A Traveler’s Handbook for Tet Holiday in 2025

Known as Tet Nguyen Dan, the Lunar New Year has long been a vital traditional holiday in Vietnam. Not only an occasion when Vietnamese families spend time reuniting & honoring their ancestors, Lunar New Year celebration is a splendid tapestry of traditions, feasts, and cultural rituals. 

Despite the official celebration lasting 5-7 days, if you arrive in Vietnam one month earlier, you will undoubtedly sense the Tet atmosphere seeping into every nook and cranny, from the right to the left and to the center. For those keen on learning the manners and customs of this country, there is no better opportunity than to engage in the festivities of Tet.

Written by Trang Nguyen (Local Expert) Updated on 19-12-2024

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When is Tet 2025? What is the meaning behind it?

Tet Nguyen Dan, or the Lunar New Year, is the biggest and most dedicated festival of the Vietnamese. In Sino-Vietnamese, the term “Tet” finds its roots in '節' (weather), which means the changing of seasons from spring to summer, autumn, and winter. “Nguyen” signifies the beginning, and “Dan” refers to the early morning. Thus, “Tet Nguyen Dan” translates to the first morning of a lunar year.

Vietnam's Lunar New Year is calculated according to the lunar calendar. Since this calendar is a calendar based on the moon's cycle, the Lunar New Year is later than New Year's Day, and usually falls around the end of January to mid-February. In 2025, the most significant holiday in Vietnam will last for nine days, from January 29 to February 4, 2025, providing a full week of consecutive days off.

Tet used to signify a new cycle of wet rice cultivation for farmers, praying for a year of good weather and abundant crops. But nowadays, it brings about a more profound meaning: a "renew" day, a day where people can hope for a peaceful, prosperous, and favorable new year throughout the year and put aside all the unlucky things in the old year.

As the Tet holiday of 2025 is around the corner, the preparations are underway weeks in advance of the holiday itself. People buy new clothes, style their hair, cook feasts, and acquire new accessories or furniture to decorate their houses.

They also purchase delicious biscuits and sweets to set the best table for incoming guests. Trade flourishes during these days, especially in the ornamental plants market, which becomes more bustling than ever.

How do Vietnamese prepare for Tet?

Preparations for Tet Holiday 2025 begin on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month with the The Kitchen Gods Ceremony. The Kitchen God, Earth God, and Goddess of Shopping ascend to Heaven to report on the family’s past year to the Jade Emperor and seek blessings of luck, health, and prosperity for the year ahead. They return on New Year’s Eve to welcome the family into the new year.

The Feast and Offerings

Families prepare offerings, including three live or paper carp - symbolizing strength and perseverance - as transport for the gods. The carp are released into ponds or rivers after the ceremony. Paper garments, hats, and boots, along with silver-shaped votive items, are also burned to honor them.

Traditional dishes are placed on the family altar to honor ancestors and deities, accompanied by prayers for a prosperous Tet Holiday. After the ceremony, joss paper are burned, and the carp are set free, symbolizing renewal and good fortune.

This cherished ritual reflects Vietnamese spirituality and tradition, uniting families in hope and celebration for the Lunar New Year.

The next preparation for Tet

What kinds of ornamental plants do the Vietnamese favor? The answer is kumquat trees and peach blossoms. Every house, every office will place at least one beautiful plant in a noticeable position, not only to adorn the view but also to subtly indicate that “Spring is coming.” All streets, markets, restaurants, and shops are embellished with the vivid colors of red and yellow ornaments, or pink and orange from trees on the back of every motorbike when Tet arrives.

Nevertheless, the Vietnamese never leave their trees plain for the Tet holiday. All housewives and children are eager to buy ornaments and decorations for the tree. Those could be in the form of New Year’s dangling wishes, or stickers featuring illustrations of the animal that represents the year, along with mini flickering lights. Each year is symbolized by an animal in a 12-year cycle, including Rat, Buffalo, Tiger, Cat, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

In 2025, the Vietnamese New Year will be marked by the Year of the Snake, an astrological sign associated with wisdom, adaptability, and resilience. In Eastern cultures, the Snake is also a powerful symbol of transformation, representing rebirth, renewal, and the shedding of old ways in favor of new beginnings.

>>> What secrets might your zodiac hold? Explore A Journey Through the Vietnamese Zodiac

The Tet Holiday Celebration

The first morning of Tet holiday

Tet officially takes place as the fireworks sparkle above the sky, and adults perform their ritual offerings to their ancestors. On the very first morning following New Year’s Eve, after giving nice wishes to older family members, children will receive beautiful lì xì (lucky money - in red envelopes), containing coins in even denominations or money with eye-pleasing series numbers. Red is a special color that holds special significance and is considered a ward against negative spirits in Vietnamese belief, meanwhile, odd numbers are associated with bad luck. 

New clothes are worn, and people stock their kitchens with Chung cake, Tet cake, and other delicious food, then observe various other customs, all symbolizing the hope for the positive things that lie ahead with the upcoming spring.

People avoid arguments or any negative behaviors, treat each other with kindness, and make visits to their relatives or neighbors, asking after their health with the best New Year’s greetings. You can be a part of this tradition by learning some wishing phrases with pronunciation for non-native speakers that we’ve prepared below. 

▶️ Explore the best destinations in northern Vietnam: North Vietnam Tours

To make your experience even more lavish, join the Vietnamese to go to the pagodas and temples. Here, they pray for a bounteous harvest and set the stage for their business or achieve impressive goals for the next year. 

Prayer on New Year's Eve

Once the fireworks end, people head to Buddhist pagodas and temples to pray for good fortune. Many buy symbolic items like sugar cane and salt. Sugar cane represents family reunion, connecting the living and their ancestors, while salt symbolizes the sea, a source of unlimited wealth. By bringing these items home, Vietnamese families hope for a joyful and prosperous new year.

The “First-foot” Custom

The first day of the new year is considered crucial, as it sets the tone for the months ahead. The first person to enter the house, or “first guest,” is often chosen carefully in advance. Families select someone whose zodiac sign aligns with good fortune for the coming year—typically a kind, cheerful, and honest person. This guest, often arriving shortly after midnight, brings small gifts to wish happiness and prosperity to the household.

If you want to "first foot" (xông đất) a home for the Lunar New Year, you can either be invited by the host or kindly let them know if your zodiac sign and age are considered beneficial for the year. Here is a simplified table of God of Wealth (zodiac signs believed to attract prosperity) and Benefactors (zodiac signs bringing support and luck) based on birth years:

These traditions reflect the Vietnamese people's deep-rooted belief in harmony, luck, and renewal as they welcome the Lunar New Year.

Besides the sacred customs of Tet, Vietnamese people also celebrate Tet and enjoy spring with lots of joyful and healthy festivities such as wrestling, swinging, boating, buffalo fighting, and many other folk games.

Some of New Year’s Greetings and Wishes

As the 2025 Tet holiday is approaching and everyone celebrates the fresh beginnings a new year brings, we believe all of the greetings will allow your goodwill and best intentions to shine through regardless of language. 

If you’re interested in Vietnamese culture, you might find those warm words a bridge to foster the global spirit of community, as well as to show respect towards the tradition and optimism for days ahead and share.

And here, we got a little help for your good intentions! Check out our collection of friendly phrases commonly used by Vietnamese to wish others well as the Tet Holiday kicks off for a warm start:

• Chúc Mừng Năm Mới: (pronounced: chook moong nahm moy)

Meaning: Happy New Year, Happy Tet

• Vạn Sự Như Ý: (pronounced: vahn soo nyu ee)

Meaning: May all your wishes come true

• An Khang Thịnh Vượng: (pronounced: an khang ting vuong)

Meaning: Security, good health, and prosperity

• Sức Khỏe Dồi Dào: (pronounced: sook kwee doy dao)

Meaning: Abundant health

• Tiền Vào Như Nước: (pronounced: tee-en vao nyu nook)

Meaning: May money flow in like water

• Chúc Hay Ăn Chóng Lớn: (pronounced: chook high aan chong lon)

Meaning: Wishing you grow like a weed

• Tấn Tài Tấn Lộc: (pronounced: tan tai tan lohk)

Meaning: I wish you a wealthy new year

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Top Places to Visit During the 2025 Tet Holiday

Are you seeking for 2025's Tet Holiday events but don’t know where to start? No worries, as we've got you covered with diverse options and details on things to do in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

• Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Hanoi, a UNESCO heritage

Here you will have the chance to experience the rich cultural festivities that unfold every year on the first day of Tet at this must-visit spot.  Annually, on the first day of Tet Nguyen Dan, if you visit this place, you will have the best chances to partake in various cultural festivities, including the ceremonial offering of incense to ancestral kings and officials with amazing folk music performances and water puppet shows. 

• TET Markets, Festivals for the 2025 Tet Holiday in HCMC and Hanoi

Tons of markets and festivals will be held on these upcoming days, serving increasing Tet shopping demands. Depending on where you’re located, you can come across several Tet markets like:

The 2025 Tet Festival, which is scheduled for January 29 at Nguyen Hue Street, HCMC, includes numerous community cultural activities, exhibitions, cooking demonstrations, and art shows. 

Hanoi’s Hang Ma Street in the Old Quarter will also leave you with an unforgettable memory of the allure of Vietnamese Tet. Don’t forget to get yourself some paper decorations and toys!

• Step back in time to Old Vietnam in Co Lam Village, Hanoi

The 'Vietnamese Village Tet' 2025 program is organized to contribute to promoting the nation's traditional cultural values, creating a beautiful image of the Duong Lam-Son Tay tourist destination for international friends. That’s why it will undoubtedly be one of the greatest events you've ever joined. 

Trust us, you won’t want to miss the chance to experience many unique cultural features such as wrapping banh chung and banh tet, practicing traditional calligraphy, and releasing carp,... all part of the annual Tet program.

What happens after the end of Tet in Vietnam?

Tet ends when votive papers are burned and offerings are removed from the altars to be shared with all family members. This is the right time for people to travel and participate in festivals organized across the country...

>>> To better prepare your trip to Vietnam near Tet: 

• Vietnam in January – As the Lunar New Year Approaches
• Vietnam in February, weather & best places to visit

Some must-have tips for your Tet adventure

All the Businesses will be closed:

Tet is the peak travel season since every place receives a huge transportation load, so please plan your accommodations & commuting well in advance. In big cities, buses are still running so you can catch them or get Grab to travel around. 
Many businesses close during Tet, including shops and restaurants, and they may close for numerous days. Stock up on essentials in advance and plan other activities accordingly.

Try Tet Specialties:

• Don’t sleep on Vietnamese traditional Tet dishes, including favorites like Bánh Chưng (square sticky rice cake), Bánh Tét, pickled vegetables, deep-fried spring rolls, caramelized pork and eggs, and a delightful array of festive treats such as Mứt (candied fruit), biscuits, and traditional sweets. 
• Explore your nearest local markets to enjoy the authentic taste of these delights that make Tet a truly special time in Vietnam. 

Dress Appropriately:

• Remember to avoid dressing in short or revealing clothes when visiting temples or engaging in other cultural events.
• Although Tet’s in the spring, please be prepared for different weather conditions like the cold and heavy drizzle. 

Be Patient with Crowds:

• Since everyone is going out these days, there will be larger crowds at popular tourist spots and transportation hubs during Tet.
• Be patient and don’t get disappointed because of extra time for travel.

Follow Fireworks Safety Guidelines:

• Tet is often associated with loud firecrackers and music. 
• If you plan to enjoy fireworks, please enjoy the showcase in designated areas and follow safety guidelines to ensure joyful and safe festive days.
• If you plan to purchase fireworks, please respect local laws regarding their usage.

Conclusion

Remember, Tet is not just a holiday; it's an opportunity to share in the joy, warmth, optimism and love of Vietnamese culture. So, travelers, plan ahead with us, make the most of the festive spirit and this extraordinary journey during this 2025 Tet holiday. May your Tet be filled with unforgettable moments, lots of red envelopes, cultural discoveries, and the joy of new beginnings of 2025. Our guide is always here to ensure you make the most of this joyous celebration in Vietnam.

Chúc mừng năm mới! (Happy New Year!)

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Source: Hanoitimes, Vietnamplus