Vietnam’s Tet: A Cultural Celebration Like No Other in the Lunar New Year
While Lunar New Year is celebrated across Asia, Vietnam’s Tết Nguyên Đán reigns as the country’s most cherished holiday

As the Lunar New Year approaches, countries across East and Southeast Asia begin preparing for this significant holiday.
While nations like China, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia each have their unique traditions, Vietnam’s celebration—Tết Nguyên Đán, or simply Tết—stands out as the most important holiday in the country.
Though it shares some common practices like family gatherings, food, and ancestor worship with other nations, Tết is distinct for its spiritual depth, rituals, and the role it plays in Vietnamese cultural pride.
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Duration and phases

Tết unfolds over three main phases. The first phase is Tất Niên (Year-End Preparation), which involves cleaning homes, preparing altars, and cooking traditional dishes. This phase is all about removing the old year’s bad luck to make way for prosperity.
The second phase, Giao Thừa (New Year’s Eve), is a time for families to gather and hold offerings to their ancestors and deities. The midnight rituals are especially emphasized in Vietnam, marking a moment of spiritual renewal.
The third phase, Tân Niên (New Year), is dedicated to visiting family, friends, and elders. The third day is often reserved for honoring teachers or visiting pagodas.
Tết typically lasts between 6-9 days, with this year’s celebration lasting 9 days.
Symbolism of colors and destinations
Tết is a visually stunning celebration, with symbolic use of red, yellow (gold), and green.
Red represents luck, happiness, and good fortune, and it is common for adults to give children and elders red envelopes (Lì xì) containing money as a blessing for prosperity.
Yellow (Gold) symbolizes wealth and prosperity, with yellow apricot flowers being a popular decoration during Tết, representing family unity and material success.
Green is associated with renewal, hope, and the balance of yin and yang. Kumquat trees and bamboo are common decorations, symbolizing growth and vitality.
The beloved dish during Tết is bánh chưng, a square sticky rice cake made with glutinous rice, mung beans, and pork. It is a family tradition to prepare and consume this dish, and it often holds a place of honor on the family altar.

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Must-rituals
Key rituals make Tết an especially spiritual time. Cúng Giao Thừa (New Year’s Eve Offering) is a midnight offering to ancestors and deities that invites blessings for the new year.
The offerings often include fruit trays known as mâm ngũ quả, with each fruit symbolizing a specific wish for the year ahead: fig (Sung) for fertility and prosperity, banana (Chuối) for protection and support, pomelo (Bưởi) for success and abundance, custard apple (Mãng Cầu) for fulfilled wishes, and papaya (Đu Đủ) for wealth and sufficiency.
Together, these fruits convey the phrase “Cầu sung vừa đủ xài” (Wishing for adequacy in everything).
Firecrackers were traditionally used to scare away evil spirits, but are now banned in Vietnam for safety reasons, replaced by modern replicas or drum sounds. The Lion Dance (Múa Lân) is a cultural performance that blends acrobatics and traditional dance.

It originated in China but was adapted into Vietnamese culture and symbolizes good fortune while also serving as popular entertainment.
Another significant ritual is Xông Đất (First Footing), where the first person to enter a home after midnight is believed to bring either good or bad fortune for the year ahead. Families often choose someone with favorable zodiac signs or good luck to perform this ritual.
Additionally, Xin Xăm (Sortilege) is a practice where people visit temples or pagodas to pray and ask for a sortilege, a divine answer or prediction for the year. While some people regularly visit pagodas, many only do so at the start of the year to pray for blessings and peace.

Fashion and attire
During Tết, many Vietnamese opt for traditional or modernized versions of the Áo Dài (long tunic) paired with a Khăn Đóng (headpiece). These garments symbolize elegance and Vietnamese identity and are often worn for photoshoots and family gatherings.
Young people may choose modernized Áo Dài designs, but they still favor bright colors like red, yellow, gold, and green to ensure good luck.
Traditional foods
Vietnamese cuisine plays a central role in Tết celebrations, with many dishes served as offerings to ancestors or shared among family members.
Bánh Chưng, the square sticky rice cake, symbolizes the Earth and is a must-have during Tết, representing gratitude to ancestors.
Bánh Dày, the round sticky rice cake, symbolizes the Sky and complements the Bánh Chưng, creating a cosmic balance.
Other popular dishes include pickled vegetables, Thịt Kho Trứng (braised pork with eggs), and spring rolls, which balance the rich flavors of the holiday meal and symbolize abundance and preparation for a prosperous year ahead.

Tết has deep agricultural roots and marks the transition between the old year’s harvest and the arrival of spring. It is a time for Vietnamese people to reconnect with their spiritual life, honor their ancestors, and celebrate the hope and renewal that the new year brings.
Unlike the festive focus of Lunar New Year celebrations in other countries, Tết emphasizes ancestor worship, spiritual rituals, and family unity, making it a unique and profound cultural expression.
Photos courtesy Tung Vu, Quynh Trang, Shutterstock, and Pixabay