According to the book "Vietnamese Traditional Worshiping - Rituals and Ritual Practices" (World Publishing House), the day of burning votive paper is performed differently in each place, possibly on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 7th day - the day of opening the altar (launching the ceremony on the altar is also known as the ceremony of lowering the Neu pole). But for the majority of families, the day of burning votive paper is usually worshiped on the 3rd day of Tet.
The gold burning ceremony is a ceremony to burn incense, clothes, and votive paper to see off grandparents to the afterlife after 3 days of returning to their children and grandchildren to celebrate Tet. But there is also a belief that the gold burning ceremony is also to show respect to the gods and ancestors who have blessed their children and grandchildren to always be healthy and do well in business throughout the past year.
After the ceremony, the homeowner will burn votive paper. The money and gold of the family gods are burned first, the money and gold, and ancestors' belongings are burned later.
The offering tray for burning votive paper is usually prepared neatly and fully. Depending on the region and depending on the family's economic conditions, the offering tray for burning votive paper is also different, but basically there are:
A savory feast includes:
- Whole boiled chicken
- White sticky rice
- Banh chung or banh tet
- Boiled pork
- Bowl of soup
- A plate of stir-fried vegetables
- Gio, cha
- 3 joint drinks...
Vegetarian offering tray (if worshiping vegetarian) includes:
- White sticky rice or gac sticky rice
- Vegetarian banh chung or banh tet
- Vegetarian soup
- A plate of mushroom stir-fried vegetables
- Vegetarian spring rolls
- Gio, chay...
Other items on the offering tray for burning gold:
- Hell money, votive paper
- Five-fruit tray
- Fresh flowers
- Fragrance, candles
Cakes, candy
- Betel and areca, cigarettes
- 2 sugarcane plants.
The best time to burn votive paper:
According to the 2026 annual calendar, below are the "golden" hours for homeowners to burn votive paper for the Binh Ngo Tet 2026 to activate fortune and peace.
3rd day of Tet (Thursday, February 19, 2026)
The 3rd day of Tet is Giap Ngo day, also the traditional day chosen by many families to burn votive paper. This is a very beautiful day to see off ancestors and pray for smooth progress (Horse meets Horse - companionship).
Auspicious hours:
- Rabbit hour (5am-7am): Best time to start.
- Ngo hour (11am-1pm): The auspicious hour of the year.
4th day of Tet (Friday, February 20, 2026)
This is At Mui day, the auspicious day of Ngoc Duong, very good for praying for health and family peace.
Auspicious hours:
- Rabbit hour (5am-7am): Very good.
- Snake hour (9am-11am): Auspicious hour.
5th day of Tet (Saturday, February 21, 2026)
Binh Than day is suitable for families who want to burn votive paper combined with khai hạ to start business.
Auspicious hours:
- Dragon hour (7am-9am): God of Wealth hour.
- Snake hour (9am-11am): Hour of vitality.
8th day of Tet (Tuesday, February 24, 2026)
On the Year of the Pig day, if the family is busy or traveling far and cannot resolve it early, this is a very beautiful "cut" day to end the Tet holiday series.
Auspicious hours:
- Ngo hour (11am-1pm): Prosperity hour.
You should burn votive paper in the morning or before 1 pm (Ngo hour). Avoid burning votive paper in the late evening because at this time the yang energy is depleted, which is not good for receiving ancestral souls.
