Tet
The Vietnamese Lunar New Year, and what it means for a trip from Malaysia.
Tet is the Vietnamese Lunar New Year and the country’s biggest holiday. Families gather, homes are cleaned and decorated, and many businesses pause. For a visitor, it is a planning date as much as a festival.
When is Tet, and how long is the break?
Tet 2027 falls on 6 February 20271. The public holiday is 7 days, or 9 days when the first day of the lunar year falls Monday to Wednesday2. Confirm the final dates with the official decree.
How does it change a trip?
People usually return home to be with their families, and students usually get a one-week break3. Cities can feel quiet, local shops and restaurants may close, and transport fills up. Book early and keep the plan flexible.
Use the itinerary travel-day checker to see whether your transfer days land on the busiest dates, and the weather guide for the season.
What is a good tip?
Check Vietnam’s holiday dates against your own leave days. Prices change by season, so use the trip budget builder with current quotes. If the dates feel tight, a trip a few weeks later is calmer.
Which related terms will you see?
- Banh chung: a sticky rice cake eaten at Tet.
- Li xi: red envelopes with money.
- Hoa dao and hoa mai: peach and apricot blossom, seen in homes.
More guidance sits in Food and daily travel.
If your leave falls near Tet, tell us your dates and who is travelling, and we will help you decide whether to shift the trip or plan around the closures.
Common questions
When is Tet in 2027?
Tet falls on 6 February 2027 according to the fact bank we use, but the official holiday schedule is set by the government each year. Check the decree when it is published before you book flights or hotels, and compare it with your own leave days.
Is Tet a good time to visit as a tourist?
It is a lively cultural time, but a hard one to plan. Families travel home, many local shops and restaurants close, and transport is busy. If you go, book early, expect a slower pace and accept that some places will be shut.
Is Tet the same as Chinese New Year?
The dates follow the same lunar calendar, so they are close, but the customs differ. Vietnam has its own food, flowers and traditions. If your family celebrates Chinese New Year, the timing may feel familiar and the details new.
Sources
- Tet (Lunar New Year) 2027 falls on 6 February 2027. Wikipedia. Confirm against Vietnam's official holiday decree when published.
- The Tet public holiday is 7 days, or 9 days if the first day of the lunar year falls Monday to Wednesday; 2026's schedule was 14 to 22 February. Wikipedia. Exact 2027 schedule is set by government each year; check.
- During Tet people usually return home to be with their families, and students usually get a one-week break. Wikipedia
Keep planning
If your leave falls near Tet, tell us your dates and who is travelling, and we will help you decide whether to shift the trip or plan around the closures.