How Vietnamese Families Spend Their Tet Days
In Vietnam, few occasions are as special as Tet, the Lunar New Year, when families come together to celebrate and participate in a variety of joyful activities. Below are the top five most popular Tet activities that Vietnamese families typically engage in.
Watching Fireworks on New Year’s Eve
Fireworks displays to welcome the New Year are highly anticipated events for Vietnamese people. Major cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, and Da Nang host spectacular firework shows at prominent tourist attractions, providing stunning views for large crowds. In 2025, the events are expected to be more vibrant than ever, with enhanced safety measures and community participation.
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The dazzling light displays and booming sounds create an exhilarating atmosphere, making it a perfect time for families to gather and experience the excitement together as they usher in the New Year.
Family Gatherings and Feasts
The heart of Tet celebrations revolves around family meals filled with traditional dishes. On the last day of the Lunar year, families gather for the “Tất Niên” meal, sharing reflections on the past year’s joys and challenges. These gatherings emphasize the importance of family traditions, paying respect to elders, and strengthening familial bonds.
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During Tet, family gatherings can happen spontaneously at any hour beyond the three main meal times: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Visitors, whether relatives or friends, may arrive at the host's home, as food and drink are abundant during this festive season.
New Year Greetings
Starting on the first day of the New Year, people visit family and friends to exchange heartfelt greetings and well-wishes. This custom is often stronger in rural areas, where communities are close-knit and individuals are frequently related. The greeting order typically starts with family, followed by friends and colleagues.
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Elders' homes are generally the first destinations, with parents' homes often being the very first stop. This tradition transcends mere wish exchanges; it serves as a reunion opportunity for siblings, friends, and family members after a long year apart.
Lucky Money for Children and Elders
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This well-loved tradition involves giving "lì xì," or lucky money, to children and elders. This custom is much awaited by Vietnamese children and serves not only to bring joy but also to teach them the importance of money management and savings for good purposes. Traditionally, lucky money symbolizes wishes for health, intelligence, and good behavior for children, while also bringing fortune to the givers.
Visiting Pagodas
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The tradition of visiting pagodas during Tet reflects the deep religious beliefs of the Vietnamese people, preserved and cherished for thousands of years. Individuals visit these sacred spaces to pray for a prosperous New Year and express gratitude to deities believed to protect and grant their wishes. Visiting pagodas not only helps families connect with their spirituality but also allows them to immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere, free from the stress of the previous year. Vietnamese families often visit these sites together as a demonstration of unity and sincerity.
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Folk Games During Tet Holidays
In the country area, Tet is often a holiday to celebrate with games, folk singing and village feasts. Get to know some of the most popular communal games during Tet holiday.
Visiting Pagodas On New Year Days
Together with the festive atmosphere Tet brings to Vietnam every year, the event also the best time of the year for Vietnamese to show their religious belief and traditional custom. Among them, visiting pagodas on the first days of the year has long been a lofty tradition.
Do and Don't When Xong Dat
Tet Nguyen Dan- the biggest festival of the year- plays an extremely essential role in Vietnamese’s beliefs and culture. Among many complicated religious rituals performed in this occasion, “xong dat” (first visit to a home in a year) is believed to decide the fortune of the host for the whole year.
