Is Tet Lunar New Year a Good Time to Visit Vietnam?

Every year, thousands of travelers land in Vietnam during Tet only to find streets emptied, restaurants shuttered, and guesthouses fully booked eight weeks in advance. In 2026, Tet falls on January 29 — earlier than most years — which means the holiday chaos overlaps with peak dry season across the country. If you’re planning a Vietnam trip for late January or early February 2026 and haven’t thought through how Tet affects your plans, this article is what you need to read first.

What Tet Actually Is (and Why the Date Shifts Every Year)

Tet Nguyen Dan — usually shortened to Tet — is Vietnam’s Lunar New Year celebration. It marks the start of a new year on the lunisolar Calendar, which means the date changes every year on the Gregorian calendar, typically falling somewhere between late January and late February. In 2026, the Year of the Horse begins on January 29.

Tet is not just a public holiday. It’s the single most important cultural event in Vietnamese life. Think of it as Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and a major family reunion compressed into one week — and then amplified by a culture that places deep significance on ancestral respect, family togetherness, and starting the new year with the right energy. Most Vietnamese people return to their hometown to celebrate with family, which is why cities like Ho Chi Minh City can feel eerily quiet while provincial towns overflow with returning residents.

The official public holiday in 2026 runs from January 27 (two days before Tet) through February 2 — seven days total. But in practice, many businesses close earlier and reopen later than those official dates. The weeks before Tet (called cận Tết) are also extremely busy as people shop, prepare offerings, and travel home.

What Closes During Tet — The Honest Picture

This is the question most travel guides dance around. The honest answer: a lot closes, and it can genuinely frustrate travelers who aren’t expecting it.

• Local restaurants and street food stalls: Many family-run places close for the full week — some for up to two weeks. The stalls run by a single family who’ve gone back to Quảng Ngãi or Nghệ An aren’t opening for you on January 30.
• Local markets: Wet markets and neighbourhood markets often close entirely for several days around the New Year.
• Shops and services: Tailors, repair shops, small pharmacies, and local barbers typically close. Stock up on any essentials beforehand.
• Government offices and banks: Fully closed for the official holiday period. Visa extensions, administrative paperwork — none of that happens during Tet.
• Museums and some tourist sites: Hours vary significantly. Some close; others stay open but run reduced hours.
• Transport: Trains, buses, and flights don’t stop running, but they are extremely crowded in the days before and after Tet. Getting a sleeper train ticket from Hanoi to Da Nang in late January 2026 without booking weeks ahead is nearly impossible.

What this creates, for an unprepared traveler, is a trip where you’re scrambling for food, can’t find certain services, and feel oddly disconnected from daily Vietnamese life because daily Vietnamese life has essentially paused to go home.

What Stays Open and Where to Go If You’re Already There

Not everything shuts down. Tourism-facing businesses in major cities and resort areas stay open precisely because they rely on foreign visitors (and increasingly, domestic tourists who choose to travel rather than celebrate at home).

• Hotel restaurants: Mid-range and upscale hotels keep their restaurants running throughout Tet. This is where many travelers eat during the core days.
• International restaurants and chains: Western-style cafes, international restaurants, and some Vietnamese chains stay open. In cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, you’ll find options — just not your favourite $1.50 bún bò stall.



• Convenience stores: Circle K, GS25, and FamilyMart locations stay open 24 hours throughout Tet. In 2026, these chains have continued expanding into second-tier cities, so coverage is better than it was even two years ago.
• Beach resorts: Places like Phú Quốc, Đà Nẵng’s resort strip, and Nha Trang’s beachfront hotels are open and busy — sometimes overcrowded with domestic tourists.
• Temples and pagodas: These are very much open, and visiting them during Tet is genuinely meaningful. Expect large crowds, incense smoke thick in the air, and families dressed in their best ao dai.

The Tet Experience Itself: What Foreigners Actually See and Feel

If you accept what Tet is — a family holiday, not a tourist festival — and adjust your expectations accordingly, it can be one of the most memorable times to be in Vietnam.

The nights leading up to Tet are electric. Walking through Hanoi’s Hoàn Kiếm area or along Ho Chi Minh City’s Nguyễn Huệ boulevard in the week before the New Year, you’ll find streets lined with yellow mai blossoms and pink peach blossom trees for sale, stalls selling kumquat trees, and families loading motorbikes with enough decorations to fill a living room. The smell of incense mixes with the sweetness of mứt — candied coconut, ginger, and lotus seeds sold in bright tins — from pavement vendors.

On Tết Eve (January 28, 2026), most cities hold fireworks displays at midnight. Ho Chi Minh City’s display over the Saigon River and Hanoi’s display at Hoàn Kiếm Lake are the most spectacular. The streets fill with people in new clothes — Vietnamese tradition holds that you wear new clothing to welcome the new year — and the atmosphere is genuinely joyful.

The first three days of Tet are the quietest. Families stay home, visit relatives, and observe traditions. Foreigners wandering near residential areas might be invited in for tea — this does happen, especially in smaller cities and towns where foreign visitors are less common. It’s a genuine connection that’s almost impossible to have during the rest of the year.

By the fourth and fifth day, cities start coming back to life. Street food returns, people venture out, and some of the festive energy transitions into a more relaxed, holiday-outing mood.

Regional Differences: Hanoi vs. Ho Chi Minh City vs. Hoi An at Tet

Tet feels different depending on where you are in Vietnam, and choosing the right destination matters.

Hanoi

The capital takes Tet seriously in a way that reflects its northern character — formal, tradition-heavy, and deeply family-oriented. The city empties noticeably. Locals who can afford to leave do. What remains is a strange, almost peaceful version of Hanoi where you can walk through the Old Quarter without being honked at. The Temple of Literature and Trấn Quốc Pagoda are worth visiting for the ceremonial atmosphere, though expect crowds at pagodas especially on the first days.

Ho Chi Minh City

The South celebrates Tet more loosely. The city doesn’t empty as dramatically as Hanoi — partly because it’s a city of migrants who don’t all have a “home” to return to, and partly because the southern temperament is more relaxed about tradition. Nguyễn Huệ Flower Street (a pedestrian street turned into a festival display every year) is a legitimate spectacle in the weeks before Tet. The fireworks on Tết Eve here are worth staying up for.

Hội An

Hội An handles Tet better for tourists than almost anywhere else. The town’s tourist infrastructure stays functional, and the lantern-lit streets take on an extra layer of magic during the festival period. The Full Moon Lantern Festival coincides with the 15th day of the first lunar month — in 2026, that falls on February 12 — which draws a huge crowd but is genuinely beautiful. If you want the festive atmosphere without the logistical chaos, Hội An is a strong choice.

2026 Budget Reality: Prices During Tet Season

Tet is peak pricing season. There’s no getting around it.

Accommodation

• Budget: Hostel dorm beds rise from a typical 150,000–200,000 VND (~$6–$8 USD) to 250,000–350,000 VND (~$10–$14 USD) during core Tet days. Many budget hostels are fully booked.
• Mid-range: A standard hotel room that normally costs 600,000–900,000 VND (~$24–$36 USD) per night can jump to 1,200,000–1,800,000 VND (~$48–$72 USD) or more.
• Comfortable: Four-star hotels and resort properties charge a Tet surcharge of 30–60% above regular rates. Book at least 6–8 weeks in advance for 2026.

Food

When street food closes, you’re eating at hotel restaurants or tourist-facing places that charge tourist prices. Budget 150,000–300,000 VND ($6–$12 USD) per meal instead of the 40,000–80,000 VND ($1.60–$3.20 USD) you might pay at a local stall. This is one of the real hidden costs of visiting during Tet that nobody warns you about.

Transport

Train and bus tickets during the two weeks surrounding Tet sell out fast. In 2026, Vietnam Railways has added extra Tet service on the North–South line, but demand still far exceeds supply. If you need to move between cities during this period, expect to pay 150–200% of normal fares and book well ahead. Grab and other ride-hailing apps apply surge pricing on Tết Eve and the first day.

Should You Visit Before, During, or After Tet?

This is the real question, and the answer depends on what you want from your trip.

Two to Three Weeks Before Tet (Early-to-Mid January 2026)

This is arguably the best window. Weather across most of Vietnam is good — dry season is in full effect in the centre and south. Cities are alive with pre-Tet energy: flower markets, decoration shopping, and a buzzy atmosphere. Services and restaurants are fully operational. Prices are still reasonable. If your schedule allows this window, take it.

During Tet (January 27 – February 2, 2026)

Go in with clear expectations. You will see something genuinely rare and culturally significant. You will also face limited food options, higher prices, and a reduced version of everyday Vietnamese life. It rewards flexible, curious travelers who can adapt. It frustrates anyone on a tight itinerary who expected everything to function normally.

One to Two Weeks After Tet (February 3–15, 2026)

Vietnam wakes up slowly after Tet. By the second week of February, most things are back to normal. This period has the advantage of post-holiday calm combined with still-festive lingering energy. Hội An’s Full Moon Lantern Festival on February 12 gives you a reason to be there. Prices begin normalising. A good option for those who want Tet’s afterglow without its complications.

Practical Tips for Navigating Tet as a Foreigner in 2026

• Book accommodation now. Seriously. For late January and early February 2026, good properties in popular destinations are filling up months out. Don’t leave this for last minute.
• Carry cash. Some ATMs run out of cash during Tet as banks close and replenishment slows. Withdraw before the holiday starts. Have at least 1,000,000–2,000,000 VND (~$40–$80 USD) on hand.



• Stock up on food the day before Tết Eve. Buy snacks, fruit, and water from convenience stores or supermarkets. You may need them on January 28.
• Respect the silence on the first day. The first morning of Tet is sacred. Keep noise down, especially near residential areas. Don’t play loud music from a hotel room or terrace.
• Dress modestly if visiting pagodas. Shoulders and knees covered. Remove shoes when asked. Don’t photograph people mid-prayer without asking.
• Accept lì xì (red envelope) etiquette carefully. Foreigners are sometimes given a red envelope as a gesture of goodwill. Receive it with both hands and a small bow. Don’t open it immediately in front of the giver.
• Learn a few words. Saying “Chúc mừng năm mới” (Happy New Year) — pronounced roughly “chook moong nam moy” — will get you genuine smiles everywhere.
• Check e-visa status. Vietnam’s e-visa system, which as of 2025–2026 allows 90-day single or multiple-entry visas for most nationalities, processes normally during Tet online. However, if you need any in-person immigration assistance, that won’t happen during the holiday closure. Ensure your visa situation is sorted before arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Vietnam worth visiting during Tet 2026?

Yes, but only if you prepare for it. Tet offers a rare window into Vietnamese culture that no other time of year replicates. The fireworks, flower markets, and family atmosphere are genuinely special. The trade-off is limited restaurant access, higher prices, and reduced services. Go with flexible plans and open expectations.

When exactly is Tet in 2026?

Tet 2026 falls on January 29, marking the start of the Year of the Horse. The official public holiday runs from January 27 to February 2. In practice, many businesses close a few days earlier and reopen a few days later than those dates.

Which Vietnamese city is best to visit during Tet?

Hội An handles Tet best for foreign visitors — its tourist infrastructure stays functional and the atmosphere is magical. Ho Chi Minh City is livelier than Hanoi during Tet and has better food options. Hanoi is worth it for its traditional ceremonies and peaceful streets, but closures are more pronounced there.

Do flights and trains still run during Tet in Vietnam?

Yes, transport keeps running, but capacity is severely strained. The two weeks surrounding Tet are the busiest travel period of the year for domestic Vietnamese transport. Book train and bus tickets at least 4–6 weeks ahead. In 2026, Vietnam Railways added extra services on the North–South line, but tickets still sell fast.

Is it rude to visit Vietnam as a tourist during Tet?

Not at all. Vietnamese people are generally welcoming of foreign visitors during Tet and often enjoy sharing the celebration. The key is showing respect — dress modestly at temples, learn a few seasonal phrases, and don’t treat the holiday as a backdrop for travel content. Genuine curiosity is always appreciated.

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📷 Featured image by Hieu Do Quang on Unsplash.