We are pleased to launch a campaign for the Lunar New Year as Vietnam’s Tet Holiday approaches. With an in-depth exploration of various destinations, we will bring you a unique perspective on the Tet celebrations – vibrant and authentic, not expensive and definitely not boring! It’s a chance for you to immerse yourself in a family atmosphere that characterises Vietnam’s Tet Holiday with hospitable locals who always extend a warm welcome to guests.
Northern Vietnam - A tapestry of New Year celebrations among diverse ethnic groups
Tet with Gau Tao Festival of Blue H’Mong people in Mai Chau
The Blue H’Mong New Year, which is celebrated one month before that of other ethnic groups, marks the start of our Vietnamese Tet campaign. Hang Kia-Pa Co is located in a hidden corner near Mai Chau and is still home to a well-preserved traditional culture of the Blue H’Mong people, unknown even to Vietnamese in other areas.
Lunar New Year is the biggest festival of the year, adorned with various traditional customs, long-lasting rituals, colorful costumes, and folk games in the vibrant Gau Tao Festival full of joy and smiles. DCT Responsible Travel stands as the sole organizer. We are consistent with our chosen path with a firm belief that authentic culture is now hard to find but profound to touch your heart.
Tet in Mu Cang Chai, fallow season with peach blossoms
Winter in Mu Cang Chai is the “fallow season” and offers a unique beauty with brown hues on the fields. During this time, the fields are not cultivated so that they can regain their fertility and provide themselves with nutrients. Farmers take the opportunity to rest, gather with their extended family and give thanks for a bountiful harvest.
In this village, there is a lively atmosphere while families are preparing during the days leading up to the end of the year, with a variety of food, costumes, offerings and decorations. The cold weather also creates favorable conditions for enjoying Northwestern dishes such as sticky rice, smoked pork and grilled fish, which will capture the heart of every traveler.
Apart from travel experiences such as a hike to admire the peach blossoms and soaking in hot mineral springs, our community-based tourism village will offer you an authentic Tet festival of the Thai and H’Mong people like no other! Even if you visit us during the Tet holidays, you will be warmly welcomed by our sincere villagers who gather around a fire stove in their cozy house on stilts.
Tet in Lam Thuong with the Tay people
Tet celebrations of the Tay and two Dzao ethnic groups, in Lam Thuong, promise to be a multicultural and highly anticipated experience for visitors.
As with other ethnic groups, Tet marks the beginning of a new cycle of wet rice cultivation, which plays an important role in the lives of farmers in this country. It’s a time when they express their gratitude, tell their ancestors about important family events and wish each other a peaceful and prosperous new year.
Leave the urban hustle and bustle behind and join the locals in a new place on the Vietnamese travel map with these people as they prepare for the Tet festivities. Immerse yourself in the authentic culture by wrapping the traditional bánh gù (special sticky rice cake) and preparing colorful sticky rice and other traditional dishes for the last meal of the old year.
Then listen to the lively laughter that echoes through the valley as you join the locals taking the festive cheer to their relatives from one village to another. You’ll also be impressed by the kindness and filial piety of the locals, as it’s a traditional custom (Pay Tai) for a married woman and her husband to visit her parents on the first day of the New Year.
Central Vietnam - Authentic Tet in Ancient Capital
If you travel down from the north of the “S” country, you will discover the Tet festivities an ancient capital, where the rich culture of Vietnam’s last imperial period, the Nguyen Dynasty, has been carefully preserved.
Hue, Tet in ancient capital
At this time you will feel the lively Tet atmosphere at every turn. As Tet approaches, the traditional craft villages in Hue become livelier than ever. These villages have settled around the Imperial City to fulfill the needs of the capital and surrounding areas during Tet in all aspects of daily and spiritual life. From the paper flower village, the village making sculptures for worship, the handicraft village, the incense village to the pottery village you will find samples of the best of Vietnam's traditional crafts.
If you are passionate about culture, take the time to explore these old traditional craft villages and talk to skilled and refined artisans who have dedicated their entire lives to their traditional crafts. This is a valuable opportunity to not only hear stories about their craft, but also about the historical and cultural story of Hue that has been passed down from generation to generation.
Then take the opportunity to go to an ancient village where the essence of Tet in Hue is still intact. Just before Tet, families in the village are busy preparing decorations, ceremonial offerings and especially a range of traditional dishes such as candied ginger, rice wine, square and cylindrical glutinous rice cakes (bánh chưng and bánh tét), etc. The traditional feast of simple but sophisticated dishes is a specialty not to be missed in Hue during the Tet holidays.
Afterwards, stroll through the village to admire the ancient houses, take part in folk games with locals and admire the big New Year celebrations such as wrestling matches and the Cau Ngu festival, where locals wish each other a prosperous and happy New Year
Southern Vietnam - Lively New Year Festivals
While Tết days in Hue exude a unique sense of solemnity stemming from royal families in the past, Tet celebrations in the south bring with them a more vibrant and lively atmosphere, marked by the beautiful colors of orchards and flower villages.
Mekong Delta, a vibrant vibe of Tet
The Tết holiday offers you the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the lively and warm atmosphere of 6 provinces in the Mekong Delta. The city of Sa Dec is considered to be the flower capital of the south. During the Tết season, the Mekong Delta becomes even more vibrant, showcasing numerous beautiful flowers such as marigolds, medicinal plants, daisies, dollar flowers, orchids and cockscomb flowers.
The famous floating markets are a hive of activity with countless products for the most important festival of the year. Follow us to a less popular fork in the river, but a traditional market of the locals in this area. Your eyes will feast on the baskets of colorful fruits offering different varieties to serve during Tet days, especially the five-fruit tray with many interesting combinations. You can also enjoy the typical dishes on the boat and immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere with simple and warm greetings.
Immediately afterwards, you will have the opportunity to attend the Cau Ngu Festival – a characteristic festival of the coastal regions associated with the worship of the Sea Ggod. The festival usually takes place on the 15th day of the first lunar month to express the fishermen’s gratitude to the sea and to pray for a safe and prosperous year at sea.
Embark on an exciting and vibrant journey during Vietnam’s Tết Holiday, filled with colours and flavours. From the northern ethnic groups to the enchanting beauty in the south, Vietnam ensures an unforgettable experience during Tết.
