Q&A ABOUT TET HOLIDAY IN VIETNAM

1. WHAT IS TẾT?

Tết, the Vietnamese New Year, is a vibrant and cherished celebration marking the arrival of spring in Vietnam. Tet is the same for New year in other European countries. Based on the lunar calendar, it typically falls between late January and mid-February. This festive occasion centers around family reunions, paying homage to ancestors, and embracing cherished customs.

2. HOW IS TET IMPORTANT TO VIETNAMESE?

Tet - Lunar New Year is crucial to Vietnamese people, which is the same as New year on 1st January to other countries in Europe. It’s also the biggest occasion approved by the government, so Vietnamese often set aside their time to reunite with family/come back home. Tết stands as the pinnacle of Vietnamese cultural identity, embodying the values of familial ties, tradition, and renewal. Its significance lies in its role as a symbol of new beginnings and the passing of time, serving as an anchor for Vietnamese heritage.

3. HOW MANY DAY-OFFS DOES VIETNAMESE HAS?

In Vietnam, the Tet holiday traditionally spans about 7 to 9 days, although the exact number of days off can vary from year to year and depending on the specific arrangements made by employers or the government. Generally, people get several days off work to celebrate Tet, allowing time for travel, family gatherings, and participating in various traditional customs and festivities.

4. WHAT DOES VIETNAMESE DO IN TET HOLIDAY?

There are a plenty of activities in Tet holiday, but we just list out in 7 main ones:

Family Reunions:

It's a time for families to come together, often traveling long distances to gather and celebrate.

Honoring Ancestors:

Families pay respects to ancestors by visiting their graves, cleaning and decorating them. Besides that, Vietnamese often prefer a 5-fruit plate in the altar to show the expectation for a good beginning of the year.

Cleaning and Decorating:

Homes are thoroughly cleaned to sweep away bad luck from the old year, and decorations such as peach blossoms, kumquat trees, and apricot blossoms adorn households.

Traditional Foods:

Depend on the areas, Special dishes like bánh chưng (sticky rice cake), bánh dầy (another type of sticky rice cake), pickled vegetables (rau củ ngâm chua), and various sweets are prepared and shared among family and friends.

Giving Lucky Money:

Red envelopes (lì xì) containing lucky money are given to children and elders to wish them luck, prosperity, and good fortune in the new year.

Visiting Relatives and Friends:

People visit neighbors, relatives, and friends to exchange Tet greetings and well wishes.

Fireworks and Festivities:

Public celebrations often include fireworks displays, cultural performances, dragon dances (múa rồng/múa lân), and other festivities.

5. SHOULD FOREIGN TOURIST TRAVEL ON THIS HOLIDAY? WHY/WHY NOT?'

The answer is YES and NO. Traveling on Tet holiday must be interesting but quite challenging, there are some pros and cons that you need to take into consideration:

Pros:

ALL-IN-ONE:

the big opportunities to witness and participate in a big and unique holiday in Vietnam which occurs once a year. You can experience vibrant festivals, parades, and cultural events that showcase the richness of Vietnamese heritage.

Cons:

LIMITING SERVICE:

there is limited options from restaurant, food store,... which is closed for Tet holiday. Moreover, prices for accommodations and transportation tend to increase during this peak travel period.