Visiting Vietnam During Tet: A Practical Guide

Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is the most important holiday of the year, and it can make or break a trip. If you arrive expecting business as usual, you may find shops shuttered and cities emptied. Plan well, and you witness the country at its most heartfelt. This guide explains what actually happens during Tet, what stays open, how to behave respectfully, and how to decide whether to travel then at all.

What Tet is and why timing matters

Tet follows the lunar calendar, so its date shifts each year, usually falling between late January and mid-February. The official public holiday is several days, but the practical slowdown is longer. In the days before Tet, cities buzz with shopping and preparation. Then, from the eve through the first few days of the new year, much of normal commerce pauses as families reunite.

The single most important thing to understand: Tet is a family holiday, closer in spirit to Christmas than to a public street party. Many workers travel back to their hometowns, so big cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi grow noticeably quiet while rural areas fill up.

What closes and what stays open

Prices for taxis, drivers, and some services can rise around Tet, and staff may be scarce. Transport tickets, especially trains and domestic flights, sell out well in advance because millions of people travel home at once.

How to plan around it

Before you go

• Check the exact Tet dates for your travel year, since they move.
• Book flights, trains, and hotels early. Domestic transport fills up fast.
• Withdraw some cash beforehand, as a few ATMs and money changers may run low or close.
• Save a small list of hotels and larger restaurants you know will stay open.

While you are there

• Stock a few snacks and water for the quietest days.
• Expect changed opening hours and confirm before traveling to a specific site.
• Consider spending Tet in a place set up for visitors, such as a resort area, if you want reliable services.

Etiquette that shows respect

• If a family invites you in, it is a genuine honor. Bring a small gift such as fruit, tea, or nice sweets.
• Learn the greeting “Chuc mung nam moi” (Happy New Year).
• Red and gold are lucky colors. Avoid all-black or all-white outfits for New Year visits, as white is associated with mourning.
• Lucky money in red envelopes, called li xi, is given to children and elders. You do not have to participate, but a small crisp note in a red envelope for a host’s child is a warm gesture.
• Avoid sweeping a host’s home or discussing death and misfortune on the first days, as these are considered bad luck.

A real scenario

One year I misjudged Tet and arrived in central Ho Chi Minh City on the first morning of the new year. My favorite noodle stalls were closed, and the usually jammed streets were almost silent. At first it felt like the city had shut down. Then a hotel receptionist invited me to see the flower market and a temple visit with her family. That quiet day became the best of the trip, because I stopped expecting a normal itinerary and joined the actual holiday instead.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

• Assuming shops stay open. Fix: plan meals around hotels and larger venues for the first few days.
• Booking transport late. Fix: reserve flights and trains weeks ahead; locals book early too.
• Expecting a loud public festival. Fix: treat Tet as an intimate family time and enjoy the calm and the flower markets.
• Wearing white or black to a New Year visit. Fix: choose bright or red-toned clothing.
• Running out of cash. Fix: withdraw enough before the holiday begins.

Quick action checklist

• Confirm the exact Tet dates for your year.
• Book flights, trains, and hotels early.
• Carry extra cash before the holiday.
• Note open hotels and larger restaurants near you.
• Learn one greeting and pack a bright outfit and a small gift.

Conclusion and next step

Visiting during Tet is not a problem to avoid; it is a choice to make with open eyes. If you want packed attractions and every stall open, travel outside the holiday. If you want to see Vietnam’s warmest tradition up close, plan carefully and lean into the quiet. Your next step: look up this year’s Tet dates and compare them with your travel window, then decide whether to align with the holiday or sidestep it.

FAQ

Is Vietnam a bad place to visit during Tet?

Not bad, just different. Services shrink and cities empty, but the atmosphere, flower markets, and family warmth are unique. It rewards flexible travelers and frustrates those on tight, service-heavy itineraries.

How many days does everything close?

The heaviest slowdown is roughly the eve and the first three days of the new year. Larger businesses reopen gradually, but some small shops stay closed longer.

Will tourist attractions be open?

Major sites usually stay open, sometimes with adjusted hours, and some are especially busy with local visitors. Always confirm hours before you go.

Do I need to give li xi?

You are not obligated as a visitor, but offering a small note in a red envelope to a host’s child or an elder is a kind, well-received gesture.

Should I book transport far in advance?

Yes. Domestic flights and trains are in extremely high demand as people travel home, so book weeks ahead and expect higher prices.