Things to do in Ha Noi during Tet Holiday

Here are the top things to do during Tet Holiday in Ha Noi. Lunar New Year is probably the most-awaited eve of the year when people in the country finally get to lay down their back after a full year of hard working.

If summer is “the time for holiday” to most people, Tet in Vietnam is just like another “party time” when people eventually find themselves good places to make a getaway. Now follow us to discover your own Tet in the capital.

Explore Ngoc Son Temple

At Hoan Kiem Lake, you can find Ha Noi’s most visited temple Ngoc Son temple, meaning “Temple of the Jade Mountain”. Ngoc Son Temple was built in the 18th century in commemoration for General Tran Hung Dao, scholar Van Xuong and Confucian master Nguyen Van Sieu. It is located on a small island on the lake, and is connected to the shore by the iconic Rising Sun Bridge. The bridge is often lit at night. Also, the pagoda has two towering posts decorated with Chinese writing.

Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake

Hoan Kiem Lake is a popular place for a weekend hang out, especially at Tet. Annually, there will be big flower festival around the lake at Lunar New Year. There is also Tet Flower Market in Hang Luoc Street if you want to enjoy the beauty of peach blossoms or buy some to bring to your hometown. Tet in Ha Noi always bring home to mind, especially to Hanoians, this is the time when they can truly return to their childhood. Hoan Kiem Lake’s Flower Festival will not be a bad choice if you want to find the breath of Tet around the capital.

Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda

The Tran Quoc Pagoda is a Buddhist center located on the East side of the West Lake. It has a history of more than 1500 years. Although it is definitely worth a visit, it is crowded there during Tet. It was busier at Tran Quoc Pagoda than at Ngoc Son Temple. A lot of local people went to say their prayers, which creates a walking line to get in. If you are interested in seeing the praying, it is definitely worth a visit. However, if you are a bit claustrophobic, go early and avoid the crowds.

Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Started in 1973, the construction of the mausoleum was modeled on Lenin's mausoleum in Russia and was first open to the public in 1975. The granite building meant a great deal for many locals as it ensures that their beloved leader ‘lives on forever’.

Security is tight and visitors should dress with respect (no shorts, sleeveless shirts and miniskirts) and everyone has to deposit their bags and cameras before getting in. Visitors are not allowed to stop and hold the constant queue up as the place is constantly busy. Uncle Ho’s remains are sent yearly to Russia for maintenance therefore the mausoleum is closed usually from October onwards. It’s best to recheck with your hotel tour desk before visiting. Admission is free but donations are accepted.

Enjoy street food

It is one of the things Ha Noi is known for awesome street food. A good way to spot a good street food restaurant is if you see a lot of (local) people eating there. Simple as that. Also, if a lot of people are sitting there, you can also sneak peak how the food looks like.

During Tet there are still enough street food vendors open, although less than normally. However, this really was not a problem, because there were enough options.

See more: Discover Ha Noi through its famous structures

Source Chaptertravel

What to know about Tet, Vietnamese New Year

Tet is by far the biggest celebration in Vietnam. Every year, millions of people fly, drive and float their way back to their hometowns to spend quality time with their friends and families. The meals are big, the songs are loud, and everyone is in a good mood. Vietnamese people wait all year for this, but what is Tet?

Technically, "Tet" is a shortened form of Tết Nguyên Đán, a way to say "Lunar New Year" in Vietnamese.

Tet is seen as a chance for a fresh start. Debts are settled, old grievances are forgiven, and houses are cleaned of clutter, all to set the stage for attracting as much luck and good fortune as possible in the upcoming year.

The basics

The Tet holiday coincides with the Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls sometime around the end of January, or the beginning of February. Generally speaking, Tet is a time to dish out the spoils from a prosperous year, to bring good fortune through generosity. In the months leading up to the holiday, people work long hours to pay for lavish gifts and celebrations. But it is time spent with family and friends that makes Tet so special.

Traditions

The first day of Tet is meant to be for immediate family. Parents and grandparents hand out lucky money to their children and grandchildren, usually cash gifts in red envelopes, which is the color of luck. For kids, this means it is time to load up on new toys and snacks. After the immediate family, it is time to celebrate with friends and neighbors.

Fruits of Tet: "Mam Ngu Qua"

The "five-fruit tray" 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. The five fruits represent the quintessence hope that Heaven and Earth bless humans. It demonstrates a Vietnamese percept of life, "When taking fruit, you should think of the grower".

Flowers of Tet

Coming to Vietnam during the season of the Tet festival, the visitor is engulfed in an ocean of colorful flowers. Visiting flower shows, contemplating the buds and blooms, and purchasing blossoms represents one of the distinct Vietnamese cultural characteristics. The peach (in the North) and the apricot blossoms (in the South) are symbols of the Vietnamese Tet. The warm pink of the peach could very well match the dry cold of the North, but the hot South seems to be flourishing in the riot of the yellow of the apricot. The mandarin is symbolic of good fortune. Therefore, people tend to choose the little plants with verdant leaves which are laden with large, orange fruit for a longer display.

Food

The most famous snack associated with Tet is Banh tet or Tet cake which is sticky rice, mung bean and pork, boiled inside a leaf. Roadside carts selling these cylindrical green bundles pop up everywhere as the holiday approaches. Just the sight of a bicycle loaded with Tet cakes gets people excited, because it means their favorite holiday is almost here.

Read more: Vietnam's traditional foods during Tet

Families also have large fruit trays in their homes, featuring plums, bananas, pomelos and tangerines. The more fruit, the better. They are symbolic of fertility in the upcoming year. No fruit means no babies. Dried fruit is also a popular snack to give to children during the holiday, along with peanut brittle and coconut candies.

The most joyous part of Tet, though, is the meals. They are huge, delicious, and the room is typically full of laughter. People who have not seen each other in months catch up and share stories, drinking a lot of beer and liquor in the process. Do not be surprised if you hear families still going strong in the very early hours of the morning.

Learn these words, because you will be hearing and saying them a lot should you find yourself in Vietnam during Tet.
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới! (Happy New Year!)
Pronounced: Chook Mung Nam Moi!

Source Internet

Mut, the traditional food on Tet in Vietnam

Mut Tet (Tet jam) is not a food to serve in a meal during Tet holiday, but more like a snack to welcome guests in this special period. Mut is always kept in beautiful boxes and placed at the table in the living room, and it is the main food for the owners and guests to taste when they are talking, enjoying over a cup of tea.

Unlike Western jam, which is usually in liquid form and served with bread, "Vietnamese jam" is mainly in dry form, usually dried fruits and some kind of seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, watermelon seeds).

Coconut jam

Coconut jam is the oldest, through many years with all our Vietnam. Over many changes, traditionally coconut jam still keeps taste: just sweet, moderate fat, chewy and crunchy, very interesting. Coconut Jam is an option and is the favorite of the majority of people. The chef has impressive creations when they make many unique coconut jam. Coconut jam just has a monotonous white color, at the moment coconut jam has seven natural color liked such as pandan coconut jam, chocolate coconut jam, milk coffee, milk.

Bean jam

Each kind of bean has its own interesting shape, so you can make your own type of jam with your own favorite kind of bean. It is easy to make bean jam. Boiling beans with water and then mixing with sugar. The meaning of beans jam is the success for everyone. Some of the kinds bean jam: bush bean jam, peanut jam, and lotus seed jam.

Bulb jam

With the buttery taste of bulb, we easily to make a lot of delicious bulb jam such as potato jam, sweet potato jam and carrot jam.

Read more: Vietnam's traditional foods during Tet

Kumquat jam

To be hometown of cranberry, so Hoi An is also famous for folk cranberry jam. Making cranberry jam is a meticulous process but very exciting for the housewife: selecting fresh cranberry fruits on twigs, to peel, seed and heat until they turn into jam. The cranberry jam jar finished with a clear golden color of crystallized sugar, look just want to eat immediately. Kinds of cranberry jam have various tastes to suitable with each person: dry cranberry jam, wet cranberry jam, cranberry jam attach peel. Cranberry jam is bitter and sweet, so it has positive effects on digestion, cough and some other diseases.

Source Hoian Tourism

Flowers and plants loved by Vietnamese during Tet holiday

Tet is a special occasion for many Vietnamese to decorate their homes with a vast choice of colorful and meaningful ornamental plants. Now let’s take a look at some of the most popular auspicious plants for Tet holiday and every day after.

1. Peach Blossom (Hoa Đào)

If you ever pay a visit to Hanoi during Lunar New Year, you will definitely agree that all over the place is covered with a cheerful color coming from these pink petals of peach blossoms. This kind of plant is known as an iconic flower for Northern Vietnamese when it comes to spring. It is believed that not only peach blossoms can chase away evil spirit, but they also bring in a fresh vitality to your home, which helps you stay healthy and peaceful. Not just that, if you are a businessman, then peach blossom cannot be forgotten due to its symbol as fertility and hope.

The best place to see the flowers is Nhat Tan (Nhật Tân) peach blossom garden located in Au Co Street, Hanoi.

2. Apricot Blossom (Hoa Mai)

Whilst peach blossom is the most popular Tet holiday’s auspicious flower in Northern Vietnam, apricot blossom can be seen as the spirit of Tết for Southern Vietnamese. Contrary to the pink that gets a great harmony with the freeze and coldness in the North, yellow petals from apricot blossoms represent for the torrid heat and humidity Southern Vietnamese have been enduring all year round. An image of five-petal apricot blossom symbolizes for “Five Blessings” in Oriental belief: longevity, wealth, peace, health and love of virtue, which mark the dearest hope of every Vietnamese in particular and Asian in general. Coincidentally, the word “Yellow” (vàng) in Vietnamese sounds identical to the word “Gold” or “Golden” (vàng). Consequently, apricot blossoms are decorated in most of the houses with a hope of good luck, happiness and, prosperity.

3. White daffodil (Hoa Thủy Tiên Trắng)

Apart from peach blossoms, white daffodils find favor with lots of Hanoi citizens in terms of their multi-function and symbolic meaning. Unlike any other holiday ornamental plants, every single part of a daffodil can be exerted: flowers, fragrance, leaves and tuberous roots. Water must be replaced in every morning in order that roots can be kept clean and not turn smeared. According to Oriental or Asian outlook, this plant bears a good meaning. Word-of-mouth has it that, if  white daffodils bloom right in the moment of  New Year’s Eve in one’s house, the whole family will end up with happiness, good luck, and prosperity. Bưởi market, a local village fair in Hà Nội, is where people always come to find white daffodils by the time of Tết. Besides using them as ornamental plants, trimming and arranging the daffodil flowers can be an absolutely great art.

4. Kumquat tree (Cây Quất)

Vietnamese believe that owning a luxuriant kumquat tree in the middle of their home brings good health and good luck to their business.  It is a symbol for a greatly prosperous year ahead. Hence, there is no doubt to see kumquat trees displayed for sale at every single corner of the street in many flower markets all over Vietnam. Located next to China, Vietnam has adopted a lot of Chinese cultures, customs, and beliefs. Feng Shui is not an exception. As a result, planting and trimming a kumquat tree must be conformed to some decorating rules, in order to turn it into a perfect shape. An ideal sample of kumquat tree will have big shiny dark green leaves, and all the fruits must bear a similarity in size and give a juicy look. When people are running a business, they should place a kumquat tree at the front door of their offices or stores so that it can bring wealth and clear sight. That is the reason why man must serve good experience in life as well as Feng Shui application once it comes to purchase and display kumquat trees.

5. Fig (Sung)

Rather than being seen as a usual tree in a back garden of someone’s house during Lunar New Year, figs are usually displayed as one of the main fruits on a five-fruit tray, especially in Southern Vietnam. A typical five –fruit tray will include custard-apples, coconuts, papayas, mangoes, and figs, which can be literally translated as “wishing for a well-off life” in Vietnamese when combined in sound. By itself, “fig” in Vietnamese sounds identical to “comfortable”, “well-off” or “prosperous”. Apparently, we can totally understand why figs are favored by Vietnamese during Lunar New Year.

See more: Where to travel in Vietnam during Tet?

Source: mazevietnam

Tet Nguyen Dan, the important festival to Vietnamese

Vietnam’s Lunar New Year, also called Tet, is the most crucial event in Vietnamese tradition.  Tet marks the arrival of spring based on the lunisolar calendar, it will be between January and February as usual, after New Year’s Day. Tet occurs from the first day of the first month in Vietnamese lunar calendar to the third day or even more. Occasionally, all Vietnamese people have around 1 week off during Tet holiday, the length of the holiday depends on the change in lunar calendar annually.

How to calculate Tet

Different from the Gregorian calendar, Lunar Calendar has a fix number of twelve months with 30 days each, and a leap-year will have a whole intercalary month instead of the 29th day of February. The new year of Lunar Calendar normally will start in late January or beginning of February according to Gregorian calendar. That explains why Tet days vary from year to year, it is because the leap month may fall shorter or longer which create a smaller or bigger gap between the two calendars.

How to say Happy New Year in Vietnamese

Like Thai and Chinese, Vietnamese is a tonal language, making pronunciation a challenge for English speakers.
Regardless, locals will understand your attempts through context. You can wish people a happy new year in Vietnamese by telling them "chúc mừng năm mới." Pronounced roughly as it is transliterated, the greeting sounds like "chook moong nahm moi."

How to celebrate Tet

Since Tet occupies an important role in Vietnamese’s religious beliefs, Vietnamese will begin their preparations well in advance of the upcoming New Year. In an effort to get rid of the bad luck of the old year, people will spend a few days cleaning their homes, polishing every utensil, or even repaint and decorate the house with kumquat tree, branches of peach blossom, and many other colorful flowers. The ancestral altar is especially taken care of, with careful decoration of five kinds of fruits and votive papers, along with many religious rituals. Everybody, especially children, buy new clothes and shoes to wear on the first days of New Year. People also try to pay all their pending debts and resolve all the arguments among colleagues, friends or members of family.

Like other Asian countries, Vietnamese believe that the color of red and yellow will bring good fortune, which may explain why these colors can be seen everywhere in Lunar New Year. People consider what they do on the dawn of Tet will determine their fate for the whole year, hence people always smile and behave as nice as they can in the hope for a better year. Besides, gifts are exchanged between family members and friends and relatives, while children receive lucky money kept in red envelope.
No matter where Tet is celebrated, it must be clarified from the beginning that Tet is not a day, but several days of celebration.

What to eat on Lunar New Year

When it comes to Tet holiday, there are some traditional dishes you should try to find in a Vietnamese restaurant
• Fatty pork braised with duck egg in coconut juice – Thit kho hot vit
• Pickled onion – Dua hanh
• Pickled small leeks with dried shrimp and century egg – Tom kho, hot vit bach thao va cu kieu
• Square glutinous rice cake – Chung cake
• Banana glutinous rice cake – Banh tet chuoi
• Bitter melon soup – Canh kho qua
• Spring rolls southern style – goi cuon

Read more: 10 traditional Vietnamese New Year dishes

If you are invited to be a guest, you should…

Prepare a few red envelopes to give the children of the family. Normally, people put 50,000 VND or $2 USD in the envelope (because Vietnamese consider 2 dollars to be lucky money). However, you can also put the smallest bill of your currency in the envelope.

Dress up in Ao Dai or any piece of clothing that has a vibrant or bright color. White is acceptable to some families but avoid wearing black and dark colors.
Bringing a gift basket or cards to give the head of the family is optional but you should do so to show your goodwill.

If you make a wish to the family members or a friend, follow these simple rules as wish for health to the elderly, intelligence and happiness to the children, prosperity and luck to the rest.
Receive lucky money with both of your hands. This is how we show our respect to other people.

And wish

• Chuc mung nam moi – Happy New Year
• Van su nhu y – Everything you wish will come true!
• An khang thinh vuong – Security and prosperity
• Doi dao suc khoe – Plenty of health
• Song lau tram tuoi – Live up to 100 years old (only say this to the elderly)
• Tien vo nhu nuoc – Money will flow in your pocket

Source Internet

Best places to travel in Vietnam during Tet

Tet is the Lunar New Year for Vietnam and falls on the same day as the Chinese New Year. For the Vietnamese, Tet is like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve all rolled up in one. Moreover,  this is a great time to be in Vietnam for travelers. Everyone is in a very festive spirit and the streets are filled with flowers.

Moc Chau plateau

200 kilometers apart from Hanoi, Moc Chau is a well-known destination for backpackers. The best time to go to Moc Chau is from the end of January to February, when plum blossoms and sakura bloom everywhere, making the plateau looks like a white heaven.

Tam Dao

It is quite hot in Vietnam this winter, and if you miss the feeling of those cold winds blowing to your face, why don’t you come to Tam Dao where the weather is always cool? Visiting the Van Pagoda, Silver Waterfall, Sky Gate and enjoying local dishes like chayote, hill chicken, man pig as well.

Dalat

With no doubt, visiting the “City of flower” in the blooming season is a great plan for your Tet holiday. You can hire a motorbike and wander around this city to enjoy its quiet beauty and of course flowers. Must-thing to do when you come to Dalat is visiting Dalat Flower Garden. You can even find an impressive cacti garden, many of them originally from Africa. The garden is in the center of the city, so don’t miss it.

See more: 10 traditional Vietnamese New Year dishes

Hoi An

Used to be a South-East Asian trading port from the 15th to the 19th century, it seems like Hoi An is left by the modern world and still sleeping in its glorious past. With the well-preserved ancient architecture, it makes you feel like you are coming back to hundreds of years ago. It is a small town, so you should spend around 1 to 2 days here.

Hanoi

Hanoi is quite quiet during the holiday because a lot of Vietnamese people visit their family. So let's take advantage of this holiday to avoid traffic jams in this city. Wandering around Hoan Kiem Lake, you can enjoy the holiday decorations and locals in traditional clothing. In addition, you can visit Ngoc Son Temple and Tran Quoc Temple to enjoy the atmosphere of the holiday.

Sapa

Another Northern destination in this list must-visit Vietnam. If you come to Vietnam and you don’t visit Sapa, it’s such a pity. The breathtaking mountainous scenery of Hoang Lien Son range, the terraced fields on rolling hills, the villages of Highland ethics, the colorfulness of brocade fabric. You just don’t want to miss it.

See more: 5 traditional activities during Tet holiday for families

Source Internet

Traditional custom of Vietnamese ethnics on Lunar New Year

Each ethnic minority group has its own festivals, customs, beliefs and farming practice. Tet festival lasts about half a month, during which time many exciting cultural and community activities take place. Following are traditional Tet festival customs of some ethnic minority groups in Vietnam.

Dao ethnic minority

Tet festival of the Dao ethnic minority usually takes place in the first month of the lunar calendar, beginning a new year with good weather and a lush green harvest. This is a nice traditional culture of Dao people.

Before the festival, Dao people usually prepare an altar. The altar is made of four timbers, surrounded with bamboo. Inside the altar are three big round tubes, used as thuribles symbolizing sky, land and people. There is votive paper money in the censers. Space under of the alter is a bundle of sugar-cane to wish for good things.

Cham people

Like other ethnic groups, the Cham ethnic people also celebrate their Tet sumptuously. They kill pigs, poultry and enjoy a variety of fruits and cakes. During the Lunar New Year Festival, the Cham ethnic group has no taboo so their friends and neighbours can share happiness with them easily. During the Tet festival, the Cham ethnic people also organize games such as fan-dancing, gong-beating, singing, drinking and archery.

Tay ethnic minority

The Tet festival of Tay ethnic people starts on the 30th of the last lunar month to the morning of the third day of the New Year. On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, they go to work in field, but only as a formality. On the 15th day of the first lunar month, they celebrate Tet festival again.

Different from Thai ethnic people, Tay ethnic minority’s taboo is that a person who is not invited to come their home on the first day of the Lunar New Year. The first caller on New Year’s Day chosen is a virtuous person or a person well respected in the hamlet, and they especially refrain anyone in mourning. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Tay ethnic men usually go to their parents-in-law to wish a Happy New Year and the third day of the New Year to wish magician.

Co Tu ethnic people

On the Lunar New Year festival of the Co Tu people, the crossbows, spears, broadsword, cymbal, drums and gongs are carefully cleaned. Many cultural activities take place in Guol house (communal house) such as telling stories, dancing, singing folk songs. Co Tu girls have chance to exchange feelings and invite others to go out for a month-long.

H're ethnic minority

The Tet festival of the Hre ethnic group, who live in Quang Ngai province, lasts for several months. Each family must make large quantities of Tet (cylindrical glutinous rice) cake, can wine and slaughter a buffalo to make a feast for guests, relatives and neighbours.

To celebrate Tet, all the villagers gather at the house of the village chief to enjoy the banquet and offer him their best wishes. Afterwards, they visit each other’s houses in the hamlet. During Tet, the locals enjoy good foods and drinks while dancing and singing. The Hre have their own unique way of counting their age. Each year, when local people make Tet cake or serve guests during Tet, they wrap a plain cake without stuffing and have it as their individual portion.

San Chi (Cao Lan) ethnic minority 

When spring comes, the ethnic San Chi people start preparing for Tet. They make traditional food to offer to their ancestors during the holiday. Like other ethnic groups, San Chi people also erect Neu poles from Vau trees, symbols of spring,to pray for peace and prosperity. High Neu poles, they believe, will bring good business. Any house without a pole is not considered to be really celebrating Tet.

Before lowering the Neu poles, the San Chi ethnic group select an auspicious direction to pray for support from the spirits. 

Read more: 5 traditional activities during Tet holiday for families

Source Vietnam CultureInformation

Take a look at Vietnam's traditional festivals

Festivals in Vietnam offer visitors the best opportunity for getting up close and personal with the myths, customs and fun-loving spirit of this proud nation.

1. Tet Nguyen Dan (January/ February)

Tet Nguyen Dan marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year in the Vietnamese calendar and is certainly one of the most revered festivals in the country. This holiday is an occasion for the entire family to get together and indulge in rituals such as lighting fireworks, visiting temples, giving out flowers. 

2. Lim Festival (Mid February)

Take a dip into the folk culture of Vietnam during the Lim festival, which is another prominent festival celebrated at the beginning of the year. Quan Ho, which is a UNESCO recognised tribe, perform their exquisite dances and a number of games are played in celebration of this festival. Traditional costumes and dragon boats are a common sight. Danh du (bamboo swings), tug-of-war, wrestling, cockfighting, human chess, and blind man's bluff are some of the games that are played during this time and is an interesting way to interact with the locals. 

3. Perfume Festival

Perfume Pagoda in Hanoi is the centre of the Vietnamese Perfume Festival which is celebrated the from the 6th day of the 1st lunar month until the end of the 3rd lunar month. Pilgrims from all over the country visit this shrine, and the pilgrimage begins with a dragon dance at Den Trinh Pagoda. The pilgrims then continue the journey on a boat along the Yen River up to the base of the Huong Mountain. 

4. Hung King Temple Festival (Early April)

Hung King Temple Festival is celebrated in the honour of Kinh Duong Vuong, who was the first king of Vietnam in 2879BC. A hundred lanterns adorn the night sky as a commemoration of this mighty king's contribution, while elaborate worship rituals are held in the Hung Temple. 

5. Hue Festival (April/May/June, every two years)

As a dedication to the colourful and illustrious legacy of the Nguyen Dynasty, Hue Festival is celebrated in the UNESCO-listed Hue City. This celebration is a unique display of numerous games, performances and cultural renditions and is a magnificent sight to behold. The formal celebration of this festival began in the year 2000 as a part of preserving the traditions and customs indigenous to Vietnam. 

6. Mid-Autumn Festival (Mid September)

This day is celebrated on the 14th and 15th day of the lunar month, and all age group celebrate it uniquely. Children carry paper lanterns across the town; colourful lion dances embellish the streets and food booths selling sticky rice, mooncakes, fruits, and various sweets adorn the sideways. Altars are set up in each household during the night, and various offerings are made to the full moon.

7. Hoi An Lantern Festival (14th day of every month)

Celebrated on the 14th day of each lunar month, every outlet, house and businesses in the Ancient Town switch off its electrical lighting equipment and lights away a dim candle settled snugly in an ornate lantern. The entire city is lit up with thousands of these paper lights. The soft amber hue of the flame within shines against the Kohl of the night and turns this town into a magical place. 

See more: What do you know about Hoi An Lantern Festival?

Source: holidify