Vietnam is a country full of contrasts, colors and culture. One of the best ways to get to know its soul is to experience its biggest and most important holiday - TET, or Lunar New Year. Celebrated according to the lunar calendar, usually between January 20 and February 19, this festival is a time of family, friends, joy and renewal for the Vietnamese. If you are planning to visit Vietnam during TET, prepare for an unforgettable experience that will reveal authentic Vietnam. Here are some tips on how to enjoy the Lunar New Year TET like a local.
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Learn about the traditions and customs of TET
TET is full of symbolism and rituals to welcome the new year with hope and happiness. Some of them are:
- Cleaning the house: Vietnamese people thoroughly clean their homes before TET to get rid of everything bad from the previous year and make room for the new. During TET, however, they avoid sweeping, cleaning and throwing away rubbish that could symbolize the loss of money, happiness and success.
- Honor the ancestors: Vietnamese believe that their ancestors return home on the Lunar New Year TET to participate in the celebrations. Therefore, they clean and decorate altars of the dead, burn incense, offer food and pray to them. They also visit the tombs of their ancestors and keep them in good condition.
- Giving money: the Vietnamese give children, the elderly and workers red envelopes of money called 'li xi'. These envelopes bring good luck and prosperity to both the person who receives them and the person who gives them. The amount of money should be even and avoid the numbers 4 and 6, which are considered unlucky.
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House decoration: The Vietnamese also decorate their homes with flowers, trees and decorations that have different meanings. For example, yellow apricot blossoms symbolize wealth, while red peach blossoms signify good luck. Kumquats, which have golden fruits, are also popular as they represent abundance. Other common decorations include red lanterns, paper chains, calligraphy and pictures of the animal that rules the year according to the Chinese zodiac.
- Taste the traditional dishes of TET
Food is an integral part of TET and each region has its own specialities. Some of the most typical TET dishes are:
- Bánh chưng: This is a savory rice cake that consists of glutinous rice, mung beans and pork, wrapped in banana leaves. It is prepared several days ahead and cooked in a pot of water for 12 hours. Bánh chưng is considered a symbol of earth and heaven and is offered to the ancestors on the Lunar New Year TET.
- Bánh tét: This is similar to the bánh chưng but is cylindrical in shape and is typical of southern Vietnam. It can be savory or sweet, with different fillings such as coconut, banana, pineapple, or beans.
- Xôi gấc: This is a sweet rice porridge that is red due to the gấc fruit, which is also known as momordice catnip. The red color symbolizes happiness and joy. Xôi gấc is served with sugar, coconut and sesame seeds.
- Thịt kho tàu: This is a dish of pork that is marinated in fish sauce and caramel and cooked with eggs and coconut water. It is a traditional dish for the first day of Tet as it is said to bring good luck and longevity.
- Nem rán: These are fried spring rolls that consist of rice paper stuffed with minced meat, shrimp, noodles, mushrooms and vegetables. They are served with a sauce made of fish sauce, sugar, vinegar, garlic and chilli. Nem rán are popular for their crunchiness and taste.
Take part in fun TET activities
TET is also a time for fun and frolic. Vietnamese people enjoy various activities such as:-
Visiting temples: Vietnamese people visit temples and pagodas to pray for happiness, health and success in the New Year. They also have their fortune told from paper cards or bamboo sticks, which they pick at random. Some of the most popular temples in Hanoi are the Temple of Literature, Ngoc Son Temple and Tran Quoc Temple. In Ho Chi Minh City, they are Jade Emperor Temple, Mariamman Temple and Thien Hau Temple.
- Watching fireworks: In Hanoi, fireworks displays are held at Hoan Kiem Lake, Ba Dinh Square and Long Bien Bridge. In Ho Chi Minh City, fireworks displays are held on the Saigon River, April 30 Square and Dam Sen Square.
- Playing traditional games. Some of them are: Bầu cua cá cọp: This is a gambling game that is played with dice and a game board on which there are pictures of animals: shrimp, crab, fish, tiger, chicken and deer. Players bet on one or more animals and then roll three dice that also have pictures of animals on them. If they match the ones on the board, they win according to the betting ratio.
- Đánh chén: This is a game that is played with coins and a bowl. Players throw coins into the bowl and gain or lose points depending on how they land. If the coins are face up they gain points, if they are face down they lose points. If the coins are on edge, they get double points. The game ends when one player reaches a certain number of points or runs out of coins.
- Cờ tướng: This is a chess game played with 32 wooden pieces on a square board with 64 squares. The game has similar rules to international chess but with some differences such as the movements of the bishops, cannons and soldiers. The object of the game is to checkmate the opponent's king or trap him on one square.
Yes, it's true that if you don't have friends or family in Vietnam, your options are more limited during Tet as most shops, restaurants, museums and tourist attractions are closed. This is because Vietnamese people spend this time at home with their loved ones and do not work. If you want to travel to Vietnam on TET, it is a good idea to find out what is open and what is closed in advance and plan your itinerary accordingly. It's also a good idea to book your accommodation, transport and tickets well in advance as everything tends to be more expensive during TET and sells out quickly.
On the other hand, travelling to Vietnam on TET gives you a unique opportunity to experience Vietnamese culture and traditions up close and experience the atmosphere of joy and well-being that prevails in this country. If you have any friends, acquaintances or family in Vietnam, you can join them in the celebrations and sample traditional foods, games and customs. If not, you can also join in some public events such as fireworks, street markets, cultural performances or visiting temples. In any case, traveling to Vietnam on TET is an experience you will remember for a lifetime. If you would like to visit Vietnam during TET, we can help you put together a tailor-made itinerary that will allow you to experience TET like a local. Contact us at VIETNAM CK and we will be happy to advise you and plan your trip.
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