Vietnamese Culture and Vocabulary: Lunar New Year (Tet Holiday)

Tet Nguyen Dan, or simply Tet, is the most important holiday in Vietnam. Marking the Lunar New Year, Tet is a time for family reunions, honouring ancestors, and welcoming prosperity. It’s a celebration full of vibrant traditions, delicious food, and beautiful decorations. 

This year, I am not in Vietnam to celebrate Lunar New Year with my family, but I try my best to keep up with the celebration, even in the UK

Festive Foods: A Feast for the New Year

Food plays a central role in Tet celebrations. Families prepare special dishes such as Banh Chung (sticky rice cake) that symbolises gratitude and unity. Other must-try delicacies include Nem (Vietnamese spring rolls), Mut Tet (candied fruits), and Mien (vermicelli noodles with chicken and herbs), each bringing luck and prosperity.

On Lunar New Year's Eve, me and my friend spent 4 hours in the kitchen cooking, and here is the result:

We got the deep-fried spring rolls (Nem), vermicelli noodles with chicken and herbs (Mien), beef sauteed (Bo Xao), dipping sauce, fresh veggies and rice noodles. Doesn't look like much, but it took us ages to get there.

Red Everywhere: The Color of Luck

During Tet, homes and streets are filled with red decorations, as the colour red symbolizes good fortune and happiness in Vietnamese culture. People hang red couplets (Cau Doi) with wishes for success and prosperity. Red envelopes (Li Xi) containing money are given to children and the elderly as a gesture of luck and blessings for the year ahead.

The picture is taken in Hang Ma, one of the busiest streets in Hanoi for toys and decoration. 

Ao Dai: Traditional Elegance

Tet is the time when people wear the Ao Dai, one of Vietnam’s iconic traditional attires. This long, flowing tunic worn over silk pants represents grace and cultural pride. Women often wear brightly coloured Ao Dai with intricate patterns, while men opt for simpler, elegant designs. The Ao Dai enhances the festive spirit, making Tet celebrations more colourful and charming.

I managed to bring mine to the UK this year:

Plants & Flowers: Bringing Nature Home

Decorating homes with plants and flowers is a cherished Tet tradition. Peach blossoms (Hoa Dao) in the North and apricot blossoms (Hoa Mai) in the South symbolize renewal and prosperity. Kumquat trees (Cay Quat), laden with golden fruits, represent wealth and happiness. These beautiful plants not only bring luck but also add a fresh, lively atmosphere to every home.

In Vietnam, growing Tet plants is a serious business, with many vendors growing plants all year long in preparation for the Tet Holiday

Many families in Vietnam go to markets to buy plants and take them home on their motorbikes/scooters. 

A Time for Joy and New Beginnings

Tet is more than just a holiday—it’s a time of reflection, gratitude, and hope for the future. Whether enjoying delicious food, admiring red decorations, dressing in Ao Dai, or welcoming the New Year with blooming flowers, every Tet tradition carries deep cultural significance.

This picture is taken at Au Trieu Street, right next to the church. On special holidays, Vietnamese people hang flags everywhere!

Wishing you a Chúc Mừng Năm Mới! (Happy New Year!) filled with luck, joy, and prosperity!