Vietnamese Tet: A celebration of family, heritage and new beginnings

Cultural origins

While sharing similarities with Lunar New Year celebrations across Asia, Vietnamese Tet has evolved into a uniquely special celebration. Its roots trace back to ancient agricultural civilisations of the Red River Delta, where early Vietnamese people celebrated the spring rice harvest. The festival carries unique traditions, such as counting everyone's age from Tet rather than their actual birth date, reflecting Vietnam's deeply rooted sense of collective identity.

The sacred days of Tet

Đêm Giao Thừa (New Year's Eve)

As Vietnamese Tet begins, the most sacred moment unfolds at midnight. Families gather for the ritual of seeing out the old kitchen gods and welcoming the new. Incense burns as prayers rise, and the night air fills with the sound of gongs and dragon dances. Many stay awake until dawn, believing these first moments set the tone for the entire year ahead.

Mùng Một (First Day)

The first day of Tet celebrations centres on close family. Dawn breaks with ancestor worship ceremonies, as families invite the spirits of their forebears to celebrate with them. Children don new clothes and offer respectful greetings to elders, receiving lucky money in red envelopes ('lì xì') in return. This day is marked by careful attention to one's actions and words, as they are believed to influence the year ahead.

Mùng Hai (Second Day)

The second day expands celebrations to include the broader family network. Many families visit their maternal relatives, sharing elaborate Tet food and stories. In some regions, this is also when people begin visiting friends and neighbours, bringing gifts and exchanging wishes for prosperity.

Mùng Ba (Third Day)

The third day of Vietnamese Tet traditionally focuses on spiritual enrichment. Many visit temples and pagodas to pray for blessings, while others pay respect to their teachers and mentors. Some businesses reopen on this day, though the celebratory atmosphere continues.

Mùng Bốn onwards

While official celebrations last through the seventh day, the fourth day onwards sees a gradual return to normal life. However, many traditional games, special Tet meals, and family gatherings continue, especially in rural areas where festivities often extend longer.

Regional flavours

Vietnam's diverse geography shapes unique Tet traditions from north to south. In the northern regions, families gather to make bánh chưng – square sticky rice cakes wrapped in dong leaves symbolising the earth.

The central region embraces Vietnamese Tet with particular reverence. In ancient Hoi An, centuries-old merchant houses along the Thu Bon River come alive with the glow of silk lanterns, while families place offerings of candied fruits and flowering branches in their ancestral halls. Further up the coast in Quy Nhon, markets burst with the region's special Tet delicacies – from candied ginger to green bean cakes.

In the south, where the warm climate shapes daily life, Tet celebrations take on a uniquely festive atmosphere. Families often celebrate outdoors, sharing feasts of traditional Tet food and southern specialities. Local markets bustle with vendors selling yellow mai flowers – the south's iconic Tet bloom – while dragon dances weave through streets lined with blooming apricot trees.

Modern traditions

The concept of 'first moments' remains profound in contemporary Tet celebrations. The first person to enter a home (xông đất) is carefully chosen based on their zodiac sign and success, believed to set the tone for the household's fortune. While urban families might order ready-made bánh chưng through food delivery apps, they still ensure their homes are spotlessly clean and stocked with traditional treats before midnight. Social media feeds fill with Tet greetings, yet families still gather around ancestral altars to welcome spirits home for the holiday.

Where to Stay

Experience Vietnamese Tet at three distinct locations: Anantara Hoi An Resort, where the ancient town's festive atmosphere and traditional markets are just steps away; Anantara Quy Nhon Villas, offering a tranquil base to observe local new year customs of central Vietnam; and Anantara Mui Ne Resort, where you can experience southern Tet traditions while enjoying the coastal serenity.