TRAVELING IN VIETNAM DURING LUNAR NEW YEAR (TET)
This past January, I showed up to Vietnam around two weeks before the start of the Vietnamese New Year (Tet), having done basically no research beforehand, with the hope that I would figure out the best way to go about spending the holiday from locals during the days leading up.
Spoiler alert: I definitely did, but of course there did end up being logistical factors that I wish that I knew before hand.
Not only is it important to understand the traditions and cultural norms practiced during the most important holiday in Vietnam, but also how it will impact your travels, because it will.
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Tet Preparations In Hanoi
This upcoming year, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year (or Tết Nguyên Đán) falls on January 29th 2025, with the holiday lasting from Saturday January 25th through Sunday February 2nd.
Tet is the celebration of the beginning of spring on the Vietnamese calendar, symbolizing a time of reuniting with loved ones for a fresh start and new beginnings at the start of another year of life.
Tet celebrations last over one week, and even if you do not make it for the holiday itself, you can also experience celebrations and parades during Tết Nguyên Tiêu, 15 days into the Lunar New Year, like I stumbled upon in Saigon.
The obstacles that you might run into while visiting Vietnam during the holiday all really stem back to the traditions of going back home to be with loved ones as businesses close down, and the demand for public transport increases, impacting availability and flights. At all other times, Southeast Asia is easy to play your travels day by day while going with the flow, but during Lunar New Year, you should try your very best to book sleeper buses and accommodation somewhat in advance.
Although these obstacles might seem a bit inconvenient and off putting, I can’t recommend visiting during the Lunar New Year enough. Like genuinely…what an unbelievable thing to have experienced in your lifetime! All that you have to do is be a bit prepared and you will be completely fine.
IMPORTANT SIDE TIP: Apply for a visa well before the week of Tet and the few days after as even government officials take the week (+) off of work.
WHERE TO SPEND TET IN VIETNAM
Again because most people head home to the villages, all of what I had read online prior had said to head away from the large cities while everything is closed. I did not find that to be particularly true as I was in Hanoi before heading south during the first few days of the holiday week, and it was extremely lively with the flower markets, decorations, and some festivities already beginning.
HOI AN:
I did not know where I was going to be for the holiday until about 10 days before, when some of the young Vietnamese guys that drove us around the Ha Giang Loop told me that “every place in Vietnam is fun during Tet, especially Hot An”. So that is where I went.
Hoi An On Lunar New Year’s Eve
Hoi An was extremely lively and busy-and most hostels were sold out or super expensive last minute, which lead to my stay at Cucumber Hostel, and I am so glad that it did. Small and family owned, Cucumber Hostel was more laid back before and after the New Year’s parties, with such a lovely group of people staying there. I met some great friends and would not have changed the way it turned out at all! Unfortunately Cucumber Hostel is now seemingly closed, but there are some great other options in the ancient town that I included below.
One thing about Hoi An though, it definitely is the spot for the Brits, Australians, and the specific type to get hammered and party. If that is your truth though, live it.
Where To Stay In Hoi An (Ancient Town) :
from $5/night See Rates & Book Here
from $6/night See Rates & Book Here
Hoi An Legend Charm Boutique Hotel $$
from $21/night See Rates & Book Here
from $21/night See Rates & Book Here
La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa $$$
from $114/night See Rates & Book Here
Laluna Hoi An Riverside Hotel & Spa $$$
from $63/night See Rates & Book Here
The Streets of Hoi An on Lunar New Year’s night
HANOI:
Again, at the start of the holiday Hanoi was the opposite of quiet and shut down. The flower markets and decorated streets were so lovely! Apparently it stayed lively until the morning of Tet - I had met 3 different people while traveling in Asia that ended up being in Hanoi during the entirety of the holiday, and they said that they had a great time! Both during celebrations and while wandering the empty streets of the city.
Tet Preparations In Hanoi
Where To Stay In Hanoi:
from $9/night See Rates & Book Here
Hanoi Central Backpackers Hostel $
from $8/night See Rates & Book Here
from $20/night See Rates & Book Here
Serene Boutique Hotel & Spa $$
from $40/night See Rates & Book Here
Grande Collection Resort & Spa $$
from $47/night See Rates & Book Here
Hanoi Dalvostro Valentino Hotel & Spa $$
from $59/night See Rates & Book Here
from $148/night See Rates & Book Here
from $95/night See Rates & Book Here
Tet Preparations In Hanoi
HO CHI MINH CITY:
Similar to Hanoi, HCMC will also be eventful and awesome to see during the lead up to the holiday, and then the streets will be quiet and cleared out on the day of - which again is a sight to see as well in a city like Saigon. You can also see a big firework show in HCMC when the clock hits midnight on the holiday.
Tết Nguyên Tiêu Celebrations In Ho Chi Minh City
Where To Stay In Ho Chi Minh City:
from $10/night See Rates & Book Here
from $11/night See Rates & Book Here
Little Saigon Boutique Hotel $$
from $46/night See Rates & Book Here
from $91/night See Rates & Book Here
from $130/night See Rates & Book Here
from $109/night See Rates & Book Here
THE ISLANDS:
I have not yet been to Vietnam’s islands, but I hope to go soon, and it might even end up landing on the holiday week (…), so I have been doing some research about what Tet is like - on both Phu Quoc Island and Con Dao Island.
PHU QUOC is the more touristic island between the two, and (apparently) it reigns in just about 70,000 visitors during the holiday as the weather is great, and things seem to all stay open. But with this, it will definitely be more expensive, and things will be booked up quickly.
CON DAO is the more secluded and untouched island between the two, but I am still surprised that everything I have read says that the island is pretty dead, because the island looks so beautiful and perfect during the holiday! But who knows how true that is because again, I’ve never been. So I’ll stop speaking on it.
TET’S IMPACT ON BUDGET & SPENDING IN VIETNAM
During my time in Vietnam this year during Tet, I didn’t find that the prices of everyday things like food or accommodation went up during the holiday, but transportation prices doubled, dare I even say tripled, especially if you wait until the last minute like I did. Again, I experienced the holiday period in Hanoi, the far north, Ninh Binh and Hoi An, impacts on prices might be different in places like Nha Trang and the islands.
TET’S IMPACT ON TRANSPORTATION IN VIETNAM
Along with sleeper buses, etc, being much more expensive like I just touched on, they sell out very fast as everyone’s trying to get back home to all different areas of the country. I figured that this was the perfect picture to include, of a man outside of my bed on the floor as the whole isle was lined with people because the bus was full.
Again, at all other times Southeast Asia is easy to go with the flow, but during the holiday time, try your very best to book sleeper buses in advance.
I’ll say it again, overall, visiting Vietnam during Tet is absolutely worth it, and none of the inconveniences should put you off of making it happen. I will remember these memories of my first Lunar New Year during my first time in Vietnam and Asia as a whole until the day that I die.
THINKING OF TRAVELING TO VIETNAM? DO IT.
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TRAVEL INSURANCE: SAFETYWING HAS ALWAYS BEEN FABULOUS. THE BEST EVER.
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