Lunar New Year 2024

Lunar New Year, also known as the Tet holiday or Tet Nguyen Dan, is the most magnificent celebration in Vietnamese culture. This festive occasion reflects Vietnam's rich cultural heritage, emphasizing the values of family, and tradition. Come with us as we delve into the distinctive essence that renders the Lunar New Year in Vietnam genuinely extraordinary.

The essence of the Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year or Tet Nguyen Dan marks the beginning of the lunar calendar year, symbolizing renewal, fresh starts, and the opportunity for personal and familial growth. It is a time when families come together to honor their ancestors, express gratitude for the past, and welcome the future with hope and optimism. The atmosphere is charged with a sense of reverence and joy as people engage in age-old customs and rituals.

Lunar New Year or Tet Nguyen Dan marks the beginning of the lunar calendar year

What is the animal sign of the Lunar New Year 2024?

Each year is associated with one of the twelve animals of the Vietnamese zodiac and the animal sign for the Lunar New Year in 2024 is the Dragon. The Year of the Dragon is considered significant and is often associated with strength, good fortune, and transformation in Vietnamese culture. People born in the Year of the Dragon are believed to possess qualities such as intelligence, courage, and charisma, according to traditional Vietnamese astrology.

The animal sign for the Lunar New Year in 2024 is the Dragon

When does the Lunar New Year start?

The Lunar New Year, which falls on a varying date in January or February each year, is determined by the lunar calendar rather than the widely used Gregorian calendar. In 2024, it is celebrated on February 10, 2024.

In 2024, Lunar New Year is celebrated on February 10, 2024.

Festive atmosphere

During the Tet holiday, cities and towns in Vietnam are adorned with colorful decorations. Streets are filled with flower markets where people can buy peach blossoms, kumquat trees, and other plants believed to bring good fortune. The atmosphere is joyous as people exchange greetings of "Chuc Mung Nam Moi" (Happy New Year) and "An Khang Thinh Vuong" (Wishing you good health and prosperity).

Streets are filled with flower markets during the Tet holiday

Preparation for the Lunar New Year

Vietnamese individuals typically make extensive preparations to usher in the arrival of a new year.

Spring cleaning and decoration

In the weeks leading up to the Lunar New Year, Vietnamese families embark on a thorough cleaning, a symbolic act of sweeping away the old and welcoming the new. Homes are adorned with vibrant decorations, most notably the iconic red and gold, symbolizing luck and wealth. Traditional symbols such as peach blossoms and kumquat trees add a touch of nature's beauty to the festive ambiance.

Cleaning is a symbolic act of sweeping away the old and welcoming the new

Shopping for Tet Nguyen Dan: A festive affair

Tet shopping is a festive tradition in itself. Markets bustle with activity as families stock up on essential ingredients for the elaborate Tet feast and purchase new clothes, symbolic of a fresh beginning. The streets are alive with the hustle and bustle of shoppers, creating an atmosphere of communal excitement and shared preparations.

The streets are alive with the hustle and bustle of shoppers

Prepare food for the festival

One of the most important traditions during Tet is the cooking and sharing of traditional dishes. Banh Chung (sticky rice cake) and Banh Tet (cylindrical sticky rice cake) are must-have delicacies during this time. These dishes represent the Earth and the sky, respectively, and are believed to bring luck and prosperity.

Banh Chung and Banh Tet are must-have delicacies during this time

Visiting ancestors' graves

Tet Nguyen Dan is a time for paying respects to ancestors. Families visit the graves of their loved ones, offering prayers, burning incense, and cleaning the tombstones. This act of remembrance is a poignant reminder of the importance of familial bonds and the interconnectedness of generations.

Tet Nguyen Dan is a time for paying respects to ancestors

What do Vietnamese people often do during Tet Nguyen Dan?

Numerous activities take place during the Tet holiday.

First day: Connecting with father's side of relatives

In adherence to an enduring tradition, Vietnamese individuals commence the first day of the year by visiting their paternal side. After exchanging New Year greetings with immediate family members, people collectively extend their well-wishes to relatives. It is customary for family members to present elders with lucky money, expressing wishes for their longevity, and to children, hoping for their health and academic success.

Vietnamese individuals commence the first day of the year by visiting their paternal side

Second day: Reuniting with mother's side relatives

After the father’s side, family members will gather to visit the mother’s relatives on the second day of the new year. It fills with warmth and shared laughter as family members extend heartfelt New Year's greetings. The gatherings often involve the exchange of well-wishes, traditional foods, and the continuation of cherished customs. This annual tradition reinforces the importance of family bonds and creates lasting memories during the auspicious celebration of the Lunar New Year.

Vietnamese usually visit the mother’s relatives on the second day of the new year

Third day: Honoring teachers

In Vietnam, there is a profound admiration for the dedication of teachers, and the third day of the lunar new year is designated to express gratitude towards them. On this day, Vietnamese students visit their teachers' homes, presenting them with thoughtful gifts or flowers while extending heartfelt wishes for the year ahead.

The third day of the lunar new year is designated to express gratitude towards teachers

Fourth and fifth days: Connecting with relatives, neighbors, and friends

During the remaining days of the holiday, Vietnamese individuals engage in visits to friends, neighborhoods, and extended family, fostering connections and discussing experiences from the past year and aspirations for the future. Some choose to visit pagodas to seek luck, while others opt for a restful time at home, preparing for the return to work.

Some choose to visit pagodas to seek luck

The Lunar New Year, holds a special place in Vietnamese culture, fostering family unity and honoring traditions. This festive occasion embodies joy, reflection, and optimism for the forthcoming year. Travel to Vietnam and experience its beauty during Tet, a time of vibrant traditions, warm hospitality, and festive celebrations!