The New Year in Vietnam is a little different from most places. After the Vietnamese people were freed from the Chinese, they made their lunar-solar calendar, and the first lunar was celebrated as Tet Ngyuen Dan or TET. This brings them the arrival of spring. Most restaurants and other places are closed during Vietnamese New Year because the locals celebrate it for 3 days. But this doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors, as there are other events you can participate in and interact with the locals.
14 Best Experiences For New Year In Vietnam
If you are confused about how to celebrate the Vietnamese New Year, here are some things that you can do during that time.Take a look at the experiences that you can have as you participate in the celebrations of the New Year in Vietnam to make it the best one of your life!
1. Go For Countdown Parties
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There are a lot of great resorts, like Holiday Beach, Bamboo Bar, Furama, Pullman, etc., that offer parties for you and your friends and family. This is a great way to enjoy Vietnamese New Year party celebrations. You can enjoy whatever the resorts offer, such as great food, games, entertainment, and more. Apart from resorts, you can even visit 29/3 Square on 2/9th street for the biggest countdown party concert that starts at 9 pm and continues till midnight. If you even ask the hotel you are staying at, they might just have a party because it is New Year’s Eve, and some of the best places in Vietnam have kickass countdown parties.
Location: Vietnam
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2. Visit Ba Na Hills
There is an amusement park there, a great way to bring in the New Year in Vietnam, with different kinds of rides and entertainment. If you take a cable car and head higher, you will come across Sun World. You can get a great view of the Golden Bridge from there, and if you visit at night, it is even more beautiful and one of the most romantic places in Vietnam. Sun World has a temple and many famous tourist attractions, such as Buddha sculptures. It is a stone village with many gardens and displays plenty of architecture from the French colonialism period.
Location: Vietnam
3. Experience A Tet Festival
The best way to experience a Vietnamese New Year festival is to visit a local area like Tao Dan Park, or if you even ask the locals, they will tell you the best place and time to find a large parade. You will see lion dance performances, bells, drums and gongs being sounded, and Vietnamese street food being distributed at the Tet Vietnam Festival. You will also see the locals in beautiful outfits in red and yellow, which signify prosperity and success. Moreover, there will be a lot of traditional Vietnamese New Year food that you can taste, like xiao (sticky rice), thit ga (steamed chicken), giio cha (Vietnamese sausages) and a lot more at Tet Vietnam.
Location: Tao Dan Park, Vietnam
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4. Watch The Fireworks
To be a part of the Lunar New Year in Vietnam, you should go to watch the fireworks that start at exactly midnight. They are on display along the Han riverbank, which gives travellers a great chance to go island hopping in Vietnam. They will be over the Han Swing Bridge or the Dragon Bridge, which can be seen from the other side of the river. It would be best to get a better view of the fireworks on a rooftop. You can visit some great rooftop bars like Novo Hotel, Green Plaza or Azura to experience the countdown with your friends and enjoy the fireworks while indulging in some good food and drinks.
Location: Vietnam
5. Visit Some Good Pagodas (Temples)
You can spend New Year’s Day in Vietnam by visiting temples like Perfume Pagoda in Hanoi, Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue, and Linh Ung Pagoda in Da Nang and participating in Vietnamese New Year traditions. You can visit many more pagodas, but they are the most popular. Visiting the pagodas in Hue is one of the most exciting things to do in Hue. It will be an excellent time to experience the traditions of the Vietnamese New Year. The temples tend to be crowded at this time, but you get to interact with the locals, watch them make offerings, pray and feel all set to make a fresh start now that the past year has passed. This will be a great experience as you celebrate New Year in Vietnam.
Location: Hanoi, Thien Mu Pagoda
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6. Have Fun At Theme Parks Or Recreational Centers
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Most theme parks like Asia Park, Vin Pearl, Dam Sen Park, and others have much more to offer at this time. Even recreational centres like Helio tend to have specific events during Tet, and you’d be able to experience all of it even if you don’t have 4 days in Vietnam. They have all that entertainment at reasonable prices and offers on rides and food. Some places even have little parades within the theme parks while the people perform and show off their lion dances for an exciting Vietnamese New Year celebration.
Location: Dam Sen Park, Vin Pearl, Vietnam
7. Treat Yourself To Some Delicious Food
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No doubt, most of the restaurants are closed during this time; you will find a few rare cafes and restaurants still open during the Vietnam New Year holiday. Although most hotels will be able to provide you with food, if authentic Vietnamese food is what you want, then head to places like Moose and Roo Pub and Grill, Gecko, JOMA Cafe, Buon de la Cafe and the area around Saigon that will still be up and running even during Tet. This will ensure a great experience during the New Year celebration in Vietnam.
Location: Vietnam
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8. Go Shopping For Decorations
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Although there are a few rare markets that are open, you can take the opportunity to go to a few and pick up some handmade ornaments, accessories, and more to pair with your outfits and be a part of the festival. Although most of the stalls will be closed, there will be a few that will be selling either souvenirs or decorations with the festival. You can buy some and decorate your hotel room a little with them or take them home. Ben Thanh Market and Dong Xuan Market are two places that tend to have some stalls open at this time to make you feel eclectic for a Vietnamese New Year celebration. There are also many shopping places in Hue that you can check out to buy awesome merch for your New Year celebration.
Location: Ben Thanh Market and Dong Xuan Market, Vietnam
9. Visit Mui Ne Resort Town
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You can visit this beach if you want a change of scenery from all the empty streets. Mui Ne beach is warm and is a perfect way to keep warm during winter, which is why it’s called one of the best beaches in Vietnam. You can even go swimming here. Most people come here to kite surfing, but with the festival, most places, including this beach, tend to be quite vacant. If you still have the energy, you can drive to Fairy Springs to watch the local wildlife and observe exotic flowers for a warm Vietnamese New Year greeting.
Location: Mui Ne Resort Town
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10. Experience The Beauty Of Moc Chau Plateau
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The day that brings in the New Year of Vietnam is considered very sacred, and although most locals will be praying and feasting in their homes, the best place to visit as a tourist is this plateau. Spring brings new life, and you can see Sakura trees blooming and plums maturing throughout this area. If you visit during the early morning hours, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to paradise.
Location: Moc Chau plateau, Vietnam
11. Dine At Jackson’s Steakhouse
If your idea of celebration revolves mainly around food, you may as well eat your way into the new year! Head to Jackson’s Steakhouse and enjoy a delicious, specially curated three-course meal at one of the most trendy and sophisticated restaurants in Vietnam that you will remember forever! Offering a range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian delights with cocktails, mocktails, and fresh brews, this place won’t let you leave with a disappointed tummy!
Location: 23J Hai Bà Trưng Hanoi, Vietnam 100000
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12. Watch A Show At Hilton Hanoi Opera
Have a dramatic start to the New Year by celebrating at the Hilton Hanoi Opera. Enjoy fantastic deals on your ticket and watch a show or two at this fancy auditorium with an exceptional opera performance, dance, music, and food. There will also be unlimited drinks, including wine, beer, and soft drinks, for the guests to enjoy. Also hosting a magnificent Christmas Eve Dinner a few days before the New Year, this place will surely blow your mind with its ambience and stunning opera show.
Location: Crowne Plaza West Hanoi
13. See Fireworks From Top Of Hanoi Rooftop Bar
If you want front-row tickets to a trendy countdown with a fantastic fireworks show, you should celebrate New Year at the Hanoi Rooftop Bar this 31st December. Decked up to offer you a great time to relax, eat, drink, and party, this venue will give you the best views of the lit show once the clock strikes 12. There’ll be snacks, a main course, drinks, and much more to keep the fun factor soaring!
Location: 54 Liễu Giai, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam
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14. Attend The Saigon Bia Countdown
This isn’t just some Countdown Party where you go, scream when the clock strikes 12, hug your friends, and go home. It’s one of the biggest countdown parties in Hanoi, and it has a lot more in store this year than last year. Hosted by the famed Bia Saigon in Hanoi, Vietnam, the event will feature live music with famous singers and DJs. Like last year, it will be held before the Hanoi Opera House at Cach Mang Thang Tam Square.
Location: Manja Manja Restaurant, 3rd Floor, 18E Cong Hoa, Ward 4, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, or the grand villas in Ho Chi Minh City
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Now that we have given you enough ideas to ring in the New Year in Vietnam, you must plan a trip to Vietnam. Make sure you visit these places to ring the most adventurous way during the New Year in Vietnam and have nothing less than a great time!
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Frequently Asked Questions About New Year In Vietnam
How does Vietnam celebrate New Year?
On New Year's arrival, most Vietnamese visit their homes and perform various customs with their families. Every region celebrates this occasion in their own unique way.
Why is Vietnamese New Year important
Since it is the first of spring here that is celebrated as Tet Nguyen Dan, New Year’s Day, it is considered to be an essential day in the year. The celebrations of New Year in Vietnam last from seven to nine days.
Do people in Vietnam celebrate Christmas?
Even though the festival of Christmas is not considered as an official holiday in Vietnam, it is celebrated with full vigour here.
Is Chinese New Year the same as Vietnamese New Year?
Tet is the Lunar New Year for Vietnam that falls on the same day as the Chinese New Year and it’s all festivals like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s eve rolled up in one.
What do you say in Vietnamese New Year?
You can wish people a happy new year in Vietnamese by saying them “chúc mừng năm mới.”
How long does the Vietnamese New Year last?
Tet’s celebration is the longest holiday, which may last up to seven to nine days.
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