While the Western world celebrated the new year on January 1, for some cultures, the new year has yet to begin.
In Vietnam, people celebrate the new year with a festival called Tết.
People in Vietnam and Vietnamese people around the world will celebrate the lunar new year with a festival that focuses on family, food and welcoming in good luck for the year to come.
And although it falls on the same day, Tết differs from the Chinese New Year as Vietnam has its own zodiac and set of new year beliefs and traditions.
What is Tết?
Tết, short for Tết Nguyên Đán, is the Vietnamese celebration of lunar new year.
According to the Vietnamese zodiac, 2025 is the year of the wood snake.
The snake is known as a symbol of wisdom and cunning, and is associated with intelligence. According to Vietnam Travel Group, those born in the year of the snake are thought to be intuitive and wise.
“They tend to approach life with caution and careful planning, making them skilled at overcoming obstacles,” the site reads. “However, snakes can also be seen as secretive or elusive, preferring to keep their true thoughts hidden from others.”
Recent years of the wood snake include 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977 and 1965.
When is Tết?
Like China, for example, Vietnam observes the lunar new year. This year, it falls on January 29, 2025.
In China, the lunar new year is celebrated with a festival called Chūnjié. In Korea, the festival is called Seollal.
How is Tết celebrated?
In Vietnam, people celebrate Tết by decorating their homes with kumquat trees, peach blossoms, chrysanthemums, orchids and red gladiolas, according to History.com.
They will also clean their homes before the festival to remove bad luck from the previous year.
Vietnamese families will eat five-fruit platters to honour their ancestors, as well as dishes called banh chung, gio, and xoi, and families will gift red envelopes containing money to their younger relatives.
Tết is also celebrated with parades, dances, and fireworks, as well as a lantern festival.
