Tết Nguyên Đán – The Most Important Traditional Festival of Vietnam

Tết Nguyên Đán, commonly referred to simply as Tết, is the largest and most important festival in Vietnamese culture. This holiday marks the transition from the old year to the new year according to the lunar calendar, typically occurring in late January or early February on the Gregorian calendar. Tết is not only a long holiday for people to rest and reunite with their families but also holds profound cultural and spiritual significance.

Preparations for Tết

Vietnamese people start preparing for Tết very early, usually from mid-December of the lunar calendar. Everyone cleans and decorates their homes, and shops for food and necessary items. Families often buy kumquat trees, peach blossoms, or apricot blossoms to decorate their houses, which symbolize luck and prosperity for the new year. Additionally, they make traditional treats like candied fruits, and prepare bánh chưng and bánh tét—essential dishes for the Tết feast.

Joining in the Festivities

To welcome the new year and host a “farewell party” for friends returning to their hometowns for Tết, the Department of Foreign Languages, with the support of the Board of Directors in Viendong, organized a meaningful club activity. Participants had the opportunity to decorate their own classrooms and engage in games designed for entertainment and to learn about traditional Tết culture, all while keeping the spirit of “having fun without neglecting responsibilities of studying.”