Discover Vietnam’s most vibrant Tết festivals. Experience traditional customs, colorful celebrations, and cultural highlights for international travelers.

Tết festivals held throughout regions of Vietnam are a unique cultural highlight that attracts a large number of visitors each year. These festivals offer people the opportunity to pray for peace, happiness, and good fortune for themselves and their families. In the joyful atmosphere of welcoming the Lunar New Year, countless Tết celebrations take place across the country. This is also the perfect time for travelers to embark on meaningful spring journeys. Let’s explore some of the most popular New Year festivals in Vietnam in the section below!

1. Tet Nguyen Dan – Lunar New Year Celebrations

Tết Nguyên Đán, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, usually falls between late January and mid-February. It marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and is a time for family reunions, paying respects to ancestors, and wishing for good luck in the year ahead.

During Tết, travelers can enjoy:

-   Traditional foods like bánh chưng (square sticky rice cake), pickled vegetables, and boiled chicken.

-   Family gatherings and ancestor worship at temples and homes.

-   Street decorations and flower markets, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

-   Tết is not only a festive time but also a deep cultural experience for travelers to understand Vietnamese traditions.

2. Top Tet Festivals in Vietnam That Travelers Can't Miss During the Lunar New Year

2.1 Huong Pagoda Festival – A Captivating Traditional Vietnamese Tet Celebration

• -   Location: Huong Pagoda, Huong Son, My Duc District, Hanoi
• -   Time: From the 6th day of the Lunar New Year until the end of the 3rd lunar month

The Huong Pagoda Festival is one of the most famous traditional Tet festivals in Northern Vietnam. Every spring, thousands of pilgrims and travelers flock to Huong Pagoda to pray for peace, good fortune, and prosperity, while admiring the breathtaking landscapes of mountains, rivers, and sacred temples.

Before the official opening of the festival, a ceremonial ritual takes place on the 4th day of the Lunar New Year. During this ceremony, two large ceremonial firecrackers are carried from the head celebrant’s house to the communal house, accompanied by a procession of hundreds of participants.

Throughout the festival, visitors can enjoy a vibrant atmosphere filled with cultural activities, religious ceremonies, and traditional sports, creating a joyful and spiritually rich beginning to the new year.

2.2 Dong Ky Village Firecracker Procession – A Traditional Tet Festival

• -   Location: Dong Ky Village, Dong Quang Ward, Tu Son City, Bac Ninh Province
• -   Time: From the 4th to the 6th day of the Lunar New Year

The Dong Ky Village Firecracker Procession Festival is a traditional Tet celebration held to honor and reenact the image of Saint Thien Cuong leading his troops against the Xích Quỷ invaders. This festival is one of the most unique and vibrant Lunar New Year events in Northern Vietnam.

The main activities of the festival include ceremonial offerings, the grand procession and burning of giant symbolic firecrackers, and the lively “dô ông đám” ritual. Alongside these traditions, various folk performances, cultural displays, and artistic activities are organized, creating an energetic and festive atmosphere throughout the celebration.

2.3 Tich Dien Doi Son Festival

• -   Location: Tien Son Commune, Duy Tien Town, Ha Nam Province
• -   Time: From the 5th to the 7th day of the Lunar New Year

The Tich Dien Doi Son Festival is a long-standing traditional celebration that reflects Vietnam’s deep respect for its origins and agricultural heritage. With a history dating back centuries, this festival honors the ancient ploughing ceremony, symbolizing hopes for a prosperous farming year.

The festival consists of two main parts: the ceremonial rituals and the festive activities. The ceremonial section includes a series of important rituals such as offerings to the village guardian deity, a water procession to Doi Pagoda, and the traditional Tich Dien ploughing ceremony.

The festive section features a variety of entertaining activities, including sports competitions, folk games, cultural performances, and exhibition booths showcasing local products and souvenirs. Together, they create a vibrant, community-centered event that highlights the rich cultural heritage of Ha Nam.

2.4 Go Dong Da Festival – A Northern Vietnam Tet Celebration

• -   Location: Go Dong Da, Quang Trung Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi
• -   Time: 5th day of the Lunar New Year

The Go Dong Da Festival is held annually to honor the remarkable military victories of Emperor Quang Trung. The festival begins with the powerful sound of drums and gongs, signaling the start of the ceremonial procession that celebrates the triumphant spirit of the historical battle.

When the procession arrives at the festival site, a series of rituals takes place, including incense offerings, memorial ceremonies, and the official opening of the festivities.

The festival’s celebratory section reenacts Emperor Quang Trung’s heroic efforts in defending and building the nation. Visitors can also enjoy various traditional folk games and competitions that highlight the intelligence, strength, and resilience of the Vietnamese people.

2.5 The Dao People’s New Year Dancing Festival

• -   Location: At the Dao clan leader’s house, Sapa
• -   Time: From the 29th day of the last lunar month to the 2nd day of the Lunar New Year

The New Year Dancing Festival of the Red Dao people is one of the most unique and culturally rich Tet traditions in Northern Vietnam. The festival features 14 traditional dances, each representing the emotions, hopes, and stories of the Dao community. These dances symbolize the welcoming of the new year, the dispelling of misfortune, and the expression of strength in Dao men and gracefulness in Dao women.

The festival also includes sacred rituals such as ancestor statue processions and ceremonial dances offering gifts to the spirits. Throughout the celebration, the entire clan gathers to enjoy food, light bonfires, sing, dance, and share joyful moments together late into the night, creating an unforgettable cultural experience for anyone who witnesses it.

2.6 Yen Tu Tet Festival in Quang Ninh

• -   Location: Yen Tu Pagoda, Thuong Yen Cong Ward, Uong Bi City, Quang Ninh Province
• -   Duration: From the 10th day of the first lunar month until the end of the third lunar month

Along with the Huong Pagoda Festival, the Yen Tu Festival is also a well-known Tet celebration that attracts visitors from all regions who come to offer incense and enjoy the scenery. The Yen Tu Pagoda Festival reflects the harmonious beauty of history and nature. The Yen Tu relic complex, which includes a system of pagodas, hermitages, stupas, and natural forests, has become a captivating spiritual tourism destination. Visitors attending the festival often head to the sacred Dong Pagoda to pray for peace and blessings.

2.7 Tet Festival in Central Vietnam – Cau Ngu Festival

• -   Location: Thuyen Temple, Thanh Khe District, Da Nang City
• -   Duration: From the 18th to the 20th day of the first lunar month

The Cau Ngu Festival in Da Nang, also known as the Whale Festival or Whale Worship Ceremony, is a Tet festival with a long-standing tradition. The festival is meant to honor the ancestors and pray for favorable weather, smooth sailing, and abundant fishing. The ceremonial part features elaborately decorated altars, and respected elders preside over the rituals. The festival’s celebratory activities are lively and vibrant, including traditional folk games and cultural and artistic performances.

2.8 Sinh Village Wrestling Festival in Hue

• -   Location: Lai An Village, Phu Mau Commune, Hue City
• -   Duration: On the 10th day of the first lunar month

Lai An Village, also known as Sinh Village, is famous for its wrestling festival, which attracts many tourists to Hue during Tet. The Sinh Village Wrestling Festival reflects the spirit of martial valor, encourages physical training, and serves as a traditional activity to pray for peace and favorable weather. The festival includes a solemn ceremonial part held at the village communal house and a lively competitive part with wrestling matches conducted according to specific rules. A distinctive feature of the Sinh Village Wrestling Festival is that all spectators are welcome to register and participate.

2.9 Dong Da Festival in Binh Dinh

• -   Location: Quang Trung Museum, Tay Son District, Binh Dinh Province
  -   Duration: On the 4th and 5th days of the first lunar month

One of the largest Tet festivals in the country at the beginning of the new year is the Dong Da – Tay Son Festival in Binh Dinh. The festival is held annually to commemorate the hero Quang Trung and the civil and military officials who defeated 290,000 invading Qing troops. The ceremonial part is solemn and heroic, including rituals such as reading memorials, offering incense, and presenting flowers. The festive part features spectacular martial arts performances along with lively cultural and artistic activities.

2.10 An Hai Village Festival in Da Nang

• -   Location: An Hai Village, Son Tra District, Da Nang City
  -   Duration: From the 1st to the 7th day of the first lunar month

The An Hai Village Festival, held annually, is a unique cultural tradition of Da Nang fishermen. Many visitors from across the country gather in An Hai Village to attend and explore this distinctive Tet festival. The ceremonial part takes place over three days, from the 1st to the 3rd day of the lunar new year, featuring rituals such as flag processions, offerings, and prayers. The festive part runs from the 4th to the 7th day, including various cultural activities and traditional folk games such as wrestling and the Four-Dragon boat races.

2.11 Tet Festival in Southern Vietnam – Duc Thanh Tran Temple Festival

• -   Location: Duc Thanh Tran Temple, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
  -   Duration: From the 8th to the 10th day of the first lunar month

An important Tet festival in the South is the Duc Thanh Tran Temple Festival. Held annually, the festival honors the merits of Hung Dao Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan and educates younger generations about traditional history. The festival takes place in a solemn and dignified setting. Visitors can offer incense, pay their respects, and learn about history through the information displayed on the temple’s reliefs.

2.12 Nguyen Tieu Festival in Hoi An

• -   Venue: Spiritual and religious sites across Hoi An
• -   Time: From the 14th to the 16th day of the first lunar month

The Nguyen Tieu Festival in Hoi An is one of the city’s most captivating traditional events, rich in local cultural identity. The festival holds great significance as it is an occasion for locals and visitors to offer prayers for peace and prosperity, as well as a time for the community to gather and bond. During the festival, many unique activities are organized, such as releasing floating lanterns, playing bai choi, and blindfolded drum beating. The Nguyen Tieu Festival also attracts a large number of domestic and international tourists to Hoi An.

2.13 Dinh Ba Ong Lang Festival in Phu Quoc

• -   Venue: Dinh Ba Ong Lang, Cua Duong, Phu Quoc
• -   Time: On the 18th and 19th day of the first lunar month

Unique festivals in Phu Quoc are among the key reasons the island attracts a large number of visitors. At the beginning of the lunar new year, the Dinh Ba Ong Lang Festival is held solemnly to honor the contributions of national hero Nguyễn Trung Trực and his wife.

The festival is also an occasion for both locals and tourists to pray for good health, peace, and prosperity. Ritual activities such as water procession and worship ceremonies take place during the formal part of the event, while games and performances are organized in the festive section.

2.14 Ba Den Mountain Festival – A Famous Spring Festival in Vietnam

• -   Venue: Ba Den Mountain Relic Site, Hoa Thanh, Tay Ninh
• -   Time: From the 10th to the 15th day of the first lunar month

The Ba Den Mountain Spring Festival is a vibrant celebration rich in Southern Vietnamese cultural identity, attracting millions of visitors from across the southern provinces. It is an occasion for locals and tourists alike to make pilgrimages, offer prayers, and enjoy sightseeing.

During the festival, numerous solemn worship ceremonies are held to express hopes for a prosperous and peaceful life, along with many lively and bustling recreational activities.

2.15 Nguyen Tieu Festival in Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown

• -   Venue: Chinatown (Cho Lon area), Ho Chi Minh City
• -   Time: Full Moon of the first lunar month

The Nguyen Tieu Festival in Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown is celebrated in a bustling and vibrant atmosphere. During the festival, the Chinese community visits temples and takes part in colorful street parades featuring unique costumes and decorative displays.

The main purpose of the festival is for people to pray for blessings, good health, and peace, while also enjoying the lively and joyful spirit of the early spring season.

3. Tips for International Travelers Visiting Vietnam During Tết

• -   Book accommodations early, as hotels, resorts, and homestays fill up quickly during the holiday season. Prices may increase, so early reservations help secure better deals.
• -   Plan transportation in advance, especially for trains, buses, and domestic flights. Many locals travel home for the holiday, leading to fully booked routes.
• -   Respect local customs and traditions, such as giving lucky red envelopes (lì xì) when appropriate, dressing modestly when visiting temples or pagodas, and avoiding taboo topics at the beginning of the year.
• -   Try seasonal foods and Tết specialties, including sticky rice cakes (bánh chưng, bánh tét), pickled onions, boiled chicken, and festive sweets that are only available during this period.
• -   Expect some businesses to close, as many shops and restaurants may shut down for the first few days of Tết. Tourist attractions remain open, but operating hours may vary.
• -   Carry cash, as some smaller shops or rural areas may not accept cards during the holiday. ATMs can also run low on cash due to high demand.
• -   Enjoy cultural activities, such as watching lion dances, visiting flower markets, participating in lantern festivals, and observing family rituals-these offer a unique cultural experience.
• -   Be patient and flexible, as travel crowds, traffic, and long queues are common. The festive atmosphere, however, makes it all part of the Tết experience!

Experiencing Vietnam’s Tết festivals is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for international travelers to immerse themselves in the country’s culture, traditions, and joyful celebrations. From spiritual pagodas to lively folk festivals and stunning lantern displays, Tết offers memories that last a lifetime. Let LV Travel guide you through these unforgettable cultural experiences and make your Lunar New Year visit to Vietnam truly special.

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