The Vietnamese New Year celebrations last for seven days. The first morning of the first day of the New Year is known as Tet. This particular day is so sacred to the Vietnamese that with the arrival of Spring Vietnamese throughout the world are all excited and are eager to visit their motherland to experience the festival atmosphere.
In preparation for the New Year, people clean and paint their houses and buy new clothes. During the mid night of the New Year’s Eve, a special ceremony known as Le Tru Tich takes place. The rituals of the ceremony involve the lighting of firecrackers and playing gongs and other instruments. These acts are carried out to welcome the new after ushering out the old.
Vietnamese people believe that what they do on the first day of the New Year directly affects the amount of luck they receive throughout the year. Homes are decorated with a yellow blossom known as Hoa Mai which is said to represent spring.
Each Vietnamese family plants a New Year’s tree called Cay Neu facing their homes during Tet. However, all of the tree’s leaves are removed so that the tree can be covered in red paper which is believed to represent good luck. The tree is taken down on the last day of the Tet season. Besides this, other main Tet rituals include paying homage to the Kitchen God, exchanging gifts with family members and ancestral worshipping. Families also visit temples to pray for good health and prosperity.
Overall, Tet also involves several original practices with entertainment and customs that feature distinct Vietnamese characteristics. Regardless of Tet being a national holiday, each religion and region in the country has its own set of customs.
Those who are planning to visit the country during the Tet season are in for an experience to remember. When selecting a resort in Mui Ne, an option to consider is Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa. A haven of comfort and elegance, it is an exceptional Vietnam hotel. With attentive service and an ideal location, the hotel proves to be the ideal choice of accommodation for those visiting the nation.
