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

Let's discover the best beaches in Vietnam

1. Mui Ne beach resort

Mui Ne is a Vietnamese beach resort set along the beautiful long white sand beach is best known for its excellent conditions for windsurfing and kiteboarding. This tropical beach resort area is the sunniest place in Vietnam, perfect for beach holidays, and also hosts local market and shops as well as high sand dunes and nearby historical sites.

2. Con Dao beach 

Con Dao archipelago consists a chain of 15 islands in which Con Son is the main with some charming beaches that very peaceful and tranquil. Some can be reached on foot, but the better locations will be involved by a long hike or taking motorbike. Even though there are more and more daily direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City, the archipelago is still somehow rather isolated and, as a result, its beaches are keeping virgin and untouched. The main island also offers some of qualified accommodations such as in Saigon-Con Dao hotel and special restaurants with delicious seafood that enable any comfortable visit of traveler.

3. Phu Quoc island

Phu Quoc is a stunningly beautiful island in the far south of Vietnam, the country's largest. 99 forested mountains dominate the northern part of the island while the southern part is better known for its beaches.
The Vietnamese government has big plans for tourism on the island, a new airport is planned and many larger resorts will be opening over the next few years. Many consider it paradise with aquamarine water, idyllic beaches, romantic sunsets and a serene island-style atmosphere.

4. Lang Co beach

With its 10 km in length, Lang Co beach bordered a section of the 1A National Highway, nearly Hai Van pass, and 24 km from Bach Ma area. With its gradually slopping, white sand beach, the average depth of under 1m and the average temperature in the bathing season of 25°C, Lang Co is an ideal beach for tourists.

5. My Khe beach

My Khe Beach is recognised as one of the most ideal beach of Da Nang City, international tourists came here for convalescence and relaxation... It is an ideal and huge beach with smooth sand and a slight slope. Behind the beach is a dark green poplar forest, and beside, the Kinh River carries crystal water to the sea. The beach has coral, abundant plants and creatures along bankside and under sea. Especially, the beach is next to the city centre, in roads easy to come and by various means of transport.

Beautiful Vietnamese girls

These are some beautiful girl photos I collected :)

Source: collection