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 Vietnam
has many traditional and religious holidays but none can be compared to New
Year festival, Tet Nguyen-Dan or, in short, Tet, which may fall in late
January or early February.
Vietnamese believe the first day and the first week of the new year will
determine the fortunes or misfortunes for the rest of the year. It is a time
to pay debts, forgive others, correct one's faults, and start the new year
with a clean slate. During Tet, all actions should be pure and beautiful as
the attitude of the first few days of the new year sets the tone for the
remainder of the year. During the Tet festival, all stores are closed and
businesses are interrupted for at least 3 days.
The first signs of the impending holiday show up a month before Tet. Workmen
start building stalls near the markets to sell holiday items such as New
Year's greeting cards, candied fruits and decorations. Prices for everything
begin to rise. Houses and buildings get a coat of new paint. People buy new clothes,
exchange greeting cards, wish each other Happy New Year (Chuc Mung Nam Moi).
It is auspicious if the branches bloom on the first morning of Tet: apricot
blossoms are reputed to keep demons out of the homes at this time. The ideal
is to have the flowers bloom just at Tet, so much care is given in picking
just the right braches. Some families buy entire apricot trees and decorate
them with greeting cards from well-wishers. Families also paste up strips of
red paper, cau doi, with sayings of wealth, happiness, prosperity, and
longevity; They also buy fruits with names reminding them of their wishes for the
coming year. A bamboo pole, (New Year's Tree, Cây Nêu) stripped of its
leaves except for a tuft on top, is planted at the front yard to drive evils
away. Families gather together making the traditional Banh Chung, the cake of sticky
rice, and fruit candies (Mut). Traditionally, no cooking is done during the
three day holiday, so all food must be prepared beforehand.
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