The Dos and Don’ts of Visiting Vietnam During Tet

Tet 2026 falls on January 29th — and if you are planning to be in Vietnam around that time, you are either about to experience something genuinely unforgettable, or you are about to be caught completely off guard. Most visitors fall into the second category. The country does not slow down for Tet; it transforms. Shops close for days, streets that are normally gridlocked go eerily quiet, and family obligations take absolute priority over everything else — including tourism. Knowing the customs, the closed dates, and the unwritten rules before you arrive is not optional. It is the difference between a trip that feels magical and one that feels like a lockout.

What Tet Actually Is (and Why It Catches Visitors Off Guard)

Tet Nguyen Dan is the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, and it is the most important celebration in the country’s Calendar — by a significant margin. It is not comparable to a long weekend or even Christmas. For many Vietnamese families, Tet is the one time each year when everyone returns home, debts are settled, houses are cleaned top to bottom, and the ancestors are honoured. The emotional and cultural weight of the holiday is enormous.

2026 marks the Year of the Horse. The holiday officially spans three days, but in practice the country starts slowing down about a week before Tet Eve (January 28) and does not fully return to normal until around February 5th or 6th. Some family gatherings and regional festivals extend through the full first fortnight of the lunar month.

What surprises most first-time visitors is not the celebration itself — it is the silence. Walk through Ho Chi Minh City on Tet morning and the usual wall of motorbike noise is gone. The air smells of incense and firework residue. Street food vendors who are normally open until midnight have shuttered their stalls. That contrast — a normally kinetic city suddenly still — is disorienting if you are not expecting it.

The Dos: How to Participate Respectfully and Meaningfully

Accept invitations to family meals

If a Vietnamese person invites you to their home for Tet, accept. This is one of the warmest gestures you will receive in any country. Tet meals are elaborate — tables crowded with bánh chưng (sticky rice cake wrapped in banana leaf), thịt kho (caramelised pork and eggs in coconut water), pickled vegetables, and spring rolls. The meal is not just food; it is an expression of care and family pride. Come hungry, compliment the cooking, and stay long enough that your departure does not feel abrupt.

Bring a considered gift

Arriving at a Vietnamese home for Tet without a gift is like showing up to a birthday party empty-handed. Fruit baskets, premium tea, good-quality wine, or boxes of traditional sweets are all appropriate. Wrap everything neatly — presentation matters. Avoid giving clocks (associated with death), shoes (implies you want someone to walk away), or anything in sets of four (the number sounds like “death” in Vietnamese). Even-numbered gifts are generally fine; odd numbers at Tet are not ideal.

Wear new or bright clothes

Tet is a time for fresh starts, and clothing reflects that. Wearing something new — even just a new shirt — is a sign of respect for the occasion. Red, yellow, and other bright colours are associated with luck and prosperity. Black and white are mourning colours and should be avoided during the celebration days.

Greet people with Tet wishes

The standard Tet greeting is “Chúc Mừng Năm Mới” (Happy New Year). If you are addressing an older person, add “Chúc sức khỏe” (wishing you good health). Vietnamese people genuinely appreciate foreigners making the effort, even if the pronunciation is imperfect. A slight nod of the head while delivering the greeting shows additional respect.

The Don’ts: Mistakes That Can Cause Real Offence

Do not be the first person to enter a home uninvited on Tet morning

This is the single most important cultural rule for foreign visitors during Tet. Vietnamese families carefully choose who “opens the house” on the first morning of the new year — this person is called the xông đất, and their character and fortune are believed to influence the family’s luck for the entire year. Arriving unannounced or walking into someone’s home or business before being invited on Tet Day 1 can cause genuine distress, regardless of your intentions. Always wait to be welcomed in.

Do not sweep or throw out rubbish in someone’s home

Cleaning the house before Tet is essential — but sweeping during the first three days of Tet is believed to sweep away good luck. If you are staying with a Vietnamese family, do not attempt to tidy up, take out the bin, or clean anything without being asked. What looks like helpfulness can read as an unlucky act.

Do not argue, swear, or raise your voice

The first days of the new year set the tone for the months ahead — at least symbolically. Conflict, tears, and harsh words during Tet are considered very bad omens. If something goes wrong with your travel arrangements or you have a frustrating interaction, keep your composure. Losing your temper at a hotel receptionist on Tet Day 1 will not be forgotten.

Do not assume businesses are open

This sounds obvious but it catches people out every year. Pharmacies, local restaurants, small guesthouses, tour operators, and even some ATMs run low on cash or go offline during Tet week. Stock up on any medications before January 25th. Withdraw enough cash to cover four to five days without ATM access. Do not plan to buy last-minute transport tickets — they will be sold out or priced at peak rates.

Practical Realities: Closures, Transport, and the 2026 Tet Dates

The official 2026 public holiday period runs from January 27 to February 2, but actual closures stretch wider than that. Here is a realistic timeline:

• January 22–27: Many small businesses start winding down. Markets get crowded with pre-Tet shopping. Train and bus tickets for travel on January 27–28 sell out.
• January 28 (Tet Eve): Streets fill with families visiting pagodas and temples for evening prayers. Fireworks displays are held in major cities at midnight — Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake and Ho Chi Minh City’s Nguyen Hue Walking Street are the main gathering points.
• January 29–31 (Days 1–3): Most local shops, markets, and restaurants are closed. Tourist sites like Hoi An’s Ancient Town remain open, but with reduced staff and higher prices. Intercity buses and trains are fully booked or running limited schedules.
• February 1–6: Gradual reopening. Cities return to roughly normal by February 5th. Hanoi’s Dong Xuan Market and Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City are usually back in full operation by February 3rd.

For inter-city travel, the Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City expressway network, significantly expanded through 2025, handles more holiday traffic than before — but road congestion on January 27–28 heading south and February 1–2 heading north is still intense. If you can book trains, do so. The SE1 and SE3 Reunification Express routes sell out six to eight weeks before Tet.

2026 Budget Reality During Tet

Tet is not a budget-friendly time to visit Vietnam — full stop. Prices rise across accommodation, transport, and food, and availability shrinks sharply. Here is what to expect:

• Budget tier: Dormitory hostel beds rise from around 150,000–200,000 VND (USD 6–8) per night to 280,000–350,000 VND (USD 11–14) in major cities. Street food, where available, stays similar in price but choices are limited.
• Mid-range tier: A standard hotel room that normally costs 600,000–900,000 VND (USD 24–36) per night typically runs 1,000,000–1,400,000 VND (USD 40–56) during January 27 to February 2. Book at least two months in advance.
• Comfortable tier: Four-star and above hotels in Hoi An, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City often apply a flat Tet surcharge of 30–50% on top of peak-season rates. Expect to pay 2,500,000–4,500,000 VND (USD 100–180) per night for a quality room.
• Flights: Domestic routes spike hard. Hanoi to Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City in the week before Tet can hit 2,000,000–3,500,000 VND (USD 80–140) one way on budget carriers like VietJet and Bamboo. Book in October if possible.
• Food during closed days: Convenience stores (Circle K, GS25, and the expanding Winmart+ chain) stay open and become genuine lifelines. Budget 80,000–150,000 VND (USD 3–6) per meal from these sources during the first three days.

Navigating Tet as a Solo or First-Time Visitor

Solo travellers and first-timers often make the mistake of trying to fight the holiday rather than move with it. The visitors who have the best Tet experiences are the ones who accept that this week belongs to Vietnamese families — and position themselves accordingly.

Hoi An is one of the most rewarding places to spend Tet as a foreigner. The Ancient Town holds nightly lantern festivals throughout the first lunar month, and the community is more accustomed to welcoming outsiders into celebrations. The Tet flower market along Bach Dang Street — kumquat trees and yellow mai blossoms stacked along the riverbank, their scent mixing with incense from nearby temples — is one of those experiences that stays with you long after the trip ends.

Hanoi’s Old Quarter has remarkable energy on Tet Eve. Families crowd around Hoan Kiem Lake for the midnight countdown, children carry sparklers, and the smell of grilled corn and sugarcane juice drifts through the cold January air. Get there by 10:30 PM and stand on the eastern side of the lake for the best view of the fireworks reflected on the water.

For those who find the closures frustrating, coastal destinations like Phu Quoc and Da Nang are more service-resilient during Tet because their tourist infrastructure is designed to stay operational. Resort areas maintain restaurant and activity schedules more consistently than city centres.

Finally: download the Google Translate app with Vietnamese offline files and have the Grab app installed before you arrive. During Tet, ride-hailing is one of the few transport options that remains relatively consistent, though surge pricing applies. In 2026, Grab also allows scheduled bookings up to seven days in advance — use this for airport pickups during the holiday window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it a good idea to visit Vietnam during Tet?

Yes, but only if you prepare for it. Tet offers a rare window into Vietnamese culture at its most authentic — family rituals, temple ceremonies, lantern displays, and a transformed atmosphere. The trade-off is that many services are closed and prices are higher. Travellers who embrace the pace rather than fight it consistently rate it as a highlight of their Vietnam experience.

What should I do if I get stuck somewhere with no open restaurants during Tet?

Convenience stores like GS25, Circle K, and Winmart+ remain open through the holiday and stock hot meals, instant noodles, sandwiches, and snacks. In larger cities, a small number of tourist-facing restaurants in areas like Hoi An’s Ancient Town or Hanoi’s Old Quarter also stay open. Pre-stock some supplies at a supermarket before January 27th.

Can I visit temples and pagodas during Tet?

Yes, and pagodas are particularly atmospheric during the holiday. Families visit on Tet Eve and the first morning of the new year to pray for luck and health. Move slowly, dress modestly (covered shoulders and knees), remove shoes when required, and avoid standing between a worshipper and the altar. Do not take photos of people in prayer without clear permission.

What are the luckiest things to do or say during Tet as a visitor?

Greet people with “Chúc Mừng Năm Mới,” give red envelopes with small amounts of money to children, wear bright or new clothing, and bring fruit or sweets when visiting a home. Avoiding conflict, keeping a calm and cheerful attitude, and complimenting the family’s home and food all align well with the spirit of the holiday.

When do things return to normal after Tet 2026?

Most local businesses in major cities reopen by February 3rd–4th, 2026. Full normal operations — including markets, local transport, and street food — are typically restored by February 6th. Some regional festivals and community events continue through the full first lunar month, which ends around February 27th, 2026.

📷 Featured image by Michael Lock on Unsplash.