Lunar New Year's Eve 2026

As the year draws to a close, Vietnam comes alive with the vibrant energy of Lunar New Year's Eve celebrations. This enchanting night perfectly reflects the country's rich cultural tapestry, where ancient traditions seamlessly blend with contemporary festivities.

Cultural significance of Lunar New Year's Eve

Lunar New Year's Eve is set to occur precisely at midnight on the 30th night of the Lunar Calendar's twelfth month. In cases where the month is shorter and lacks a 30th day, the transition to the New Year takes place on the night of the 29th of the twelfth month. 

This moment signifies the shift from the old year to the new, viewed as an opportunity to leave behind sorrows, misfortunes, and the negativity of the past year, embracing hope for a more positive year ahead.

Families gather to celebrate on Lunar New Year's Eve

This is also a time for family members to come together, reunite, and collectively recap the accomplishments of the past year. It serves as a platform for setting new goals and aspirations for the upcoming year, fostering a sense of unity and optimism for the future.

Activities on Lunar New Year's Eve

On Lunar New Year's Eve, Vietnamese often spend the year's final moments alongside those they love and cherish.

Lunar New Year's Eve rituals

A traditional custom that is indispensable in every household is the New Year's Eve ritual. In each local region, there will be different ways of decorating and conducting the ceremony. In essence, this day ritual signifies bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new year with hopes for greater luck and prosperity.

The ceremony on the 30th day of Tet usually begins precisely at the moment of transitioning to the new year, at the Hour of the Rat, which is midnight on the 1st day of Tet. The head of the household performs rituals, expresses repentance at the ancestral altar, invites ancestors to join the Tet feast, and prays for good luck, peace, and prosperity in the upcoming year.

Lunar New Year's Eve worship is an essential tradition in every Vietnamese family

First-footing tradition (xông đất)

Xông đất, an age-old tradition, is an essential part of Vietnamese New Year's Eve. The first-footer, chosen based on age and compatibility with the host family, is believed to bring luck and prosperity for the new year. Families attach great importance to this tradition, trusting that the first-footer's presence will determine their fortune and wealth in the coming year. With careful preparations and a sense of anticipation, families gather to celebrate, embracing the belief in the power of this age-old ritual to bring blessings and good fortune for the year ahead.

Xông đất is a long-standing tradition in Vietnam

New Year's wishes

As the new year approaches, people will exchange heartfelt wishes, expressing their hopes for the year ahead. These wishes often revolve around themes of harmony, happiness, good fortune, and success, reflecting a sense of optimism and hope for the future. Whether through spoken words, written messages, or other forms of communication, these wishes remind us of the power of positivity and hope in our lives.

People often exchange good wishes for the new year with one another

Visiting temples to pray for peace

After completing the Lunar New Year's Eve rituals, people often visit temples to seek the blessings of the Buddha for a peaceful, healthy, and happy new year. According to folk beliefs, when attending the first temple ceremony of the year, individuals typically go to the temple garden to pluck a branch, also known as "hái lộc". This act symbolizes bringing luck from the divine back home, and the luck-laden branch is displayed on the family altar until it withers.

Vietnamese visit temples for a peaceful start to the new year

As the clock ticks down to the final moments of the year, Vietnam transforms into a kaleidoscope of cultural richness and festive exuberance. Lunar New Year's Eve in this enchanting country is not merely a countdown but a symphony of traditions, activities, and shared moments that transcend generations. Let's travel to Vietnam and enjoy Vietnamese New Year's Eve - a celebration with joyous anticipation.