The Vietnamese New Year celebration of Tet, short for Tet Nguyen Dan which means “festival of the first day”, is celebrated over three days as opposed to the traditional 15 of the Chinese New Different countries across Asia celebrate the new year in many ways and may follow a different zodiac. What is the Lunar New Year? The Lunar New Year — known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea — is a major festival 4. Vietnamese New Year Is Different from Chinese New Year. 5. Vietnamese New Year Is Celebrated Either in January or February. 6. Tet Celebrations Last Much Longer than the 7-Day Public Holiday. 7. Honoring Ong Tao Marks the Beginning of Vietnamese Lunar New Year. 8. Preparation for Lunar New Year Begins Weeks in Advance. 9. Families engage in thorough house cleaning to dispel any lingering misfortune from the old year. Visits to ancestral graves. Vietnamese families often visit their ancestors’ tombs and clean grave sites whenever the Lunar New Year (Tet) comes, normally from the 23rd of the last month of a lunar year to New Year’s Eve. The Lunar Year holiday was originally brought to Vietnam by the Chinese, who had formally incorporated Vietnam into their Han Dynasty empire in 111 BCE and mostly had ruled it for over 1000 years until the collapse of the Tang Dynasty in the 10th century. That historic period of Chinese rule had significantly influenced Vietnamese culture The Vietnamese Lunar New Year Tet (Tết) is one of the most important traditional holidays in Vietnamese culture. Similar to the Chinese New Year, Vietnam celebrates the new year according to the lunar calendar. In this article, we'll discuss Tet's history, traditions, methods of celebration, and cultural significance in detail. The Vietnamese New Year was first celebrated by the Chinese in Vietnam over 2000 years ago. At that time, Vietnam was part of Ancient China and so the Chinese New Year transcended generations to become the Vietnamese New Year. The Tet festival was originally a three-day celebration, but it has gradually expanded to last up to two weeks. Hanoi (VNA) – The traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) is the biggest and oldest festival in Vietnam, bringing its people together to celebrate the sacred and meaningful annual event. Tet is an occasion when members of a family, no matter where they are and what they do to earn a living, get together and pray in front of the ancestral altar. Their return to home in celebration of Tet is regarded Lunar New Year or Tết Nguyên Đán, is Vietnam’s most significant celebration. Across Vietnam, during this time families reunite and honour their ancestors, while praying for luck, prosperity and health in the new year. The public holiday may only run for one week, but in reality, Tết celebrations last much longer. The Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tết) and the Chinese Lunar New Year both occur on Jan 22nd 2023. They are based on the same ancient calendar and have the same cultural origins. They share certain elements like giving lucky money to chrildren , the colour red, and the 12-animal Zodiac . After living in China for 3 years as V-Trust Sales Manager and 1 year in Vietnam as V-Trust Country Manager, I am happy to share my experience and feelings, even if, for sure, I don’t know everything and they may not be exhaustive. Chinese New Year and the Vietnamese New Year (called Tết in Vietnam) actually have a lot in common. Lunar New Year is called Tết in Vietnam.Adults give small red envelopes filled with cash, called lì xì, to children.Certain special foods such as banh chung (savory rice cakes) are served, and Discover the traditions and unique experiences of Lunar New Year in Vietnam with this comprehensive guide. Explore Tet preparations, cultural customs, and the differences between celebrations in the North and South. Get practical travel tips for visiting Vietnam during this festive season and immerse yourself in the country's most significant festival. Perfect for those planning a culturally Tết Nguyên Đán or the Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebrates the arrival of spring and marks the beginning of a new year according to the Vietnamese lunar calendar. During Tết, Vietnamese families honor their ancestors, exchange gifts, and enjoy special foods as they look forward to a year of prosperity and good fortune. Yet, there may be differences due to time zone offsets. For example, the Chinese Lunar New Year will be 1 hour or 1 day later than the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. Interestingly, the Vietnamese usually start Tet preparations two weeks or even a month before, creating a buzzing atmosphere at the spring entrance. On Tet, families will prepare a feast to welcome visiting relatives and friends, to exchange greetings and best wishes for the New Year. Sharing similarities with Chinese New Year, Vietnamese New Year is important for the Vietnamese people as it is believed that what they do on the first day of the year will affect the rest of the year 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. Wishing you coconut, papaya, and mango – a play on words for wishing sufficient money for the year. Vietnamese Zodiac. No Tết celebration is complete without a mention of the Vietnamese zodiac. Like its Chinese counterpart, the Vietnamese zodiac is a 12-year cycle where each year is associated with an animal. The Vietnamese people celebrate Tet with deep reverence, and the exchange of well wishes is one of the most cherished traditions. Here are some common Vietnamese New Year greetings, each reflecting the cultural significance of Vietnamese New Year wishes. Eplore 50+ ways to say “Happy New Year in Vietnamese” Wishes for Health 14 Best Experiences For New Year in Vietnam 2025. If you are confused about how to celebrate the Vietnamese New Year, here are some things that you can do during that time.Take a look at the experiences that you can have as you participate in the celebrations of the New Year in Vietnam to make it the best one of your life! 1. Go For Countdown
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