In traditional Vietnamese culture, Tết Nguyên Đán marks the coming of spring and the arrival of the New Year, literally translating to the “Feast of the First Morning of the First Day.”
Banh Chung © Annapustynnikova | Dreamstime
The New Year is determined by the Vietnamese lunar calendar, but preparations for the holiday start weeks in advance. In the spirit of renewal, people spend the last days of the month cleaning their houses and buying new clothes for children as relatives return home and an extensive holiday feast is prepared. Past grievances are forgiven and families work to pay off the last of their debts to start the New Year with a clean slate.
Relatives often take turns watching the fire through the night, all under the gaze of Tao Quan, the three Kitchen Guardians who on the 23rd day of the Vietnamese December, report back to the Jade Emperor about all the household’s activities in the past year. Some of the traditional holiday delicacies include banh chung (rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves) and gio cha (Vietnamese sausage), in addition to ripe kumquats, peaches and oranges, whose blossoming trees are purchased and decorated for the family’s home. The streets of Vietnam burst into color in these weeks leading up to the holiday, particularly the Tết Flower Market on Nguyen Hue in Hanoi.
© Fisfra | Dreamstime
The festivities start immediately after ringing in the New Year. It is believed the first person to visit a home will determine the fortune of the family’s coming year, so it is customary for people to never enter a house without an invitation. Any type of cleaning is also taboo on the first day of Tết, symbolizing the wiping away of good luck. Families beat on drums and gongs light up firecrackers to call for the return of the three Kitchen Guardians as elders hand red envelopes of money to their grandchildren. The kids, who are wearing their new clothes for a fresh start to the lunar New Year, often spend their money on toys, donations to local temples and even traditional gambling games like bau cua ca cop (Gourd, Crab, Fish, Tiger), a dice game enjoyed by adults and children alike.
The festivities continue for the next couple days, with the second day of the New Year reserved for friends, and the third for teachers, who are highly respected in Vietnam. Public performances like lion and dragon dances can be seen in the streets. This year’s Tết Nguyên Đán falls on Feb. 8, with celebrations taking place in Vietnamese communities around the world.
Thien Hau Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh City © Huynh Thu | Dreamstime
Read This Next
#TrazeeTravel
Insta FeedAirlines
May 13, 2024Air New Zealand’s Electric Flight Initiative Prepares to Take Off
Air New Zealand recently announced plans to introduce all-electric cargo flights by 2026 using The Beta ALIA electric cargo aircraft, which weighs 3 tons, exceeds 39 feet and can reach speeds up to 168 mph. Test flights have shown it can cover nearly 300 miles on a single charge, with a charge time of 40–60 minutes. The aircraft will collaborate with New Zealand Post to shuttle mail.
Sponsored Content
Experience Ireland’s
Wild Atlantic Way
From the windy tip of Malin Head in County Donegal to the colorful harbor town of Kinsale in County Cork, Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way amazes at every turn. Feel the blast of fresh sea air with a lighthouse walk. Get up close to history, grab a fireside seat at a traditional music session, experience the world-famous Irish hospitality and explore some of Ireland's most exhilarating coastal scenery. It is a place that inspired dreamers and travelers, poets and painters with a landscape filled with stone walls, thatched cottages, deserted beaches and breathtaking views. Charming towns and villages, 1,500 miles of soaring cliffs, incredible landscapes and unique experiences await.
Hotel
May 10, 2024This Hotel Brand Just Launched New Dry Beverage Program
As more and more travelers embrace the sober lifestyle, more and more travel providers are rolling out new offerings to cater to them. Loews is just one of the most recent to do so, with a new dry beverage program dubbed Free Spirits by Loews Hotels.
Hotel
May 10, 2024Hotel de Russie, A Rocco Forte Hotel Debuts Hamleys Suite
Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte Hotel located on Via del Babuino, Rome, partnered with Hamleys to create a new Fairytale Suite by Hamleys.
Sponsored Content
Unearth Seoul’s Hidden Gems
Filled with hidden treasures waiting to be discovered, Seoul invites travelers to unearth its many gems, and Seoul Tourism Organization is here to help travelers do just that. Through thoughtfully created initiatives like the Theme Tourism County Competition, Seoul Tourism Organization works closely with local districts to identify and showcase what makes each district unique and charming in all seasons.
Hotel
May 10, 2024Spend Spring at The Ivy Hotel
This spring, discover The Ivy Hotel, a Black-owned and -operated 19th-century mansion restored into a boutique hotel with 17 unique rooms in Baltimore’s Mt. Vernon neighborhood. As the first and only Relais & Chateaux property in Maryland, guests feel like they are staying at a friend’s home or in a European chateau.
ShareThis