What Is Tết?
Tết Nguyên Đán — commonly called simply "Tết" — is Vietnam's Lunar New Year celebration and, without question, the country's most important annual holiday. It marks the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar calendar. For Vietnamese people, Tết is a time of family reunion, spiritual reflection, and fresh beginnings.
When Does Tết Occur?
Tết falls on the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar, typically between late January and mid-February. The celebrations officially last three days, though festivities and preparations begin well over a week in advance, and the festive spirit lingers for the entire first month of the new year.
Key Traditions and Customs
Cleaning and Decorating the Home
In the weeks before Tết, families thoroughly clean their homes to sweep away bad luck from the previous year and make room for good fortune. Homes are then decorated with:
- Hoa mai (yellow apricot blossoms) in the south
- Hoa đào (peach blossoms) in the north
- Kumquat trees symbolizing prosperity
- Red and gold decorations representing luck and wealth
Worshipping Ancestors
Ancestor worship is central to Vietnamese culture, and Tết elevates this practice. Families prepare elaborate altars with offerings of food, fruit, flowers, and incense to honor deceased relatives and invite their spirits home for the celebration.
Lì Xì — Lucky Money
One of the most beloved Tết traditions is the giving of lì xì — red envelopes containing money. Elders give them to children as a symbol of good health, luck, and prosperity for the year ahead. The amount matters less than the gesture and the red envelope itself.
Traditional Tết Foods
Food is a cornerstone of Tết celebrations. Every family prepares special dishes loaded with symbolic meaning:
- Bánh chưng (square sticky rice cake) — represents the earth and gratitude to ancestors
- Dưa hành (pickled onions) — a northern staple that balances rich festive meats
- Thịt kho tàu (braised pork and eggs) — popular in southern households
- Mứt Tết (candied fruits and seeds) — served to guests throughout the holiday
Tết Taboos to Know
Vietnamese Tết comes with a set of customs and superstitions that are taken seriously, especially on the first day of the new year:
- Avoid sweeping the floor — you might sweep away new luck
- Don't lend money on the first day — it's considered bad luck for the lender
- Avoid breaking things, arguing, or saying unlucky words
- The first visitor to a home on New Year's Day (xông đất) is believed to set the tone for the entire year
Experiencing Tết as a Visitor
If you're in Vietnam during Tết, expect a quieter, almost ghost-town atmosphere in major cities as millions travel home to their families. However, the days leading up to the holiday are extraordinarily vibrant — markets overflow with flowers, decorations, and traditional foods. Temple visits on New Year's Eve and the first days of Tết offer a genuinely moving window into Vietnamese spiritual life.
Understanding Tết is perhaps the single best way to understand the values at the heart of Vietnamese culture: family, respect for ancestors, community, and the hope for a better year ahead.