Vietnamese Teachers' Day, Ngay Nha giao Viet Nam, falls on 20 November every year and is the day when children and parents across the country thank their teachers. At preschool it usually means a short celebration, children bringing flowers or a handmade card, and some families giving a small gift. It is not a public holiday, but it is one of the most widely observed days of the school year, and international parents are often surprised by how much it matters.
This guide explains the respect for teachers behind the day, what usually happens at preschool, what kind of thank-you is appropriate, how class gifts and school policies work, and how to involve your child so the day means something to them. The aim is to help you join in comfortably without overdoing it or feeling you have missed an unwritten rule.
Why teachers hold a special place in Vietnamese culture
Respect for teachers runs deep in Vietnam. A traditional phrase, ton su trong dao, captures the idea of honouring the teacher and valuing learning, and an old saying, khong thay do may lam nen, roughly means that without a teacher you will not succeed in life. Parents of every generation grew up with these sayings, and most still feel them.
Teachers' Day on 20 November has been marked in Vietnam since 1982. Over the years it has grown into a nationwide occasion. Former students visit their old teachers, schools hold ceremonies and performances, and florists in every city have their busiest week of the autumn. For many Vietnamese adults, the day brings back memories of their own teachers and of carrying flowers to school as children.
The relationship between families and teachers in Vietnam has traditionally been close and long-lasting. Parents often address their child's teacher with great courtesy, and many people keep in touch with teachers who taught them decades earlier. International families sometimes find this warmth surprising, especially if they come from a culture where the relationship with school is more formal or more transactional. Understanding it helps explain why 20 November feels so important to the Vietnamese parents in your child's class.
For a preschool child, the meaning is simpler. Teachers' Day is a chance to say thank you to the adults who care for them every day, and to learn a habit of gratitude that Vietnamese families value highly. In a bilingual preschool, where children spend long days with both Vietnamese and foreign teachers, many families see it as a natural moment to show appreciation to the whole team, including assistants, cooks, nurses and the people who keep the school running.
What usually happens at preschool on 20 November
Every school marks the day in its own way, but these are the patterns most families encounter:
- Songs and a small performance. Children may practise a song about teachers for a week or two beforehand and perform it in class or at a short assembly.
- Flowers. Many children bring a single flower or a small bunch for their teacher. In the older preschool classes this is very common.
- Handmade cards and drawings. Classes often make cards together, and some parents help their child make one at home.
- A celebration for staff. The school may hold its own event for teachers, sometimes on the day itself, sometimes on the nearest weekday.
- Parent involvement. Class parent representatives sometimes organise a group gift or a message on behalf of all families.
Because 20 November is not a day off, school runs as usual, often with a slightly festive timetable. If it falls on a weekend, celebrations usually move to the Friday before or the Monday after. Check the parent app or the school notice in early November for the plan.
Expect flower sellers to appear on the pavement outside many schools that morning. If your child wants to bring a flower but you forgot, this is a common last-minute solution, and nobody minds if the flower is simple.
In some schools the older classes take part in a wider celebration: children may draw pictures of their teachers, record a short video message, or hear from staff about what the day means. For two- and three-year-olds, the day is usually much simpler, and teachers will help the youngest children hand over their flowers and cards. Do not worry if your toddler would rather keep the flower than give it away; teachers are used to it and find it endearing.
What kind of thank-you is appropriate?
Families often ask what is too little and what is too much. The answer depends on your school, but these categories help you think it through.
| Gesture | How it is usually received | Points to consider |
|---|---|---|
| A card or drawing made by your child | Warmly; often kept for years | Always appropriate; the most personal option |
| A flower or small bunch | Very traditional and expected by many teachers | Easy for your child to give themselves |
| A short message to the teacher from parents | Appreciated, especially from international families | Can be sent in the parent app or written in the card |
| A small gift such as tea, sweets or a book | Common and generally welcome | Check the school policy first |
| A contribution to a class group gift | Common in many classes | Ask what it is for and how it is decided |
| A cash envelope | Accepted in some schools, declined in others | Many private schools ask parents not to give money |
If you are unsure, start with the first three. A card, a flower and a few sincere words cover the spirit of the day completely, and they are never wrong in any school.
School policies on gifts, and why they exist
Many private preschools now have a written policy on gifts for staff. Some ask parents not to give money or high-value items at all; others allow small gifts but ask that class gifts be shared among the whole team. These rules protect teachers from awkward situations, keep things fair between families with different budgets, and avoid any impression that a child is treated differently because of a gift.
Public schools in Vietnam work under a code of conduct issued by the Ministry of Education and Training in 2019, which sets out expectations for how teachers, staff and parents behave in schools. Private schools often add their own rules on top. The details differ, and the safest way to find out what applies to your child's class is simply to ask the school office or your class teacher in early November.
When a school asks families not to give gifts, take it at face value. In Vietnam, as elsewhere, people sometimes say no out of politeness, but a written school policy is meant literally. You can still give a card, a flower and a heartfelt message, which teachers usually treasure more than objects.
International parents sometimes notice that other families appear to give more than the policy suggests, and wonder whether they are expected to do the same. You are not. Different families read the same custom in different ways, and the school would rather you followed its written guidance. If the situation makes you uncomfortable, it is reasonable to raise it gently with the school management, who are usually aware and grateful for the feedback.
Joining a class group gift without awkwardness
In some classes, a parent representative proposes a group gift for the teachers. This can be a lovely gesture, and also a source of mild tension if it is unclear. A few steps keep it simple:
- Ask what the gift is, who will receive it and whether the school has agreed. A gift shared between all class staff is usually better than one for a single teacher.
- Check that contributions are voluntary and that no amount is fixed. Families should be able to give what suits them, or nothing, without being named.
- If you prefer to give separately, say so politely and early. "We are planning something from our child directly" is a perfectly acceptable answer.
- If messages are in Vietnamese and you are unsure what is being proposed, ask a Vietnamese parent you know or reply in English. Most class groups are happy to clarify.
- Add a personal note. Even within a group gift, a line from your family in the card shows that the thank-you is genuine.
Do not feel you must match what other families spend. Teachers notice care and consistency over the year far more than the size of a gift on one day.
Helping your child give a meaningful thank-you
For a young child, the act of giving is the lesson. A toddler who hands a flower to a teacher and says "cam on co", thank you teacher, is learning something about gratitude that will matter for years. Let your child carry the flower or card themselves, practise the words at home a few times, and keep the moment simple.
Making a card together a few days before is a good way to talk about what your child likes about school. Ask what the teacher does that they enjoy: a song, a story, helping with lunch. Write it down in English, in your home language or in Vietnamese if you can, and let your child decorate it. Teachers often keep these cards, and many say they are the gifts they value most.
If your child has both Vietnamese and foreign teachers, remember both. Foreign teachers are often new to the custom and are delighted to be included, while Vietnamese assistants and caregivers, who may spend the most hours with your child, are sometimes overlooked. A thank-you to the whole team, including the kitchen and the guard at the gate, reflects the spirit of the day.
Afterwards, ask your child how the teacher reacted. Children are often proud to report that the teacher smiled, hugged them or put the card on the wall, and that small conversation helps them connect giving with the pleasure it brings to someone else, which is the real point of the day for a child this age.
Beyond 20 November: thanking teachers through the year
Say it when you notice it. A short message after a good day, a difficult drop-off handled kindly or a lovely photo in the parent app means a great deal to teachers. It costs nothing and tells them their care is seen.
Thank the whole team. In a preschool, care is shared between teachers, assistants, nurses, kitchen staff and guards. Naming them in a message, or greeting them by name at the gate, is noticed.
Use the other occasions. Vietnamese Women's Day on 20 October and International Women's Day on 8 March are also moments when children often bring flowers to their female teachers. Tet is a natural time for a card or a small gift.
Mark the end of the school year. When your child moves up a class or leaves the school, a card or photo book with drawings is a lasting goodbye. Teachers often remember these years later.
Give feedback the school can use. If a teacher has made a real difference, tell the school management as well as the teacher. A specific, positive comment can matter for a teacher's evaluation and morale.
Câu hỏi thường gặp
Is 20 November a public holiday in Vietnam?
No, Vietnamese Teachers' Day is not an official day off, and schools normally stay open. Many schools hold a short celebration or assembly that day. When 20 November falls on a weekend, the celebration usually moves to the nearest school day.
Do I have to give my child's preschool teacher a gift?
No. A gift is never required. A card made by your child, a flower and a few sincere words are entirely appropriate and well received. If you would like to give something more, check the school policy on gifts first.
Is it acceptable to give cash to teachers on Teachers' Day?
It depends on the school. Some schools accept small envelopes as part of local custom, while many private preschools ask parents not to give money at all. Ask the school office, and respect a written policy even if other families seem to ignore it.
Should I include the foreign teachers and assistants?
Yes. Teachers' Day thanks everyone who teaches and cares for your child. Foreign teachers are often touched to be included, and assistants and caregivers spend many hours with young children. A thank-you to the whole class team is the most generous approach.
What flowers do children bring on Teachers' Day?
Any fresh flower or small bunch is fine, and roses, carnations and gerberas are common choices. A single flower is perfectly enough for a young child to carry. Choose something without thorns, and avoid strongly scented lilies if the teacher has allergies.
What should my child say to their teacher?
A simple cam on co, thank you teacher, for a female teacher, or cam on thay for a male teacher, is ideal. Older preschoolers might add a wish for health. In English, a warm thank-you is just as welcome.