Lunar New Year Festival - What To Know About Tet Holiday?

By Jenna Jolie

Lunar New Year is a holiday with profound humanistic meaning, an opportunity for people to reunite with their families, return to their homeland, and remember their ancestors. Having been through many ups and downs in history, this attractive tradition remains with time in the lives of Vietnamese people. Vietnamese people always believe that a happy New Year's day at the beginning of the year heralds a peaceful and good new year.

Although the Lunar New Year is the biggest traditional festival of the year for Vietnamese people, not everyone understands the origin and meaning of Tet. The following article will provide helpful information about this traditional Tet holiday in Vietnam! 

What Is Tet Holiday In Vietnam?

Tet Nguyen Dan is the most vital and significant holiday in the culture of the Vietnamese and some other ethnic groups influenced by other Chinese cultures. Tet Nguyen Dan is a Sino-Vietnamese term for the Feast of the First Morning of the Year, which is marked to celebrate the arrival of spring according to the Lunar Calendar. Tet Nguyen Dan in Vietnam is celebrated from the first day of the first lunar month (approximately late January or early February) to at least the third day. 

What is Tet holiday in Vietnam emphasizing? This is the time to end a cycle of 4 seasons, sending away bad things and welcoming a new cycle. The spring weather is warm, all things proliferate, blend with the laws of nature, and above all, Tet is an occasion for the reunion. Tet has existed for thousands of years and has entered the heart of every Vietnamese family. No matter where we work hard, wherever we go, at home or abroad, Tet is an opportunity to focus on family. Therefore, the Lunar New Year is also known as the Tet reunion; this holiday shows all the best traditional cultures of the Vietnamese people.

The Origin Of Tet Holiday In Vietnam

How the Lunar New Year originated is still a matter of debate. Most information suggests that the Tet holidayoriginated from China and was imported to Vietnam during the Northern domination period. But according to the legend of "Banh chung and banh day" (one of the famous Vietnam fairy tales), Vietnamese people have been celebrating Tet since the Hung Kings, that is, before the 1000 years of Northern domination.

It can be seen that the Tet holiday in Vietnam has existed and developed for a long time, before the time of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors. Many people can feel Tet of the two countries, Vietnam and China, have mutual influence; however, they still have their own characteristics of the two countries.

What Activities In Tet Holiday That Most People Spend Their Time For?

During the Tet holiday in Vietnam, several particular and traditional events are performed, such as creating square cakes, Tet jam, adorning the home with peach flowers, apricot blossoms, kumquat tree, etc. Vietnam Immigration Services will introduce some activities in Tet holiday, which is the most popular among Vietnamese people. 

House Cleaning And Decorating

In typical Tet activities, it is definitely impossible to ignore cleaning and decorating the house. Everyone wishes that the new year will be new and clean so that everything in the new year is fine and have a lot of luck. Therefore, every family spends the last days of the year cleaning the house, the altar of their ancestors and decorating it with different flowers such as peach blossom, apricot flower or kumquat pot, red couplets, etc. to make Tet more exciting, wishing for a happy and prosperous new year.

The Kumquat tree is the most popular and decorated tree of every family on Tet holiday

Family Reunion

According to Vietnamese tradition, the first day of the Spring Festival is a day of reunion and union; the relationship between neighbors is expanded and connected. From the last day of the year, family members gather to share all the pain, pleasure, and experiences gathered over the year at the "Tất Niên" Party (the last meal of the Lunar New Year). Besides, the gatherings are also an opportunity to discuss family traditions, pay respect to elders, and develop connections among family members.

Tet Nguyen Dan is also a day to reunite with those who have passed away. From dinner on the 30th night, before New Year's Eve, families burned incense to invite the spirits of their grandparents and ancestors, and deceased relatives to eat and enjoy Tet with their children and grandchildren.

Explore more about Vietnamese culture with Ao Dai - The Hidden Beauty In Traditional Vietnamese Dress

Tet is an opportunity for everyone to gather in one place to talk and wish each other well

Watching Fireworks Together

Gathering and watching fireworks are the most exciting activities in the Tet holiday that are the most awaited by everyone. The fireworks shooting is considered as the signal for the new year to arrive at 12 p.m. between December 30th and January 1st, according to the Lunar Calendar. 

New Year’s Greeting And Lucky Money 

People begin walking about on the first of the year, greeting their family and friends with best wishes. This ceremony is more than just sharing greetings between visitors and hosts; it is an opportunity for parents, brothers, sisters, and friends to reunite after a long year apart.

Lucky money is a custom that any child is excited and interested in during the Tet holiday in Vietnam. New Year's lucky money, no matter how much or little, doesn't matter. The red envelopes not only have money to celebrate the year but also contain many good luck wishes.

Giving lucky money is one of the most significant activities in Tet Nguyen Dan

Temple Visiting

Heading to the temple at the beginning of the year is also an activity for Vietnamese people to pray for peace in the new year. People go to the temple to light incense and pray for a peaceful new year. 

In the North, after worship, the Vietnamese often have the custom of breaking off a bud for good luck. It is the custom of picking fortune at the beginning of the year. The implication of this activity is to ask for a little fortune from God and Buddha for the New Year. The buds are often brought to the altar of each house.

Get The Chance To Taste The Traditional Food During Tet Holiday

Vietnam's culinary culture has been forming many years ago, which presents the daily living activities of people here. So as the traditional food in Tet holiday, the cuisine is not only used in meals but also conveys Vietnamese traditional and cultural values. If you reside in Vietnam or would like to visit, understanding the etiquette and traditional foods is a good idea. 

The most significant traditional food during the Tet holiday is Banh Chung, which is a symbol of thanksgiving to the ancestors, the soil, and the sky. It also underlines the significance of rice and the environment in Vietnamese culture. A wonderful New Year's flavor has been formed by the harmonic mix of sticky rice, sweet green beans, gently spicy pepper, and fatty pig flesh. 

Banh Chung is one of the oldest and favorite traditional food in Tet holiday

In addition to that typical cake, Vietnam also has side dishes such as pickled onions, pickled cabbage, and small pickled leeks. Besides savory dishes, during the Tet holiday in Vietnam, people gather around and eat melon seeds while talking in a joyful atmosphere.

Take a closer taste of the Vietnam Tet Holiday with Top Vietnamese Traditional Food On Tet Holiday That You Should Try

Tet is a very important and significant celebration in Vietnam throughout the year. Learning more about traditional Tet holiday activities can help you feel the meaning of Tet more profoundly and uniquely. They all help to distinguish Vietnamese Tet from Tet in other countries. Now it is the time to get a Vietnam e-visa to experience the Tet holiday in Vietnam once a year. Do not forget to check if your nationality is eligible for a Vietnam e-visa. Get ready to travel to Vietnam; if you have any questions, please get in touch with us for more information.

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