Tết Nguyên Đán (commonly "Tết") is the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, the most important celebration in Vietnam. It falls on the same date as Chinese New Year but has distinct Vietnamese traditions.
Tết dates back over 1,000 years to when Vietnam was under Chinese rule, but Vietnamese traditions developed independently. The festival marks the arrival of spring and a new lunar year.
Thorough house cleaning before Tết. Visiting graves of ancestors. Family reunion. Giving "lì xì" (lucky money in red envelopes) to children. Visiting in strict order: parents on day 1, in-laws on day 2, teachers on day 3.
Bánh chưng (square sticky rice cake with mung bean and pork, symbolizing the earth) and bánh tét (cylindrical version, southern Vietnam). Mứt Tết (candied fruits). Thịt kho (caramelized pork). Pickled scallions.
"Chúc Mừng Năm Mới" (Happy New Year) · "Cung Chúc Tân Xuân" (Wishing you the new spring)
Public holiday for 5-7 days. Vietnam essentially shuts down — most shops, restaurants, and offices close for several days. Train tickets to home villages sell out months in advance. Tourist services in Saigon and Hanoi often remain open.