Tet 2027 and Chinese New Year Shipping Delays from Vietnam
Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is the biggest holiday of the year in Vietnam, and it falls at the same time as Chinese New Year. Factories close, workers travel home, and shipping across Asia gets busier just before the holiday. Here is what the official calendar and the shipping lines say, and how to plan a Vietnam-to-U.S. shipment around it.
Tet 2027 dates
| What | Date |
|---|---|
| Official public-sector holiday | Thursday, Feb 4 to Wednesday, Feb 10, 2027 (7 days) |
| Lunar New Year (1st day of the 1st lunar month) | Saturday, Feb 6, 2027 |
| Public sector back at work | Thursday, Feb 11, 2027 |
| Private companies and factories | Each employer sets its own schedule |
The seven-day holiday covers the 28th day of the last lunar month through the 5th day of the first lunar month (Ho Chi Minh City Press Center). That schedule is for civil servants and public employees. Private employers “shall decide the break schedule based on actual circumstances” and must give at least the legal minimum number of days off (Vietnam Government News, Oct 2, 2026).
That last point matters most to importers. Your factory may close earlier or reopen later than the government calendar. Ask your supplier for their last production day, last pickup date and reopening date, in writing.
What happens to shipping around Lunar New Year
Hapag-Lloyd describes the pattern in its Chinese New Year planning guide:
- Production slows in the weeks before the holiday as workers travel home.
- Many businesses ship early, so demand surges. That can cause a shortage of empty containers and delays.
- Higher demand can lead to congestion at ports and slower trucking and cargo handling.
- Staff shortages can slow customs procedures in Asia.
- Freight rates usually peak during the holiday and the weeks leading up to it.
Shipping lines also cut sailings over the holiday. For Lunar New Year 2026, Maersk announced seven blank (cancelled) sailings in its Transpacific network, four of them into the U.S. West Coast. It advised customers to “plan for fewer sailings and tighter space through the holiday window and confirm cutoffs earlier where possible” (Maersk North America market update, Feb 6, 2026). Carriers usually publish their own holiday advisories in the weeks before Tet. Check them for 2027 before you book.
How to plan a shipment around Tet
- Get your supplier’s closure dates first. Use their dates, not the public calendar.
- Work backward from the last production day. Leave room for factory pickup, export paperwork and the vessel cutoff.
- Book space early. Ahead of Lunar New Year 2026, Maersk said pre-holiday demand was tightening LCL space and advised booking “earlier than usual, ideally two weeks in advance” (Maersk, Feb 6, 2026).
- Send your ISF data before the factory closes. CBP requires the ISF no later than 24 hours before cargo is loaded on the vessel (CBP), and that deadline does not move for the holiday.
- Have a backup. If goods miss the last pre-Tet vessel, compare waiting for the first sailing after the holiday with moving urgent stock by air freight to LAX.
- Plan for a slow restart. Factories and trucking may take time to return to full speed after the holiday.
Peak season: the other busy window
Tet is not the only crunch. Transpacific demand also rises in the summer peak season, when importers ship ahead of the U.S. holiday selling season. In 2026, Maersk added a seasonal Transpacific service “to meet our customers’ demand during the peak season”. It connected Vung Tau in southern Vietnam to the U.S. West Coast, with the first departure on June 9, 2026, and was expected to run to the end of Q3 (Maersk, May 11, 2026).
The same planning rules apply: confirm production dates, book early and keep your ISF data ready. Rates and space can change quickly in both windows, so get a current quote rather than relying on last year.
Where TradeLane Co. fits
TradeLane Co. coordinates shipments through our logistics partners. Tell us your factory location, cargo, volume and your supplier’s closure dates. We will lay out the booking options before and after Tet. See how it works, or request a quote.
Related: Shipping from Vietnam hub · How to import from Vietnam · Ho Chi Minh City to Los Angeles · Haiphong to Los Angeles · LCL to Los Angeles · FCL to Long Beach · Air freight to LAX · Shipping Cost Guide · Get a Quote
Common Questions
When is Tet 2027?
The official holiday for Vietnam’s public sector runs from Thursday, February 4 to Wednesday, February 10, 2027. Lunar New Year’s Day is Saturday, February 6 (Ho Chi Minh City Press Center).
Do all factories in Vietnam close on the same days?
No. Private employers set their own Tet break, as long as they give at least the legal minimum days off (Vietnam Government News). Ask your supplier for their exact dates.
Will there be fewer sailings around Lunar New Year?
Usually. For 2026, Maersk announced seven blank sailings in its Transpacific network over the holiday (Maersk). Check each carrier’s 2027 advisory once it is published.
Does the ISF deadline change during Tet?
No. CBP requires the ISF no later than 24 hours before the cargo is loaded on the vessel (CBP). Get the data from your supplier before their factory closes.
Is Tet the same as Chinese New Year?
Both celebrate the Lunar New Year. Because factories in Vietnam and China close around the same time, shipping across the region gets busy all at once.
Planning around Tet? Get a quote with your supplier’s dates.
Sources: Ho Chi Minh City Press Center (Tet 2027 schedule); Vietnam Government News, Oct 2, 2026; Maersk North America market update, Feb 6, 2026; Maersk seasonal Transpacific service, May 11, 2026; Hapag-Lloyd, Chinese New Year planning guide; CBP, ISF timing. Checked Oct 29, 2026. Holiday dates and carrier schedules change; confirm before you book. General information, not legal advice.
