Culture & Tradition

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2013-12-13T04:14:28+00:00
Travel Tips

The Lunar New Year

T?t Nguyên ?án, literally the ‘Festival of the First Day’ is the Lunar New Year period in Vietnam. Lasting 4-5 days, the vast majority of people simply refer to it as ‘Tet’.

Steeped in myth, legend, ritual and tradition, Tet is a symbolic period of rebirth and renewal; of joy and merriment; a time for homecoming family reunions and fulfillment of filial piety duties. Houses are spring-cleaned and spruced up with a lick of paint or whitewash. Ancestral graves are cleaned and repaired. New clothes are purchased. Friends are visited with token gifts and warm wishes for a happy, healthy, prosperous and successful new year. Debts are repaid and outstanding matters are finalized in preparation for a fresh, new beginning for the coming year.

Vietnamese people enjoy a very close spiritual relationship with their ancestors. On New Year’s Eve, the head of the family will make offerings to the ancestors and invite them to return and join the family for Tet.

Tet Lunar New Year 2019: Feb 5 - Feb 7

Tet Lunar New Year 2020: Jan 25 - Jan 27

Read more at Wikipedia...

Ao Dai

Clothing of Vietnam is unique. One of the most popular Vietnamese traditional dress is the “Aó Dài” or “long tunic”, worn often for special occasions such as weddings or festivals.

Gastronomy

Cuisine of Vietnam is an integral part of its cultural heritage. Its cuisine is also influenced with practices of various religions and beliefs. The Vietnamese cuisine is often considered the richest food in the world.

Markets

In the Vietnamese countryside, there are three broad types of markets: a fair; an early morning market and an afternoon market. Rural towns will also usually have an all-day market. In the hamlets and villages, with available space always at a premium and for convenience sake, the early morning and afternoon markets may share the same location, differing only in the time of day and produce or goods purveyed. Most commonly, fresh produce in the morning and durable goods, household items, clothing, etc. in the afternoon.