Tết Nguyên Đán, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is the most important cultural event in Vietnam. It is not simply a holiday but a time when family, tradition, spirituality, and national identity come together.
For photographers and travelers, Tết offers a rare opportunity to experience and document Vietnam at its most emotional, colorful, and authentic. This is a side of the country that cannot be seen at any other time of year.
This guide explores what Tết is, when it happens, how it is celebrated, and how photographers can experience it meaningfully, including through our Vietnam Tết Photography Tour.
Vietnam’s Two Calendars Solar New Year and Tết
Vietnam lives by two calendars.
In official life such as work, school, government, and business, Vietnam follows the Solar calendar and celebrates January first like most of the world. This New Year passes quietly and has little cultural significance.
Culturally and spiritually, the true New Year is Tết, which is based on the lunar calendar. Tết marks the beginning of spring and the symbolic renewal of life, fortune, and relationships.
While the Solar New Year changes the date, Tết changes the country.
For photographers, this contrast is powerful. Everyday Vietnam fades away and is replaced by ritual, color, emotion, and reflection.
When Does Tết Happen in Vietnam
Tết usually falls between late January and mid February depending on the lunar calendar. The official public holiday lasts around five to seven days, but the Tết season extends far beyond that.
Tết in Vietnam unfolds in three stages.
The preparation period begins two to three weeks before Tết. During this time flower markets open, homes are cleaned and repainted, and families begin preparing traditional food.
The main Tết days include New Year’s Eve and the first three days of the lunar year. These days are reserved for family rituals, ancestor worship, temple visits, and quiet streets.
The post Tết period marks a slow return to daily life as decorations remain and people continue visiting friends and relatives.
For photographers, the preparation period is often the most visually rich, while the main Tết days offer rare calm and intimacy.
How Tết in Vietnam Differs From Other Asian Lunar New Years
Lunar New Year is celebrated across many Asian countries, but Tết in Vietnam has a distinct character.
Vietnamese Tết places strong emphasis on ancestor worship at home. It features unique traditional foods such as bánh chưng and bánh tét. The celebration focuses less on public parades and more on family rituals. Decorations, food, and customs also vary greatly between northern, central, and southern Vietnam.
Rather than spectacle, Tết in Vietnam is about belonging. It is about family, memory, and continuity.
For photographers, this means the most meaningful images are often found in quiet moments rather than large crowds.
Tết as a Time of Family Reunion
Tết is the most important family gathering of the year in Vietnam. Millions of people travel back to their hometowns, sometimes across the entire country, to reunite with parents, grandparents, and relatives.
For many Vietnamese people, Tết is the only time of year when everyone is together. Family meals become sacred moments and long separated friends finally reconnect.
This nationwide movement explains why large cities become quiet and rural areas feel full of life.
For photographers, Tết is about emotion and patience. Strong images come from observation and respect rather than speed.
Big Cities During Tết A Rare Visual Experience
Cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are usually busy and energetic. During Tết, they transform completely.
Streets become empty and traffic almost disappears. Small local shops often close during the first days, while temples, walking streets, and public spaces remain open. Mornings feel calm and light becomes softer.
This is one of the only times of year when Vietnam’s major cities can be photographed in a minimalist and cinematic way.
Tết may not be ideal for travelers looking for nightlife or shopping, but for photographers, this quiet atmosphere is part of its unique beauty.
Tết Decorations and the Colors of the New Year
Decoration plays an important role during Tết and symbolizes luck, renewal, and prosperity.
In northern Vietnam, people decorate with peach blossoms. In southern Vietnam, yellow apricot blossoms are preferred. Across the country, kumquat trees, red banners, and calligraphy artwork appear in homes and streets.
The dominant colors of Tết are red, yellow, and green. Red represents luck and happiness. Yellow symbolizes wealth and prosperity. Green reflects renewal and growth.
For photographers, these colors should guide composition. Let them lead the frame rather than overpower it.
Traditional Tết Food Culture on the Table
Tết food is deeply symbolic and is usually prepared only once a year.
Popular dishes include bánh chưng in the north, bánh tét in central and southern Vietnam, braised pork with eggs, and various pickled vegetables and candied fruits.
Food preparation often happens collectively and can last for many hours or even overnight. These moments create strong visual stories about connection and tradition.
For photographers, food is best photographed in context. Hands, fire, steam, and conversation matter more than perfect presentation.
Tết Customs Beliefs and Visitor Etiquette
Tết is guided by long standing beliefs, especially during the first days of the year.
Common customs include cleaning and decorating homes before Tết begins, avoiding cleaning during the first days of the new year, visiting pagodas to pray for health and fortune, and giving lì xì, or lucky money, in red envelopes.
There is also the belief of xông đất. The first person to enter a home in the new year is believed to influence the family’s luck for the entire year.
Visitors should dress respectfully when visiting homes or temples, greet people before taking photos, and avoid photographing altars or rituals without permission.
Understanding these customs helps photographers work ethically and build trust.
Tết Among Kinh People and Ethnic Communities
The Kinh people, who make up the majority of Vietnam’s population, celebrate Tết with a strong focus on family and ancestor worship.
Many ethnic minority communities across Vietnam also celebrate Lunar New Year, often on different dates and with their own traditional clothing and rituals. These celebrations are closely tied to nature and local belief systems.
This diversity makes Tết one of the richest cultural subjects for photography in Vietnam.
Community Rituals and Spiritual Life During Tết
Tết centers on honoring ancestors, renewing family bonds, and beginning the new year with respect, gratitude, and hope.
Before Tết, homes are carefully cleaned and prepared. Ancestral altars are arranged with offerings of food, incense, and flowers, reflecting the deep connection between generations.
During the first days of the new year, families visit pagodas and temples to pray for health, peace, and prosperity. These visits are quiet and reflective, marking an important spiritual start to the year.
Visiting relatives’ and neighbors’ homes is another key tradition. Families welcome one another to exchange New Year wishes, share tea and traditional sweets, and strengthen social bonds. These visits follow cultural etiquette and are filled with warmth and conversation.
For photographers, these moments offer some of the most meaningful opportunities during Tết. Scenes of incense smoke, folded hands, shared tea, greetings at the doorway, elders, and children learning traditions often tell the spirit of Tết more powerfully than large public events.
Tết photography is not about speed or spectacle, but about presence, trust, and human connection.
Traditional Tết Activities and Folk Performances
Beyond private rituals, Tết also comes alive in public spaces with colorful, energetic traditions.
Dragon and lion dances take place in neighborhoods, temple courtyards, and marketplaces in the days leading up to and during the early New Year. Their movement, bright colors, and rhythmic energy are believed to chase away negative spirits and bring luck and prosperity.
In many communities, a tall New Year bamboo pole is erected in front of homes or communal spaces and decorated with symbolic items. It marks sacred space and serves as a traditional form of protection during the holiday period.
Other public activities include calligraphy writing, folk games, and village festivals that continue into the post-Tết period.
For photographers, these events provide dynamic, visually striking scenes full of motion, color, and cultural symbolism. Capturing both quiet rituals and lively performances allows for a full, authentic story of Tết.
Useful Vietnamese Phrases for Tết Travelers
Learning a few Vietnamese phrases can create instant connection during Tết.
- Chúc Mừng Năm Mới – Happy New Year (chook moong nahm moy)
- An khang thịnh vượng – Wishing you health and prosperity (an kahng ting vuhng)
- Cho tôi chụp ảnh được không? – May I take a photo? (chaw toy choop anh duoc khom)
- Cảm ơn nhiều – Thank you very much (gahm un nyew)
- Mừng tuổi / Lì xì – Lucky money (mung toy / lee see)
Even simple efforts to speak Vietnamese are warmly appreciated.
Experiencing Tết Through Our Vietnam Tết Photography Tour
Tết is one of the most rewarding times to photograph Vietnam, but it can also be challenging. Many meaningful moments happen within families and communities, and timing plays a crucial role.
Our Vietnam Tết Photography Tour is designed for photographers and culture focused travelers who want to experience Tết with understanding and respect.
The tour focuses on Tết preparation days, family and community life, quiet city scenes during the holiday, ethical photography, and storytelling rather than rushing between locations.
Instead of simply visiting places, we help you slow down and connect with the people and traditions that make Tết so meaningful.
This tour is ideal for photographers who value culture, narrative, and authenticity and who want to experience Vietnam at its most important time of year.
Learn more about our Vietnam Tết Photography Tour on our website.
