taxes, service charges and extras: Ask what “++” adds and request the final total in writing. Check whether drinks, pie or other extras cost more.
• Dietary needs: Explain allergies and ask whether the vegetarian dishes suit everyone in your group. A buffet label alone won’t answer specific dietary questions.
• Turkey inclusion: Check whether turkey is included in your chosen package, available separately or subject to a pre-order.
• Dine-in or a meal at home: Ask whether takeaway or delivery is available. Confirm the ordering deadline, collection arrangements and delivery area before placing an order.
• Discounts and cancellations: The Hanoi offer advertises dining-membership discounts for its buffet, subject to the hotel’s conditions. Check eligibility, exclusions, deposit requirements and cancellation terms before paying.

Keep your confirmation and payment receipt together. If your group changes, ask the venue to update the reservation rather than assuming extra seats will be available.

What food will you find at a Thanksgiving dinner in Vietnam?

There isn’t one set Vietnamese Thanksgiving menu; each venue chooses its own dishes. If stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes or pumpkin pie are essential to your celebration, ask about them specifically before booking. Don’t assume they’re included just because an event is advertised as a holiday buffet.

For a vegetarian meal, check the ingredients in sauces, stock and side dishes as well as the main course. If you’re cooking at home, check ingredient availability before planning the menu, then choose substitutions your guests would enjoy.

What to prepare for Thanksgiving Day in Vietnam

Prepare your dinner booking, travel documents if you are flying in, transport and a way to contact your group. Confirm the date, full price and meal inclusions in writing before paying a deposit. This matters when one venue offers a set meal, another a buffet and another a ticketed community event.

Your dinner reservation

Use this checklist when contacting the venue:

• Choose the correct date and sitting. Give the date you want, your preferred time and the number of adults and children, including children’s ages.
• Request the final bill. Ask what taxes and service charges “++” adds, whether drinks are included and whether children have a different rate.
• Check the dishes you want. Confirm turkey, sides and dessert rather than assuming every Thanksgiving menu includes the same food.
• Explain dietary needs. Tell the venue about allergies and ask about ingredients, preparation and suitable alternatives. A vegetarian label does not establish that a dish is vegan or suitable for a particular allergy.
• Check payment and cancellation terms. Confirm the deposit, balance deadline, refund conditions and what happens if your headcount changes.
• Keep the confirmation. Save the venue’s address, reservation details and contact number together with your receipt.

Tip: If you arrive in Vietnam that day, leave time between landing and dinner for immigration, baggage collection, transport and hotel check-in. A restaurant reservation should not depend on your flight arriving exactly on schedule.

Entry documents if you are flying in

Check your passport and the visa or visa exemption that applies to your nationality and circumstances before departure. Attending a Thanksgiving dinner does not create a separate entry category.

For travelers who need a visa, Vietnam’s official Immigration Department guidance describes eVisas valid for up to 90 days, with single or multiple entry. You can apply through the official portal at evisa.gov.vn or use private application assistance.

We recommend preparing a passport valid for at least six months from your intended entry date. If it has less time remaining, renew it before applying and use the new passport details to reduce later changes.

Use our eVisa application guide for the full document checklist and procedure. Apply early enough to deal with corrections; submitting an application does not guarantee approval before your flight.

For arrival planning, our guides explain the journeys from Tan Son Nhat airport to central Ho Chi Minh City and Noi Bai airport to Hanoi. If you are traveling with children or would like help at the airport, check the available arrival-assistance options for your flight.

Clothes transport and phone access

Check the venue’s dress code, particularly for a chamber dinner or hotel event. For a private gathering, ask the host whether you should bring a dish or a small gift.

Save your reservation, hotel address and return-transport details on your phone. If you are relying on mobile data, check that your device supports your chosen SIM or eSIM before buying it. Keep an offline copy of essential addresses and contact numbers as well.

Travel services and current promotion

You can arrange the arrival services you need separately from your restaurant booking. Choose the support that solves a practical part of your trip:

VinaPhone eSIM promotion

Save up to 55% on selected VinaPhone eSIM plans, with prices starting from US$4.90. The offer is advertised on our Vietnam eSIM page, checked on 12 November 2026.

The 7-day plan with 2GB per day is listed at US$4.90, reduced from US$10.90. Choose the duration that covers your stay; other plans have different prices.

Before buying, confirm that your phone is unlocked and eSIM-compatible. Check the selected plan’s validity, activation instructions and current price. The promotion applies to selected VinaPhone eSIM plans.

☑ View the VinaPhone eSIM offer and choose a plan for your trip, or message our team if you need help checking the options.

✈️ Flying soon? Message us your flight date on WhatsApp or email [email protected] so we can explain the available urgent visa options and which seasonal offers fit your trip. Our team offers 24/7 support.

Plan your dinner and arrival

Choose a dinner that fits your dates, reserve directly with the venue and keep its written confirmation. Before you fly, make sure your entry documents cover your trip and allow enough time to reach your hotel before the celebration.

☎ Need help with the travel arrangements? Message Vietnam-visa.com on WhatsApp or email [email protected] with your nationality, arrival date and airport. Our team can explain the relevant visa and airport-service options.