lunar new year or tet is vietnam's main holiday

Vietnamese New Year is called Tet - this is an important and popular holiday country, which is celebrated on one day in late January-early February. Most often, it coincides with the Chinese, but there are small differences. The principle of selection of the day - the first day of the first lunar month. Following the Vietnamese lunar calendar, this special holiday - Tet starts at the beginning of a new year. On the Gregorian calendar, this holiday usually has the date falling between January 21st and February 19th. Vietnamese Lunar New Year 2020 quick facts: • This year, Vietnam's Lunar New Year officially starts from January 25th to January 27th Don't worry, the holiday continues a concert and dinner at the San Francisco Symphony on Saturday, February 24. The biggest events are still to come, too: The Chinese New Year Parade on Market St. is on also on the 24 at 5:15 pm, and the Chinatown community street fair is on the 24 and 25. 2. New York. Vietnamese woman whispers a New Year's prayer as Vietnam celebrates the TET blessings on the Vietnamese Lunar New Year January 22, 2004 in Hanoi, To go with feature story Vietnam-Lunar-Tet-flowers by Ian Timberlake In a picture taken on January 27, 2010 a farmer carries cut peach blossom on the Vietnam has no rabbit in its 12-sign lunar zodiac calendar. Its absence doesn't seem to trouble those who will be marking Tet Nguyen Dan, Vietnamese New Year. They appreciate the cat connection The Mong people's Lunar New Year holiday takes place during the first three days of the 12th lunar month. Lunar New Year ancestral offerings are often accompanied by the recitation of old poems meant to invite the spirts of the deceased to enjoy the holiday, thank them for keeping the family safe and sound for the past year, and request protection for the coming year. Feb. 1 marks the start of the Lunar New Year, when people across the world typically gather to celebrate the largest annual holiday for many Asian cultures from China to Vietnam to Tibet. This year they are celebrating the Year of the Tiger. Chinese New Year is one of our favorite family holidays. My husband has been celebrating it since he was born, but I've only really started celebrating this holiday for the past 11 years. the Philippines, Vietnam, and Korea) celebrate the Lunar New Year. It's also known as the Spring Festival or Tet Nguyen Dan. You'll also find Lunar dentnasdeza1976. Lunar calendars consisting of 12 months, each month corresponding roughly to one cycle of the moon, have been used by many cultures throughout history, including by many Asian peoples as well as by Muslims and Jews. A number of different Lunar New Year festivals are held throughout the world. Because 12 lunar cycles do not fill a whole year, it is necessary to occasionally add an extra month. This custom was adopted in the Chinese calendar as early as 1600 BCE, with the Jewish calendar adopting it by the 700s CE, resulting in what are known as lunisolar calendars. This avoids “seasonal creep” to keep holidays in the same season, even if they may fall slightly later or earlier compared to a solar calendar. The Chinese calendar spread to Korea and then to Japan by the 500s CE, and was eventually adopted elsewhere in Asia. In the Chinese calendar, the new year begins on the second full moon after the winter solstice. In 1912, China’s Nationalist party officially moved the country to the Gregorian calendar, and renamed the Lunar New Year the Spring Festival. In 1949, the Communist party forbade Lunar New Year celebrations. Spring Festival celebrations were permitted again in the 1980s, and by 1996, the Chinese government established a week-long vacation surrounding the Spring Festival. The Lunar New Year is celebrated as Tet by Vietnamese people and Seollal by Koreans. Visiting family, eating large meals of traditional foods, and parades are common Lunar New Year festivities across these cultures. Other customs can vary from culture to culture and place to place. Japan adopted the western Gregorian calendar in 1872, and now observes New Year’s Day on January 1. Still, many people of Chinese descent in Japan celebrate the Lunar New Year as well. Korea followed Japan in officially adopting the Gregorian calendar in 1896, but celebration of Lunar New Year continues there. Many predominantly Buddhist countries in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, use lunisolar calendars, but base their New Year’s celebrations on the Sun’s transition from the constellation Pisces in the west into Aries. These celebrations fall in mid-April in the Gregorian calendar and may include purification rituals and playfully splashing others with water, among other activities. Losar is a Lunar New Year festival observed in Tibet and Bhutan. It falls in February or March and includes dances and the decoration of monasteries. Asian people around the world may also celebrate their respective Lunar New Year wherever they are. London claims to have the largest such celebration outside Asia and San Francisco’s parade claims to be the largest Asian cultural event in North America. The Islamic liturgical calendar is strictly lunar, meaning that Al-Hijra, the Islamic New Year, can fall in different seasons across the years. Al-Hijra commemorates Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Medina, but the date is not marked by large public celebrations. Usually falling in September or October, Rosh Hashanah is the start of the year in the lunisolar Hebrew calendar. It means “the head of the year,” and is observed with traditional meals, prayers, and the blowing of a ram’s horn known as the shofar. When the weather is a bit chilly, it signals a new beginning — a season where the flower buds awaken on the branches and buds fresh. Tet is a traditional holiday of Vietnam that celebrates the transition and the welcoming of a new year. Tet is also commonly known as Lunar New Year for some Asian countries like such as China, South Korea, and is always a series of new beginnings. It’s an event that invites people towards a positive way forward with joy and is tetLunar New Year is an essential occasion for Vietnamese people. During this holiday, there will be many activities about traditional culture and festivals that have been ongoing for thousands of years. Tet is a moment of joy, a time where family and friends meet up, review old memories and to celebrate the new year together. This occasion usually falls in January or February of the Gregorian like any traditional holiday, Tet has food, decorations, and customs that color and give meaning to this important event of the foodBanh ChungThe first thing that is special about Tet is the traditional food that gets featured during this special event. The most popular dish is Banh Chung or Vietnamese Rice Cake. Made from sticky rice, pork and mung bean, all wrapped up in a banana leaf, Banh Chung has a center spot on every family altar during Tet to pray for their ancestors to support and look after the family the entire ChungBoiled ChickenBoiled chicken is also an indispensable plate in Tet Holiday. This dish is one that can’t be missing during ceremonies, weddings, and housewarmings. Accordingly, it definitely can’t be absent during Tet. People boil a chicken, then season with some lemon leaves and dip in salt. The taste of it contributes significantly to the unforgettable vibe of Tet GacAnother great flavor on the menu is Xoi Gac or steamed Momordica glutinous rice. Not only during Tet, but Xoi Gac is also popular in any Vietnamese wedding because it is considered a luck charm. With its exclusive orange color, sweet scent, and luxurious texture, Xoi Gac has its position placing next to Banh Chung, boiled chicken, and other traditional food on the family altar during Tet Spring RollsAside from the above, you can also expect to see fried spring rolls as a part of the traditional culinary. The golden fried wraps contain pork, jelly-ear mushroom, and bean sprout add to the holiday that mesmerizing crusty and fatty taste bringing unique appetite to Blossom and Apricot BlossomIf Banh Chung and fried spring rolls please the taste buds, then peach and apricot blossom charm the eyes of people during Tet holiday. These flowers are not only the symbol of luck, health, and prosperity, but they also bring the best of everything to the family in the new picturesIn the old days of Vietnam, people came to a calligraphy master and asked for parallel sentences on red paper rolls so that they could hang for Tet. Although calligraphy masters are not popular in the modern world anymore, but parallel sentences are still a unique part of any home decoration during Lunar New sentences, are simple, but bear the meaningful words to bring lots of success, money, health, and Gods Farewell CeremonyOne of the earliest and the most important customs of Tet Holiday is the Kitchen Gods Farewell Ceremony. On the 23rd of the last month in the lunar calendar, people offer carps and the dishes mentioned above to the Kitchen ceremony is meant to send off the Kitchen Gods to heaven. Traveling to the sky using the carps, the two gods and goddess of Kitchen will report to the King of Heaven about what happened in the previous year of the family, and will come back on the last day of Tet to celebrate the holiday with the Year’s Eve OfferingsOn New Year’s Eve, before the clock strikes twelve, the family would have both an open and in-door ceremony. The family would celebrate in open air first, to send thanks to the gods, with offerings including a boiled chicken, xoi gac, and flowers. After that, the family would come inside, over the ancestor altar pray for the ancestors to come home and celebrate the new Xi Lucky MoneyWhat everyone especially children loves the best thing about Tet Holiday is receiving Li Xi, or Lucky Money. The money is enclosed in bright red envelopes and given by the elderly during Tet as a mean of wishing good luck, health, and happiness in the new old people, it is a sign of respect and generosity. However, to children, Li Xi money is a mean of supply for hang-outs, clothes, and Xi Nam MoiActivitiesFamily ReunionThere are plenty of things during Tet. Most activities are about the theme of a family reunion. And indeed, a family reunion is the first thing that people do the early morning of Tet. People from any place, no matter how far or how busy, will try their best to find a way back to the family reunion. Everyone would come together and be in each other’s arms for the annual PagodaPeople will also visit the pagoda for good luck in the new year. They come here to wish for good luck for the rest of the year. Elders pray for their ancestors and ask them to look after each family member. Friends wish each other wellness, and children ask for a lot of toys and pictures on Flower StreetsOne favorite hotspot of Tet Holiday is the flower street. Every year, anyone who passes by the city center will look at constructing the year’s flower arrangements with curiosity. The amazing construction will bring a stunning landscape offer countless beautiful spots to selfie come here to admire and take photos in their traditional clothes and have a good time with their friends and to be aware of for Tet Holiday?Busy markets and price increaseTet is an important national holiday, meaning people should make sure they have all the essential items needed beforehand. Consequently, this results in busy markets, especially in the last week before New Year's the high demand for Tet items increase, that leads to an increase in price. So, don’t very surprised when fruits are more expensive than usual. Alternatively, you can prepare earlier to avoid the hefty StreetAirplane and Bus ticketsTet holiday is the only longest holiday when the family can see each other again. It means that it will be harder to book a flight or a bus trip during this holiday. If you plan to travel around Vietnam, be sure to book your plane, train, or bus ticket in holiday is not just for Vietnamese people, it is for anyone who wishes to be at home again, and home is where the heart is. So, get your heart on, put on your Tet spirit, and indulge in the Tet holiday on your next trip to OverviewThe capital of Vietnam is a city of timeless grace with tree-lined boulevards, colonial buildings, many lakes and parks as well as temples and pagodas. Best time to travel to HueLocated in the Central Coast of Vietnam, Hue province become one of key tourist regions included beautiful natural landscapes and hospitable people. This region belongs to humid tropical weather the temperature will be up to 39 degree in the dry season and could be 18 degree during the rainy 8 best places for dining in HanoiIf you are crazy about Hanoi cuisine, don't miss this article! Let us take you to the top 8 best places for dining in Hanoi from fine dining to local eateries. You should know do’s and don’ts to avoid awkward moments in Vietnam during Tet celebration. The most important celebration in Vietnamese culture, Tet Holiday carries love and hope; signifies family and friend kinship; and promises a better year ahead. If you are interested in learning about local life in Vietnam, there could not be a better time than Tet. So, what s the Tet in Vietnam? Tet Nguyen Dan, or Tet for short, is considered the biggest and most popular festival of the year in Vietnam. Celebrated on the first day of the first month in Lunar Calendar, Tet’s celebration is the longest holiday which may last up to seven to nine days. Vietnamese New Year in 2021 will last from 11-16 Feb, with 11 Feb the New Year’s Eve and 12 Feb the new year day. Different from the Gregorian calendar, Lunar Calendar has a fix number of twelve months with 30 days each, and a leap-year will have a whole intercalary month instead of the 29th day of February. The new year of Lunar Calendar normally will start in late January or beginning of February according to Gregorian calendar. That explains why Tet days vary from year to year it is because the leap month may fall shorter or longer which create a smaller or bigger gap between the two calendars. In 2022, Tet is on February 1st, Year of the Tiger Coming In 2023, Tet is on January 22nd, Year of the Cat In 2024, Tet is on February 10th, Year of the Dragon The actual holiday will last 1 day before and about 3-5 days after the day mentioned above. The period before Tet is normally the most busy time for holiday shopping and preparation. If you plan to visit Vietnam during the Tet Holiday, it is strongly advised that you apply for a visa as soon as possible as the embassy offices may close during the holiday time above. Tet is the occasion for Vietnamese to express their respect and remembrance for their ancestors as well as welcoming the New Year with their beloved family members. Moreover, in the past, Tet was essential as it provided one of few long breaks during the agricultural year, which was held between the harvesting of the crops and the sowing of the next ones. To make it easier, one can imagine Tet as a combination of Christmas and New Year every family will get together to have big meals, decorate Tet trees and eat Tet food but to welcome the new year instead of a religious cause. Watch our latest video My heart can feel Tet for the most vivid image from Tet in Vietnam. Since Tet occupies an important role in Vietnamese’s religious beliefs, Vietnamese will begin their preparations well in advance of the upcoming New Year. In an effort to get rid of the bad luck of the old year, people will spend a few days cleaning their homes, polishing every utensil, or even repaint and decorate the house with kumquat tree, branches of peach blossom, and many other colorful flowers. The ancestral altar is especially taken care of, with careful decoration of five kinds of fruits and votive papers, along with many religious rituals. Everybody, especially children, buy new clothes and shoes to wear on the first days of New Year. People also try to pay all their pending debts and resolve all the arguments among colleagues, friends or members of family. Like other Asian countries, Vietnamese believe that the color of red and yellow will bring good fortune, which may explain why these colors can be seen everywhere in Lunar New Year. People consider what they do on the dawn of Tet will determine their fate for the whole year, hence people always smile and behave as nice as they can in the hope for a better year. Besides, gifts are exchanged between family members and friends and relatives, while children receive lucky money kept in red envelope. No matter where Tet is celebrated, it must be clarified from the beginning that Tet is not a day, but several days of celebration. The general process is as follow all dates quoted in lunar calendar Ông Công, Ông Táo Day Kitchen God day – December 23rd Wrapping Chung cake – December 26-28th Family reunion and Tất niên – December 30th Giao thừa – New Year’s Eve including praying sessions to God and Ancestors, Xông đất First visit to a family in the new year. First three days of the new year visit paternal side on the first day, maternal side on the second day and teachers on the third day. Visit relatives, friends and neighbours can take place from January 3rd – 5th Hóa vàng – burn the offerings near Tet’s end for ancestors January 4th Reopen business usually owners pick a good date that matches their age. Tết Nguyên Tiêu January 15th The following food is often consumed during Tet; some are particular to Tet and often associated with the grand celebration Banh Chung/ Banh Tet Pickled onions Boiled chicken Mung bean pudding Vietnamese sausage – giò chả Xôi Gấc – Red Sticky Rice Roasted nuts and seeds Do’s and don’ts during Tet holidays Vietnam’s Hanoi street by night Tet is the special time of the year in which people believe the positive or negative energies in those days may linger the whole year. There some important do’s and don’ts on Tet that you should know • Avoid entering anybody’s house on the first day of Lunar New Year without an invitation as it is the first person stepping in the door who set the mood for the entire year. Vietnamese people also believe the zodiac animal of the first foot of the new year is associated with also determines the outcomes of the next year. • Do not ask for money on Tet as it is a premonition of an economic exhaustion year. • Avoid debating unhealthy topics on Tet, which is believed to shoo the luck and happiness away. • Do not sweep the house on the very first day of the lunar year as it means sweeping all the fortune of the owners. • Squids, ducks, etc. are considered to bring bad luck so their meat is not favorable dish for Tet. • Avoid working on the 5th of the New Year as it is not a good day for departures since it is considered to be the anniversary of the death. It is also advisable not to start working on that day. • Avoid hurting or killing. Related When many Americans hear the word "Tet," they immediately recall learning about the 1968 Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War. But what is Tet all about? Considered the first day of spring and most important of national holidays in Vietnam, Tet is the annual Vietnamese New Year celebration, coinciding with the Lunar New Year celebrated throughout the world in January or February. Technically, "Tet" is a shortened thank goodness! form of Tết Nguyên Đán, a way to say "Lunar New Year" in Vietnamese. Although Tet can be a very exciting time to travel in Vietnam, it's also the busiest time of the year to be there. Millions of people will be moving throughout the country, returning to their home villages to share reunions with friends and family. The Tet holiday will certainly affect your experience in Vietnam. *********** Tired of reading? Listen to our below Podcast made by our BEEPODS team to learn more about the biggest and most important festival in Vietnam What is Vietnam Tet?First of all, you can check the below video about Vietnamese New Year to have the general idea of its meanings and traditions Tet Nguyen Dan or Tet is the most important and popular holidays and festivals in Vietnam. It is the Vietnamese New Year marking the arrival of spring based on the Lunar calendar, a lunisolar calendar. The name Tet Nguyen Dan is Sino-Vietnamese for Feast of the very First Morning. Tet takes place from the first day of the first month of the Lunar calendar around late January or early February until at least the third day. Many Vietnamese prepare for Tet by cooking special holiday foods and cleaning their house. There are a lot of customs practiced during Tet such as visiting a person’s house on the first day of the new year xông nhà, ancestral worship, wishing New Year’s greetings, giving lucky money to children and elderly people and opening a shop. Tet is also an occasion for pilgrims and family reunions. During Tet, Vietnamese visits their relatives and temples, forgetting the troubles of the past year and hoping for a better upcoming year. They consider Tet to be the first day of spring and the festival is often called Hội xuân spring festival. Like other Asian countries, Vietnamese believe that the color of red and yellow will bring good fortune, which may explain why these colors can be seen everywhere in Lunar New Year. People consider what they do on the dawn of Tet will determine their fate for the whole year, hence people always smile and behave as nice as they can in the hope for a better year. Vietnamese New Year Traditions Tet is seen as a chance for a fresh start. Debts are settled, and old grievances are forgiven. Houses are cleaned of clutter and decorated with symbolic flowers. Plants get pruned, and drawers are cleared out. All preparations are meant to set the stage for attracting as much luck and good fortune as possible in the upcoming year. Superstition permeates the air Whatever happens on the first day of the new year is thought to set the pace for the rest of the year. Sweeping and cutting including hair and fingernails are taboo during Tet as no one wants to unknowingly remove incoming good luck! Although Vietnamese New Year is observed for 15 days, Tet is typically celebrated for three days with some traditions observed for up to a week. The first day of Tet is usually spent with immediate family, the second day is for visiting friends, and the third day is dedicated to teachers and visiting temples. One of the most important traditions observed during Tet is the emphasis put on who is the first to enter a house in the new year. The first person brings the luck good or bad for the year! Special people who are considered successful dear to the family are sometimes invited and given the honor to be the first to enter. If no one is invited, the homeowner leaves and returns a few minutes after midnight just to ensure they are the first to enter the house for the new year. Because the primary aim is to attract good fortune for the new year, Tet and Chinese New Year share a lot of similar traditions. Vietnamese people usually return to their families during Tet. Some return to worship at the family altar or visit the graves of their ancestors in their homeland. Although Tet is a national holiday among all Vietnamese, each region and religion has its own customs. In general, Tet can be divided into three periods, known as Tất Niên Before New Year’s Eve, Giao Thừa New Year’s Eve, and Tân Niên the New Year, representing the preparation before Tet, the eve of Tet, and the days of and following Tet, respectively. All of these customs are to celebrate Tet in Vietnam. The general process follows the 9 steps as below all dates quoted in lunar calendar Before New Year's Eve Ông Công, Ông Táo Day Kitchen God day - December 23rd Wrapping Chung cake - December 26-28th New Year's Eve Family reunion and Tất niên - December 30th Giao thừa - New Year's Eve including praying sessions to God and Ancestors, Xông đất First visit to a family in the new year The New Year First three days of the new year visit paternal side on the first day, maternal side on the second day and teachers on the third day Visit relatives, friends and neighbours can take place from January 3rd - 5th Hóa vàng - burn the offerings near Tet's end for ancestors January 4th Reopen business usually owners pick a good date that matches their age Tết Nguyên Tiêu January 15th We will see more detail below in this article. Before the New Year’s EveThis period begins one or two weeks before the actual celebration. The general atmosphere leading up to Tet is in the bustle of shopping, decorating the home, cooking traditional Tet food and waiting for relatives to return home. People try to pay off their debts in advance so that they can be debt-free on Tet. Parents buy new clothes for their children so that the children can wear them when Tet arrives. In the days leading up to Tet, the streets and markets are full of people. As the shops will be closed during Tet, everyone is busy buying food, clothes, and decorations for their house. Vietnamese families usually have a family altar, to pay respect to their ancestors. Vietnamese families have a tray of five different fruits on their altar called “Ngũ Quả” five fruits type. During Tet the altar is thoroughly cleaned and new offerings are placed there. Traditionally, the three kitchen guardians for each house Ông Táo Kitchen God return to heaven on the 23rd day of the twelfth month by lunar calendar to give his annual report on family members to the Jade Emperor. Their departure is marked by a modest ceremony where the family offers sacrifices for them to use on their journey. In the days leading up to Tet, each family cooks special holiday foods such as bánh chưng and bánh dầy. Preparations for these foods are quite extensive. Family members often take turns to keep watch on the fire overnight, telling each other stories about Tet of past years. One of very popular traditional food in Tet is Mut candied fruits which is not served in the meals but a snack to welcome guests visiting house and always kept in beautiful boxes and placed at the table in the living room. Decorations Vietnamese families also buy home peach blossom trees, kumquat trees, and orange trees. They also buy flowers to decorate their homes such as chrysanthemums or orchids. They plant these flowers and put them into beautiful pots in front of or inside the house. At Tet every house is usually decorated by Ochna integerrima in the central and south Vietnam or peach flower in the North. In the north or central, the kumquat tree is a popular decoration for the living room during Tet. Its many fruits symbolize the fertility and fruitfulness that the family hopes for in the coming year. New Year Flowers Flowers are very important decorations for Tet. Which flowers are used depends on location in Vietnam. All over Vietnam the most popular plant we saw was the kumquat tree. Countless times we saw men carrying kumquat trees on their motorbikes. At times it looked like the tree was driving the motorbike with just arms and legs sticking out of it. In southern Vietnam we saw tons of yellow chrysanthemums. Flower markets were erected in fields, in parking lots, and along the road, all of them selling potted chrysanthemums not much smaller than Kara. You can also find the flower markets like this all over the world with Vietnamese communities, only the ones in Vietnam were just ten times bigger. Peach blossoms are also very popular. These trees are just starting to bloom and people would buy a branch to take home, their pink flowers filling the city streets. In southern Vietnam the Hoa Mai tree is very popular, having bright yellow flowers. The amount of blooms on the tree is linked to how fortunate that family will be. In the New YearThe first day of Tet is reserved for the nuclear family. Children wear their new clothes, give their elders the traditional Tet greetings before receiving the lucky money from them in exchange. The traditional greetings are “Chúc Mừng Năm Mới” Happy New Year and “Cung Chúc Tân Xuân” gracious wishes of the new spring. People also wish each other prosperity and luck. Common wishes for Tết include Sống lâu trăm tuổi long life of 100 years used by children for elders. Traditionally, everyone is one year older on Tet, so children would wish their grandparents health and longevity. An khang thịnh vượng security, good health, and prosperity Vạn sự như ý may myriad things go according to your will Sức khỏe dồi dào Plenty of health Cung hỉ phát tài congratulations and be prosperous Tiền vô như nước many money flows in like water used informally Since the Vietnamese believe that the very first visitor a family receives in the year determines their fortune for the entire year, a person of good temper, morality and success will be the lucky sign for the host family and be invited first into the house. This special activity is called xông đất or xông nhà, which is one of the most important rituals during Tet. According to Vietnamese tradition, if good things come to the family on the first day of the lunar New Year, the entire following year will also be full of blessings. Sweeping during Tet is a taboo since it symbolizes sweeping the luck away. It is also a taboo for anyone who experienced a recent loss of a family member to visit anyone else during Tết. During subsequent days, people visit relatives and friends. Traditionally but not strictly, the second day of Tet is usually reserved for friends, while the third day is for teachers, who command respect in Vietnam. Local Buddhist temples are popular spots as people like to give donations and to get their fortunes told during Tet. How to Say Happy New Year in Vietnamese? Like Thai and Chinese, Vietnamese is a tonal language, making proper pronunciation a challenge for many English speakers. Regardless, locals will understand your attempts through context during Tet. You can wish people a happy new year in Vietnamese by telling them chúc mừng năm mới. Pronounced roughly as it is transliterated, the greeting sounds like "chuop moong nahm moy." New Year FoodsIn Vietnamese language, to celebrate Tết is to ăn Tết, literally meaning "eat Tết", showing the importance of food in its celebration. Some of the food is also eaten year-round, while other dishes are only eaten during Tết. Also, some of the food is vegetarian since it is believed to be good luck to eat vegetarian on Tết. Some traditional foods on Tết are Bánh chưng and bánh tét essentially tightly packed sticky rice with meat or bean fillings wrapped in dong Phrynium placentarium leaves. When these leaves are unavailable, banana leaves can be used as a substitute. One difference between them is their shape. Bánh chưng is the square-shaped one to represent the Earth, while bánh tét is cylindrical to represent the moon. Also, bánh chưng is more popular in the northern parts of Vietnam, so as bánh tét is more popular in the south. Preparation can take days. After moulding them into their respective shapes the square shape is achieved using a wooden frame, they are boiled for several hours to cook. The story of their origins and their connection with Tết is often recounted to children while cooking them overnight. Hạt dưa roasted watermelon seeds, also eaten during Tết Dưa hành pickled onion and pickled cabbage Củ kiệu pickled small leeks Mứt These dried candied fruits are rarely eaten at any time besides Tết. Kẹo dừa coconut candy Kẹo mè xửng peanut brittle with sesame seeds or peanuts Cầu sung dừa Đủ xoài In southern Vietnam, popular fruits used for offerings at the family altar in fruit arranging art are the custard-apple/sugar-apple/soursop mãng cầu, coconut dừa, goolar fig sung, papaya đu đủ, and mango xoài, since they sound like "cầu sung vừa đủ xài" [We] pray for enough [money/resources/funds/goods/etc.] to use in the southern dialect of Vietnamese. Thịt Kho Nước Dừa Meaning "meat stewed in coconut juice", it is a traditional dish of pork belly and medium boiled eggs stewed in a broth-like sauce made overnight of young coconut juice and nuoc mam. It is often eaten with pickled bean sprouts and chives, and white rice. Xôi Gấc traditionally a red sticky rice that is typically prepared by steaming and sweetened lightly, typically paired with Chả lụa most common type of sausage in Vietnamese cuisine, made of pork and traditionally wrapped in banana leaves. Game & EntertainmentPeople enjoy traditional games during Tết, including bầu cua cá cọp, cờ tướng, ném còn, chọi trâu, and đá gà. They also participate in some competitions presenting their knowledge, strength, and aestheticism, such as the bird competition and ngâm thơ competition. Fireworks displays have also become a traditional part of a Tết celebration in Vietnam. During the New Year's Eve, fireworks displays at major cities, such as Hà Nội, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, are broadcast through multiple national and local TV channels, accompanied by New Year wishes of the incumbent president. Gặp nhau cuối năm Year-end Gathering is a national favourite comedy show broadcast during the night before the New Year's Eve. Tet Offensive 1968The Tet Offensive Vietnamese Sự kiện Tết Mậu Thân 1968, or officially called The General Offensive and Uprising of Tet Mau Than 1968 Vietnamese Tổng Tiến công và Nổi dậy Tết Mậu Thân 1968 was one of the largest military campaigns of the Vietnam War, launched on January 30, 1968 by forces of the Viet Cong VC and North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam PAVN against the forces of the South Vietnamese Army of the Republic of Vietnam ARVN, the United States Armed Forces and their allies. It was a campaign of surprise attacks against military and civilian command and control centers throughout South Vietnam. The name of the offensive comes from the Tết holiday, the Vietnamese New Year, when the first major attacks took place. When is Tet Vietnam?Check the below table for the date of Vietnamese Tet until 2067 Zodiac Gregorian date Tý Rat 25 January 2020 11 February 2032 30 January 2044 15 February 2056 Sửu Buffalo 12 February 2021 31 January 2033 17 February 2045 4 February 2057 Dần Tiger 1 February 2022 19 February 2034 6 February 2046 24 January 2058 Mèo Cat 22 January 2023 8 February 2035 26 January 2047 12 February 2059 Thìn Dragon 10 February 2024 28 January 2036 14 February 2048 2 February 2060 Tỵ Snake 29 January 2025 15 February 2037 2 February 2049 21 January 2061 Ngọ Horse 17 February 2026 4 February 2038 23 January 2050 9 February 2062 Mùi Goat 6 February 2027 24 January 2039 11 February 2051 29 January 2063 Thân Monkey 26 January 2028 12 February 2040 1 February 2052 17 February 2064 Dậu Rooster 13 February 2029 1 February 2041 18 February 2053 5 February 2065 Tuất Dog 2 February 2030 22 January 2042 8 February 2054 26 January 2066 Hợi Pig 23 January 2031 10 February 2043 28 January 2055 14 February 2067 Traveling during Tet Festival in VietnamWhat does the Tet festival in Vietnam mean for tourists? It is a particularly good time to visit in Vietnam? Should I time my Vietnam visit to avoid Tet? Many travelers have such doubts in mind. To help you make the decision, here are some facts to know about Vietnam during Tet Holiday Transportation flights, buses and trains about 1 week before or after Tet Holiday are often booked out well in advance as Vietnamese travel a lot this time return home/go back for work. Be sure to book early. Note Sonasia Holiday provides private vehicle for customers, so there is no need to worry about short-distance transportation. Accommodation most hotels remain open, so there is no need to worry about accommodation. However, some hotels may raise the price if you stay during Tet holiday. Sightseeing some tourist sites remain open during Tet, but many museums, mausoleums, and indoor exhibition place and art houses will be closed at the first 3 days of Tet. The floating markets in the Mekong Delta will be closed. Restaurants many restaurants will be closed during Tet. Therefore, Tet may not be the best time for culinary tour fans. Shops many shops will be closed for the first few days of Tet Festival. The good news is - many products will be sold at a very reasonable price because most sellers want to start a smooth sales year. Banks banks will be closed for the holiday. Overall, Tet is not the best time to travel to Vietnam, but will all these factors spoil your Vietnam holiday during Tet? Not really. Here are some good parts of Tet for travelers The country is vibrant and colorful during this time, and you will have a chance to learn more about culture of Vietnam. Streets are quiet and light in traffic during Tet. Beaches will be less crowded - overall Tet is a great time for those who enjoy the tranquility. Streets are elaborately decorated, and everybody looks happy. Just enjoy the festive mood! Hotels and travel agents still work during Tet holiday. Some hotels will have special nights or New Year celebration. Our tips for traveling during Tet in VietnamIf you're planning to visit Vietnam during Tet holiday, here are some tips. Be sure to plan and book your Vietnam tour early so that tickets can be guaranteed. Booking two or four months ahead is not a bad idea. Book hotels early. There are three reasons you can enjoy a relatively low price; avoid the risk of having no room to stay; there are more choices if book early. Since some tourist sites are closed during Tet, it’s wise to plan your itinerary accordingly visit the museums and such just before or after Tet, and relax or walk around Hanoi Old Quarter or go sunbathing in beaches during Tet. For travelers, dining at hotel restaurants is the option since most restaurants are closed. If you are in need of some currency changed, do this in hotels though the exchange rate might be less than favorable. Try not to bargain because it will be considered to bring about bad luck for the whole new year. If you have to do, be very politely. All in all, if you're planning to visit Vietnam during or around Tet Holiday, be sure to prepare your trip ahead of time! What's the weather like during Tet Vietnam?The Tet Holiday usually falls in mid-January or February. Dry, bright weather is expected across Vietnam. Temperatures in the north Hanoi, Halong Bay will be relatively cool avg temp 17 °C but higher in central Vietnam Hoi An, Danang, Hue, Nha Trang, etc and South Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta avg temp 25-28 °C. Celebrations of Lunar New Year in other parts of AsiaDuring the same period, there are some other parts in Asia also celebrate the new year with quite the same meaning & traditions such as China, Korean, Japanese, Mongolian, or Tibetan Some countries celebrate the new year during March or April depending on the calendar that they follow such as Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, or Cambodia. For further detail you can check our article about the New Year’s Traditions in Asia Table of Contents When is the Lunar New Year in Vietnam?How do the Vietnamese celebrate Tet?Local beliefs to be aware ofTraditional Tet foodSticky rice cakesFruit candiesToasted watermelon seedsRice wineRed envelopes and prosperity Image by Quang Nguyen vinh via Pixabay The Lunar New Year is known in Vietnam as Tet, short for Tet Nguyen Dan. This translates to “the first morning of the first day of the new year”. In the build-up to Vietnam’s Lunar New Year, streets are lined with flowers, parties are thrown, and dragon dances are perfected. Everyone seems to be cooking, cleaning, and getting ready for the big day. The smell of incense is everywhere. There’s a festival atmosphere in the air weeks before the actual day of Tet, and even the quietest areas of the country spring to life. If you’re planning to travel during Tet, it’s worth noting that public transport is at its busiest during this season. Many family members who live in separate provinces will return to their hometowns during this period. So if you’re looking to travel, be sure to book well in advance – even airfares sell out quickly. The dates of the Lunar New Year in Vietnam differ year by year, depending on the lunar calendar. In 2021, it falls on February 12, and lasts around a week. Tet is by far the most important festival in Vietnam. For many workers, it is the only time of year when a holiday is taken. This can be anywhere from three days to a fortnight. As a result, it’s worth being a little prepared if you’re staying in Vietnam during Tet. Stock up on food and source some international restaurants as many local markets and eateries will close for a few days. How do the Vietnamese celebrate Tet? The immediate weeks prior to Tet involve a lot of cleaning and cooking. There is also quite a lot of partying! The sound of karaoke and the clinking of glasses can be heard almost anywhere in Vietnam for a week or two before. In contrast, the very first day of Tet is a quiet family affair. Families all over the country will reunite and pay their respects to deceased elders. Many Vietnamese people take part in ancestor worship, believing the dead to still be around them in spirit form. Offerings are made to ancestors in the form of food, drink, and fake money. Gifts such as these are made throughout the year, but they are especially important during Tet. It’s believed they keep ancestors happy in the afterlife and ensure good luck for those still living. After the first day of Tet, families may open their houses to friends and neighbors. Households will have a food selection on a prominent table for guests who come to visit. Local beliefs to be aware of Most importantly, don’t visit anyone’s home on the first day of Tet unless you’ve been specifically invited. There is a belief that the very first person to enter a home during Tet can affect the fortunes of that household for the next 12 months. As a result, locally successful or well-respected people are often given the duty of being the “first caller”. Sometimes, the owner of the house will simply leave their house and re-enter it, just to be the first visitor and avoid any bad luck. If you are staying with a Vietnamese family and are helping out with the household chores, make sure you don’t do any cleaning or sweeping over Tet. All cleaning should be done the week before, as people don’t want to “sweep away” any good luck during the season itself! Remember to smile! Tet is a season in which good luck is welcomed, and having negative vibes around, even in the shape of a grumpy face, isn’t wanted by anyone. Be positive with your language and even wear bright colors if you have them. Each Lunar New Year in Vietnam ushers in a new zodiac year too. 2021 will be the year of the buffalo. These animals are revered in Vietnam, given the role they play in rice farming. Those born in buffalo years are seen as being both patient and hardworking. Traditional Tet food Like most festivals, food forms an important part of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. Tet comes with its own special menu, and families will do a lot of cooking in the build-up to Tet. If you’re lucky, you may get invited by your Vietnamese host to try some of the following lip-smacking delicacies! Sticky rice cakes Image by Nha Hoang from Pixabay Known locally as banh chung, you’ll see sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves. They’re made of rice and mung beans, sometimes with pork added. The wrapping of sticky rice cakes is a popular sight in many places in Vietnam, and with so many to make, you’ll often see a whole family involved in the process. Fruit candies Mut is sugared fruit and you’ll typically see pineapples, apricots, and coconuts transformed into sweet treats. Many families will make their own mut, and if the kids don’t eat it all first, you’ll likely be offered them if invited into a Vietnamese home over Tet. Toasted watermelon seeds These can be seen in Vietnam most of the year, often served in bars with beer or coffee. But they’re eaten with aplomb during Tet. Families will have an almighty bowl of these moreish nibbles. There’s a genuine art to cracking the soft shell off with your teeth, whilst keeping the inner seed intact. Rice wine Tet is also a time for drinking, and in the weeks before Tet, it’s not uncommon to find a lot of rice wine sipped in the name of celebration! Red envelopes and prosperity If you’re in Vietnam during Tet, you may see packs of red envelopes for sale in local stores. There’s also a chance that you’ll see happy-looking children carrying one! In various parts of Southeast Asia, red envelopes containing money are given during special occasions. In Vietnam, these are given to children during Tet. Whilst it’s okay to give them to anyone younger than you, they’re normally given within extended families. Older siblings may give them to their nieces and nephews. Often, the children will pass the money on to their parents. Other families allow their children to keep the money for themselves. Money given in red envelopes during Tet is considered “lucky money”. The tradition comes from China, where red is considered to be a color that symbolizes good things. If you’re staying with a Vietnamese family, you can join in by giving red envelopes to their children. Anything from 1 to 5 USD per envelope is fine — the symbol is more important than the amount. However, there is no pressure on you to do so! Kumquat Trees and marigolds are also popular symbols seen around Tet. Both are considered signs of a prosperous future. If you’re traveling in Vietnam during the Lunar New Year, open your heart and mind and embrace the festivities! And don’t forget to say chuc munh nam moi to everyone you meet — that way, you’ll be wishing them a happy new year! About TourHero TourHero is a social travel platform that enables you to travel with like-minded people and fall in love with the journey. We work closely with handpicked local operators to ensure every experience curated is unique and exclusive to your travel group. Come with us on epic adventures and create memories that last a lifetime! Subscribe Get exclusive curated content right in your inbox! 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