Tet Nguyen Dan, or simply Tet, is the most important festival in Vietnam. It marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year – a time of family reunions, gratitude, and renewal. In the days leading up to Tet, homes are cleaned and decorated with peach blossoms in the north and yellow apricot flowers in the south. Families prepare traditional foods such as banh chung and banh tet, and pay respects to their ancestors through altar offerings. Streets transform into seas of color with festive markets, lion dances, and fireworks displays. During the holiday, most businesses close as families visit relatives, exchange red envelopes (li xi), and welcome the New Year’s first visitor – believed to bring good luck for the year ahead. For travelers, Tet offers a rare opportunity to experience Vietnamese traditions up close, though many cities become quiet as residents celebrate at home.
Perfume Pagoda Festival (Chua Huong Festival)
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