Tet or Lunar New Year 2025 in Vietnam

Tet Nguyen Dan, commonly referred to as Tet, is Vietnam’s most significant and traditional celebration, marking the arrival of the Lunar New Year. It is a time for family reunions, paying respects to ancestors, and welcoming a new beginning filled with hopes for prosperity and good fortune. In 2025, Tet falls on January 29th, ushering in the Year of the Wood Snake.

Key Customs and Traditions

Preparations

In the days leading up to Tet, families clean and decorate their homes, symbolizing the removal of bad luck from the past year. Common decorations include plants like peach blossoms, kumquat trees, and red banners, believed to bring good fortune. Ancestor altars are refreshed with offerings, and families prepare a "five-fruit tray" to signify their gratitude and aspirations.

Food

Traditional Tet dishes play a central role in the celebrations. Bánh chưng (square sticky rice cake) and bánh tét (cylindrical sticky rice cake) are must-haves, symbolizing the earth and sky, respectively. These cakes are often made at home as a family activity, reinforcing bonds and honoring heritage. Other popular dishes include pickled vegetables, boiled chicken, and dried fruits.

Fireworks

One of the modern Tet traditions that everyone can enjoy is watching the fireworks. In Hanoi, you can witness these dazzling displays at Thong Nhat Park, Hoan Kiem Lake, and Van Quan Lake. Meanwhile, in Ho Chi Minh City, the midnight sky lights up with spectacular fireworks over the Thu Thiem Tunnel, Dam Sen Park, and Lang Le-Bau Co, marking the arrival of the New Year in grand fashion.

Key Days of Celebration

Tet is celebrated according to the Vietnamese Lunar Calendar, with the official holiday lasting around seven days. However, preparations and associated activities can extend up to three weeks. In 2025, the celebrations will run from January 22 to February 12, starting with the Kitchen God Day and culminating in the First Full Moon Festival, or Tet Nguyen Tieu.

Kitchen God Day (January 22, 2025)

This marks the start of Tet preparations, where families offer food and release carps as a symbolic gesture of sending the Kitchen Gods to report to heaven.

Lunar New Year’s Eve (January 28, 2025)

Families gather for a feast to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one. The transition moment is significant, with rituals like "xông đất," where a chosen person visits the house first to bring good luck.

Visiting Relatives and Teachers (January 29-31, 2025)

The first three days of Tet are dedicated to visiting family members and teachers. The first day is reserved for the father’s side, the second for the mother’s side, and the third for teachers, reflecting deep respect in Vietnamese culture.

First Full Moon Festival (February 12, 2025)

Known as Tet Nguyen Tieu, this day involves visits to pagodas and temples for prayers, symbolizing peace and prosperity for the year ahead.

Tet at The Hue Imperial Palace (Unconfirmed in 2025)

A historical procession on the occasion of Tet can be seen in The Hue imperial palace, where cay neu, or Tet pole, is raised on the palace grounds on the first and seventh days of Tet. In the Co Loa Citadel, a traditional festival starts on the sixth day of Tet with several costumed parades.

When you plan your visit to Vietnam during Tet, keep in mind that the festivities are taking a lot of local people's time and some services might be unavailable. However, you can prolong your trip and do some hiking around the northern regions, where ​nature starts to awake and bloom to celebrate spring as well.