What isTết?
Tết (short for Tết Nguyên Đán) is the ‘Festival of the First Day’ and marks the end of the lunar calendar and the beginning of spring.

Where can I experience Tết?
Celebrations are particularly festive in Ho Chi Minh City, although it is observed all over the country.

Dates
Although the Vietnamese calendar is the same as our Gregorian calendar, some Vietnamese holidays are based on the lunar calendar. The festival begins on the 23rd day of the 12th month of the year, according to the lunar calendar, i.e. depending on the position of the moon. Officially festivities are supposed to go on for 3 days but in practice the festivities continue for much longer and locals tend to take at least a week off.

In 2010 the festival will happen around 8 Feb 2010 to 22 Feb 2010

What happens during Tết?
Public festivities such as processions, dragon dances, fireworks and flower parades are organised, but in the main it is a family celebration and is not marketed as a tourist event. Many families save up for the entire twelve months leading up to the official holiday to pay for the purchases they need to celebrate and often spend large amounts of money on food, flowers and firecrackers. They buy new clothes for new beginnings, houses are thoroughly cleaned and they visit their ancestors’ graves to spruce them up. People travel throughout the country to visit family members and eat festive meals, just like we do at Christmas.  The Vietnamese wil take to the streets and join crowds setting off firecrackers. These are meant to repel the evil spirit Na A, who is said to be frightened away by noise and bright lights, before the new year begins

Tết is also the time to forgive, cancel debts and put last year’s problems behind you, all in an effort for the coming year to be prosperous and free from bad luck. Tết is also a time for contemplation and worship. Hundreds of worshippers gather in prayer at the Buddhist pagodas carrying large votive candles to ensure good luck. Others go to meet fortune tellers, and for travellers it's a great time to observe the Mahayana Buddhist and Confuscious rituals that are an important part of Vietnamese life.

Temporary markets are set up all over the country, offering food, clothing, watermelon seeds and peach blossom branches are displayed a little like we display Christmas trees. Most decorations on display during the festival will be in the colours red and yellow, which are lucky in Vietnam, as they are in China. You may have the chance to try Banh Trung, a glutinous rice cake boiled for hours in a banana leaf is the most popular food eaten during Tết. Originating from the north, many families. It’s an important tradition during the festival but it is definitely an acquired taste. You’ll probably see weddings taking place in the weeks leading up to Tết, as it is believed that this brings the couple good luck and fortune.

What will it be like travelling in Vietnam during the Tết Festival?
The entire country stops to mark the event and the cities will be largely deserted as residents head to the countryside to visit relatives. Most businesses will close, including restaurants and tailors, and a lot of the daily activites will be suspended. Trains will be full or cancelled and we will use replacement coaches during this period.