Tet Nguyen Dan is the biggest traditional holiday of the year for Vietnamese people, not only interested by local people but also leaves a deep impression on many international tourists.
When experiencing the Tet atmosphere in Vietnam, many tourists from Korea are surprised by the customs and unique spiritual values of the local people.
The first difference is that Koreans usually only get 3 days off for Lunar New Year. For many, the short break makes it no different from other short holidays throughout the year. Instead, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a special holiday for Koreans, as they get 5-6 days off.
Therefore, when coming to Vietnam during Tet, the scene of people eagerly preparing surprises tourists.
Blogger nicknamed "Green Tomato" shared: "I went to my Vietnamese boyfriend's house during Tet, and found the house had a completely different atmosphere. The adults put money in a cute red envelope and gave it to me. I really like this tradition, the lovely little things."
In the minds of many young Koreans, Lunar New Year is just a holiday, so they can rest and socialize comfortably with friends. But in Vietnam, from 2 weeks before New Year's Eve, many families have cleaned, decorated their houses, and prepared food.
Blogger Aldis married his Vietnamese wife in 2023 and celebrated his first Vietnamese New Year in 2024. He was surprised to see his wife's family cleaning the house down to... every corner.
"When my wife said the family would clean the house, I thought it would just mean mopping the floor and packing things. But the truth is, she cleaned every corner, from the living room to the bedroom, bathroom, cleaning every drawer, every stain on the furniture."
"She took out all the furniture in the house, threw away the things she didn't use. We woke up early in the morning and cleaned until midnight. She said she was happy to clean the house for Tet, but for me... I found it confusing. Anyway, a cleaner house makes me happy."
When celebrating Tet in big cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, many tourists are surprised to see how deserted the streets are during Tet, and it is difficult to find restaurants that are still open. Only chain restaurants and franchises are open during Tet, but there are not many options.
Local restaurants that are open during this time will also increase prices slightly. Technology drivers are also not operating much anymore, if they are, the prices are significantly more expensive.
Blogger Paku Chan, who traveled to Hanoi on New Year's Eve, was surprised to see that the streets were no longer crowded with vehicles. He wanted to find pho and bun cha restaurants along the street, but it was very difficult.
On New Year’s Eve, Paku Chan went to the walking street to watch the fireworks. On the way back, he was interested in the custom of people burning incense and votive papers. People set tables in front of their doors, placed food and votive papers, and prayed for luck and health for their families in the new year.
Tet Nguyen Dan is a great opportunity for tourists to explore the beauty of Vietnamese culture and nature. Whether they go anywhere during Tet or participate in daily activities, tourists can have unique cultural experiences, imbued with identity.
