Tet in Vietnam: What to Expect as a Visitor

Tet is Vietnam’s Lunar New Year, and it is a family holiday for locals first and a tourist season second. Shops close, transport fills and prices rise on the busiest days. It suits flexible, culture-minded visitors well and tight short-leave trips poorly.

What is Tet, and when is it?

Tet is the Lunar New Year, and in 2027 it falls on 6 February¹. People usually return home to be with their families, and students usually get a one-week break³. The public holiday is 7 days, or 9 days if the first day of the lunar year falls Monday to Wednesday².

Tet is also one of Vietnam’s listed public holidays, alongside 1 January, the Hung Kings holiday, 30 April, 1 May, 2 September and 24 November⁴. Check the official schedule near the time, since the holiday is set each year.

What closes, and what costs more?

Because people go home, the cities empty out and the road and rail network fills up. Plan on these effects:

• Family-run shops and restaurants may close for days, so a food plan matters.
• Hotels and big venues tend to stay open, but with reduced menus or hours.
• Transport between cities is crowded around the days people leave and return.
• Prices for flights, rooms and some services rise on the busiest days.

We cannot give you a price for any of these, since prices change by season. Use the trip budget builder with live quotes, and price a non-Tet week next to it.

Who is Tet right for?

Tet rewards visitors who want atmosphere more than a full to-do list. Streets with flowers, red decorations and quieter lanes are the draw, especially in Hanoi and Hoi An.

It works for:

• culture-minded travellers who can bend the plan,
• families who like the festive mood and will eat at the hotel,
• anyone who can stay in one city and not move much.

It works poorly for short-leave travellers with a packed route, for seniors who need certain transport, and for anyone who wants a long list of attractions open.

How should you plan if you go?

Pick one base, book flights and rooms early, and confirm meals and tours with the hotel. Our Tet booking timeline gives the order to book in. If your reason is Chinese New Year leave from Malaysia, read what clashes between CNY and Tet.

Weigh it against a different month, too. Vietnam public holidays and their travel impact shows other dates that fill up. The seasons topic page links the rest.