Vietnamese New Year Holidays 2025
Date: January 28, 2025 (Tuesday)
Country: Vietnam Public Holidays
Description
T Tet Nguyen Dan is the Vietnamese New Year. People call it Tet. It marks the start of the lunar calendar year and stands as the most important holiday in Vietnam for families and communities.
Tet usually falls in late January or February. The exact date changes each year because it follows the moon. The main celebration is on the first day of the lunar year, but the holiday period often lasts several days.
Tet means new beginnings. It is a time to welcome the year ahead with hope for health, luck, and success. The holiday brings a sense of renewal and fresh starts for everyone.
Tet is also deeply tied to family and community life. It strengthens bonds between relatives and neighbors. Many official events and public observances happen around Tet because it is central to Vietnamese culture and national identity.
Traditions
Before Tet, families clean and decorate homes to welcome luck. They set up a flowering tree like peach or apricot, arrange fruit trays, and prepare an ancestral altar with incense, flowers, and favorite foods for visiting ancestors.
On New Year days, people wear new or bright clothes and visit relatives to exchange wishes. Children get li xi red envelopes with money. Communities enjoy lion dances, fireworks, and street performances. Many visit pagodas to light incense and pray quietly for health.
Special foods are shared at family meals. Common dishes include banh chung or banh tet rice cakes, boiled chicken, pickled onions, sticky rice, and sweet jams. Families cook and eat together, sharing these foods as a way to bond and show respect.
Travel Tips
Many shops, banks and government offices close or run reduced hours. Book trains and planes early and expect crowded buses and stations in the days before and after the holiday. ATMs may run low on cash so carry enough local money.
Public events and street crowds get busy and loud. Keep your passport and belongings safe and follow police or event staff instructions. Visit parks, temples or markets early to avoid crowds, support small vendors, and be respectful while taking photos.