What Is Vietnamese Women’s Day? Origins of October 20 and March 8, and How Workplaces Can Show Consideration

Today, the Vietnam Women’s Union continues as one of the country’s largest women’s organizations, with about 13 million members nationwide. On October 20, ceremonies hosted by government agencies and local administrations are held across the country, and women who have excelled in various fields are recognized.

October 20 Customs in Today’s Workplaces

In modern Vietnamese companies, the following responses are common ahead of October 20.

• Male employees buy flowers with their own money (red roses, sunflowers, carnations, and the like) and give them to women colleagues
• The company or managers distribute commemorative gifts, gift certificates, or cash allowances to all women staff
• Lunch or dinner gatherings are held at the workplace
• Messages of thanks are posted on internal SNS or group chats
• Formal internal ceremonies include remarks praising women staff’s contributions

Notably, the flower business expands sharply around this time. In cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, flower shops expand their displays several days before October 20, and office workers carrying bouquets are a common sight in business districts. Demand for flowers concentrates on this day to a degree comparable to the period around Vietnam’s Lunar New Year (Tet).

Why International Women’s Day on March 8 Matters in Vietnam

International Women’s Day on March 8 is observed worldwide, but it is especially valued in Vietnam. As a socialist state, Vietnam has a history of promoting women’s social participation, rights, and gender equality as national policy. For that reason, International Women’s Day is positioned not merely as an international event but as an important day aligned with national ideology.

At the workplace level, as on October 20, there is a custom of giving flowers or sweets. On March 8, however, more companies also hold internal seminars or awareness activities on gender equality and women’s career support. In addition, some state-owned enterprises and government-related organizations grant women employees a half-day off on March 8.

Vietnamese media run special features every year from early March, reporting interviews with women leaders across industries and examples of women’s advancement. Through television, newspapers, and SNS, society as a whole fosters an atmosphere of respect and gratitude toward women, which helps workplace customs take root more naturally.

Vietnamese women staff who have come to Japan have experienced these commemorative days as a matter of course in their home country. When they feel that a Japanese workplace is also mindful of the days, it gives them a sense of reassurance that their home culture is being respected.

Gifts Given on Women’s Day and Workplace Etiquette

Common Types of Gifts and Rough Guidelines

Gifts for Women’s Day in Vietnamese workplaces do not need to be expensive. What matters is the act of giving shape to one’s feelings.

• Flowers: Red roses, sunflowers, and carnations are standard. Options range from a single stem to lavish bouquets
• Sweets and desserts: Chocolate, cake, traditional Vietnamese sweets, and more
• Cosmetics and perfume: Smaller everyday sizes are well received
• Gift cards: From cosmetics brands or supermarkets
• Treating someone to a meal: A casual invitation to lunch or tea is also received positively

A typical price range for personal gifts in Vietnam is about 200,000–500,000 dong (roughly 1,200–3,000 yen). When companies respond as an organization, many distribute practical items such as handkerchiefs, pouches, or towels in bulk, or add a meal subsidy.

Points to Keep in Mind When Giving a Present

Taboos when giving presents to Vietnamese people are explained in detail in a separate article, but for Women’s Day gifts specifically, keeping the following points in mind will help things go smoothly.

• Bright wrapping paper (red, pink, yellow, and the like) is preferred
• Avoid white, black, or gray wrapping paper, which can evoke mourning
• Recipients may not open the gift on the spot (this is a cultural habit, not rudeness)
• Saying “Chúc mừng Ngày Phụ nữ Việt Nam!” (Happy Vietnamese Women’s Day!) is appreciated
• If possible, give flowers on the morning of the day (a way of showing care so they can receive them before they wilt)

Also, communicating with an understanding of Vietnam’s religious context, taboos, and daily customs enables more precise consideration. How gifts are received can differ depending on religious background, so it is important to take individual circumstances into account.

Practical Points Japanese Companies and Accepting Organization Contacts Can Put into Action

Five Steps You Can Start Today

Showing consideration for Vietnamese women staff does not require preparing a large-scale event. Small acts of thoughtfulness add up and nurture staff members’ feeling that “I want to stay at this company.”

1. A simple word of greeting: A single line such as “October 20 is Vietnamese Women’s Day. Thank you as always” is enough. Showing that you understand the culture reliably conveys respect for staff.
2. Prepare a small gift: A single flower or a store-bought box of sweets is enough. Handling it workplace-wide as “for all women staff” avoids special treatment and lets you express thanks naturally. About 500–1,000 yen per person is a realistic guideline.
3. Send a message in the group chat: Simply sending “Chúc mừng Ngày Phụ nữ Việt Nam!” on everyday tools such as LINE or Messenger still makes staff feel that “this company knows our culture.”
4. Flexible consideration for paid leave: If staff want to take paid leave on the day, showing a willingness to adjust shifts where possible builds trust directly. International Women’s Day on March 8 in particular often prompts such requests, because many companies in the home country grant a half-day off.
5. Introduce the culture to Japanese staff: Creating an opportunity to introduce Vietnamese culture at work with Women’s Day as the theme deepens mutual understanding across the workplace. Sharing it together with basic cultural knowledge such as features of Vietnamese names is effective.

How Cultural Consideration Relates to Workplace Retention

According to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan’s Statistics on Foreign Residents as of the End of 2023, Vietnam is the second-largest country of origin for foreign residents in Japan after China, with about 560,000 Vietnamese residents. The share of women among Vietnamese workers in Japan has been rising year by year, and they are an important workforce in service industries such as nursing care, food service, manufacturing, and accommodation.

In the guidelines on improving employment management of foreign workers promoted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as well, understanding cultural backgrounds and improving the workplace environment are explicitly identified as important factors in promoting foreign worker retention. Specific points include consideration for customs and commemorative days of the country of origin, and securing opportunities for communication.

In actual workplaces, too, we often hear that experiences such as “I received flowers from my supervisor on October 20” or “the company values Vietnamese culture” strengthen staff members’ sense of belonging and lead to longer retention. Compared with the cost of hiring international talent, a small investment in the two Women’s Days each year is a highly cost-effective initiative from the standpoint of improving retention.

To Further Strengthen Hiring and Acceptance of Vietnamese Women Staff

Vietnamese women are valued for diligence, strong motivation to learn, and attentive service, and they are active across a wide range of industries including nursing care, food service, manufacturing, and accommodation. At the same time, cases are also reported in which a lack of understanding of cultural background stalls communication or leads to early turnover.

Consideration for Women’s Day is only one example, but the accumulation of trust that “this company respects my culture” becomes the foundation that supports international talent’s long-term success.

YourBright’s foreign talent placement service introduces candidates matched to your industry and conditions from a database of more than 170,000 foreign talent in Japan, including Vietnamese talent. After hiring, native-language support staff assist with daily life and work after joining, with a system designed to minimize cultural friction. It is a fully success-based model with zero initial and operating fees, so inquiries for information gathering only are also welcome.

If you have questions about building a system to accept Vietnamese talent, please feel free to contact us.

Summary

Here are the main points this article covered about Vietnam’s “Women’s Days.”

• Vietnam has two Women’s Days: October 20 (Vietnamese Women’s Day) and March 8 (International Women’s Day)
• October 20 is a national commemorative day marking the founding of the Vietnam Women’s Union (1930); presenting flowers, internal events, and distributing commemorative gifts are common at work
• International Women’s Day on March 8 is also valued in Vietnam, and some companies grant a half-day off or follow gift-giving customs
• Even in Japanese workplaces, cultural consideration can be practiced at low cost through a simple greeting, a small gift of flowers or sweets, or a group-chat message
• Accumulated cultural consideration strengthens international talent’s sense of belonging and supports higher long-term retention
• Knowing finer gift rules such as wrapping colors, taboos, and opening etiquette also makes practice easier

Treating cultural differences not as barriers but as opportunities for mutual understanding is the first step toward workplaces where diverse talent can thrive for the long term. Starting this October 20 and March 8, we encourage you to put these ideas into practice at work.

If you would like to learn more about hiring international talent and building acceptance systems, please contact us by phone (03-6908-6143) or via the web form. Hours are 9:00–18:00.