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Tet Holiday in Hanoi is a special time for tourists to experience the capital in a different way — quieter, slower, and deeply traditional. The city shows its cultural richness and magnificent beauty as streets calm down, traffic fades away, and the gentle scent of incense drifts from temples. Let’s explore with Asia King Travel what to do during Tet Holiday in Hanoi.
According to the Lunar Calendar, 2026 is the Year of the Horse
First, it is helpful to understand what Tet is. Tet is a holiday that celebrates the Lunar New Year, with its origins in China. Today, several countries still keep the tradition of celebrating this festival, especially Vietnam and China.
In 2026, the first day of the Lunar New Year will be on February 17 according to the international calendar. The celebration isn't in one day, but includes many important events before and after Tet, such as Tet Ong Cong Ong Tao (the Kitchen Gods Festival) and New Year’s Eve.
Tet is a special time for Vietnamese families to reunite, welcome the new year together, and wish for peace and prosperity. It is also a moment to honor ancestors and show respect to the deities they worship.
Family members gather together to make chung cake
Hanoi is not only the capital of Vietnam but also its cultural centre. Here, you can experience culture in many forms, the Old Quarter with its historic streets, colonial architecture to some of the country’s oldest temples and its rich, flavorful cuisine.
Hanoi is also home to villages that preserve the traditional charm and cultural identity of Northern Vietnam. Among them, traditional craft villages offer visitors a truly immersive way to explore local heritage and everyday life.
If you are lucky enough to have a Hanoi tour during Tet Holiday, you will enjoy experiences unlike any you have had before. Let’s explore what makes these moments so special.
The Old Quarter of Hanoi may feel familiar to travelers who already love the city, but during Tet Holiday in Hanoi, it tells a very different story. The festive atmosphere spreads throughout the streets, and you can truly feel it while strolling around. Hang Ma Street is one of the most famous places to visit, where locals decorate the street seasonally, and during Tet, it becomes especially colorful and lively.
Hang Ma street is famous street in every big holiday
Visitors can explore local markets such as Dong Xuan Market, where colorful flowers fill the streets. These flowers are bought to decorate homes for Tet like peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, lilies, and also kumquat trees.
Life seems to slow down, locals clean their houses, tidy their yards, and prepare furniture for the New Year. Vietnamese people believe that a clean home helps welcome good luck and prosperity, which is why Tet is sometimes called the “house-cleaning festival.”
People clean and decorate the house to wellcome Tet and good luck
The Old Quarter is also one of the best places to experience New Year’s Eve fireworks. Counting down with locals, watching the fireworks light up the sky, and wishing for a better year ahead is a truly unforgettable moment.
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Visiting temples in the first day of New Year is an important tradition for Vietnamese people. They light incense and pray to the gods for health, peace, and good fortune. During Tet Holiday in Hanoi, temples are often crowded and filled with the scent of incense, which creats a very spiritual atmosphere.
You can buy some incense sticks and pray like the locals to experience this special feeling. Before visiting a temple, it is important to dress respectfully and avoid revealing clothing. Long pants and a jacket are recommended, especially as the weather during Tet can be quite cool. Some famous temples in Hanoi include Tran Quoc Pagoda by West Lake and Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake.
Locals burn ncense and bow to the gods for a better new year
Food is a must-try of Tet Holiday in Hanoi. Banh chung (Vietnamese sticky rice cake) is one of the most meaningful symbols of Tet. It is believed that a well-made banh chung, filled with fatty pork and red savory cake filling, brings good luck and prosperity to the family in the new year.
In addition, there are dishes that appear only during Tet, such as pickled onions and jellied pork (thit dong). Local families also prepare dishes like braised pork, sticky rice, and other traditional foods for the year-end reunion meal, when family members gather together to welcome the New Year.
Sticky rice cakes with lots of meat filling are believed to bring good luck
Water puppetry is a unique traditional Vietnamese performance art in which wooden puppets are skillfully controlled on a water stage. The show retells folk tales and legends, often carrying moral messages and reflecting traditional values.
These shows, which held during Tet Holiday in Hanoi are especially enjoyable for visitors who wish to learn more about Hanoi’s culture, offering deeper insight into the city’s history, traditions, and everyday life.
Some suggested Water Puppet Theatre
Water puppet show is definitely an experience you can't miss
During Tet Holiday in Hanoi, traditional craft villages are must-visit destinations if you want a more complete understanding of Tet culture.Some famous villages such as Dong Ho painting village, Bat Trang pottery village, and Van Phuc silk village each carry long-standing cultural values and celebrate Tet in their own unique ways.
Visiting these villages during Tet Holiday in Hanoi allows you to feel the festive atmosphere through daily lives of locals. It is also a great opportunity to learn more about traditional handicrafts, meet local artisans, and gain authentic experiences on Hanoi’s Tet traditions.
A family learn how to make ceramics
Final words
Tet Holiday in Hanoi is truly an experience can not be missed for your Vietnam tour. Through unique Tet traditions and cultural activities, you will have a meaningful view into how Vietnamese people celebrate the New Year.
If you are planning a trip to Vietnam, contact Asia King Travel, your trusted local travel agency in Southeast Asia, and let us accompany you throughout your Vietnam cultural tour..
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