Tết in Vietnam
The most important holiday in Vietnam
Tết is the most important holiday in Vietnam, celebrated at the turn of the lunar calendar. It is also known
as
the
Vietnamese New Year, and is a time for family reunions, paying respects to ancestors, and wishing for luck
and
prosperity in the coming year.
The preparations for Tết usually begin weeks in advance. People clean and decorate their homes, buy new
clothes,
cook
traditional dishes, and make offerings to their ancestors. In the days leading up to Tết, the streets are
filled
with
flower markets, where people can buy peach blossoms, apricot flowers, kumquat trees, and other plants to
decorate their
homes.
On the eve of Tết, families gather together for a feast and to share their wishes for the new year. At
midnight,
people
set off firecrackers to scare away evil spirits and welcome good luck. The first day of Tết is spent
visiting
relatives
and friends, exchanging greetings and gifts, and eating traditional foods such as bánh chưng (sticky rice
cake)
and giò
(Vietnamese sausage).
Tết lasts for three days, but the festivities can continue for up to a week. In the cities, people often
attend
public
events such as dragon dancing, flower parades, and fireworks displays. Tết is a time of joy, renewal, and
hope
for the
future, and is an important part of Vietnamese culture and tradition.
Learn more on
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