Your Guide to Exploring Vietnam During Vietnamese Lunar New Year

Celebrated annually to mark hope and prosperity for the next year, Vietnamese Lunar New Year, also known as Tet Holiday, is the most important holiday in Vietnamese society. You have a rare chance to fully experience vivid customs, energetic celebrations, and delicious cuisine this festive season offers.

From sincere customs like family get-togethers and lucky money distribution to cooking famous meals like bánh chưng and caramelized pig, Tet holiday is a real window into Vietnamese society.

Cities and communities become vibrant havens with flower markets, traditional events, and festive decorations all around this season. There is never a shortage of interesting things to do whether your interests are in exploring the cultural vitality of Ho Chi Minh City, savoring the serene countryside of Hoian, or meandering through the busy streets of Hanoi.

This guide will bring you through the must-know Tet customs, top locations, and insider advice to make your trip during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year really unforgettable.

Understanding Tet - The Vietnamese Lunar New Year

Celebrated most importantly and extensively, Lunar New Year in Vietnam, sometimes called Tết Nguyên Đán, It heralds the start of the Lunar Calendar and represents a fresh beginning loaded with family harmony, hope, and wealth.

It is rooted in thousands of years of history, Vietnamese holiday Tet is more than just a New Year's celebration. It's an opportunity to commemorate ancestors, re-connect with loved ones, and embrace Vietnamese customs handed down through the years.

Snacks for Vietnamese Lunar New Year Celebration

What is Tet festival?

Tết marks a moment when Vietnamese people show thanks for the past year and make plans for the one ahead, not only the beginning of a new year. It usually matching the lunar calendar, the celebration falls in late January or early February.

Lunar Chinese new year also marks life's cycle and rebirth as spring starts to blossom. It deeply established in Vietnamese society, this holiday is observed with both solemn rites and exuberant celebrations.

History and customs of Vietnamese lunar new year festival

Lunar new year in Vietnamese has its roots in the agricultural past of Vietnam. Farmers used this period historically to pray for a plentiful crop and respect the ground. These ideas changed throughout millennia, mixing with Buddhist and Confucian ideas to produce a rich tapestry of customs and rituals.

Among the most beloved customs are some like:

• Honoring ancestors by means of rites and offerings at family altars.
• Cleaning and beautifying homes helps one to accept fresh blessings and sweep away negative luck.
• Making special foods like bánh tét (cylindrical sticky rice cakes) and bánh chưng (square sticky rice cakes), each representing the Earth and the Sky.

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Raw Chung cake

Key Tet Holiday customs

The vivid rituals and traditions of Tet Holiday are among its most fascinating features. Every family and community engages in distinctive events that capture their aspirations for the next year. Among the most cherished customs are some:

• Giving Lì Xì (Lucky money): Elders and parents present red envelopes loaded with money to youngsters and younger relatives, Lì Xì ( lucky money). This stands for success, health, and luck.
• Decorating with peach blossoms and kumquat trees: During Tết, these plants are indispensable decoration. While kumquat trees stand for riches and happiness, peach blossoms signify rebirth and energy.
• Enjoying traditional foods: Special Tet dishes that provide a great window into Vietnamese cuisine include pickled vegetables (dưa món) and caramelized pork (thịt kho tàu).

Tết is a sincere mirror of Vietnamese culture and beliefs, not only a festival. Not only for residents but also for everyone fortunate enough to see it, its customs, past, and significance make it a special experience.

Understanding these customs helps you completely enjoy this beloved celebration's richness and beauty.

Read more: Top 10 Traditional Festivals In Vietnam That You Must Experience 2025

Best destinations to experience Vietnamese Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year in Vietnam brings vivid customs, exuberant décor, and friendly cultural encounters to life in Vietnam. Every area has special appeal that gives visitors many options to really enjoy the event. Below are the best places to see the wonder of Tết in Vietnam.

1. Hanoi

You wishing to really experience Vietnamese Lunar New Year customs should definitely visit Hanoi since it is the height of traditional Tết celebrations. The Old Quarter's alleyways come alive with vibrant flower shops where you may see kumquat trees and peach blossoms, markers of luck.

Many people swarm Hoan Kiem Lake to take in the Tet decorations and sporadic pyrotechnies. Historical sites include the Temple of Literature and Ngoc Son Temple, where residents engage in age-old ceremonies to pray for health and wealth.

From cultural sites to a real festive vibe, Hanoi is the ideal location to see the actual spirit of Tet Lunar New Year.

Read more: Top 11 Festivals in Hanoi

Tet holiday fireworks in Ha Noi

2. Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City on Tet presents a fantastic fusion of Vietnamese culture and modern festivals for people looking for a vibrant mix of old and new. Renowned Nguyen Hue Flower Street is turned into a breathtaking floral paradise with artistic decorations emphasizing the seasonal mood.

While temples covered in vivid incense reflect the rich legacy of the city, traditional lion dances and street events provide life to the celebrations in Chợ Lớn (Chinatown). Popular sites like the War Remnants Museum and the Notre Dame Cathedral offer a more subdued respite among the holiday bust.

3. Hoian

Celebrating Tet Lunar New Year in Hoian presents a calm but mesmerizing environment. The old town is lit with vibrant lanterns during the festive season to create a wonderful environment that fascinates every guest.

Held during Tet Holiday, the Lantern Festival is a highlight whereby the streets become a brilliant show reflecting the elegance of Vietnamese New Year customs. Apart from its natural beauty, Hoian presents lots of events that help guests fully experience Vietnamese culture including folk games and cultural presentations.

Another feature that wonderfully balances the joyful experience is the native food, which includes bánh bao bánh vạc and cao lầu.

Read more: The Best Vietnam Street Food

4. Mekong Delta

From Vietnam's Mekong Delta, Tết presents a more rustic and traditional viewpoint. Known for its floating markets, including Cai Rang, where vivid commerce in fruits, flowers, and Tết specialties takes place.

You can enjoy the warm hospitality of the locals by joining a family for a traditional Tết meal, an experience that highlights the heartfelt community spirit of Vietnamese culture. Surrounded by lush orchards and serene river landscapes, the Mekong Delta allows visitors to celebrate Tết in a slower, more intimate way.

Decorating room for Tet at house of Mekong Delta's family 

5. Danang

Another amazing place for celebrating Tet Lunar New Year is Da Nang. The city is renowned for its vibrant fireworks displays that light up the sky, offering an exciting way to ring in the new year. You can explore the Marble Mountains or enjoy the family-friendly attractions along the city’s stunning beaches.

Things to do and see during Vietnamese Lunar New Year

1. Explore local markets

Local marketplaces around Tết Lunar New Year are a hive of activity loaded with seasonal smells, sights, and sounds. Markets like Ben Thanh Market in HCM or Quang Bá Flower Market in Hanoi become hive centers for purchasing celebratory cuisine, fresh flowers, and traditional decorations.

Here you may find classic objects including red envelopes used for lì xì, kumquat trees, and peach flowers. Along with a chance to buy souvenirs, shopping at these markets allows one to enjoy the festive mood and engage with residents getting ready for the holiday.

View of colorful decorations at a market in Vietnam

2. Enjoy traditional Vietnamese cuisine

Without savoring its delicious traditional cuisine, no trip to Vietnam during Tết is whole. Families get ready to savor unique cuisine that represents togetherness and prosperity at Tết. Among must-try meals are bánh tét, cylindrical sticky rice cakes; bánh chưng, square sticky rice cakes; and thịt kho tàu, caramelized pork with eggs. 

Often combined with pickled vegetables like dưa món, these meals provide the ideal harmony of tastes. Many local houses and restaurants also provide festive cuisine, allowing you to enjoy real Vietnamese tastes and learn the gastronomic value of Tết holiday customs.

3. Visit temples and pagodas

During Tết in Vietnam, temples and pagodas are very important since residents attend to pray for the new year. Celebrateable decorations abound on well-known landmarks including Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue, Jade Emperor Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City, Ngọc Sơn Temple in Hanoi,.... which hum with activity. 

Seeing these spiritual activities helps one to better appreciate the compatibility between Vietnamese customs and Buddhism, which is a natural feature of Tết Lunar New Year.

The couple in traiditional dresess standing at temple doors

Best time to visit

The Tết holiday usually falls depending on the Lunar Calendar between late January and mid-February. Arriving during the week before Tết is thrilling because of the flurry of preparations.

Flower stores abound on streets, residences are ornamented with kumquat trees and peach flowers, and the celebratory mood is very alive. By staying during the first week of Tết, you can take part in events, see local practices, and enjoy slower days in big cities.

Exploring Vietnam During Tết with Vietnam Budget Car Rental

Traveling in Vietnam during Tết Lunar New Year provides a special cultural experience; nevertheless, completely enjoying the celebrations depends on dependable transportation. Choosing a car rental company like Vietnam Budget Car Rental gives you freedom and convenience so you may visit several places at your own speed.

Vietnam Budget Car Rental provides a range of services catered to fit various travel requirements. They provide efficient communication and a more enjoyable travel experience by assigning drivers of English-speaking cars.

From single travellers to bigger families or parties, their fleet offers choices fit for varying group sizes. Major cities such Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Mui Ne, and more offer services that help to enable easy travel around Vietnam. 

Renting a car with a driver can be quite helpful during the Tet holiday when public transportation might be constrained and demand for travel services rises. It lets you see well-known sites including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Ha Long Bay, Mekong Delta,... free from the hassle of negotiating packed public transportation.

Furthermore improving your Vietnamese Lunar New Year experience is having a native driver familiar with the surroundings, which can offer insightful analysis of local customs and traditions.

Booking our car rental ahead of time will help to guarantee availability and save the best pricing, particularly in the crowded Tet season. Online booking choices from Vietnam Budget Car Rental make planning your vacation easy.