When travel becomes the first choice of the year.

Some Lunar New Year celebrations don't begin in the familiar kitchen but start with journeys. For the Year of the Horse 2026, many people choose to leave the annual hustle and bustle behind to welcome the new year with peaceful moments by the sea, amidst the mountains, or in a foreign land. Wherever they are, the Lunar New Year remains a quiet time for rest, for love, and for starting a new journey.

Tourists participate in the "Following the Essence of Vietnam" tour program at the Essence of Vietnam area, Grand World Phu Quoc.

TRENDS IN CELEBRATING LUNAR NEW YEAR ARE CHANGING.

In the Vietnamese psyche, Tet is associated with the warm hearth, steaming pots of banh chung and banh tet (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), lavish feasts, and days of busy cleaning and visiting relatives. However, with the increasingly fast pace of life and rising work pressure, the way many people celebrate Tet is gradually changing.

Instead of staying confined to the familiar space of their homes, many families choose to leave the city for a relaxing vacation, exploring and rejuvenating after a year of hard work. Ms. Nguyen Hong Anh, a resident of Rach Gia ward, shared: “After a year of stressful work, the Tet holiday is long, so my family wanted a change of scenery. We wished our parents and relatives a happy new year early and then went to Phu Quoc for a spring trip.”

The story of Hong Anh's family is no longer an isolated case. More and more people are seeing travel as a different way to celebrate Tet – more relaxed, less stressful, but offering more experiences. "Tet is for fun, and if you're having fun, you go traveling. Staying home and cleaning can be very tiring," Hong Anh said.

Also choosing to travel during Tet, Mr. Tran Duy, residing in Rach Gia ward, believes that traveling throughout Tet has many advantages such as less congested roads, flexible timing, and avoiding lengthy business meetings. "Every year from the 30th to the 4th or 5th day of Tet, I drink almost every day. This year, I chose to travel as a reward for myself after a tiring year of work," Mr. Duy shared.

According to Duy, before the trip, he still took the time to return to his hometown in Tan Hiep commune to visit his grandparents and parents. For him, that was a way to balance preserving family traditions with enjoying a proper New Year's holiday.

For many people, traveling during Tet (Lunar New Year) doesn't mean skipping the traditional holiday, but rather shifting the Tet celebration to a different, more relaxed form, while still maintaining the full spirit of family togetherness.

Tourists experience picking fresh vegetables during an ecotourism trip.

DOMESTIC TOURISM CONTINUES TO DOMINATE

In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year of the Horse (2026), many destinations such as Phu Quoc, Nam Du, and Ha Tien have seen a vibrant tourism atmosphere. The high occupancy rates at many hotels and resorts indicate that domestic tourism continues to be the preferred choice for many people. According to Mr. Nguyen Vu Khac Huy, Chairman of the Provincial Tourism Association, the demand for tourism during this year's Tet holiday has increased compared to previous years. Notably, there is a trend of booking tours closer to the holiday date. Instead of planning early, many tourists wait until closer to Tet to make their decisions, prioritizing shorter trips with convenient travel and suitable for their holiday time.

After a year of pressure, the need for rest and relaxation is paramount. Quiet spaces and all-inclusive services such as beachfront resorts and eco-tourism destinations are chosen by many families. For them, a trip at the beginning of the year is not only about "getting a change of scenery" but also an opportunity to gather in a more relaxed way, escaping the familiar hustle and bustle of the Lunar New Year season.

Tourists enthusiastically participate in the activity of painting conical hats as part of the "Following the Essence of Vietnam" tour program at the Vietnam Quintessence area.

Simultaneously, the trend of experiential tourism has also seen significant growth. Many tourists seek out regions rich in cultural identity to immerse themselves in the local Tet atmosphere, participate in traditional festivals, and enjoy regional cuisine . The northern mountainous provinces and the Central Highlands are chosen for their rustic, unique charm and the feeling of closeness to Tet of the past.

Besides domestic travel, overseas travel during Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) is also attracting much attention, especially from young people and families with stable economic conditions. Asian destinations such as Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and China are popular due to their proximity, similar cultures, and developed services. Ms. Phan Thi Ly, residing in Long Xuyen ward, chose Japan for her family's Tet holiday this year. "I want my children to experience Tet in another country so they can understand and appreciate the unique aspects of Vietnamese Tet," Ms. Ly said.

The shift in tourist preferences has forced the tourism industry to adapt quickly. Many travel businesses are designing flexible short-day tours, family tours, and resort-style tours combining relaxation and experiences. Hotels and resorts are organizing activities steeped in the Tet (Lunar New Year) atmosphere, such as New Year's Eve celebrations, making banh chung and banh tet (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), lion dances, and receiving auspicious calligraphy for the new year, helping tourists still feel the spirit of Tet even far from home.

Tourists cycle around Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone during the early spring days.

According to Mr. Tran Van Tam, Deputy Director of Vietravel An Giang Branch, family tourism continues to be a key product line every Tet holiday season. With the extended Tet holiday in 2026 (Year of the Horse), the demand for tours combining relaxation, experiences, and family reunions is predicted to increase. Anticipating this trend, Vietravel has prepared over 180 domestic and international tour programs, focusing on multi-experience products suitable for both children and the elderly.

The departures of buses and the takeoffs of flights in the early days of the new year not only mark the beginning of new journeys but also convey wishes for a peaceful year filled with memorable experiences. Along these routes, the Lunar New Year for many people is taking on a modern hue while still retaining the original value of family reunion.

According to Nguyen Vu Khac Huy, Chairman of the Provincial Tourism Association, tourism during Tet (Lunar New Year) is not only about relaxing trips at the beginning of the year but also about refreshing the Tet holiday atmosphere, helping people temporarily leave their familiar routines to find balance, strengthen family bonds, and more deeply appreciate traditional cultural values. This year's Tet tourism season has seen positive growth compared to previous years, with domestic tourism, eco-tourism, and family bonding trips becoming the preferred choices for many tourists.

TUAN KIET

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/khi-du-lich-tro-thanh-lua-chon-dau-nam-a476781.html