Tet Holiday: celebrating Vietnamese New Year
Posted on by qguiraud
Tet Holiday: celebrating Vietnamese New Year
At Zannier Hotels Bãi San Hô, we take pride in following local traditions and empowering local communities, but also in bringing families together through an authentic Vietnamese journey. Next month, we'll happily celebrate Vietnamese New Year.
A new beginning
Minds will be on Vietnam mid February 2024, as the country celebrates the Vietnamese traditional Lunar New Year, the Tet Holiday. Tet Nguyen Dan, Vietnamese New Year’s Day, falls on the first night of the new moon in the first month of the Lunar Calendar, this year on the 10th of February. Lasting a whole week, this exhilarating national holiday is eagerly anticipated and for many, Tet is the opportunity to start over by leaving all negativity behind.
Cultural celebrations and family gatherings
To celebrate the new year, various Tet activities are featured such as folk-art performances of traditional Vietnamese music, village’s God worshiping rituals and Holy processions, erection of Cay Neu or “Tet’s bamboo tree” in front of houses, a showcase of Ao Dai, traditional Vietnamese clothing, and more. These celebrations always include symbolic objects hung on trees such as bows, arrows, gongs and bells to keep evil spirits away and bring happiness to the families. To that extent, huge fireworks are organised at midnight in the main cities, the biggest one being held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
A popular and beautiful event to mark new year is Flower Street in Ho Chi Minh City, which attracts millions of visitors each year. Displayed along with many local flowers, the Ox will be highlighted this year. Symbol of the earth element, the ox represents hard work, honesty and positive thinking, promising a successful year ahead.
More than a cultural event, Lunar New Year is a reunion day where families from all over Vietnam travel back to their hometown. Family traditions and values are deeply rooted, and each family must pay tribute to their ancestors by offering them incense and food.