New Year's Day - the Vietnamese New Year may be a few weeks later, but they still take advantage of the day off to celebrate in style; Tet (Vietnamese New Year) - late January / early February, Vietnam's version of the Chinese Lunar New Year is the biggest event of the year and sees a mass movement of people returning home for the holidays. February 2, 2022, 8:32 AM · 4 min read. The Year of the Ox brought vaccines to a global pandemic and many hope the Lunar New Year will bring healing and joy with the Year of the Tiger. The Lunar The Tet Offensive was a major, large-scale offensive undertaken by the North Vietnamese PAVN and its Viet Cong guerrilla allies into South Vietnam during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tet) celebrations. The offensive struck almost every city in South Vietnam, but it was repulsed with heavy losses. What is the Lunar New Year? Lunar New Year is a time for family reunions and hope. The holiday marks start of the new year of China's traditional lunisolar calendar, and it is now So, if you travel to Vietnam on Tet and ask " what do Vietnamese eat for Lunar New Year? ", then the answers should include the candied fruits. Mut Tet - Candied Fruits #5: Yummy Seeds and Nuts The most popular items are the salt roasted cashew nut, lotus seed, watermelon seed, sunflower seed, sesame seed candy, and peanut candy. Tet Kumquat Trees the symbols of Lunar New Year Holidays. At the street market, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Decorative mandarin tree with orange fruits. Shanghai, China - February 11, 2013: Chinese shoppers throng Shanghai's main shopping street - Nanjing Road. Mandarin Oranges. Growing on a tree Orange for Lunar Chinese new year. Tet JJQFb. Lunar New Year also known as Chinese New Year happens this year on Sunday, January 22, 2023. Why does the Lunar New Year start at a different time each year? How is this important holiday celebrated? What does the Year of the Rabbit symbolize? Learn all about this holiday! When Is Lunar New Year? Lunar New Year begins on the date in East Asia of the second new Moon after the winter solstice, which always takes place in late December. This means that the first day of the Lunar New Year can occur anytime between January 21 and February 20. In 2023, this new Moon occurs in China on Sunday, January 22, marking the start of a new lunar Next Year Lunar New Year Chinese Zodiac Sign 2023 Sunday, January 22 Rabbit 2024 Saturday, February 10 Dragon 2025 Wednesday, January 29 Snake 2026 Tuesday, February 17 Horse Note Due to the difference in time zones, the new Moon may technically occur one calendar date earlier or later in United States. See our Moon Phase Calendar for local times. Why Are There Different New Years? The traditional Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, which means that it is based on astronomical observations of the Sun’s position in the sky and the Moon’s phases. This ancient calendar dates back to 14th century BCE whereas the Gregorian calendar was introduced in 1582. The Chinese lunisolar calendar shares some similarities with the Hebrew calendar, which is also lunisolar, and it has influenced other East Asian calendars, such as those of Korea and Vietnam. Because the Chinese calendar defines the lunar month containing the winter solstice as the 11th month, Lunar New Year usually falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. Just like New Year according to the Gregorian calendar January 1, Lunar New Year celebrations start on the night before the first day of the new year. Note China follows the Gregorian calendar for daily business, but still follows the Chinese calendar for important festivals, auspicious dates such as wedding dates, and the Moon phases. Who Celebrates Lunar New Year? Although this holiday has commonly been called “Chinese New Year” in the West, China is not the only country to observe it. Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most celebrated and longest of all Asian festivals, and is observed by millions of people around the world. A number of other countries in East Asia, including Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and the Philippines, hold their own new year celebrations at this time. Occasionally, the date celebrated may differ by one day or even one moon cycle due to time zones and other factors. How Is Lunar New Year Celebrated? As with many winter solstice celebrations, the symbolic darkness of night is banished by the light of fireworks, lanterns, and candles. Man-made paper lanterns are hung by the hundreds in public areas, bringing good luck to the new year. There are dragon dances, performances, and festival parades with music and acrobatics. The festivities continue for two weeks, finishing with a special lantern festival, which signals the end of the New Year celebration period. Of course, much delicious food is made and served! For the New Year, it’s traditional to serve long noodles, symbolizing a long life. See our recipe for Longevity Noodles. Another popular recipe for New Year is Chinese Dumplings, symbolizing good luck and wealth. Families wrap them up and eat them as the clock strikes midnight. “Good Luck” is also a common theme of the New Year. Many children receive “lucky money” in red envelopes. Sometimes offerings are made to temples. People clean their homes and open their door to let good luck enter. According to tradition, no one should pick up a broom, in case you sweep the good luck for the New Year out of the door! What Is the Animal for Chinese New Year This Year? In 2023, we ring in the Year of the Rabbit, one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. The animal designations of the zodiac follow a 12-year cycle and are always used in the same sequence. What Qualities Does the Rabbit Represent? Those born in the Year of the Rabbit are said to be talented at many things. They are affectionate people, often excelling at forming close relationships. However, they also appreciate tranquility and seek out peace. How the Chinese Zodiac Works The traditional Chinese lunisolar year has 12 months and 353 to 355 days or during a leap year, 13 months and 383 to 385 days. Therefore, the Chinese year usually begins several weeks into the western 365-day year usually between January 21 and February 20, not on January 1 of the Gregorian calendar. As is ancient tradition, the Chinese zodiac attaches animal signs to each lunar year in a cycle of 12 years. The animal designation changes at the start of the New Year. A Deeper Look On a broader scale, the Chinese lunisolar calendar counts its years according to the stem-branch system, which is a 60-year rotating name system also known as the Chinese sexagenary cycle. By this, a year’s name actually contains two parts the celestial stem and the terrestrial branch. The celestial, or heavenly stem, is taken from a rotating list of 10 terms concerning the yin/yang forms of five elements. The Stem wood, fire, earth, metal, and water jia, yi, bing, ding, wu, ji, geng, xin, ren, and gui. Stem/Element jia = yang wood yi = yin wood bing = yang fire ding = yin fire wu = yang earth ji = yin earth geng = yang metal xin = yin metal ren = yang water gui = yin water The terrestrial, or earthly, branch is taken from a rotating list of the 12 animal names of the Chinese zodiac. Branch/Animal zi = rat chou = ox yin = tiger mao = rabbit chen = dragon si = snake wu = horse wei = sheep/goat shen = monkey you = rooster xu = dog hai - boar/pig So, putting the stem and branch terms together, the first year in a 60-year cycle is called jia-zi Year of the Rat as jia is the celestial stem and zi rat is the terrestrial branch. The next year is yi-chou Year of the Ox, and so on. The 11th year is jia-xu, etc., until a new cycle starts over with jia-zi. Which Chinese Zodiac Sign Are You? Below are the 12 animal designations of the Chinese zodiac. Please note If you were born before the Chinese New Year began for the year listed, then you were born under the previous Chinese zodiac sign. For example, the Chinese New Year began on January 28 in 2017; from that date onward, the sign is the Rooster. For those born between January 1 and January 27, 2017, the sign is the Monkey. Rat Zi Ambitious and sincere, you can be generous with your money. Compatible with the dragon and the monkey. Your opposite is the horse. 1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 Ox or Buffalo Chou A leader, you are bright, patient, and cheerful. Compatible with the snake and the rooster. Your opposite is the sheep. 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 Tiger Yin Forthright and sensitive, you possess great courage. You have the ability to be a strong leader capable of great sympathy. Compatible with the horse and the dog. Your opposite is the monkey. 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 Rabbit or Hare Mao Talented and affectionate, you are a seeker of tranquility. Compatible with the sheep and the pig. Your opposite is the rooster. 1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 Dragon Chen Robust and passionate, your life is filled with complexity. Compatible with the monkey and the rat. Your opposite is the dog. 1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 Snake Si Strong-willed and intense, you display great wisdom. Compatible with the rooster and the ox. Your opposite is the pig. 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 Horse Wu Physically attractive and popular, you like the company of others. Compatible with the tiger and the dog. Your opposite is the rat. 1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 Sheep or Goat Wei Aesthetic and stylish, you enjoy being a private person. Compatible with the pig and the rabbit. Your opposite is the ox. 1907, 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 Monkey Shen Persuasive, skillful, and intelligent, you strive to excel. Compatible with the dragon and the rat. Your opposite is the tiger. 1908, 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 Rooster You Seeking wisdom and truth, you have a pioneering spirit. Compatible with the snake and the ox. Your opposite is the rabbit. 1909, 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 Dog Xu Generous and loyal, you have the ability to work well with others. Compatible with the horse and the tiger. Your opposite is the dragon. 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 Pig or Boar Hai Gallant and noble, your friends will remain at your side. Compatible with the rabbit and the sheep. Your opposite is the snake. 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 What’s your Chinese zodiac sign? Let us know in the comments! Table of Contents When is the Lunar New Year in Vietnam?How do the Vietnamese celebrate Tet?Local beliefs to be aware ofTraditional Tet foodSticky rice cakesFruit candiesToasted watermelon seedsRice wineRed envelopes and prosperity Image by Quang Nguyen vinh via Pixabay The Lunar New Year is known in Vietnam as Tet, short for Tet Nguyen Dan. This translates to “the first morning of the first day of the new year”. In the build-up to Vietnam’s Lunar New Year, streets are lined with flowers, parties are thrown, and dragon dances are perfected. Everyone seems to be cooking, cleaning, and getting ready for the big day. The smell of incense is everywhere. There’s a festival atmosphere in the air weeks before the actual day of Tet, and even the quietest areas of the country spring to life. If you’re planning to travel during Tet, it’s worth noting that public transport is at its busiest during this season. Many family members who live in separate provinces will return to their hometowns during this period. So if you’re looking to travel, be sure to book well in advance – even airfares sell out quickly. The dates of the Lunar New Year in Vietnam differ year by year, depending on the lunar calendar. In 2021, it falls on February 12, and lasts around a week. Tet is by far the most important festival in Vietnam. For many workers, it is the only time of year when a holiday is taken. This can be anywhere from three days to a fortnight. As a result, it’s worth being a little prepared if you’re staying in Vietnam during Tet. Stock up on food and source some international restaurants as many local markets and eateries will close for a few days. How do the Vietnamese celebrate Tet? The immediate weeks prior to Tet involve a lot of cleaning and cooking. There is also quite a lot of partying! The sound of karaoke and the clinking of glasses can be heard almost anywhere in Vietnam for a week or two before. In contrast, the very first day of Tet is a quiet family affair. Families all over the country will reunite and pay their respects to deceased elders. Many Vietnamese people take part in ancestor worship, believing the dead to still be around them in spirit form. Offerings are made to ancestors in the form of food, drink, and fake money. Gifts such as these are made throughout the year, but they are especially important during Tet. It’s believed they keep ancestors happy in the afterlife and ensure good luck for those still living. After the first day of Tet, families may open their houses to friends and neighbors. Households will have a food selection on a prominent table for guests who come to visit. Local beliefs to be aware of Most importantly, don’t visit anyone’s home on the first day of Tet unless you’ve been specifically invited. There is a belief that the very first person to enter a home during Tet can affect the fortunes of that household for the next 12 months. As a result, locally successful or well-respected people are often given the duty of being the “first caller”. Sometimes, the owner of the house will simply leave their house and re-enter it, just to be the first visitor and avoid any bad luck. If you are staying with a Vietnamese family and are helping out with the household chores, make sure you don’t do any cleaning or sweeping over Tet. All cleaning should be done the week before, as people don’t want to “sweep away” any good luck during the season itself! Remember to smile! Tet is a season in which good luck is welcomed, and having negative vibes around, even in the shape of a grumpy face, isn’t wanted by anyone. Be positive with your language and even wear bright colors if you have them. Each Lunar New Year in Vietnam ushers in a new zodiac year too. 2021 will be the year of the buffalo. These animals are revered in Vietnam, given the role they play in rice farming. Those born in buffalo years are seen as being both patient and hardworking. Traditional Tet food Like most festivals, food forms an important part of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. Tet comes with its own special menu, and families will do a lot of cooking in the build-up to Tet. If you’re lucky, you may get invited by your Vietnamese host to try some of the following lip-smacking delicacies! Sticky rice cakes Image by Nha Hoang from Pixabay Known locally as banh chung, you’ll see sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves. They’re made of rice and mung beans, sometimes with pork added. The wrapping of sticky rice cakes is a popular sight in many places in Vietnam, and with so many to make, you’ll often see a whole family involved in the process. Fruit candies Mut is sugared fruit and you’ll typically see pineapples, apricots, and coconuts transformed into sweet treats. Many families will make their own mut, and if the kids don’t eat it all first, you’ll likely be offered them if invited into a Vietnamese home over Tet. Toasted watermelon seeds These can be seen in Vietnam most of the year, often served in bars with beer or coffee. But they’re eaten with aplomb during Tet. Families will have an almighty bowl of these moreish nibbles. There’s a genuine art to cracking the soft shell off with your teeth, whilst keeping the inner seed intact. Rice wine Tet is also a time for drinking, and in the weeks before Tet, it’s not uncommon to find a lot of rice wine sipped in the name of celebration! Red envelopes and prosperity If you’re in Vietnam during Tet, you may see packs of red envelopes for sale in local stores. There’s also a chance that you’ll see happy-looking children carrying one! In various parts of Southeast Asia, red envelopes containing money are given during special occasions. In Vietnam, these are given to children during Tet. Whilst it’s okay to give them to anyone younger than you, they’re normally given within extended families. Older siblings may give them to their nieces and nephews. Often, the children will pass the money on to their parents. Other families allow their children to keep the money for themselves. Money given in red envelopes during Tet is considered “lucky money”. The tradition comes from China, where red is considered to be a color that symbolizes good things. If you’re staying with a Vietnamese family, you can join in by giving red envelopes to their children. Anything from 1 to 5 USD per envelope is fine — the symbol is more important than the amount. However, there is no pressure on you to do so! Kumquat Trees and marigolds are also popular symbols seen around Tet. Both are considered signs of a prosperous future. If you’re traveling in Vietnam during the Lunar New Year, open your heart and mind and embrace the festivities! And don’t forget to say chuc munh nam moi to everyone you meet — that way, you’ll be wishing them a happy new year! About TourHero TourHero is a social travel platform that enables you to travel with like-minded people and fall in love with the journey. We work closely with handpicked local operators to ensure every experience curated is unique and exclusive to your travel group. Come with us on epic adventures and create memories that last a lifetime! Subscribe Get exclusive curated content right in your inbox! I agree to TourHero's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We promise, we don't spam! Tet holiday or Vietnamese Lunar New Year is the most significant festival in Vietnam. As a result of being calculated by the lunar calendar, Tet often occurs at the end of January, which is later than the New Year’s Day. As the longest public holidays in Vietnam, Tet is the most wonderful time for all foreign tourists to spend their vacation in Vietnam enjoying the festive atmosphere and exploring one of the oldest holidays in the world. Tet Holiday is celebrated to welcome the New Year Lunar calendar and summarize what they did in the old year. It is considered an important mark for changes, plans, and progress. In addition, Vietnamese people believe that what they do on the first day of the year will affect their rest. Therefore, they pay great attention to every word they say and everything they do. Furthermore, Tet may be the only occasion for all family members to have happy moments together after a year of hard-working. A traditional Tet often lasts for a month. However, the busy life makes it shorter, even disappears. If you choose a new type of travel like cruising to enjoy multi-culture Lunar New Year, your shore excursions Asia should pick the right countries where people still hold a long festival such as Thailand, China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, which is often a week. Recently, some people express their idea to cancel the Vietnamese Lunar New Year and only celebrate the Western New Year. Although it is constructive, Tet holiday will have still been remaining as the vital festival in Vietnam because of its priceless tradition, feature, and meaning. How is Tet Holiday in Vietnam? Vietnamese Lunar New Year is NOT Chinese Lunar New Year It is absolutely mistaken to say that the Vietnamese are celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year. Although both countries use the lunar calendar, the Vietnamese have different customs and traditions from China. According to the historical document, in the thirteenth century, the Vietnamese people often celebrated Tet holiday by painting on themselves, drinking traditional glutinous-rice wine, using betel nuts to welcome guests, and eating Chung cake, pickled onions. In Ly dynasty 1009-1226, many important rituals were made such as setting up a dome to pray for the rains or building communal houses to crave for a year of abundant harvests. In the period of King Le Thanh Tong 1442-1497, Tet holiday was the most important festival and hundreds of mandarins had to gather at the court to celebrate it with royal families. The Cuisine of Tet Holiday In Vietnam, to celebrate Tet also means to eat, which affirmed the important role of the cuisine in Vietnamese Lunar New Year. One Vietnamese traditional proverb denotes that you can be hungry all year except three days of Tet because dozens of delicious foods will be prepared on Tet to feast the ancestors as well as every family member. Chung Cake Chung cake is the traditional cake in Vietnam that only appear on Tet holiday. Tasty and savory Chung cake is made from very familiar ingredients to all Vietnamese such as sticky rice, green beans, and pork, which is wrapped in green leaves and boiled overnight. According to a legend that has been passed on for thousands of generations, Chung cake is the symbol of Earth because it combines all unique ingredients of Vietnamese agriculture. Although nowadays Chung cake can be tasted all seasons, enjoying these cakes at Tet holiday still brings special feelings for Vietnamese people. Jam Jam is the common snack to welcome guests on Tet holiday. It is mainly made from dried fruits like carrots, coconuts, apples or some kinds of seeds such as roasted watermelon seeds, sunflower seeds mixed with sugar. The Vietnamese believe eating sweet things on Tet holiday will bring them luck for the New Year. Pickled Onions On Tet holiday, people often eat fat and oiled foods which easily cloys their appetite. This is high time for something with low calories and fresh like pickled onions. Pickled onions help the digestive system digest high protein food more easily. In the minds of Vietnamese people, Tet is only complete when there are fat meat, pickled onions, and red distiches. Besides, there is a myriad of signature dishes that inspire the taste in different regions on Vietnamese Lunar New Year such as spring rolls, boiled chickens, Vietnamese sausages, sticky rice and so on. Mascots of Tet holiday Vietnamese Zodiac Signs Each Lunar New Year will have a symbolic animal. 12 Vietnamese zodiac signs are different from Chinese ones The fourth zodiac sign in Vietnam is Cat while it is Rabbit in China. Every animal will bring the unique lucky in its year so you can see them everywhere in Vietnam through decorations or advertisement signs. Tet holiday 2020 is the year of the Rat while Tet holiday 2021 is the year of Buffalo. Trees & Flowers on Tet holiday Peach blossom in Northern Vietnam and apricot blossom trees in Southern Vietnam are also symbols that exclusively appear on Tet holiday. The light red of peach blossom will bring the luck while the yellow of apricot blossom will bring the fortune to the owners. It is said that Tet is not Tet if missing two of them. Neu Tree It is originally a 5 meters tall bamboo shoot. The chop of the tree hangs different things based on each region such as votive papers, amulet exorcism or alcohol bottle made of straw. It is believed that the tree is the signal for the devils to realize that this place is home of living people, not to harass. Tray of Five Fruits This is a tray of five different fruits such as bananas, grapefruits, oranges, and other tropical fruits which are only prepared on the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. Although each region chooses different fruits, a tray of five fruits is still used to express the wishes of the host family by their names, colors, and arrangements. In addition, kumquat trees, Dong Ho paintings, red distiches are also believed by the Vietnamese to bring luck and wealth for them all around the year. How is Tet Holiday Celebrated? Before Tet Holiday – How Tet Holiday is Prepared? Tet Ong Cong, Ong Tao Gods and Goddess of Kitchen On the 23rd of the last month in the lunar calendar, Vietnamese people prepare the traditional offerings and especially the carps to regale three gods and goddesses of their kitchen. Then they will release the carps into the river and these fishes will be used by the Gods as the transportations to come to heaven, according to the legend. At the heaven, they will report everything happening in the previous year of their family to the King of heaven. They will come back on the last day of the year to celebrate Tet holiday with the family. The carps then become the dragons. Tet Ong Cong, Ong Tao of Tet holiday 2020 is on January 17th. Cleaning the House Tet holiday is also called by a jolly name “house-cleaning festival”. A week before Tet, all members of the family clean the house, the garden, and the altars as well as redecorate them together. Broken things will be repaired, old things will be replaced. Clothes and decorations such as lanterns, distiches, led lights will be bought. All those preparations have the same purpose – to be the best to welcome the New Year and to receive luck as well as fortune. The Last Day of the Year & New Year Eve On the last day of the year, every member of different generations gathers around a grand banquet to enjoy the last meal of the year. The talk at that time is about things already happening in the year. The ambiance of the reunion is always the most wonderful and happiest of all time. In New Year Eve, the young often go out to watch the firework performance while the elderly and adults stay at home making offerings of pig head, boiled chicken, rice and salt for outdoor worshipping to the Gods and indoor one to the ancestors. They will pray for a new year of luck, health, and fortune to every family member. After that, the young come back home and become the first one coming to the house in the new year. It is believed that the wishes of that person for the host will come true. Then everyone gathers again to drink some alcohol or juice. Then the wishes, as well as plans of every person for the new year, will be shared with others. During Tet Holiday Tet Holiday traditionally lasts for three days. People often stay at home to welcome guests to their house or go to relative and neighborhood houses. The elderly will be received the wishes for health, the adults will be received the ones for fortune and success while the young and children will be received lucky money. Laughs and talks appear everywhere on Tet holiday these days. Besides, Vietnamese people often go to pagodas. By donating money and asking for letters, they will receive several lucks and fortune. Festivals after Tet Holiday Tet ends when votive papers are burned and offerings are taken down from the altars to share for every family member. It is the time for people to join in festivals all around the country such as buffalo fighting festival or boat racing, wrestling, lion or dragon dances. Festivals will be organized for a month after Tet holiday so you are able to attend and explore them as many as possible. Vietnamese Lunar New Year is the priceless value of Vietnam and an indispensable part of the life of all Vietnamese people. Plan Vietnam tours to enjoy Tet holiday and experience unforgettable experiences of Vietnamese cultures, customs, and traditions. Source Viet Vision Travel History & CultureExplainerObserved by billions of people, the festival also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is marked by themes of reunion and around the world, it usually prompts the planet’s largest annual migration of people. And though it is known to some in the West as Chinese New Year, it isn’t just celebrated in China. Lunar New Year falls this year on Sunday, January 22, 2023, kicking off the Year of the Rabbit. It is traditionally a time for family reunions, plenty of food, and some very loud is the Lunar New Year?Modern China actually uses a Gregorian calendar like most of the rest of the world. Its holidays, however, are governed by its traditional lunisolar calendar, which may have been in use from as early as the 21st century When the newly founded Republic of China officially adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1912, its leaders rebranded the observation of the Lunar New Year as Spring Festival, as it is known in China today.Learn why some people celebrate Christmas in January.As its name suggests, the date of the lunar new year depends on the phase of the moon and varies from year to year. Each year in the lunar calendar is named one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, which are derived from ancient Chinese folklore. Repeating in a rotating basis, these animals are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and Spring Festival is celebrated in China and Hong Kong; Lunar New Year is also celebrated in South Korea, Tibet, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and places with large Chinese populations. Though the festival varies by country, it is dominated by themes of reunion and Lunar New Year is celebratedFor Chinese people, Spring Festival lasts for 40 days and has multiple sub-festivals and rituals. The New Year itself is a seven-day-long state holiday, and on the eve of the new year, Chinese families traditionally celebrate with a massive reunion dinner. Considered the year’s most important meal, it is traditionally held in the house of the most senior family member.Learn about Lunar New Year with your kids.The holiday may be getting more modern, but millennia-old traditions are still held dear in China and other countries. In China, people customarily light firecrackers, which are thought to chase away the fearful monster Nian. However, the tradition has been on the decline in recent years due to air pollution restrictions that have hit the fireworks industry hard. The color red is used in clothing and decorations to ensure prosperity, and people exchange hongbao, red envelopes filled with lucky cash. Meanwhile in Korea, people make rice cake soup and honor their ancestors during Seollal. And during Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, flowers play an important role in the New Year has even spawned its own form of travel During chunyun, or spring migration, hundreds of million people travel to their hometowns in China for family reunions and New Year’s celebrations. In past years, billions of travelers have taken to the road during the 40-day period. Known as the world’s largest human migration, chunyun regularly clogs already busy roads, trains and airports—proof of the holiday’s enduring significance for those who associate it with luck and story was originally published on January 2, 2020. It has been updated. When the weather is a bit chilly, it signals a new beginning — a season where the flower buds awaken on the branches and buds fresh. Tet is a traditional holiday of Vietnam that celebrates the transition and the welcoming of a new year. Tet is also commonly known as Lunar New Year for some Asian countries like such as China, South Korea, and is always a series of new beginnings. It’s an event that invites people towards a positive way forward with joy and is tetLunar New Year is an essential occasion for Vietnamese people. During this holiday, there will be many activities about traditional culture and festivals that have been ongoing for thousands of years. Tet is a moment of joy, a time where family and friends meet up, review old memories and to celebrate the new year together. This occasion usually falls in January or February of the Gregorian like any traditional holiday, Tet has food, decorations, and customs that color and give meaning to this important event of the foodBanh ChungThe first thing that is special about Tet is the traditional food that gets featured during this special event. The most popular dish is Banh Chung or Vietnamese Rice Cake. Made from sticky rice, pork and mung bean, all wrapped up in a banana leaf, Banh Chung has a center spot on every family altar during Tet to pray for their ancestors to support and look after the family the entire ChungBoiled ChickenBoiled chicken is also an indispensable plate in Tet Holiday. This dish is one that can’t be missing during ceremonies, weddings, and housewarmings. Accordingly, it definitely can’t be absent during Tet. People boil a chicken, then season with some lemon leaves and dip in salt. The taste of it contributes significantly to the unforgettable vibe of Tet GacAnother great flavor on the menu is Xoi Gac or steamed Momordica glutinous rice. Not only during Tet, but Xoi Gac is also popular in any Vietnamese wedding because it is considered a luck charm. With its exclusive orange color, sweet scent, and luxurious texture, Xoi Gac has its position placing next to Banh Chung, boiled chicken, and other traditional food on the family altar during Tet Spring RollsAside from the above, you can also expect to see fried spring rolls as a part of the traditional culinary. The golden fried wraps contain pork, jelly-ear mushroom, and bean sprout add to the holiday that mesmerizing crusty and fatty taste bringing unique appetite to Blossom and Apricot BlossomIf Banh Chung and fried spring rolls please the taste buds, then peach and apricot blossom charm the eyes of people during Tet holiday. These flowers are not only the symbol of luck, health, and prosperity, but they also bring the best of everything to the family in the new picturesIn the old days of Vietnam, people came to a calligraphy master and asked for parallel sentences on red paper rolls so that they could hang for Tet. Although calligraphy masters are not popular in the modern world anymore, but parallel sentences are still a unique part of any home decoration during Lunar New sentences, are simple, but bear the meaningful words to bring lots of success, money, health, and Gods Farewell CeremonyOne of the earliest and the most important customs of Tet Holiday is the Kitchen Gods Farewell Ceremony. On the 23rd of the last month in the lunar calendar, people offer carps and the dishes mentioned above to the Kitchen ceremony is meant to send off the Kitchen Gods to heaven. Traveling to the sky using the carps, the two gods and goddess of Kitchen will report to the King of Heaven about what happened in the previous year of the family, and will come back on the last day of Tet to celebrate the holiday with the Year’s Eve OfferingsOn New Year’s Eve, before the clock strikes twelve, the family would have both an open and in-door ceremony. The family would celebrate in open air first, to send thanks to the gods, with offerings including a boiled chicken, xoi gac, and flowers. After that, the family would come inside, over the ancestor altar pray for the ancestors to come home and celebrate the new Xi Lucky MoneyWhat everyone especially children loves the best thing about Tet Holiday is receiving Li Xi, or Lucky Money. The money is enclosed in bright red envelopes and given by the elderly during Tet as a mean of wishing good luck, health, and happiness in the new old people, it is a sign of respect and generosity. However, to children, Li Xi money is a mean of supply for hang-outs, clothes, and Xi Nam MoiActivitiesFamily ReunionThere are plenty of things during Tet. Most activities are about the theme of a family reunion. And indeed, a family reunion is the first thing that people do the early morning of Tet. People from any place, no matter how far or how busy, will try their best to find a way back to the family reunion. Everyone would come together and be in each other’s arms for the annual PagodaPeople will also visit the pagoda for good luck in the new year. They come here to wish for good luck for the rest of the year. Elders pray for their ancestors and ask them to look after each family member. Friends wish each other wellness, and children ask for a lot of toys and pictures on Flower StreetsOne favorite hotspot of Tet Holiday is the flower street. Every year, anyone who passes by the city center will look at constructing the year’s flower arrangements with curiosity. The amazing construction will bring a stunning landscape offer countless beautiful spots to selfie come here to admire and take photos in their traditional clothes and have a good time with their friends and to be aware of for Tet Holiday?Busy markets and price increaseTet is an important national holiday, meaning people should make sure they have all the essential items needed beforehand. Consequently, this results in busy markets, especially in the last week before New Year's the high demand for Tet items increase, that leads to an increase in price. So, don’t very surprised when fruits are more expensive than usual. Alternatively, you can prepare earlier to avoid the hefty StreetAirplane and Bus ticketsTet holiday is the only longest holiday when the family can see each other again. It means that it will be harder to book a flight or a bus trip during this holiday. If you plan to travel around Vietnam, be sure to book your plane, train, or bus ticket in holiday is not just for Vietnamese people, it is for anyone who wishes to be at home again, and home is where the heart is. So, get your heart on, put on your Tet spirit, and indulge in the Tet holiday on your next trip to OverviewThe capital of Vietnam is a city of timeless grace with tree-lined boulevards, colonial buildings, many lakes and parks as well as temples and pagodas. Best time to travel to HueLocated in the Central Coast of Vietnam, Hue province become one of key tourist regions included beautiful natural landscapes and hospitable people. This region belongs to humid tropical weather the temperature will be up to 39 degree in the dry season and could be 18 degree during the rainy 8 best places for dining in HanoiIf you are crazy about Hanoi cuisine, don't miss this article! Let us take you to the top 8 best places for dining in Hanoi from fine dining to local eateries.

lunar new year or tet is vietnam's main holiday