Where is the best place to celebrate the New Year in Vietnam? Vietnamese new year with a child or a fairy tale about tet nguyen dan

Vietnam celebrates the New Year according to the lunar calendar. It bears the name Tet (Tet) and is celebrated on the first day of the first lunar month in the first season of the new year. The date of the new year according to the eastern calendar moves from year to year between January 20 and February 20.

According to the established tradition, the New Year according to the lunar calendar is called chinese new year. This is not surprising, because the customs and culture in the countries of East Asia came from China.

In the North of Vietnam, on New Year's Eve, it is customary to install a blossoming peach branch in dwellings or decorate with tangerine trees hung with orange fruits, symbolizing prosperity.

At this time, peach and apricot trees, tangerines and almonds are just blooming. Young flowering branches and simply bouquets of flowers adorn the streets of Vietnam for the New Year.

In the south of Vietnam, it is customary to decorate houses on Tet blossoming apricot branch, moreover, apricot flowers must necessarily have five petals. Along with this, it is customary for southerners to put watermelons on the altar, the red sweet pulp of which is a symbol of good luck in the coming year.

Regardless of their personal material wealth, before the New Year, the Vietnamese try to buy food, fruits, flowers, sweets in order to prepare for the traditional ritual, that is, to make a sacrifice on the altar of the ancestors, as well as to treat relatives and guests for three holidays.

In the evening, on New Year's Eve, in Vietnam there are mass dancing dragon A. The most colorful processions and spectacular shows take place after dark. At night, bonfires are lit in parks, gardens or on the streets, and several families gather around the bonfires.

Chinese New Year in Vietnam is traditionally cooked specialty rice treats. In the northern part of the country - these are pork legs with bamboo sprouts, meat jelly, carp in salty sauce. In the south, pork in a pot boiled in salted coconut milk, while the whole pork is boiled in coconut milk, with skin, fat and lean parts. In the finished dish, the fatty part looks transparent, and the lean part looks bright red, with the taste of coconut milk. The festive menu of southerners also includes pickled green pea sprouts with leeks, carrot slices, turnips, bitter melon stuffed with meat. The inhabitants of this country believe that bitter melon has antipyretic properties, is very nutritious and cures many diseases.

Everywhere a traditional dish is considered banh chung square cake, which is one of the most popular Vietnamese dishes. It is made from rice with pork, green peas and pickled onions wrapped in bamboo leaves.

New Year in Vietnam is a family holiday. At night, children and grandchildren usually congratulate their grandparents, parents and wish them longevity, good health and prosperity. Then it is the turn of adults to congratulate the children, it is customary for them to give money for happiness. The money must be new, bills or coins, and packed in new red paper or fabric bags with a red bow.

On the next day of the New Year, a traditional Tet Festival. According to Vietnamese tradition, the first guest of the New Year in the house gives this house his good luck. The guest also gives money and receives from the hosts. It is not customary to give dollars and large bills. They also believe that it is better to start the first day of the New Year early. In the morning everyone goes to the temple where the Vietnamese eat Ban Chung.

In Vietnam, there is a custom that Vietnamese women in Tet wear red and yellow clothes, while men wear all black.

In mountainous areas where national minorities live, there are slightly different traditions, ceremonies and rituals.

During Tet in Buddhist temples, the monks themselves give money to the parishioners. Money is also placed in small red bags. This is supposedly a gift of well-being from the Buddha, from God, for good luck.

In the most recent years, the tradition of meeting Tet at home has certainly become a thing of the past. Many Vietnamese go at this time to travel to other lands, including abroad.

New Year in Vietnam is celebrated according to the lunar calendar. In 2017, local residents will celebrate this holiday on January 28. Tet is the Vietnamese New Year, usually celebrated on the first day of the first season of the lunar first month. Every year this holiday falls on one of the dates of the period from January 20 to February 20. This tradition came to Vietnam from China, so the main holiday of the year is rightfully called the Chinese New Year.

Local Customs for New Year's Eve

Vietnam in January 2017 is conditionally divided into residents of the south of the country and residents of the north. The former will decorate tangerine and peach branches, which are a symbol of fertility and prosperity. You will find the streets of the north decorated with branches from apricot or peach trees. In January, these crops bloom, and the cities of the north look truly luxurious.

The inhabitants of the south always decorate their houses with an apricot branch, with the condition that the apricot flowers must have exactly 5 petals. According to legend, following this tradition will bring happiness and prosperity to the family.

A few more Chinese New Year traditions in Vietnam:

  • mass processions and dragon dances take place in all parts of Vietnam. Residents dress up as colored dragons and fly kites into the sky;
  • families of different incomes traditionally bring many fruits, flowers and various products to the altar of their ancestors;
  • Chinese New Year is a family holiday, just like in Russia. Therefore, in the evenings, people gather around one big fire with several families at once and tell a friend about their wishes for the next year or local legends.

Best Vietnam Hotels for New Year 2017

  1. Vinperl Resort Nha Trang in Nha Trang. A hotel with a 5-star service level always provides for its guests a New Year's program. It is located on the most picturesque island, where guests are delivered by speedboat. It is hard to imagine entertainment that local management would not provide its guests with: diving and many other types of water activities, horseback riding, shooting from various types of weapons, saunas, jacuzzis, bars, restaurants and much more.

The average cost of a double room is 5600 rubles per day.

  1. Hotels "Bamboo Village Beach Resort & Spa" in Mui Ne Bay, 4 stars. A luxurious place on the shores of a sandy bay is especially loved by Russian tourists. This is the best place if you prefer to celebrate this holiday quietly and calmly in a small family circle. Separately, it is worth noting the local gardens, walking through which, you can lose track of time.

The average cost of a double room is 4650 rubles per day.

  1. Hotel "Dynasty Mui Ne Beach Resort" in Mui Ne, 3 stars. The best choice for those who are planning an economical, but no less worthy vacation. On this territory there are health and SPA centers, an outdoor pool, banquet halls, restaurants and much more. The hotel is located 10 minutes walk from a small clean bay.

The average cost of a double room is 2300 per day.

The best restaurants with local cuisine for New Year's Eve 2017

Prices for the New Year in Vietnam 2017 do not differ much from those set by the owners of different establishments throughout the year. All the restaurants listed below are best booked in advance.

  1. Restaurant "Kiti Restaurant" is an inexpensive and cozy place with a large assortment of dishes and desserts of local cuisine. The predominant ingredients here are rice and vegetables. The average check for lunch for two is 1050 rubles.
  2. Restaurant "Koto" is another good and unique institution of its kind. It is known for the fact that the owner of a local restaurant hires difficult teenagers and people of those social categories who are not provided with work by other employers. The concept of local cuisine is healthy food, with a minimum fat content. There is also a separate menu for vegetarians. The average check for lunch for two is 1200 rubles.
  3. Jin-Emon Heritage Restaurant. One of the best inexpensive establishments, furnished in a simple Japanese style. You can choose a table both directly in the restaurant and in a small garden located on the adjacent territory. The garden is decorated with a small fountain, which especially creates a warm, homely atmosphere.


The most affordable tours to Vietnam 2017

It is better to book tours to Vietnam for the New Year 2017 in advance, due to the fact that travel agencies rarely offer them in a wide range.

  1. Tour to Nha Trang. The cost of the tour for one person is from 63,000 rubles for 6 days, 7 nights. It includes accommodation, three meals a day under the All Inclusive program, rest at mud springs, as well as round-trip flights. The choice of hotel for accommodation is provided to the client.
  2. Tour to Fonthiet. The cost of the tour for this person is 7 days, 8 nights - from 75,000 rubles. The choice of hotel provides the client. Most often, travel agencies offer a choice of 5 to 10 different hotels. The price of the tour includes a round-trip flight, accommodation, three meals a day, access to the pool (gym, SPA or other services). The price also includes one pre-booked excursion.

Every year Vietnam becomes more and more popular among Russian lovers of foreign holidays. The country still remains one of the most budgetary places in the Asian direction and is famous for its good resort weather almost all year round. In addition, the tourism industry itself is developing, aimed at actively attracting travelers from all over the world, especially on the days when New Year is celebrated in Vietnam. In order to plan your trip to an Asian country for 2019 in a timely manner, you need to prepare in advance and find out all the information necessary for a tourist.

Date of celebration

Despite the fact that Vietnam belongs to the representatives of Asian countries, the date of the celebration of the new year 2019 in it does not always coincide with the celebration in China. From 1975 to 2100, it will not cross four times. Then what date will be the Vietnamese New Year 2019?

It will begin in the same way as in all of Asia - on the night of February 4-5. The Fire Dog will be replaced by the Yellow Pig.

According to the eastern calendar, 2019 will be special. It closes the series of changes and upheavals, being the starting point for the start of the cycle of stability and constancy. The pig favors the creation of strong families, the birth of hardworking children and making good profits.

Differences between the Vietnamese New Year and the Beijing New Year

  • The name of the celebration. Here the New Year is called “Tet” or otherwise “Tet nguyen dan”, which in Russian sounds like “the first morning holiday”. It signifies the arrival of spring and is considered the most important celebration of the year.
  • Types of animal symbols. In the Vietnamese calendar, instead of "rabbit" there is "cat", and instead of "ox" - "buffalo".
  • National traditions. No Tet in Vietnam is complete without tangerines, kumquats and branches of peach and apricot trees. Shoots decorate houses, and fruits are presented in abundance on any festive table. The role of the Christmas tree from year to year is played by bamboo. Right in the courtyard of their houses, its trunk is decorated with red paper, symbolizing wealth and prosperity.

Features of the celebration

Tet is divided into three stages:

  • Tatnien. This is the initial period of the New Year in Vietnam, which lasts about two weeks. These days, the Vietnamese decorate their homes, buy gifts. It is believed that for future well-being, children should celebrate the New Year in new clothes, so parents hurriedly go shopping with them in search of beautiful new clothes. These days, home altars are cleaned and offerings are renewed.
  • Ziaothia. This is the last day before the New Year. Children dress up in purchased new clothes, greet their parents, and in return receive red envelopes with money as a present. In Giaotkhia it is customary to visit each other, but only by invitation. The Vietnamese try to be the first to call their successful friends and acquaintances, as it is believed that they will bring good luck in business for the whole year.
  • Tannin. It's the New Year itself. The beginning of the celebration of the celebration is symbolized by hundreds of colorful fireworks that are launched into the sky in all cities of Vietnam. Fireworks in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are considered especially colorful. The event is even televised live. The Vietnamese follow the raid of colorful volleys with their own eyes, after which they disperse to their homes and begin to celebrate at the family table.

Not a single feast on this night is complete without a national dish called banchung. This is a closed square pie, which includes rice, pork, pickled onions and green peas. All this filling is wrapped in bamboo leaves and cooked for more than a day.

The Vietnamese New Year 2019 celebrations will again be very noisy. Drums and bells will ring everywhere along the streets, fireworks will be fired and firecrackers will be blown up. All this is done not only for fun. The Vietnamese believe that noise scares away evil spirits. It will be impossible to ignore the lion dance. In fact, this mythical beast is named Lan and is a cross between a shaggy predator and a dragon.

It is impossible to describe all the riot of colors and the richness of solemn events. You can feel the national flavor and feel the full scale of the celebration of the New Year according to the Eastern calendar only by visiting one of the Asian countries, in particular, Vietnam.

Tet in Vietnam in 2018: video

New Year holidays, combined with a quality beach holiday, have not surprised anyone for a long time. Tours to hot countries, when frosts and snowstorms rule in Russia, are very popular among exotic lovers and not only among them.

In winter, we all often recall the events of the past summer with nostalgia, so why not take care of returning to sunny summer days in the coldest time of the year and celebrate the New Year in Vietnam, on the shores of the warm South China Sea, where a weak warm breeze blows, and juicy emerald greens delight the eye with impenetrable jungle.

Christmas in Vietnam

Residents of different regions of Vietnam are followers of many religious cultures, but they prefer to pray in Buddhist temples, which are very numerous in Vietnam, despite the very small number of followers of the Buddha's teachings themselves.

December is dedicated to preparing for Christmas, a holiday beloved by all Vietnamese without exception, regardless of their religion. They decorate their houses, buy gifts and treats, and on Christmas Eve, December 24, they set up a festive table, which usually features roast turkey, chicken soup, and Christmas rice dishes.

On the streets in every corner of the country, you can see Santa Claus with a traditional bag - in Vietnam, this character has been loved since the days of French colonization. The custom of putting shoes for gifts at the entrance was also borrowed from Europeans, but unlike the latter, on the morning of December 25, the holiday ends and everyone goes to work.

Tourists usually celebrate Christmas in hotels, where tangerine trees are decorated on this occasion and festive banquets are held with traditional Christmas dishes.

New Year in Vietnam - customs and traditions

New Year in Vietnam can be celebrated twice, if time permits. A date accepted all over the world with a luxurious feast, an abundance of delicious treats, wine and strong alcohol is celebrated for tourists. The Vietnamese themselves celebrate the New Year or Tet, as this holiday is usually called, according to the lunisolar calendar, which is slightly different from its Chinese lunar counterpart. There is no fixed date for the celebration.

In 2018 New Year in Vietnam starts on January 28. The Vietnamese New Year differs by one hour and, like in China, is celebrated according to the lunar calendar. Before the holiday, the streets and squares of cities and settlements, decorated with flowers and bright illumination, are completely transformed, festivals are held and fairs are held, where local residents buy food necessary for New Year's dishes, and a huge number of gifts.

In the house of every family there is an altar dedicated to the ancestors, which the Vietnamese people treat with great reverence. On the eve of Theta, the altar becomes the main shrine, which must be decorated and placed in front of it with a bowl of fruits, different in each region of the country: in the north - a banana, tangerine, peach, pomegranate, persimmon, etc., in the south - mango, pineapple , grapes, watermelon, coconut.

Following an ancient tradition, the Vietnamese celebrate the holiday at home, with their families. Even those who permanently live and work abroad try not to be late for the festive table, decorated with boiled banthyung rice cakes with mung beans, pork wrapped in banana leaves, fruits.

Particularly noteworthy are carnival processions, where sacred animals from the eastern calendar pass through the city in dance and singing to the music.

Traveling around Vietnam during the New Year holidays will be extremely diverse and rich in vivid impressions anywhere in the country. It lures curious tourists with its narrow streets and picturesque buildings of the historical center of Hanoi, and just 10 km from it lies the legendary Snake Village, whose inhabitants have been trapping and breeding snakes for almost 1000 years from generation to generation.

Slowly carries its waters through the ancient Hue and the central regions of Vietnam Fragrant Huong River. On the banks of the fragrant calamus root and flowering gardens of the main artery of the country, there are many attractions, including the Royal Palace in Hue with the Purple Forbidden City, the Imperial Tombs, the Pagoda of the Heavenly Woman Tien Mu.

Vietnam is famous for its magnificent beaches, beautiful bays, picturesque islands randomly scattered in the waters of the South China Sea.

Vietnam is not the most sought-after tourist destination, which has not yet received a decent rating. Tours to Vietnam at any time of the year are expensive, therefore, according to experienced tourists, independent travel to this country, whose picturesque landscapes leave no one indifferent, has many advantages.

The locals are friendly and responsive, the prices for food and consumer goods are pleasing with their availability, thanks to the efforts of the Vietnamese law enforcement agencies, the country has a rather low crime rate.

True, tourists often run the risk of being robbed, but this is the biggest trouble that can be easily avoided if you follow certain safety rules that are common anywhere in the world - do not carry large sums of money with you, do not demonstrate your well-being to everyone around you, do not leave in room and in any other place of residence bank cards, cash, jewelry. As for jewelry, it is generally better to leave them at home, it is unlikely that a pathos event will happen in Vietnam to demonstrate them.

The national currency of Vietnam is dong. In tourist centers, it will not be difficult to find ATMs where you can get cash in rubles or dollars, and then exchange them for dongs at the current rate. The Vietnamese treat the euro with distrust. Experienced travelers claim that the most reliable exchange points are jewelry stores.

Many people prefer to take cash with them, but in any case, you should make a rough plan of your expenses before the trip, including accommodation, meals, excursions, shopping, entertainment, health and beauty spa treatments. It is necessary to include in this list a small amount for unforeseen expenses - the countries of Southeast Asia are "famous" for all kinds of creeping, flying and biting animals, the treatment of bites of which will require some financial costs.

As a result, you can make sure that the most expensive tickets are those that are best booked long before the intended trip. If you plan to vacation in the northern regions of the country, you should buy tickets to Hanoi, in the south - to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon.

It is advantageous to fly with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul or take tickets for a flight to Bangkok, and from there fly to Vietnam.

Where to live?

Inexpensive and quite acceptable accommodation from local hosts can be found using sites like airbnb, you can also pre-book a room in a 2-3 * hotel - in Vietnam, stardom is often not an indicator of a high level of service. You can rent a room in a guest house or a whole villa with a pool on the seashore for the duration of your stay.

It should also be taken into account that Vietnam is especially attractive for tourists in December: wonderful weather sets in - dry, sunny, not hot, the high tourist season begins, when prices rise, and you won’t be able to save money by suddenly deciding to go on a trip.

Communication problem

A seemingly complex problem of communication can be solved with the help of mobile applications. With English in Vietnam, things are about the same as in Russia, that is, it doesn’t matter, although if you wish, you can explain even at the most primitive level, helping yourself with gestures, what exactly is required - the Vietnamese are patient and always ready to help.

In large tourist areas, part of the locals know Russian, in any case, if they do not speak, then they understand.

Vietnamese cuisine is a mixture of Eastern and European, in particular French, culinary traditions. Basically, local delicacies may not be to the taste of all Russians - the descendants of the Viet follow the old tradition of eating everything that flies, except for airplanes, everything that crawls, except for trains, everything that floats, except for ships.

Of course, no one will forcibly push fried dragonflies and rotten eggs into the mouth of a guest from a foreign country, but it should be noted that spicy fatty dishes predominate in snack bars, inexpensive restaurants or cafes, and besides, eating in such places is quite expensive every day.

The most economical, healthy and delicious way is to buy products from local markets and cook on your own, asking permission from your hosts. The cost of food can suddenly increase significantly if alcoholic beverages are included in the diet, so it is advisable to reduce your contact with the "green snake" to a minimum or completely abandon it. Although on New Year's and Christmas nights you can relax a little.

Traveling around the country is preferable by trains or intercity buses, which are inexpensive. The prices for air tickets of internal Vietnamese airlines are quite reasonable.

There are car rental agencies, but to use their services, you must have an international license or get a temporary Vietnamese license by passing a simple exam. Whether it is worth burdening yourself with such problems is up to each tourist to decide. In addition, such chaos reigns on the roads that it will not be possible to quickly get used to the local specifics.

It is impossible not to succumb to the charm of Vietnam, and having met the New Year in one of the most beautiful countries of the Indochina peninsula, no matter what calendar, you will definitely want to return there to see what you didn’t have enough time for. Have a good trip, wonderful impressions and a happy New Year to all travelers!

Tet(full title Tet Nguyen Dan ) is the Vietnamese New Year according to the lunar calendar and the lunisolar calendar, the most important and popular holiday in Vietnam.

Tet is considered the first day of spring, which is why the holiday is often called the “Spring Festival”.

It is celebrated on the first day of the first lunar month in the first season of the new year. The date of the new year according to the eastern calendar moves from year to year between January 20 and February 20.

Lunar New Year is often referred to as Chinese New Year. This is not surprising, because the traditions and culture in the countries of East Asia came from China.

Dates of the Vietnamese New Year according to the Eastern calendar for the coming years:

  • in 2012 - January 23;
  • in 2013 - February 10;
  • in 2014 - January 31;
  • in 2015 - February 19;
  • in 2016 - February 9;
  • in 2017 - January 28;
  • in 2018 - February 16;
  • in 2019 - February 5;
  • in 2020 - January 25th.

Vietnamese New Year customs

In the north of the country, a peach blossom branch is planted in the house on New Year's Eve or the house is decorated with tangerine trees hung with orange fruits, symbolizing prosperity.

During this period, peach and apricot trees, tangerines and almonds bloom. The streets are decorated with young flowering branches and simply bouquets of flowers.

In the south of the country, on Tet, they prefer to decorate their house with a blossoming apricot branch, moreover, apricot flowers should have five petals. In addition, the southerners put watermelons on the altar, the red sweet pulp of which symbolizes good luck in the coming year.

Regardless of the wealth of the family before the New Year, people try to buy food, fruits, flowers, sweets in order to prepare a sacrifice on the altar of their ancestors and treat relatives and guests during the three holidays.

In the evening, on New Year's Eve, massive dragon dances take place. The most magnificent processions and spectacular events are held at night. At dusk, bonfires are lit in parks, gardens or on the streets, and several families gather around the bonfires.

It is considered honorable to spend New Year's Eve in the company of a gray-haired man who is over 70 years old. As soon as the twelfth hour of the night has come - this time is called "Zyao Tkhia" (means "meeting of times") - children, grandchildren congratulate grandparents, parents on the New Year, wish longevity, good health and prosperity. Then adults congratulate children and give money for happiness. How much money doesn't matter. The most important thing is that the money is new (new banknotes or new coins). They must be packed in new red bags (either paper or fabric) with a red bow.

On subsequent holidays, adult relatives, friends, familiar families come to visit and can also give money for the well-being of children. The custom of giving money to children on New Year's Day is obligatory these days, and not a single New Year in Vietnam passes without observing this custom. According to tradition, the Vietnamese believe that giving children some money is like the beginning of “prasadam” in the New Year, so that this beginning is multiplied many times over.

In recent years, the tradition of meeting Tet only at home has become less unshakable than before, and many Vietnamese travel to other places, including abroad.

During Tet in Buddhist temples, the monks give the parishioners money, which they also put in small red bags. It's like a gift of well-being from the Buddha, from God. This is a gift for luck. A Vietnamese aphorism says: "A bit of well-being from the Buddha is equal to a whole big basket of earthly well-being."

The next day is usually the Tet festival. On the territory of the oldest temple in Indochina, Van Mieu, the most cheerful and fierce cockfights flare up. On the Lake of the Returned Sword in Hanoi, the water puppet theater gives performances - a unique folklore troupe, the only one in the world. In the historic center of Hanoi, on Hangluok Street, old people kindly offer long bamboo poles. They must be "planted" in front of the entrance to the house - they will block the way for evil spirits.

Vietnamese women in Tet wear red and yellow, while the men wear all black.

In mountainous areas where national minorities live, the celebration is slightly different.

Tet is also the festival of flowers. Driving to the flower markets is prohibited. And it would hardly occur to anyone to interfere in this way with a happy New Year's fuss. Matcha is considered the most festive flower - a sunny flower, or oriental "aster". And these flowers, says the folk wisdom of the East, should be as many as there are people on Earth.

New Year's dishes

Special delicacies from rice are prepared on coals. In the north of the country - these are pork legs with bamboo sprouts, meat jelly, carp in salty sauce. In the south, pork in a pot boiled in salted coconut milk, while the whole pork is boiled in coconut milk, with skin, fat and lean parts. In the finished dish, the fatty part looks transparent, and the lean part looks bright red and tastes like coconut milk. On the table of southerners there are also pickled green pea sprouts with leeks, slices of carrots, turnips, bitter melon stuffed with meat.

New Year dish in Vietnam- Banthyung rice cake. It is a square-shaped cake wrapped in banana leaves and tied with flexible bamboo twigs. Pieces of pork are sometimes added to the bean filling. This seasonal filling is sandwiched between two layers of glutinous rice. The square shape of the pie is considered a symbol of the Vietnamese's gratitude for the abundance of the land, which provides them with food four seasons a year.

Information sources:

  • en.wikipedia.org - Wikipedia: Tet;
  • calend.ru - project "Calendar of events": Tet - Vietnamese New Year;
  • vietnamnews.ru - New Year in Vietnam;