Tet Holiday in Vietnam 2013 - Year of the Snake

Tet Holiday is the annual biggest celebration which hold on three first days of lunar new year in Vietnam. During these days, people welcome a new year coming with new successes, good health and luckiness. Tet is also the occasion for all members in each Vietnamese family to reunite and gather together after a hard working year. In the last day of year, the new year celebrated with a massive firework show. People often concentrate in the central area for watching the firework show at that time.

Ton Duc Thang Street, Ho Chi Minh City

Da Nang City

Vietnamese people also prepare many foods and drinks on these days. Here are some most typical foods in Tet Holiday.

Chung Cake (Bánh Chưng) is made from glutinous rice, mung bean and pork, added with many ingredients. Chung Cake is often covered by banana leaves and it is chosen the main food for Tet Holiday.

Chung Cake (Bánh Chưng)

Vietnamese ham/sausage (Chả Lụa). Cha Lua is usually served with Xoi (sticky rice) and Banh Chung. It is made form lean meat and ingredients, added a little fish sauce, covered by green leaves and boiled for hours.

Red Sticky Rice made by Gac fruit (Xôi Gấc). Xoi Gac is favorite by most people in Tet days because its special red color. It was believed that red symbolizes the luck and successes for a new year. Not only its color is special but its taste is also very delicious. Xoi Gac is often served with Cha Lua and boiled chicken in Tet meals. Sometimes it is also chosen serving with Che (sweet soup) like a desert.

Boiled Chicken (Thịt Gà) is served with Xoi and Banh Chung and it is also one of the most popular dishes in Vietnamese families in Tet Holiday.

Braised pork in coconut juice and duck eggs (Thịt kho trứng). It is ideally served with steamed rice and vegetables (fresh or pickled).

Candied fruits (Mứt tết). It is great to serve with jasmine tea. Mut Tet is prepared in a box to give visitors, gift for friends and family, offer to ancestors in Tet days.

As the habits and customs, people often visit their relatives or neighbors to wish them luckiness, health, happiness and successes in the first days of the new year. The children will get lucky money form the adults.

Apricot blossom

Peach blossom

Dragon and Lion Dancers on the street in Tet Holiday

Dancing

During the first days of New Year, Vietnamese people do things that are supposed to be good for themselves and their loved ones such as wearing red clothes, buying salt, taking chance or praying... and avoid saying taboos (related to death, breaking...). Each region in Vietnam has its own customs to celebrate Tet, which is very special and unique.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Source: collection