Master the Vietnamese Stock Market Trading Hours 2025 and the U.S. Market to Optimize Investment Strategies

The Vietnamese and US stock markets are showing positive signals. Indices such as S&P 500, Dow Jones, Nasdaq continuously hit new highs, while the Vietnamese market also experiences lively trading sessions with trading volume reaching the billion-dollar mark—a rare phenomenon in the past. Although the entire 2024 market trend follows the global overall, investors remain highly interested. If you are a new investor, mastering Vietnamese stock trading hours and how to monitor international markets will be essential first steps to building an effective strategy.

Basic Concepts of Stock Trading Hours

To succeed in investing, you need to understand the following core factors:

Daily and weekly operating hours: Stock markets worldwide do not operate 24/7. Most exchanges are open only during business hours, from Monday to Friday. Weekends are mandatory rest days. Understanding this schedule helps you plan your trades appropriately.

Intraday trading time frames: Besides knowing the opening days, you need to be clear about specific hours. Some markets have lunch breaks (for example Vietnam from 11:30-13:00), while others like NYSE operate continuously. This directly impacts your strategy.

Optimal order placement timing: Not every time is suitable for placing orders, and not always beneficial. Experienced investors often choose the first 15-60 minutes after opening, when trends are strongest and liquidity is abundant. Midday hours are usually more stable, suitable for beginners.

Pre-trading information preparation: Before the market opens, you should monitor macroeconomic news (interest rates, inflation, policies), company information (dividends, financial reports), and upcoming economic event schedules. This helps you make informed decisions.

Holiday and festival schedules: Besides weekends, markets also close on holidays. In Vietnam, these include New Year’s Day, Lunar New Year, Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day (10/3 lunar calendar), April 30th, May 1st, September 2nd. Abroad, markets close on New Year’s Day, Christmas, Independence Day, and other holidays.

US Stock Market Trading Hours According to Vietnam Time

The US stock markets feature two major exchanges: NYSE and Nasdaq.

NYSE Trading Schedule:

Nasdaq Trading Schedule:

Both NYSE and Nasdaq operate continuously without lunch breaks. However, the timings for early and after-hours sessions depend on each brokerage’s regulations, so there may be differences.

Note that according to Vietnamese regulations, individuals are not allowed to directly own US stocks. Vietnamese investors typically access this market through derivative products like CFDs (contracts for difference), which allow profit from price movements without holding the actual assets. An additional benefit is that there is no personal income tax on US derivative stock investments.

Vietnamese Stock Trading Hours on HOSE, HNX, Upcom

Vietnamese stock markets operate from Monday to Friday, opening from 8:45-9:00 and closing at 14:45-15:00. Lunch break is from 11:30-13:00. However, the three exchanges—HOSE, HNX, and Upcom—have notable differences.

HOSE Trading Hours:

HOSE applies the most complex trading rules. For stocks, fund certificates, and ETFs:

Bond trading is negotiated from 9:00-15:00 (excluding lunch break).

HNX Trading Hours:

HNX differs in that it does not have a opening call auction session. Instead, it matches continuously from 9:00. Supported order types include LO, MTL, MOK, MAK.

Upcom Trading Hours:

Upcom is the simplest, supporting only LO orders and continuous matching, with no opening/closing call or after-hours matching.

Derivatives Trading: Opens 15 minutes earlier than the underlying stocks (from 8:45), but closing time and lunch break are the same.

Major Securities Company Trading Hours

Since trading in Vietnam must go through licensed securities companies, knowing each company’s working hours is also important:

VNDirect:

• Morning: 8:00-11:45
• Afternoon: 12:45-17:00
• From 1/3/2021, also open on Saturday mornings

VPS (Vietcombank):

• General working hours: 7:30-17:00
• Fund transfer: 00:00-16:30 and 20:30-00:00 (during weekdays); 00:00-24:00 (weekends)
• Place orders outside regular hours: 17:00-06:30 (during weekdays)
• Derivatives orders: 08:05-14:45
• Bonds: 08:05-17:00

SSI:

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

Optimal Trading Strategy by Time

To maximize profit opportunities, you need to choose the right trading times:

In the US Market:

• Active investors should focus on the first 2 hours after opening or the last hour before closing, when volatility is highest (especially the first 15 minutes).
• Short-term intraday trading should end before 11:30 (US time), as volatility decreases afterward.
• Be aware of seasonal cycles, such as the “Santa Claus Rally” at the end of December (Santa Claus Rally).

In the Vietnamese Market:

• Experienced investors should focus on peak hours: 9:00-10:00 and 13:30-14:30.
• It’s unnecessary to trade all day; just 2-3 well-scheduled hours are enough.
• Pay attention to lively trading periods during the year, especially around Tet (Lunar New Year), when investors receive bonuses and seek new investment opportunities.

Market Holidays and Closure Days

US Stock Market Closed On:

• New Year’s Day (1/1)
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January)
• Washington’s Birthday (third Monday in February)
• Good Friday (April)
• Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
• Juneteenth (6/19)
• Independence Day (7/4)
• Labor Day (first Monday in September)
• Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
• Christmas (12/25)

Vietnamese Stock Market Closed On:

• Lunar New Year (Tet)
• Lunar New Year holidays (usually 7-10 days)
• Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day (10/3 lunar calendar)
• April 30th
• May 1st
• National Day (September 2nd)

Summary Table of Major Trading Hours

Conclusion

Understanding Vietnamese stock trading hours and international market schedules is a fundamental foundation for developing your investment strategy. By mastering these time frames, you can select the most optimal trading periods aligned with your style and goals. Successful investing depends not only on knowledge but also on thorough preparation and disciplined trading. Start with these basic insights and gradually develop your own trading system.