Tet in Vietnam: Vietnamese Lunar New Year Traditions, Food & Travel Guide

Tet, or Tết Nguyên Đán, is Vietnam’s most important annual celebration and marks the beginning of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. It is a time for family reunions, ancestral remembrance, traditional food, spring flowers, temple visits, and wishes for good fortune in the year ahead.

For travelers, Tet in Vietnam offers a unique opportunity to experience Vietnamese culture at its most meaningful. Cities become decorated with peach and apricot blossoms, families prepare traditional dishes, and streets fill with festive markets and celebrations. However, Tet also changes the normal rhythm of travel: transportation becomes busy before the holiday, many businesses close during the first days of the new year, and some services operate on reduced schedules.

This guide explains when Tet takes place, the most important Tet traditions and foods, what Vietnam is like during the holiday, and what travelers should know before visiting.

What Is Tet in Vietnam?

Tet is the Vietnamese Lunar New Year and the country's most important traditional holiday. Its Vietnamese name, Tết Nguyên Đán, refers to the beginning of a new year according to the traditional lunisolar calendar.

Although Tet is closely associated with the arrival of spring, it is much more than a seasonal celebration. For Vietnamese families, it is a time to return home, honor ancestors, reconnect with relatives, prepare the household for a new beginning, and wish for health, happiness, and prosperity.

The celebration typically begins with preparations in the weeks before the new year and continues through the first days of the lunar year. The exact dates change every year on the Gregorian calendar.

For visitors, Tet can feel very different from an ordinary week in Vietnam. Major cities may become quieter during the first days of the holiday, while the period immediately before Tet can be exceptionally busy as millions of people travel home.

When Is Tet in Vietnam?

Tet follows the Vietnamese lunisolar calendar, so its date changes every year on the Gregorian calendar. It usually falls between late January and mid-February.

The most important celebrations center around Lunar New Year's Eve and the first days of the new lunar year. However, preparations begin much earlier.

In the weeks before Tet, Vietnamese cities and towns become increasingly busy. Families clean and decorate their homes, buy flowers, prepare traditional foods, shop for gifts, and return to their hometowns.

For travelers, it is useful to think of Tet as a longer seasonal period rather than a single day.

Before Tet

This is one of the busiest periods for domestic travel. Airports, railway stations, highways, and bus terminals can become crowded as people return to their hometowns.

Lunar New Year's Eve

Known as Giao Thừa, New Year's Eve is an important family and spiritual occasion. Families prepare special offerings, gather together, and welcome the arrival of the new year.

The First Days of Tet

The first days of the lunar year are traditionally reserved for family visits, New Year greetings, religious activities, and relaxation.

Why Is Tet Important in Vietnam?

Tet represents a new beginning. It is a time when Vietnamese families leave behind the previous year and welcome the year ahead with optimism.

One of the most important aspects of Tet is family reunion. Vietnamese people living and working far from their hometowns often make a special effort to return home for the holiday.

Tet is also closely connected with ancestral remembrance. Many families prepare their ancestral altars with flowers, fruit, incense, tea, and food offerings. These traditions reflect the importance of family history and respect for previous generations.

The holiday is also associated with hopes for prosperity, health, peace, and good fortune.

For travelers, understanding this family-centered character is essential. Tet is not simply a public festival designed for tourists. It is a deeply personal celebration that takes place inside Vietnamese homes and communities.

Tet Traditions and Customs

Vietnamese families celebrate Tet in different ways depending on their region, religion, family traditions, and circumstances. Nevertheless, several customs are widely associated with the holiday.

Cleaning and Decorating the Home

One of the most recognizable Tet traditions is preparing the home for the new year.

Before Tet, families clean their houses, organize belongings, decorate rooms, and prepare their ancestral altars. The process symbolizes leaving behind the old year and welcoming a fresh start.

Homes may be decorated with flowers, fruit, calligraphy, ornamental plants, and red or gold decorations.

During the first day of Tet, some families traditionally avoid sweeping the floor because sweeping can symbolically represent sweeping away good fortune.

Kitchen Gods Day

One important pre-Tet tradition takes place on the 23rd day of the final lunar month and is commonly associated with the Kitchen Gods, or Ông Táo.

According to Vietnamese tradition, the Kitchen Gods report on the household's activities during the previous year before returning for the new year.

Families may prepare food and other traditional offerings as part of the ceremony. In many parts of Vietnam, releasing carp into rivers or lakes is also associated with this occasion.

For visitors, Kitchen Gods Day is an interesting example of how Vietnamese religious traditions, family customs, and everyday life overlap.

Tet Flowers

Flowers are one of the most visible symbols of Tet.

In northern Vietnam, hoa đào, or peach blossoms, are strongly associated with the Lunar New Year. Their pink flowers bring a distinctive spring atmosphere to homes, markets, streets, and public spaces.

In southern Vietnam, hoa mai, or yellow apricot blossoms, are especially popular during Tet. Their bright yellow flowers are commonly associated with prosperity and good fortune.

Another popular decoration is the kumquat tree. Trees covered with orange fruit and green leaves are displayed in homes and businesses as symbols of prosperity and abundance.

During the days before Tet, flower markets become some of the most colorful places to visit in Vietnamese cities.

Traditional Tet Foods in Vietnam

Food is at the heart of Tet. Families prepare special dishes that are associated with tradition, reunion, hospitality, and good fortune.

Many Tet dishes can also be prepared in large quantities and kept for several days, making them practical during a holiday when markets and restaurants may operate limited hours.

Bánh Chưng

Bánh Chưng is one of the most iconic Tet foods in northern Vietnam.

It is a square-shaped sticky rice cake traditionally made with:

• Glutinous rice

• Mung beans

• Pork

• Phrynium leaves

The ingredients are wrapped tightly before the cake is slowly boiled for many hours.

Families often prepare bánh chưng together, making the cooking process an important part of the holiday itself.

The square shape has traditionally been associated with the earth, giving the dish both culinary and cultural significance.

Bánh Tét

Bánh Tét is especially popular in central and southern Vietnam.

Like bánh chưng, it is made primarily from glutinous rice, mung beans, and a savory filling such as pork. However, bánh tét is typically cylindrical and wrapped in banana leaves.

Regional versions can vary considerably. Some include sweet fillings, bananas, coconut, or other local ingredients.

Bánh chưng and bánh tét are among the best foods to try if you want to understand the connection between Vietnamese cuisine and Tet traditions.

Thịt Kho Tàu

In southern Vietnam, thịt kho tàu is a popular Tet dish.

It combines pork and eggs in a savory-sweet braising liquid. Southern versions are often prepared with coconut water, giving the dish a rich flavor and dark caramel-colored sauce.

Large pots may be prepared before the holiday and served over several meals.

Dưa Hành and Củ Kiệu

Pickled vegetables provide an important contrast to the richness of many Tet dishes.

In northern Vietnam, dưa hành, traditionally made with small onions or scallions, is a common Tet accompaniment.

In southern Vietnam, củ kiệu, pickled scallion bulbs often served with vegetables such as papaya, is popular during the holiday.

Their sour and slightly sharp flavors provide a refreshing contrast to fatty pork and sticky rice.

Mứt Tết

Mứt Tết refers to a variety of candied fruits, seeds, and other sweet treats served during Tet.

Common varieties include candied ginger, coconut, lotus seeds, kumquat, and other fruits.

Families often serve mứt Tết with tea when relatives and friends visit during the holiday.

Tet Celebrations in Vietnam

Tet celebrations combine family traditions with public festivities.

Giao Thừa: Vietnamese New Year's Eve

Giao Thừa marks the transition from the old lunar year to the new one.

Families may prepare offerings, light incense, gather together, and participate in religious or spiritual rituals.

In some cities, public celebrations and fireworks take place around midnight, although the exact program varies by location and year.

Xông Đất: First-Footing

Xông đất, or first-footing, is a traditional belief concerning the first person to enter a home during the new year.

Some families believe that the character, fortune, or zodiac characteristics of the first visitor can influence the household's luck in the coming year.

Not every Vietnamese family follows this tradition in exactly the same way, but it remains an interesting part of traditional Tet culture.

Lì Xì: Lucky Money

Lì xì is one of the most recognizable Tet customs.

Adults traditionally give children and younger family members money in small red envelopes. The gift represents good wishes and blessings for the new year rather than simply the monetary value.

Red envelopes decorated with gold characters and festive designs are common during Tet.

Chúc Tết

During Tet, Vietnamese people visit relatives, friends, teachers, and other important people in their lives to exchange New Year greetings.

A common greeting is:

“Chúc Mừng Năm Mới”

which means “Happy New Year.”

Other wishes may express hopes for health, happiness, prosperity, success, and longevity.

Visiting Temples and Pagodas

Many Vietnamese people visit temples and pagodas during Tet to pray for peace, health, and good fortune.

For travelers, these places can provide an opportunity to observe Vietnamese religious and cultural traditions. Visitors should dress respectfully and follow the rules of each religious site.

What Is Vietnam Like During Tet?

Vietnam changes significantly during the Tet period.

The experience depends heavily on when you visit.

Before Tet

The weeks before Tet can be extremely busy.

Markets become crowded, flower vendors fill streets and public spaces, and people travel across the country to return to their hometowns.

This can be an exciting time for travelers who want to experience the preparations for Tet.

However, transportation can be much more difficult during the peak travel period.

During the First Days of Tet

The atmosphere changes dramatically.

Many businesses close temporarily so employees can spend time with their families. Some streets become noticeably quieter, particularly in major cities where large numbers of residents have returned to their hometowns.

Tourist hotels, international restaurants, airports, and major transportation services generally continue operating, but individual businesses may have different holiday schedules.

This is why travelers should check opening hours before visiting specific attractions, restaurants, or services.

After Tet

After the first days of the lunar year, businesses gradually reopen and normal life returns.

Festivals, temple visits, cultural events, and spring activities can continue beyond the main holiday period.

Traveling to Vietnam During Tet

Traveling to Vietnam during Tet can be rewarding, but it requires more planning than a normal trip.

The biggest challenge is usually domestic transportation before Tet, when millions of Vietnamese people travel home.

Flights, trains, buses, and highways can become extremely busy.

Book Transportation Early

If your trip overlaps with the peak period before Tet, book domestic flights and long-distance transportation as early as possible.

Popular routes between major cities and hometown regions can become particularly busy.

Avoid leaving important transportation arrangements until the last minute.

Expect Some Business Closures

Restaurants, shops, markets, museums, and other businesses may close for part of the Tet holiday.

The situation varies by city and business.

International hotels and businesses serving tourists are more likely to remain open, but they may operate special holiday schedules.

Always check before relying on a specific restaurant or attraction.

Carry Some Cash

Because individual businesses may have different holiday schedules, carrying enough cash can be useful.

It is also worth keeping essential supplies with you if you plan to travel outside major tourist areas during the first days of Tet.

Be Flexible

Tet is a family holiday rather than a normal tourism season.

Transportation delays, changed opening hours, temporary closures, and altered schedules are possible.

A flexible itinerary will make your trip much easier.

Is Tet a Good Time to Visit Vietnam?

Yes, Tet can be an excellent time to visit Vietnam if experiencing local culture is one of your main travel goals.

The advantages include colorful flower markets, traditional food, family celebrations, temple visits, cultural rituals, and a unique atmosphere that you will not experience at other times of the year.

However, there are disadvantages.

Transportation can be extremely busy before Tet, many businesses close temporarily, and some tourist services operate on reduced schedules.

For travelers who prioritize culture and authentic local experiences, Tet can be fascinating.

For travelers who want a completely predictable itinerary with restaurants, shops, and attractions open every day, another period may be easier.

Tet in Hanoi

Hanoi offers one of the most distinctive Tet experiences in northern Vietnam.

The city's streets and markets become filled with hoa đào, kumquat trees, traditional decorations, and Tet foods.

The Old Quarter can be particularly atmospheric before the holiday, while areas of the city may become much quieter during the first days of Tet as residents return to their hometowns.

Travelers can explore flower markets, traditional neighborhoods, temples, and local food areas while observing how Hanoi prepares for the new year.

Tet in Ho Chi Minh City

Tet in Ho Chi Minh City has a distinctly southern character.

Hoa mai and kumquat trees become prominent decorations, while markets and shopping streets become increasingly busy before the holiday.

The city can become surprisingly quiet during the first days of Tet as many residents leave for their hometowns.

For visitors who stay in Ho Chi Minh City during Tet, the quieter streets can provide a very different perspective on Vietnam's largest city.

Tet Etiquette for Travelers

Visitors do not need to participate in every Tet ritual, but showing respect for local customs is important.

A few simple practices can make your experience more enjoyable:

• Say “Chúc Mừng Năm Mới” when greeting Vietnamese people during Tet.

• Dress respectfully when visiting temples and pagodas.

• Ask permission before photographing private family ceremonies.

• Do not touch ancestral altars or religious offerings.

• Be patient when businesses operate reduced hours.

• Avoid negative or insensitive comments about Tet traditions.

• Follow local instructions when visiting religious or cultural sites.

• Remember that Tet is primarily a family celebration, not simply a tourist event.

Most importantly, approach the holiday with curiosity and respect.

Final Thoughts

Tet in Vietnam is much more than the country's Lunar New Year. It is a celebration of family, heritage, food, spirituality, and new beginnings.

From the pink hoa đào of northern Vietnam and golden hoa mai of the south to steaming pots of bánh chưng and bánh tét, Tet transforms everyday life across the country.

For travelers, the holiday offers a rare opportunity to see Vietnam through its family traditions rather than only through its tourist attractions. The experience does require planning, particularly around transportation and business closures, but those who travel with patience and an open mind can experience one of the most meaningful periods of the Vietnamese calendar.

If you want to understand Vietnam beyond its beaches, cities, and famous attractions, experiencing Tet can offer one of the clearest windows into the country's culture and traditions.