You are here: Home News "TET" - Lunar New Year in Vietnam

Lunar New Year or " Tet " is the best epitomizes Vietnam's cultural identity, with a lot of meaningful customs and traditional special foods.

There are many Tets throughout the year (Mid-autumn Vietnamese New Year, Cold Food Vietnamese New Year, etc.). But the most significant of all is "Vietnamese New Year", which marks the Lunar New Year. For the Vietnamese people, Vietnamese New Year is like a combination of Western Saint Sylvester, New Year's Day, Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. It is the Festival of Purity and Renewal.

" Giao Thua " - Lunar New Year's Eve - the special moment with all Vietnamese people.
It means "Passage from the Old to the New Year" and a common belief among Vietnamese people that there are 12 Sacred Animals from the Zodiac taking turn monitoring and controlling the affairs of the earth. Thus, Giao Thua (New Year's Eve) is the moment of seeing the old chief (Snake for 2013) end his ruling term and pass his power to the new chief (Horse for 2014). Giao Thua is the most sacred time of the year. Therefore, the first houseguest to offer the first greeting is very important. If that particular guest has a good aura (well respected, well educated, successful, famous, etc.), then the family believes that they will receive luck and good fortune throughout the year. The belief of "xong dat"  still remains nowadays, especially among families with businesses.

" Hoa Mai - Hoa Dao " - Apricot flowers and Peach flowers - decoration on New Year Event

Flower buds and blossoms are the symbols for new beginning. These two distinctive flowers are widely sold and purchased during Tet. Hoa Mai are the yellow apricot flowers often seen in Southern Viet Nam. Hoa Mai are more adaptable to the hot weather of southern regions, thus, it is known as the primary flower in every home. Hoa Dao are the warm pink of the peach blossoms that match well with the dry, cold weather from the North. Tet is not Tet if there is no sight of Hoa Mai (south) or Hoa Dao (north) in every home.

 

Most of Vietnamese people  ready prepare their homework before coming the Lunar New Year's Eve and wish a happiness, healthy and prosperous to everybody on Horse Year 2014!

- Clean and decorate the home

- Literally means "getting new clothes"

- Farewell ceremony for the Kitchen Gods (Ong Tao) on the 23rd night of the last lunar month

-Giving away red envelopes (filled with lucky money)

- Making offers for the Ancestors

- Traditional special foods: Banh Chung or sticky rice cake,Gio Lua  or Lean Pork Paste...

Related News

• Sapa tourist destinations attract a lot of visitors - 12:00 29/06/2012
• Street Festival 2011 to be held in Ha Giang - 11:08 02/07/2012
• Sapa Travel Guides - 20:37 04/07/2012
• Need a plan to attract tourists in Red River Delta - 23:02 05/07/2012
• Primitive cave dwelling found in Bac Kan - 23:03 05/07/2012