Tết Nguyên Đán, more commonly known by its shortened name Tết, is the most important and popular holiday and festival in Vietnam. It is the Vietnamese New Year marking the arrival of spring based on the Lunar calendar
Tet is Vietnamese New Year and is the most important festival and public holiday in Vietnam
Tet falls on the first night in the first month of the Lunar Calendar, which in the Gregorian officially runs from Feb. 5-9 2019
The most popular food of the festival is banh chung (banh tet), which is made of sweet sticky rice, meat or beans, and spices wrapped in a leaf and boiled for half a day. The legend is that this delicacy was invented over two thousand years ago by a prince in the Hung dynasty and the king was so impressed by the simplicity and humbleness by this gift that he named the prince as his heir.
If you are visiting Vietnam at this time of year, be aware that most of the country will close down for Tet, and that local transport services are stretched to the limit and international flights are very busy catering for Vietnamese people returning home from overseas for Tet.
During Tet, the cities become less busy as people return to their home towns to be with friends and family and many businesses are closed during Tet.
A popular event to mark new year is the Flower Street in Ho Chi Minh City, which attracts over one million visitors each year. The animal of the new year will be displayed along with many flowers.
If interested in being in Vietnam during Tet, you should arrive 2 days before the 5th and settle in one place for the week. The days before Tet are super busy with everyone preparing for the holiday and very fascinating to see, especially in the Old Quarter in Hanoi.
Tet is Vietnamese New Year and is the most important festival and public holiday in Vietnam
Tet falls on the first night in the first month of the Lunar Calendar, which in the Gregorian officially runs from Feb. 5-9 2019
The most popular food of the festival is banh chung (banh tet), which is made of sweet sticky rice, meat or beans, and spices wrapped in a leaf and boiled for half a day. The legend is that this delicacy was invented over two thousand years ago by a prince in the Hung dynasty and the king was so impressed by the simplicity and humbleness by this gift that he named the prince as his heir.
If you are visiting Vietnam at this time of year, be aware that most of the country will close down for Tet, and that local transport services are stretched to the limit and international flights are very busy catering for Vietnamese people returning home from overseas for Tet.
During Tet, the cities become less busy as people return to their home towns to be with friends and family and many businesses are closed during Tet.
A popular event to mark new year is the Flower Street in Ho Chi Minh City, which attracts over one million visitors each year. The animal of the new year will be displayed along with many flowers.
If interested in being in Vietnam during Tet, you should arrive 2 days before the 5th and settle in one place for the week. The days before Tet are super busy with everyone preparing for the holiday and very fascinating to see, especially in the Old Quarter in Hanoi.
