Introducing the Where In Vietnam x Santa Fe Relocation Tết Survival Guide 2024!
Welcome to Tết, the vibrant “Festival of the First Day of the Year” in Vietnam, also known as Tết Nguyên Đán. As one of the most significant celebrations in Vietnamese culture, Tết marks a period of bustling family gatherings, travels, and nationwide festivities.
Santa Fe Relocation has been sharing a trusted resource for 14 years and we at Where In Vietnam are honored to be the first people they’ve partnered with on their irreplaceable Tết Survival Guide.
In this guide you’ll find an overview to answer your questions:
- What is Tết?
- How is Tết celebrated in Vietnam?
- What are the customs and traditions of Tết?
- How you can celebrate Tết as a foreigner
- Tết Events in Hanoi
- Tết Events in HCMC
Plus a comprehensive list of Vietnam’s business openings/closures during this busy time > Yes this means What’s open over Tết in HCMC, what’s open over Tết in Hanoi, What’s open over Tết in Danang, Hoi An and more!
Here’s a little snippet of what you can expect in this guide
1. Tết At A Glance
- Tết is short for Tết Nguyên Đán which means “Festival of the First Day of the Year”
- This is the busiest time of year in Vietnam and one of the most important celebrations in Vietnamese culture, so you’ll see many in family gatherings, trips and general festivities across the country
- The date of celebration varies year to year as Tết is based on the lunar calendar. This year, Giáp Thìn, is from Friday Feb 9 to Wed Feb 14
- New Year’s Eve is Feb 9 and New Year is Feb 10
- Vietnamese traditionally celebrate Tết from the 15th day of the 12th lunar month to the 15th day of the 1st lunar month. And, even today, businesses can slow down two weeks before and two weeks after TET
- While businesses in expat areas and big cities will have flexible business hours, more local and rural areas will be closed almost entirely. Expect surcharges on travel and general services too that are open during the Tết
- To be on the safe side, we suggest stocking up on supplies to last at least 1-2 days.
2. The Year of the Dragon
The Year of the Dragon (Năm Rồng in Vietnamese) holds a place of honor as one of the twelve zodiac animals in Vietnam. The mythical origin of the Vietnamese people is deeply tied to dragons so this year’s Tết symbolism is particularly poignant for Vietnam as a whole.
In Vietnamese culture, the dragon is a symbol of power, luck, and prosperity. Those born in the Year of the Dragon are believed to inherit these qualities, making it a highly coveted zodiac sign.
The Vietnamese tell a tale of Lạc Long Quân, a dragon lord, and Âu Cơ, a fairy, and is a foundational narrative illustrating the dragon’s benevolence and its connection to Vietnam’s heritage. Beyond that, Dragon dances, Dragon Processions and Dragon boat racing are a few of the ways that Dragons manifest in Vietnam year around – so imagine how exciting it is to BE in the Year of the Dragon in Vietnam!
3. Getting Ready & Celebrating Tết
The celebration of Tết in Vietnam is all about cleaning out old energies and ushering in new energies for the New Year. Cleaning, New Clothes, Sharing Good Fortune are common themes in getting ready and during Tết celebration. These Common Tết traditions and customs come alive in every part of life!
Read more about Tết Traditions and Customs
4. Tết is Famous for Food
In the Vietnamese language, to celebrate Tết is to ăn Tết, literally meaning “eat Tết”, showing how important of food is in the celebration. Some of the dishes can be enjoyed all year-round, while other dishes are only served during Tết.
- Bánh chưng and bánh tét tightly packed sticky rice with meat or bean fillings
- Hạt Dưa: roasted watermelon seeds
- Dưa Hành: pickled onion and cabbage
- Củ Kiệu: pickled small leeks
- Mứt: These dried candied fruits are rarely eaten at any time besides Tết
- Thịt Kho Tàu: Meat Stewed in Coconut Juice.
5. Share Your Lì Xì
The custom of giving and receiving Lì Xì, or ‘Lucky Money’ is given in red envelopes that can be found in bookshops, market stalls or, of course, Lazada. This is a cherished tradition during Tết.
Beyond Lucky Money at Tết, it’s always wise to come bearing gifts! We’ve created a little Tết Gift cheat sheet of what makes a good gift during Tết in Vietnam.
Learn more about tipping & gift giving at Tết
6. Events & Activities over Tết in Vietnam
It can be hard to know what is happening in Hanoi or HCMC during Tết. It’s such a busy time and with many publications in Vietnamese it can be intimidating (especially if this is your first time celebrating V!)
We’ve found so many Tết Activities in Hanoi and HCMC that you will enjoy to get in the Tết spirit!
Events include over 200 Tết flower shows in Hanoi and HCMC, details about Tết Fireworks, and other traditional Tết celebrations.
7. What is open over Tết in Vietnam?
Whether you’re looking for openings and closures in Hanoi, HCMC, Danang, Hoi An and more, we’ve got you covered. With Santa Fe Relocation Vietnam we have assembled a comprehensive list of businesses open over Tết in Vietnam. This ranges from casual favorites or fine dinings options in case you want to treat yourself to something special over Tết.
