New Year in Vietnam usually means Tet (Tet Nguyen Dan), the Lunar New Year and the country’s biggest festival. In 2027, Tet falls on Saturday, 6 February, and the official Vietnamese new year holiday runs from 4 to 10 February 2027. Vietnam also celebrates the solar New Year on 1 January with countdown parties in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but Tet is when families reunite, streets fill with flowers, and the whole country slows down for a week.
For Indian travellers, Tet feels a lot like Diwali: houses are cleaned, new clothes are bought, sweets are shared, and everyone prays for luck and prosperity in the year ahead. This guide explains when Vietnam New Year is, how it is celebrated, where to go, and how to plan a trip around it.
| Quick facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Tet 2027 (Year of the Goat) | Saturday, 6 February 2027 |
| Official Tet holiday 2027 | 4–10 February 2027 (7 days) |
| Tet 2028 | Wednesday, 26 January 2028 |
| Solar New Year | 1 January (one-day public holiday) |
| Greeting | “Chúc Mừng Năm Mới” (Happy New Year) |
What Is Lunar New Year in Vietnam (Tet)?
Tet is the Lunar New Year in Vietnam, the most important festival of the year, marking the start of spring and the new lunar year.
Lunar New Year, called Tet Nguyen Dan in Vietnamese (“the feast of the first morning”), is a time to honour ancestors, reunite with family, exchange gifts and wishes, and enjoy traditional food. Many people travel home to their villages, so cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City become unusually quiet in the first days of the new year.
When Is Vietnam New Year?
Tet, the Vietnam new year, falls between late January and mid-February each year, on the first day of the first lunar month.
| Year | Tet (first day) | Zodiac animal |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Saturday, 6 February | Goat |
| 2028 | Wednesday, 26 January | Monkey |
Unlike 1 January, Lunar New Year Vietnam celebrations change date every year because it follows the lunar calendar. The official holiday usually lasts 7–9 days, covering a few days before and after the first day. In 2027, government offices close from 4 to 10 February. The biggest moment is Giao Thua, the midnight that welcomes the new year, when families make offerings at home and cities hold fireworks.
During the holiday many local shops and restaurants close for 3–5 days, but most tourist attractions, hotels and big shopping malls stay open.
Solar New Year’s Eve (31 December) in Vietnam
On 31 December, Vietnam celebrates the solar new year with countdown parties, music and, in some years, fireworks in the big cities.
In Hanoi, crowds gather on the walking streets around Hoan Kiem Lake, and in Ho Chi Minh City on Nguyen Hue Walking Street and along the Saigon River. It is a party night rather than a family festival, and 1 January is a one-day public holiday. Many Indian travellers combine it with christmas in vietnam for a year-end trip. For weather and travel tips for early in the year, see our guide to vietnam in jan.
How Is Tet Celebrated in Vietnam?
Tet celebrations include cleaning and decorating homes, cooking special food, visiting family and pagodas, giving lucky money and watching lion dances and fireworks.
Preparation
In the weeks before Tet, people clean their houses, decorate them with flowers and lucky symbols, buy new clothes, settle debts and prepare special foods such as banh chung (square sticky rice cake), mut (candied fruits) and braised pork. On the 23rd day of the last lunar month, families send off the Kitchen Gods, a ritual that marks the start of the Tet season.
Food and drinks
Typical Tet dishes include banh chung (in the north) or banh tet (in the south), nem or cha gio (spring rolls), gio lua (pork roll), pickled onions, xoi (sticky rice) and che (sweet soup). Families also share tea, candied fruits and roasted seeds with guests.
For vegetarian Indian travellers, many Tet dishes contain meat, but vegetarian banh chung, candied fruits, sticky rice and fruit are easy to find. Buddhist pagodas and vegetarian (chay) restaurants are good options during the holiday.
Decorations
Homes and streets are decorated with yellow apricot blossoms (hoa mai) in the south, pink peach blossoms (hoa dao) in the north, kumquat trees, red lanterns and calligraphy couplets (cau doi) wishing for luck and happiness.
Activities
During Tet, people visit temples and pagodas to pray for good luck, burn incense, watch lion dances and fireworks, and play traditional games such as bau cua ca cop (a dice game) and o an quan (a board game). Lion dances are believed to chase away bad luck and bring prosperity.
Customs and traditions
- Li xi: giving lucky money in red envelopes to children and elders.
- Xong dat (first footing): the first visitor to a home after midnight is believed to set the family’s luck for the year.
- Taboos: people avoid sweeping the house, arguing or saying unlucky words in the first days of the year.
- Visiting order: traditionally, the first day is for the father’s family, the second for the mother’s family and the third for teachers.
- Clothing: many people wear new clothes in red or bright colours, and some wear the ao dai, Vietnam’s national dress.
Tet and Diwali: Similarities for Indian Travellers
Tet is often called the “Diwali of Vietnam” because both festivals celebrate new beginnings, family, prosperity and good luck.
| Tradition | Tet (Vietnam) | Diwali (India) |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning and decorating | Homes cleaned, flowers and red couplets | Homes cleaned, rangoli and diyas |
| Prayers for luck | Ancestor altars and pagoda visits | Lakshmi puja |
| Gifts | Li xi (lucky money), tea, candied fruits | Sweets, dry fruits, gifts |
| New clothes | Yes, often red | Yes |
| Fireworks | Official displays at midnight | Crackers and fireworks |
If you want to experience Vietnam during your own festive season, our diwali tour packages are timed for the October–November holidays.
Best Places To Celebrate New Year in Vietnam
The best places for the Vietnam new year holiday are Hanoi for tradition, Ho Chi Minh City for flower streets and fireworks, Hoi An for lanterns, and Nha Trang or Phu Quoc for beaches.
Hanoi
The capital is the best place to see traditional Tet. Visit the Temple of Literature, where locals ask calligraphers for lucky characters, stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter, and see the peach blossom markets before Tet. On New Year’s Eve, fireworks are held at several points in the city. Hanoi is cool in February (around 15–20°C), so pack a light jacket.
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam’s largest city celebrates with the famous Nguyen Hue Flower Street, the spring flower festival in Tao Dan Park and fireworks along the Saigon River at midnight. You can also visit the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum and Ben Thanh Market, though some market stalls close for a few days after Tet.
Hoi An
The ancient town of Hoi An is a charming, romantic place to spend Tet. Lanterns and flowers decorate the old streets, and you can visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Old House and the Fujian Assembly Hall, and watch folk games and bai choi singing in the old town.
Nha Trang
Nha Trang is a great choice for sun and sea during Tet. Visit the Po Nagar Cham Towers and Long Son Pagoda, take a boat to Hon Mun, or spend a day at VinWonders Nha Trang. The city also holds fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc island is warm and dry in January and February, making it ideal for a beach break over the Vietnamese new year holiday. Hotels fill up fast, so book early; our phu quoc tour packages from india include flights, transfers and Indian meals.
Is Tet a Good Time To Visit Vietnam?
Yes. Tet Vietnam New Year is a great time to visit if you want to see Vietnamese culture at its most festive, but expect higher prices, busy transport and some closed shops.
Before Tet, cities are full of flower markets and shopping; during the first three days, many local businesses close and families stay home; after the fifth day, life slowly returns to normal and spring festivals begin across the country. For weather details, see our guide to feb weather in vietnam.
- Book early: flights, trains and hotels sell out and prices rise sharply in the week before and after Tet.
- Carry cash: some ATMs run low and small shops may not take cards during the holiday.
- Expect closures: some Indian and local restaurants close for a few days; your tour operator can arrange meals in advance.
- Be respectful: dress modestly at pagodas, greet people with a smile and avoid arguments or complaints during Tet.
- Learn the greeting: say “Chúc Mừng Năm Mới” (Happy New Year).
Other Festivals in Vietnam
Tet is the biggest event, but Vietnam has colourful festivals all year round.
The Mid-Autumn Festival (Tet Trung Thu) is the second most popular festival, with lanterns, lion dances and mooncakes; read more about the autumn festival in vietnam. Autumn is also a comfortable time to travel: see our guides to october in vietnam and november vietnam. For the full calendar, read our list of festivals in vietnam.
Plan Your New Year Trip to Vietnam
Because Tet is the busiest travel season in Vietnam, it is best to plan and book a New Year trip at least 2–3 months in advance.
Families and friends travelling together can join our Vietnam group tours, or check the vietnam tour package price for private trips covering Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc.
Tell us your travel dates, group size and departure city in India. A Vietnamtour.in travel expert will plan your New Year or Tet itinerary, secure hotels and flights early, and arrange vegetarian, Jain or Indian meals even during the holiday closures.
