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Traditional customs of Vietnamese on Tet Holiday

Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year), more commonly known by its shortened name Tết, is the most important festival in Vietnamese culture and some ethnics influenced in Chinese culture.  It takes place from the first day of the first month of the Lunar calendar until at least the third day.

Althought each region and religion in Vietnam has its own customs, there are some main customs as follows:

1. Kitchen God worshipping

Traditionally, Kitchen God (Ông Táo), who report to the Jade Emperor about the events in that house over the past year, return to heaven on the 23rd day of the twelfth month by lunar calendar. Their departure is marked by a modest ceremony where the family offers sacrifices for them to use on their journey.

2. Five-fruit tray

Vietnamese families usually have a family altar, to pay respect to their ancestors. The "five-fruit tray" (Ngũ Quả) on the ancestral altar during the Tet Holidays symbolizes the admiration and gratitude of the Vietnamese to Heaven and Earth and their ancestors and demonstrates their aspiration for a life of plenty.

3. Chung cake
In the days leading up to Tết, each family cooks special holiday foods: Chung cake and Rise cake. Family members often take turns to keep watch on the fire overnight, telling each other stories about Tết of past years. 

4. Visiting a person's house on the first day of the new year
One of the most important rituals during Tết is the act of being the first person to enter a house on Tết is called “xông đất”. According to Vietnamese tradition, if good things come to the family on the first day of the lunar New Year, the entire following year will also be full of blessings. Usually, a person of good temper, morality and success will be the lucky sign for the host family and be invited first into the house. 

5. Wishing New Year's greetings
During Tết, Vietnamese visit their relatives and temples, forgetting about the troubles of the past year and hoping for a better upcoming year. 

6. Giving lucky money
Giving lucky money is also the popular custom in the main days of Tet holiday. Adults who have already got married and have income are supposed to give the children lucky money” (tiền lì xì) and best wishes when visiting other’s homes.



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