Known as Tet Nguyen Dan or simply Tet, the Lunar New Year is the most anticipated and important celebration in Vietnamese culture. Falling between late January and early February based on the lunar calendar, Tet marks the arrival of spring and a new year filled with hope and renewal. The multi-day festival is filled with rich traditions, rituals and cultural values that connect families and generations.
Honoring Ancestors and Elders
One of Tet’s core cultural values is showing gratitude and respect to one’s ancestors and elders. Families begin celebrating before Tet by tidying up the gravesites of deceased relatives. Offerings of flowers, food and spirit money are made as ways to honor those that came before. Elders are also paid respect through cultural customs like wish-giving. Children and younger relatives visit elders bearing traditional wishes for health, happiness and longevity in the coming year. They also seek wise advice as they embark on starting a new year.
Prioritizing Family Bonds
Tet is considered the quintessential time for family reunions and strengthening filial bonds. No matter how far family members may reside from their hometowns, returning for Tet is essential. The festival teaches the significance of family ties amid the busyness of life. Gathering with multiple generations emphasizes ancestry and cultural continuity. Warm welcoming of every family member also models traditional Vietnamese communal values. For many extended Vietnamese families, Tet may be the only time of year for such gatherings.
Celebrating With Food and Festivities
Tet is a festival filled with delicious food, gifts, colorful decorations and lively events. Preparations begin well before Tet with massive shopping trips for ingredients to make scrumptious holiday delicacies. These cherished foods also hold symbolic meaning, like prosperity for the new year. Gifting lucky money in red envelopes to children and single adults is another ubiquitous Tet family custom. Tet treats are to be enjoyed during the abundant family feasts spanning the first three days of celebrations. Homes are also elaborately decorated in red – the color of luck, success and happiness. Tet is a time filled with laughter, joyful reunions, cultural performances and community festivals.
Looking to the Future
Beyond honoring the past and enjoying the present, Tet is also about hopes for the future. The concept of “tam huu” – the three firsts of Tet – represents how the new year sets the tone for the next phase of life. Elders bestow blessings and wishes so that children can start their new endeavors on the right foot. For students and young adults, Tet symbolizes taking the next step in their studies or careers. For others, it may involve opening new businesses or entering new relationships. Regardless of what the future holds, Tet allows families to start afresh with bright prospects guided by cultural wisdom.
Tet Endures in a New Era
While New Year traditions remain essential for Vietnamese identity, the forces of globalization have brought inevitable changes to celebrations. Overseas Vietnamese communities have adapted traditions to fit their adopted cultures. In the digital age, family connections increasingly occur over video calls rather than physical return trips. Young Vietnamese especially have adopted more modern lifestyles, gift choices and decor preferences. Yet even adapted versions of Tet aim to maintain bonds between ancestors, Vietnamese heritage and future generations. Just as Tet heralds the arrival of spring, both traditional and evolved practices welcome in the future rooted in the fertile soil of Vietnamese culture.
If you are in Vietnam and interested in discovering more about Hanoi – the capital and its significance, we invite you to join us at Free Walking Tours Hanoi. We’ll take you across the building, and provide you with a unique perspective of the city. Book now and don’t miss out on this amazing experience.
