The Lunar New Year, known in Vietnam as Tết Nguyên Đán, is the most important and celebrated holiday in Vietnamese culture. Marking the arrival of spring based on the lunar calendar, Tết is filled with rich traditions, delicious food, meaningful customs and cheerful festivities that bring families and communities together after a long year’s work.
As the Vietnamese diaspora has spread across the globe, its Lunar New Year traditions have also taken root in countries like China. Where large Tet festivals burst with Vietnam-inspired sights, sounds and smells. However, experiencing Tết in Vietnam offers a unique glimpse into a holiday perfected over thousands of years specifically tailored for the Vietnamese people.
Extensive Preparations Usher in the Lunar New Year
In the weeks leading up to Tết, Vietnamese families become busy tidying and decorating their homes, preparing traditional holiday foods, shopping for new clothes and making plans to visit relatives near and far.
Rows of yellow mai flowers and red hoa đào blossoms appear outside homes and businesses. Peach blossoms, considered Tet flowers, fill living spaces with color and signify the arrival of spring.
As Tết nears, bustling outdoor markets overflow with flowering branches, ingredients for holiday treats and lively shoppers stocking up on supplies. The tangible excitement and joie de vivre in public spaces grows more evident each day.
Tết’s Eve Sets the Stage for the Holiday
Tết Nguyên Đán officially commences once the clock strikes midnight on the eve of the first day. In Vietnamese, this moment is giao thừa, or the turning of the year.
On New Year’s Eve, Vietnamese families gather for a large reunion dinner filled with traditional foods like bánh chưng (square sticky rice cake with meat or bean fillings) and gỏi cuốn (fresh summer rolls with shrimp and herbs). Even vegetarian relatives can enjoy meatless versions of these classics.
As midnight approaches, everyone ganders the family’s vibrantly-decorated Tết tree while waiting to make offerings of lucky fruits like oranges and bananas. Some light firecrackers outside once the clock finishes chiming twelve. Children excitedly clutch red envelopes decorated with Tết imagery and filled with “lucky money” waiting for the gift exchange that commences past midnight.
The First Days Honor Ancestry and Relaxation
The first days of Tết honor deceased relatives through ceremonies and visits to their burial grounds. Many families hold cúng ông bà rituals, making food offerings while burning incense and fake money. They believe well-fed and cared for ancestors will in turn bless the living with prosperity and health.
Tết affords a rare opportunity for Vietnamese workers and students to rest from routine responsibilities and make merry with loved ones. Elders dole out red envelopes stuffed with cash to children and unmarried adults, wishing them fortuitous futures. Friends play popular card games while noshing on nuts, candied fruits and tea.
Many dress in fashionable, brightly-hued áo dài, Vietnam’s national dress, when stopping by relatives’ homes bearing wishes for an auspicious new year. Tết inspires a sense of community and shared heritage. Our free local guides will share with you more about traditional practice for this special holiday in our country.
Festive Public Celebrations Honor Vietnam’s dynastic past
Public Tết festivities also eject Vietnamese heritage through parades, festivals and temple activities. The Perfume Pagoda near Hanoi sees thousands clambering aboard rowboats headed for the mountain cavern shrine during Tết.
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City both host blowout Tết celebrations rich in history from Vietnam’s imperial past. Locals and tourists alike flock to flower markets, watch dragon dances and feast on Vietnamese street food under firework-lit skies.
The usually-serene UNESCO World Heritage site of Hue also livens up for the Quintessence of Tonkin festival. That recreates festivities held when 19th-century royals ruled Vietnam and ushered in the new year.
Planning an Authentic Tết Nguyên Đán Experience in Vietnam
During Tết Nguyên Đán, it offers travelers a one-of-a-kind journey into quintessential Vietnamese culture at its most vibrant zenith. Experiencing public festivities against backdrops like ancient Hue or breezy Hoi An interwoven with family visits and long leisurely meals offers memories to last a lifetime.
Travelers seeking the most authentic Tết should prioritize these key facets:
● View festive flower offerings and street decor
● Explore Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City’s mega-Tet events
● Dress to impress in festive Vietnamese fashion
● Feast on Tết holiday dishes like bánh chưng with Vietnamese families
With openness to immersing oneself in Vietnam’s rich traditions, Tết promises colorful glimpses into the heart of Vietnamese identity through food, family bonds and fun.
If you are in Vietnam and interested in discovering more about Hanoi – the capital and its significance, we invite you to join us at Free Walking Tours Hanoi. We’ll take you across the building, and provide you with a unique perspective of the city. Book now and don’t miss out on this amazing experience.
