Business Opening? Pick The Right Date For A Prosperous Year

Derived from a perfectionist viewpoint that emphasizes welcoming positive outcomes while avoiding negative ones, Vietnamese culture maintains a strong belief in the importance of choosing the right date for significant events, including building a house, organizing a wedding, or starting a business. While some may dismiss this practice as superstition, for many Vietnamese, it is a deeply ingrained habit that suggests favorable outcomes can stem from carefully selected dates.

 Photo @pinky.vn

In practice, many individuals consult fortune tellers to choose auspicious dates for launching businesses, whether they are new ventures or simply a continuation into the new year. Opening a convenience store or starting up machinery in a factory is guided by specific age-based criteria. Fortune tellers will collect the entrepreneur's age and birth date and time, then analyze this information using principles based on Chinese philosophies to determine the most suitable date for the business's inception. Additionally, some individuals proficient in the concepts of Yin and Yang and the Five Basic Elements (Thuyet Am Duong Ngu Hanh) may independently select optimal dates using relevant literature.

During the initial days of the new year, a ‘good day’ is often identified, leading people to visit their offices or stores to symbolize the commencement of business for the year. Even if they only spend an hour at their establishment before opening officially later, this visit marks the declaration of the 'good date' as the start date, aiming to invite luck and fortune throughout the upcoming year. Since it is believed that events occurring during this hour will influence the success of the business for the entire year, individuals strive to create a joyful and welcoming atmosphere. Some may even invite friends and family to make purchases using new banknotes, hoping to assure prosperity for the entire year.

Regardless of size, most Vietnamese businesses desire to commence their operations on an auspicious date each year.

The concept of a 'good date' varies from year to year and is also dependent on the ages of the business owners. According to the Vietnam Research Center for Cultural Studies, for 2025, the most promising date to open a business or to start operations in the new year falls on January 21st (Lunar Calendar) or February 11th (Gregorian calendar). The recommended hours for launching are between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM or between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM. While this serves as a general guideline, depending on the age of the business owner, there may be additional favorable dates to consider within the first week of the Lunar New Year.

Interestingly, specific business activities are influenced by cultural sayings. For example, Vietnamese proverb states, "Tranh di mung 7, tranh ve mung 3" - Avoid departing on the 7th and arriving on the 3rd. Consequently, many travel agencies refrain from organizing tours that depart or arrive on the 3rd or 7th of January during Tết.

Throughout the year, three particularly inauspicious dates are avoided for significant undertakings: the 5th, 14th, and 23rd of each lunar month (where the individual digits sum to 5). While exceptions may exist, even those with little knowledge of date selection typically prefer not to schedule important events on these dates.

Why is selecting a date to begin a business so significant to the Vietnamese?

Two primary reasons uphold this tradition through generations.

1. Prevention is better than cure.

Choosing the right date for business ventures does not require extensive effort, but for many, it serves as a preventive measure against misfortune. Most people prefer to avoid the regret of contemplating “if only” if they believe they could have achieved better outcomes by opting for a different date from the outset.

2. Strong belief fosters motivation.

The Vietnamese way of life is deeply rooted in spiritual values. Ancestor worship and varied religious practices exert a significant influence in daily life. As a learned behavior passed down through many generations, successful businesses are often perceived as a result of selecting the right date—the first step to starting a venture. This annual adherence to date selection reinforces the belief that it is among the crucial factors contributing to business success. This conviction fuels motivation, propelling individuals to overcome challenges they encounter along their entrepreneurial journey. With this intrinsic motivation, they are more likely to achieve significant accomplishments in the future.