Stock Trading Strategy: Guide to the Opening Hours of the Vietnamese and US Markets

Why Is It Important to Know the Stock Market Trading Hours?

Understanding stock trading hours is not just supplementary information; it is a key factor in developing a successful investment strategy. The US and Vietnamese stock markets are showing strong positive signals, with indices like S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq continuously reaching new highs, while the Vietnamese market also experiences lively trading sessions with values touching the billion-dollar threshold.

However, the biggest challenge faced by new investors is not lack of knowledge but not knowing when the market opens, what the optimal trading hours are, and how to manage order placement time effectively.

How the Stock Market Operates

Basic Principles of Trading Hours

Unlike the forex market, which operates 24/7, global stock exchanges follow official working schedules. Most operate officially from Monday to Friday during regular business hours. The market does not trade on weekends and national holidays.

Each market has its own characteristics:

• Some have lunch breaks (for example Vietnam: 11:30-13:00)
• Some operate continuously through lunch (like NYSE)
• Some only allow trading during official hours
• Some provide pre-market and after-hours trading

Important Information Before Trading

Before each trading session, investors should update:

• Macroeconomic news: interest rates, inflation, economic policies
• Company information: earnings reports, dividends, corporate events
• Economic calendar: upcoming events impacting the market
• Analysis from experts and reputable trading platforms

US Stock Trading Hours in Vietnam Time

NYSE - New York Stock Exchange

NASDAQ

Important Notes

Both NYSE and NASDAQ operate continuously without lunch breaks. Pre-market and after-hours trading times depend on each broker and may vary. Vietnamese traders often access the US market through derivative products like CFDs, which allow profit from price movements without owning the actual assets.

Vietnam Stock Trading Hours

General Information

Vietnam’s three stock exchanges—HOSE (Ho Chi Minh City), HNX (Hanoi), and Upcom—are:

• Opening: 9:00 (prepared from 8:45)
• Closing: 14:45-15:00
• Lunch break: 11:30-13:00
• Operating days: Monday to Friday (excluding holidays and Tet)

HOSE - Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange

Trading hours for stocks, fund certificates, ETFs:

Bonds: Negotiated trading from 9:00-15:00 (excluding lunch break 11:30-13:00)

HNX - Hanoi Stock Exchange

Upcom

Derivatives trading on all three exchanges opens 15 minutes earlier than the underlying stocks, with indices like VN-30 and futures contracts.

Major Vietnamese Securities Companies’ Trading Hours

VNDirect

• Morning: 8:00 - 11:45
• Afternoon: 12:45 - 17:00
• Lunch break: 11:45 - 12:45
• Starting from 1/3/2021, also open Saturday mornings

VPS

SSI

• Morning: 8:00 - 12:00
• Afternoon: 13:00 - 17:00
• Lunch break: 12:00 - 13:00
• Online services: 24/7

Trading Strategies Based on Opening Hours

For Active Investors (US)

The first 2 hours after opening or the last hours before closing are the most volatile. Especially, the first 15 minutes have high trading volume. Day traders should take advantage of this before 11:30 (US time) as volatility drops significantly afterward.

At the end of December, the market tends to be more lively (“Christmas rally” phenomenon), as investors seek new opportunities.

For Cautious Investors (Vietnam)

Focus on peak hours: 9:00-10:00 AM and 13:30-14:30 PM. Trading all day is unnecessary—just 2-3 hours daily.

Vietnam’s market also has lively periods, especially around Tet when investors receive bonuses and look for new investment opportunities.

Trading Holiday Schedule

US Market Closed on:

• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Washington’s Birthday
• Good Friday
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day
• Juneteenth

Vietnamese Market Closed on:

• New Year’s Day
• Lunar New Year
• Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day
• April 30th
• May 1st
• National Day September 2nd

Summary Table of Main Stock Exchange Trading Hours

Conclusion

Knowing stock trading hours and managing your time effectively are fundamental to building a sound investment strategy. Whether you are interested in the US or Vietnamese markets, understanding detailed trading hours will help optimize your investment results. Combine this knowledge with trading software that supports economic calendars, real-time news, and expert analysis to gain a competitive edge in market opportunities.