Tet, short for Tet Nguyen Dan, is Vietnam’s most significant annual celebration. Marking the arrival of spring and the Lunar New Year, Tet typically lasts for seven days, occurring between late January and mid-February, depending on the lunar calendar. It is a time for family reunions, honoring ancestors, and embracing new beginnings. Unlike Western traditions where birthdays determine age, in Vietnam, everyone becomes a year older with the arrival of Tet.

The excitement builds up in the days leading to Tet Eve, culminating in vibrant celebrations at midnight. Although firecrackers were banned in 1995 for safety reasons, major cities across Vietnam now welcome the new year with dazzling fireworks displays.

PREPARATIONS

Tet represents a fresh start, both physically and spiritually. Homes undergo deep cleaning, debts are settled, and people invest in new clothes and haircuts to welcome the new year on an auspicious note. To attract prosperity and happiness, many families place lucky symbols such as roosters or the three statues symbolizing prosperity, happiness, and longevity inside their homes.

The first few moments of the new year are considered crucial in shaping the year ahead. People avoid conflicts, harsh words, and breaking objects during the initial three days, as these actions are believed to bring bad luck. The identity of the first visitor to a household on Tet morning is also vital; someone successful, respected, and happily married is thought to bring good fortune, while those facing hardships or misfortunes are considered less favorable.

ONG TAO: THE KITCHEN GOD

Tet preparations begin a week in advance with the farewell ceremony for Ong Tao, the Kitchen God, on the 23rd day of the lunar twelfth month. Ong Tao is believed to oversee household affairs throughout the year and report them to the Jade Emperor. To ensure a favorable report, families clean their homes thoroughly and offer tributes such as new garments and symbolic money. Tradition also involves releasing live carps into rivers, allowing Ong Tao to travel to heaven. He returns at midnight on Tet Eve, coinciding with the welcoming of ancestral spirits, making it a time of immense celebration.

FEASTS AND GOOD FORTUNE

Tet is synonymous with festive feasting, featuring special dishes that symbolize prosperity and happiness. Families prepare offerings for ancestral altars before indulging in Tet delicacies like pickled vegetables, candied lotus seeds, and sugared fruits. The signature Tet dish is banh chung (or banh tet in the south), a square or cylindrical rice cake filled with mung bean paste, marinated pork, and pork fat, wrapped in banana leaves and boiled to perfection. According to legend, a humble prince of the Hung dynasty created these cakes to honor his ancestors, leading to their enduring association with Tet celebrations.

With its blend of tradition, family bonding, and hopes for prosperity, Tet remains the most cherished holiday in Vietnam, bringing the entire nation together in joyful celebration.