Celebrating Tet: Vietnam’s Lunar New Year Festival

If you’re travelling to Vietnam during Tet holiday, be prepared for a festive and colorful Tet festival

Tet Nguyen Đan, commonly known as Tet, is the most significant holiday in Vietnam, heralding the Lunar New Year. It is a festival of immense cultural and familial importance, celebrated by millions of people across the country and around the world. Tết is not just about ringing in the new year—it’s a celebration of renewal, family, tradition, and prosperity. We’ll give you the lowdown on the customs, significance, and vibrant celebrations that make Tết one of the most cherished festivals in Vietnamese culture.

Tet Tet Tet Tet Đen Roi

Tet marks the arrival of spring and the beginning of the lunar calendar year. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which starts on January 1, Tet typically falls between late January and mid-February, depending on the lunar cycle. The festival lasts for several days, with preparations beginning well before the actual celebration. Tết is a time for people to reflect on the past year, honor their ancestors, and welcome the new year with hopes for health, happiness, and prosperity.

Similar to Christmas in Western culture, Tet festival in Vietnam is the time for reunion and gathering

In Vietnamese culture, Tet is a deeply spiritual event. It is believed that during the holiday, the spirits of ancestors return home to visit their descendants. Many families perform rituals to honor their ancestors and ensure their blessings for the coming year. Tết is also associated with the arrival of spring, symbolizing new beginnings, rejuvenation, and growth.

How Do Vietnamese Prepare for Tet?

The lead-up to Tet is filled with activity. In the weeks preceding the holiday, families embark on a series of preparations. Homes are thoroughly cleaned to sweep away bad luck and make space for good fortune. Many families also buy new clothes, as it is believed that wearing fresh, new attire on the day of Tết will bring good luck and prosperity for the year ahead.

It usually takes around 4 to 8 hours to finish a batch of Banh Chung

Food plays an essential role in Tết celebrations. The traditional foods of Tết reflect both the cultural and spiritual aspects of the holiday. One of the most iconic dishes is banh chung (square sticky rice cake), which is typically made with glutinous rice, green beans, and pork, wrapped in banana leaves. The square shape of the cake symbolizes the Earth, while the round shape of the banh day (round rice cake) represents the sky. These cakes are often made in large quantities and shared with family and friends which symbolizes unity and harmony.

The preparation of Tet foods often involves the entire family. Making bánh chưng is usually a communal activity that brings families together, much like Christmas preparations in the West. In addition to sticky rice cakes, other popular Tet dishes include thịt kho hột vịt (braised pork with eggs), pickled onions, and canh măng (bamboo shoot soup), all of which are eaten in abundance during the celebrations.

The Spirit of Tet: Family and Ancestors

At the heart of Tet is the focus on family. It is a time when people return to their ancestral homes to celebrate with loved ones. Those who live outside of their hometowns, use their time off to return home to celebrate with family. Family gatherings are central to the Tet experience. Multiple generations come together, share meals, and give thanks.

The most important ritual before Tet is to pay homage to the ancestors

A key ritual of Tet is the to tien (ancestor worship), during which families honor their ancestors through offerings. These offerings typically include fruits, incense, and the food dishes prepared for the celebration. Families gather around the altar to make prayers, ask for blessings, and express gratitude. This ritual reinforces the connection between the living and the deceased, ensuring that ancestors remain an integral part of the family’s lives.

One of the most meaningful aspects of Tet is the cúng gia tien (family ancestral worship), where the eldest member of the household leads the prayers. It is a way of paying respects, expressing gratitude, and inviting the spirits of the deceased to join the festivities. This reverence for ancestors highlights the importance of lineage, heritage, and respect for tradition in Vietnamese society.

Tet Traditions and Superstitions

Tet is a time for renewal, and with it comes an abundance of customs and superstitions meant to ensure a prosperous year. One well-known tradition is the giving of li xi—red envelopes filled with money—especially to children and unmarried adults. The red color symbolizes good luck, while the money is meant to bring blessings of wealth and prosperity in the coming year. It’s a gesture of goodwill and an essential part of the Tet experience.

It is a tradition to visit temples and pagodas on the first day of Tet - Lunar New Year

The first day of Tet is typically spent with family, while subsequent days are devoted to visiting friends, neighbors, and distant relatives. People also avoid negative actions such as arguing or cleaning, as it is believed that such activities can bring bad luck for the year ahead. The first person to enter the house on Tet Day is considered crucial to determining the household’s fortune for the coming year. Families will often select someone with a positive reputation to be the first visitor, hoping to bring good luck and success to the home.

Another common superstition is the practice of not paying debts during Tet. It is believed that settling debts during the new year will lead to a year of financial loss. This custom underscores the importance of starting the new year with a clean slate and avoiding any lingering negativity.

In exchange for good wishes, the elders would give the young ones lucky money

Fun Fact! If you find yourself in a major city during Tết, wander the market streets, check out a dragon dance, the firework show, and other various cultural performances you may stumble upon. You won’t regret it!

Tet in Modern Day: A Time of Renewal and Hope

In modern Vietnam, Tet continues to be a time of renewal, both personally and culturally. While the holiday is still steeped in tradition, the celebrations have evolved over time, with people often incorporating contemporary elements such as travel, shopping, and entertainment. Yet, the heart of Tết remains unchanged: it is a time to gather with loved ones, honor the past, and look forward to a bright future.

The vibrant street of Saigon on New Year’s Eve

In previous years, most shops and eateries would shut for several days to allow employees to return to their hometowns. However, as more expats call Vietnam home along with increased tourism, many Western establishments remain open. If you’re in Saigon during Tết, we recommend a stroll through the flower display on Nguyen Hue Street and then stopping for a beer or ice cold drink and take in the sites of men and women boasting their beautiful Ao Dai’s. It’s a beautiful image, we promise it will be a site you’ll remember for years to come!

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