Customs of Tet

For centuries, Lunar New Year, or Tet, also known as The Festival, is the largest traditional festival, the oldest, which has the widest range of popular, from Nam Quan to Ca Mau and the islands, as well as the most jubilant and bustle Festival of Vietnam. Lunar New Year is the first step and the most important festival in Vietnam festival system, that both the "ceremony" and the "festival" are very rich in content as well as all forms, brings a profound and intensive human values. Tet has played significant role in each Vietnamese’s life is not only because it is the occasion when people gather together, but also it is where traditional and invaluable customs stored, remained and passed from generations to generations.

1. Kitchen Gods Worshiping
From December 23rd in Lunar calendar, Vietnamese families has cleaned their kitchen to worship Kitchen Gods. This traditional ritual requires goldfish for the Gods to ride heaven, hoping they would report to Ngoc Hoang (the Greatest God) good things because according to folk notions this is the day Ngoc Hoang will punish or reward homeowners based on what the Kitchen Gods report to him.

2. Banh Chung (Chung Cake).
Banh Chung is a traditional dish of the Vietnamese that has existed along with the history. Right from the days 28, 29 of Tet, Vietnam families usually make Chung cakes as gifts for each other in the Holiday and to enjoy Tet. Making Chung Cake is one way to remember the ancestors, parents and reminiscent of the story of King Hung cocoon pro-code for a long time.

3. Tet Flowers
In Tet, Vietnamese people often buy flowers symbolizing for good lucks, namely peach, apricot, kumquat…to dispel evil spirits, simultaneously pray for a happy new year, happiness, prosperous and fulfilling for family.

4. Five-fruit Tray.
Fruit tray presentation is also a custom indispensable in Tet of Vietnamese families. Fruit tray symbolizing for 5 elements of the universe (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth) with the concept of Confucianism with deep common sense, associated with the desired dutiful and good things will to the new year.

5. Greet ancestors’ lemurs.
Before New year Eve, Vietnamese people often prepare fruits, a feast offerings to offer to grandparents, in memory of the ancestors, origins, together review the memories of the old year, and wish for the coming new year.

6. Buds picking.
Buds picked in early spring is a beauty in the traditional New Year's Day in Vietnam. The people of Vietnam are picking buds on the eve or morning to demand the first of a new year is always lucky and fullness, bringing fortune to the hosts of the house.

7. First foot
To first foot is a very important tradition of the people of Vietnam for their concept that who will be the first caller determining the new year would be happy, thriving or unlucky. Therefore, the hosts often invite people whose ages is believed “fit” the hosts’ because they believe that he will bring good luck, good omen throughout the year. The first caller must dress formally, then have to go all around the house for hoping luck will always be filled.

8. Wishes
On the first day of Lunar New Year, the Vietnamese is customary to visit relatives, friends and acquaintances to give wishes. The most common wishes in Tet are Health, Happiness, Luck & Prosperity.

9. Lucky Money
During Tet, Vietnamese people have the custom of presenting Lucky Money to children. Money would be put on red envelops symbolizing for luck, reunion, happy wishes for the New Year will come.

10. Expel former – greet new offers
The last day of the year, the Vietnamese have a tradition of sweeping, cleaning house, go shopping for furniture, new clothes. Adult offspring also give advises in which in the moment of transfer people should not quarrel, do not punish or make mistakes. Who has a dislike to each other also should throw them away, just celebrate together in what is good and lucky in the moments of New Year.

11. Depart
In the first day of the year, Vietnamese often choose nice time to depart with the hope that the coming year will be full of luck every time they step out of the house.

12. Visiting ancestral graves.
Children and grandchildren often visit ancestral graves from about 23 to 30 December in Lunar Calendar. They repair, clean their ancestors’ graves to express filial piety, simultaneously to invite ancestor’s spirits join the descendants.

13. Pen Declaration
First day of spring, children will write down the first word of the year, hang on calligraphy pictures for good luck and hope good things to happen in the new year.

Where to go in Vietnam Independence Day

Independence Day in Vietnam, like what of any other nations in the world, is one of the most important celebrations of the country in year. In this vacation, native residents have different ways to celebrate their vacation in different regions along the country.

Vietnam Independence Day - not simply national holiday

Nation's Holiday is not only an occasion for local residents, but also for foreigners, visitors grasping their chance to explore different cultural activities. While many of people make the use of their vacation time to famous tourist destinations in coastal areas, big cities, etc., some choose them peaceful, adventurous and authentic experiences in mountainous regions in the North of Vietnam.

For the time happens Independence Day is also the best time to witness the most stunning and beautiful scenes in mountainous regions of Vietnam, it is noteworthy to arrange a trip up there.

Colorful local market in Independence Festival in Moc Chau

The first most appealing destination to visit is Moc Chau, as Nation Independence Day is also the Independence Festival of the Mong ethnic group inhabiting here. For the Mong living in Moc Chau, the day President Ho Chi Minh announced the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square was also the day marking their freedom. Annually, Mong ethnic group in Moc Chau celebrate their Independence Day as their biggest event in year with various distinctive cultural activities. From famous Love Fair, to games, performances as well as colorful local markets selling local specialties, visitors will find their spirits be animated  in the highest senses.

Stunning rice terraces in Mu Cang Chai during September

Another destination travelers can not over look is definitely Mu Cang Chai, as September is also the most beautiful time in year in this region. September in Mu Cang Chai is not only when the local harvest
ceremony happens with a lot of fascinating activities, but also when visitors can witness the most stunning, magical and majestic scenes of immense rice terraces. Going up there this time, travelers will have chance to attend many activities of the Festival, as well as to contemplate poetic views of the fields being close to be harvested. 

Ha Giang is the third considerable place to visit this season. Like other Northern regions of Vietnam, Ha Giang still keep its intact state in both natural beauty as well as local cultures. In September, Ha Giang is the destination which will take your breath away by its magical scenes of hill-side fields, and especially its unique magical flower named Tam giac mach. As Tam giac mach flower plays significant role not only in tourism but also in the region's economy, there occurs annually a Festival of its name in Ha Giang that attracts a large number of visitors. There will be a variety of excellent art programs travelers can enjoy, or take a look at the products from Tam giac mach flowers and watch street folk performances, colorful ethnic costumes of Ha Giang...

Tam giac mach Flower - what creates Ha Giang

And travelers also can not pass Sapa without stopping by this scenic region. Sapa must not be unfamiliar to travelers who already have known about Vietnam or ones are planning to have a trip here. September is believed the best time to visit Sapa as the weather is not too cold but cool, fresh and airy. Up there, visitors will experience what is the most  wonderful of the highland nature, simultaneously experience authentic cultural livings of the ethnic minorities with distinctive lifestyles. September is also the best time for trekking in Sapa, which will surely bring adventurous travelers with memorable moments in their journey.

September is the best time for trekking in Sapa, Vietnam

However, for this time is very ideal to travel, these destinations also have to face common problem of being crowded. As a result, visitors coming to these places will find it quite hard in managing for accommodation. Solution suggested for accommodation is staying with local people in homestays.

Inviting homestay for authentic and fantastic experiences

In Moc Chau, visitors can find several homestays lying among immense green tea fields with very affordable prices such as Homestay Moc Chau, Mr. Tuan Ha Homestay,...

In Mu Cang Chai there are several nice homestays can be found such as Mr. Sanh Homestay, Mr. Em Homestay, Tong Van Don Homestay, Lo Van Doi Homestay… They are all large Thai traditional stilt houses accommodated to many people. The hosts are also very friendly, plain and hospitable.

Ha Giang is where travelers can experience interactive travel in Dzao ethnic group's homestay with Ly Dai Duyen Homestay and Ly Quoc Thang Homestay whose hosts are really plain, friendly and hospitable.

For Sapa is so popular in authentic tourism, there are a large deal of choices for homestay can be found here. The most well-known homestay is May Kieu Homestay where visitors would not only witness local livings, but also can truly engage in. That are what travelers can also find when staying in Black H'mong Homestay. Other ideal homestays in Sapa are Sapa Musician House, or Sapa Cloudy 

Fabulous Mu Cang Chai, Vietnam

Mu Cang Chai is the region located in the Northeastern of Vietnam (Yen Bai Province). This is one rural area suffered by the poor, but now has emerged as one of the most famous tourist destinations of Vietnam.
Mu Cang Chai is the home of many minority groups of what H'Mong is the major. The H'Mong make their lives among rice and corn cultivation, build wooden houses and guard boxes spotted between the terrace fields, bring the place with gorgeous poetic  scenery. In Mu Cang Chai, there are splendid rice terrace fields creating amazing landscapes stretching down the mountain sides. The magical view will take your breath away for the time your eyes caught it.

The harvest season in mid September, also the only harvest of the year, is the most important event in Mu Cang Chai. The rice cultivation in Mu Cang Chai is different from other regions such as Red and Mekong Deltas. The locals built terraces alongside the slope of the hills. In April to May, those fields are flooded to prepare for the planting of seeds and wait for four months until the harvest.
Time
Mu Cang Chai is most crowded in the harvest time. In September to November, ripe rice fields with blending colors of yellow, green and black generates romantic and breathtaking scenery, which lies between superb mountain views of the Northern region.
Flooding time in April or May is also an ideal period to visit Mu Cang Chai. During this season, Mu Cang Chai wears a mysterious and obsessed coat, when rice terraces are full of water, making them look like huge mirrors.

Route
There are many routes for you to move from Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai, but the most common is along Highway 32, across the bridge Trung Ha, Thanh Son (Phu Tho), then through Nghia Lo town, Tu Le commune ( Van Chan district) of Yen Bai before crossing Khau Pha pass to to Mu Cang Chai. Travel time is about 7 hours. Since the Noi Bai - Lao Cai high way was operated, you can also run through this route to the city and to Nghia Lo, Yen Bai. Additionally, you can also go on the route of Noi Bai - Lao Cai, Sa Pa and up O Quy Ho Pass, then through Than Uyen and Tan Uyen, Lai Chau and to to Mu Cang Chai. You are recommended to pick one line on the way up and the other for the way back to get more experiences.

In Mu Cang Chai, most convenient way to travel is to rent motorbikes, with prices ranging from 100,000 VND to 200,000 VND per day depending on the time.
Attractions
On the road to Mu Cang Chai, visitors cannot ignore Tu Le commune, the Lim Mong village, Cao Pha fields, Khau Pha Pass ... and points having the most beautiful terraces such as La Pan Tan Commune, Che Cu Nha, Thai village, Triple Bridge House, the raspberries hill (from the center of Mu Cang Chai district, about 10 km). If traveling from Noi Bai - Lao Cai, go experience the feeling on O Quy Ho Pass, the scenery along the way through and Tan Uyen Uyen (Lai Chau)...

Stay
Visitors coming here can stay right in Mu Cang Chai, or Tu Le (40km far away), or Nghia Lo (100km away). While Nghia Lo is a busy place with many big hotels namely Nghia Lo, Western, Muong Lo... with price from 300.000-500.000VND/night, Mu Cang Chai and Tu Le have fewer options for accommodation with little hostels. If travelers come in peak season, they have to make the reservation long before arriving. Solution suggested for accommodation is staying with local people in homestays. In Mu Cang Chai there are several nice homestays can be found such as Mr. Sanh Homestay, Mr. Em Homestay, Tong Van Don Homestay, Lo Van Doi Homestay... They are all large Thai traditional stilt houses accommodated to many people. The hosts are also very friendly, plain and hospitable.