Vietnam Stock Market Hours, Holidays & Trading Rules (2026)
Last updated: February 28, 2026 (Originally published: February 27, 2026)
TL;DR: Vietnam’s stock market (HOSE) trades Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM to 2:45 PM Vietnam time (GMT+7). For US investors, that’s 9:00 PM to 2:45 AM Eastern — you can literally trade while America sleeps. The market closes for 9+ holidays per year, including a week-long Tet shutdown. Daily price limits of ±7% on HOSE, T+2 settlement, and 100-share lot sizes are the key rules to know.
One of my favorite things about living in Saigon and investing in Vietnamese stocks is the schedule. The market opens at 9 AM, wraps up by 2:45 PM, and I’ve got the rest of the afternoon free. Compare that to my old life in New York watching the NYSE until 4 PM and then stressing about after-hours moves.
But for American investors doing this from the States, the timing flips — Vietnam trades during your nighttime. This has both advantages and drawbacks, and understanding the full schedule, the holidays, and the trading mechanics will save you from unpleasant surprises.
Trading Hours: The Complete Schedule
Since the KRX system launched in May 2025, HOSE (where all the major stocks trade) follows this daily schedule:
| Session | Vietnam (GMT+7) | US Eastern (EST) | US Pacific (PST) | What Happens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Auction (ATO) | 9:00–9:15 | 9:00–9:15 PM* | 6:00–6:15 PM* | Orders collected, single opening price set |
| Morning Continuous | 9:15–11:30 | 9:15–11:30 PM | 6:15–8:30 PM | Continuous matching — peak liquidity |
| Lunch Break | 11:30–1:00 PM | 11:30 PM–1:00 AM | 8:30–10:00 PM | No trading — market closed |
| Afternoon Continuous | 1:00–2:30 PM | 1:00–2:30 AM | 10:00–11:30 PM | Continuous matching — often quieter |
| Closing Auction (ATC) | 2:30–2:45 PM | 2:30–2:45 AM | 11:30–11:45 PM | Orders collected, single closing price set |
| Put-Through (Negotiated) | 9:00–11:30 & 1:00–3:00 PM | — | — | Off-exchange negotiated trades (block, FOL) |
*Previous day US time. Vietnam is 12 hours ahead of Eastern (EST) / 15 hours ahead of Pacific (PST). During US daylight saving (March–November), it’s 11 hours / 14 hours ahead.
Total active trading time: About 4 hours and 30 minutes per day. Compare that to 6.5 hours for the NYSE. Vietnam’s market is compact, and liquidity is concentrated.
For US-Based Investors: The Night Shift
If you’re trading from the US, Vietnam’s market overlaps with your late evening to early morning. The practical approach most American investors take:
Option A — Set and forget. Place limit orders through your Vietnamese broker’s online platform before bed. Check results in the morning. This works well for longer-term positions where you don’t need to react minute-by-minute.
Option B — Stay up for the open. If you’re on the West Coast, Vietnam’s market opens at 6 PM your time — perfectly tradeable. East Coasters have it tougher at 9 PM, but the morning session runs until 11:30 PM EST, which is doable.
Option C — Don’t trade directly. Buy a Vietnam ETF on the NYSE instead. VNM, VNAM, and KPHO all trade during US market hours in USD. You lose some control but gain convenience. After the FTSE upgrade in September 2026, you’ll also get automatic Vietnam exposure through broad emerging market ETFs like Vanguard’s VWO.
HNX and UPCoM Hours
The Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) and UPCoM follow a nearly identical schedule to HOSE: opening auction 9:00–9:15, continuous trading 9:15–11:30 and 1:00–2:30, closing auction 2:30–2:45. The main practical difference is that HNX handles smaller-cap stocks and will eventually transition its equity listings to HOSE.
2026 Market Holidays: When Vietnam’s Market Is Closed
Vietnam observes 11 official public holidays, and the stock market closes for all of them. Some holidays create extended closures that can catch foreign investors off guard — especially Tet, which shuts the market for over a week.
| Holiday | 2026 Dates | Market Closed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Jan 1 (Thu) | Jan 1–2 | Often extended with bridge day |
| Tet (Lunar New Year) | Feb 14–22 | ~7 trading days | Year of the Horse. Longest closure of the year |
| Hung Kings’ Day | Apr 26 (Sun) | Apr 27 (Mon) | Compensatory day off — 3-day weekend |
| Reunification Day | Apr 30 (Thu) | Apr 30 – May 1 | 4-day break with weekend |
| Labor Day | May 1 (Fri) | ||
| National Day | Sep 1–2 (Tue–Wed) | Aug 29 – Sep 2 | 5-day break. Right before FTSE upgrade effective date (Sep 21) |
| Vietnam Culture Day (NEW) | Nov 24 (Tue) | Nov 24 | New holiday added in 2026 |
The Tet Problem
Let me be blunt: Tet is the single most disruptive event on Vietnam’s market calendar. In 2026, the market was closed from approximately February 13 through February 22 — nearly two full weeks without a single trade.
During this time, global markets keep moving. If something significant happens — a US rate decision, geopolitical event, earnings from Samsung (Vietnam’s largest foreign employer) — the VN-Index can gap significantly on reopening day. I’ve seen 3-5% gaps in both directions after Tet.
My approach: I reduce position sizes going into Tet and avoid placing any large new bets in the two weeks before the break. The gap risk just isn’t worth it. I also make sure to check FOL availability before Tet, because post-holiday reopening often brings a rush of foreign buying activity.
Key Trading Rules Every Foreign Investor Must Know
1. Daily Price Limits
Stocks on HOSE can only move ±7% from the previous day’s closing price. HNX allows ±10%, and UPCoM allows ±15%. Newly listed stocks or those returning from suspension get wider bands (±20% on HOSE).
When a stock hits ceiling (7% up) or floor (7% down), trading effectively freezes in that direction. Buy orders stack with no sellers (at ceiling) or sell orders stack with no buyers (at floor). This can persist for multiple days during strong market moves.
2. Settlement: T+2
When you buy a stock, settlement completes two business days later (T+2). This means the stock enters your account on day T+2, and you can sell it from T+2 onward. You can’t do same-day round trips under the standard settlement — though the KRX system has the technical capability for T+0, full implementation is still pending regulatory approval.
When you sell, the cash is available after T+2 as well. Plan your capital accordingly — if you’re rotating between positions, you need to account for the settlement gap.
3. Lot Size: 100 Shares
The standard lot on HOSE is 100 shares. Under the KRX system, you can now place odd-lot orders (fewer than 100 shares) throughout the trading day using limit orders. Previously, odd-lot trading was restricted to narrow windows.
For expensive stocks like VIC (Vingroup, trading around 173,000 VND per share), one standard lot costs roughly 17.3 million VND (~$675). This isn’t a huge barrier, but it’s worth knowing when sizing positions.
4. Order Types
| Order Type | When Available | How It Works |
|---|---|---|
| LO (Limit) | All sessions | Set your price. Matched if market reaches it. |
| ATO | Opening auction only | Matches at the opening price, regardless of price. |
| ATC | Closing auction only | Matches at the closing price. Used by institutions. |
| MTL (Market to Limit) | Continuous sessions | Like a market order, but unmatched portion converts to limit at last fill price. Prevents bad fills. |
Practical tip: I use LO (limit) orders for 95% of my trades. ATO is useful when I want guaranteed execution on liquid blue chips at the open. I almost never use ATC — that’s more of an institutional tool for benchmark pricing.
5. Tick Sizes
Vietnam uses different tick sizes (minimum price increments) based on price ranges on HOSE:
| Stock Price Range | Tick Size (HOSE) |
|---|---|
| Under 10,000 VND | 10 VND |
| 10,000 – 49,950 VND | 50 VND |
| 50,000 VND and above | 100 VND |
This means if VCB (Vietcombank) is trading at 57,200 VND, the next possible price up is 57,300 VND and the next down is 57,100 VND. You can’t place an order at 57,250.
6. Trading Costs
The costs of executing a trade in Vietnam, all-in:
| Cost | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Broker Commission | 0.15–0.25% | Per side. Some brokers (TCBS) offer 0% for online trades |
| Securities Selling Tax | 0.1% | On total sale value (not profit). Sell-side only. |
| Dividend Withholding Tax | 5% | Withheld at source on cash dividends |
| FX Spread | ~0.1–0.3% | When converting USD → VND and back |
All-in round trip (buy + sell) costs roughly 0.4–0.7% depending on your broker and commission rate. That’s comparable to or cheaper than most emerging markets. The 0.1% securities selling tax is the one to remember — you pay it even if you’re selling at a loss. For a detailed broker comparison with specific fee structures, see my best brokers for foreigners guide. For the complete cost breakdown including FX drag and dividend withholding, see my yield analysis.
7. No Short Selling (Yet)
Vietnam currently does not allow short selling for retail investors. The KRX system has the technical capability, and the government’s Market Upgrading Project targets regulated short selling between 2026 and 2028. For now, the only way to bet on downside is through VN30 futures on the derivatives market — which requires a separate account and has its own set of rules.
8. Foreign Investor Requirements
To trade directly on HOSE, foreign investors need a Securities Trading Code (STC) issued by the Vietnam Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation (VSDC). Your broker handles this when you open an account. You’ll also need a local bank account in VND for settlement, and your FOL availability is checked in real-time with every order.
Liquidity Patterns: When to Trade
Not all minutes are created equal. After years of watching the tape, here’s when liquidity concentrates:
9:15–10:00 AM (Morning rush): Highest volume of the day. Market digests overnight news from the US and global markets. Most institutional orders execute here. If you want fills on liquid stocks, this is your window.
10:00–11:30 AM (Mid-morning): Volume fades but still active. Good time for limit orders on less liquid mid-caps.
1:00–2:00 PM (Afternoon): Noticeably quieter. Some traders use this for accumulating positions without moving the price.
2:30–2:45 PM (Closing auction): A brief spike in activity as the closing price is set. This is where index-tracking funds and institutional rebalancing happens.
My personal routine: I check pre-market sentiment (global markets, VND/USD, US futures) around 8:30 AM Vietnam time. I place any orders during the first 30 minutes of the morning session. Then I check results once more after the closing auction. Total time: about 45 minutes per day for portfolio management.
Upcoming Changes to Watch
Vietnam’s trading schedule and rules are evolving fast. Key changes on the horizon:
Extended trading hours: The State Securities Commission is considering eliminating the lunch break or extending the afternoon session. This would align Vietnam more closely with regional markets like Thailand and Indonesia that trade continuously.
T+0 same-day trading: The KRX system supports it. Regulatory rollout is expected between 2026 and 2028. This would be a massive change for day traders and short-term investors.
Short selling: Covered short selling is on the 2026–2028 roadmap. When implemented, it will introduce a completely new dynamic to the market and potentially reduce volatility over time.
Central Counterparty Clearing (CCP): Expected Q1 2027. This will remove prefunding requirements for foreign investors, making it much easier for institutional money to flow in. Directly relevant to the FTSE upgrade and the eventual MSCI upgrade path.
The Bottom Line
Vietnam’s stock market runs a tight, compact schedule — 4.5 hours of active trading, Monday through Friday, with a handful of extended holiday closures (especially Tet). For American investors, the overnight timing takes adjustment, but the mechanics are straightforward once you learn them.
The key rules to internalize: ±7% daily price limits, T+2 settlement, 100-share lots, limit orders as your default, and always check FOL before buying. Everything else is execution and practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the Vietnam stock market open and close?
Vietnam’s main exchange (HOSE) trades Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:45 PM Vietnam time (GMT+7), with a lunch break from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. For US investors, that translates to 9:00 PM to 2:45 AM Eastern Time (or 6:00 PM to 11:45 PM Pacific). Total active trading time is about 4.5 hours per day. The schedule includes an opening auction (9:00-9:15), morning continuous trading (9:15-11:30), afternoon continuous trading (1:00-2:30), and closing auction (2:30-2:45). During US daylight saving time (March-November), subtract one hour from all Eastern times.
When is the Vietnam stock market closed in 2026?
Vietnam’s market closes for 11 official public holidays in 2026. The longest closure is Tet (Lunar New Year, Year of the Horse), which shut the market for approximately 7 trading days around February 14-22. Other significant closures include: New Year’s Day (Jan 1-2), Hung Kings’ Day (Apr 27), Reunification Day and Labor Day (Apr 30-May 1, creating a 4-day break), National Day (Aug 29-Sep 2, a 5-day break right before the September 21 FTSE upgrade effective date), and the new Vietnam Culture Day (Nov 24). Always verify holiday schedules with your broker, as compensatory days and bridge holidays can shift exact market closure dates.
Can Americans trade Vietnam stocks at night?
Yes — Vietnam trades during American nighttime hours (9 PM to 2:45 AM Eastern), which is actually convenient for many investors. Three common approaches: place limit orders through your Vietnamese broker’s platform before bed and check results in the morning (“set and forget”), stay up for Vietnam’s morning session which runs until 11:30 PM Eastern (doable for most people), or skip direct trading entirely and buy Vietnam ETFs (VNM, VNAM, KPHO) during regular US market hours in USD. After September 2026, broad emerging market ETFs like Vanguard’s VWO will include automatic Vietnam exposure at much lower expense ratios.
What is the daily price limit on Vietnam stocks?
HOSE (the main exchange) limits daily price movement to ±7% from the previous closing price. HNX allows ±10% and UPCoM allows ±15%. Newly listed stocks or those returning from suspension get wider bands (±20% on HOSE). When a stock hits its ceiling (7% up) or floor (7% down), trading freezes in that direction — buy orders stack with no sellers at ceiling, or sell orders stack with no buyers at floor. This “lock” effect can persist for multiple consecutive days during strong market moves, which is a key difference from US markets where no such limits exist.
How much does it cost to trade Vietnam stocks?
All-in round trip costs (buy + sell) run approximately 0.4-0.7% of trade value. This includes: broker commission of 0.15-0.25% per side (some brokers like TCBS offer 0% online), a securities selling tax of 0.1% on total sale value (charged even on losing trades), and FX spread of roughly 0.1-0.3% when converting USD to VND. Dividend income is subject to 5% withholding tax at source. These costs are comparable to or cheaper than most emerging markets. Settlement follows T+2 (two business days), and the standard lot size is 100 shares.
Keep Reading
- Understand the index: VN-Index Explained: How Vietnam’s Stock Market Works
- Open your account: How to Open a Vietnam Brokerage Account (Step-by-Step)
- Choose a broker: Best Vietnam Brokers for Foreigners (2026)
- Top stocks: Top 10 Vietnam Blue Chips for 2026
- Ownership rules: Foreign Ownership Limits Explained
- Compare ETFs: VNM vs. FUEVFVND vs. E1VFVN30 — Which Vietnam ETF?
- The catalyst: FTSE Russell Vietnam Upgrade: What It Means
- Start here: Invest in Vietnam: A Complete Guide for Americans
Sources: Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HOSE), Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX), Vietnam Stock Exchange (VNX), Ministry of Home Affairs holiday schedule, TradingHours.com, Vietnam Briefing. Schedule and holiday data as of February 2026.
