Many countries celebrate the Lunar New Year with great enthusiasm.

Besides Vietnam, many other Asian countries such as China, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines also celebrate Lunar New Year. With different cultural traditions, each place welcomes the Lunar New Year in its own way, but all share the commonality of reuniting with family around a festive meal and wishing for good fortune and prosperity. Notably, some countries like South Korea and China have added extra holidays this year to boost consumption and support economic recovery. Below are the customs for celebrating Lunar New Year 2025 in some countries in the region.

Korea

In South Korea, Lunar New Year is called Seollal and is one of the most important holidays in the Northeast Asian nation. According to The Korea Times , citing an announcement from the Ministry of Personnel Management, the cabinet has approved a proposal to extend the holiday to January 27th, bringing the total to six days from January 25th to 30th, including two weekend days. This additional holiday allows people to have more time off and stimulates domestic consumption to boost economic recovery.

An area decorated with red lanterns in Beijing, China, on January 20.

Seollal, or Lunar New Year, is a time to show respect to ancestors and elders. Koreans typically wear traditional clothing (hanbok), children bow to their grandparents and parents, receive gifts (red envelopes), and get advice for the new year before the whole family enjoys traditional New Year's dishes. Participating in folk games is also a popular activity to celebrate Seollal in Korea.

China

According to China Daily , Chinese citizens will have a longer Lunar New Year holiday this year, after the government announced in November 2024 that the holiday would run from January 28 to February 4. This encouraged many office workers to take two days off beforehand, plus the weekend before the Lunar New Year, extending the total holiday to 11 days. The Chinese tourism industry is thrilled by this news, as the longer holiday will give people more flexibility in travel and encourage them to travel more. According to Reuters, an estimated 9 billion trips are expected during this Lunar New Year period in China.

Known as Spring Festival, the Lunar New Year in China is filled with red, from decorations to red envelopes, symbolizing wishes for a peaceful and lucky new year. On New Year's Eve, people exchange gifts, staying up to witness the final moments of the old year and welcome the first moments of the new year. Family members exchange New Year's greetings and lucky red envelopes. Lion dance performances are also a popular activity in China during the New Year.

Singapore

During this year's Lunar New Year celebrations, Singapore is holding a spring festival with notable events such as the Lantern Festival, the Singapore River Hongbao Festival (January 27th - February 5th), the Chingay Street Festival (February 7th - 8th), and many other activities. Singaporeans often eat tang yuan (rice balls) as a symbol of reunion and togetherness. In addition, family members exchange red envelopes (lucky money) to wish each other good fortune.

This year's Chingay Street Festival in Singapore, themed "Joy," is an opportunity for people to "revisit shared experiences that transcend ethnic, linguistic, and age boundaries through food ," according to the organizers.

Malaysia

In neighboring Malaysia, the Chingay street festival also takes place during the Lunar New Year, with Johor Bahru and Penang being the main venues for many important multicultural events. This year, both Malaysia and Singapore are expected to enthusiastically celebrate this street festival as both countries plan to propose it to UNESCO for recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Cleaning workers at the Tian Hock Kung Temple (Klang, Malaysia) ahead of the 2025 Lunar New Year.

Like other countries celebrating Lunar New Year, this is also an occasion for people in Malaysia to reunite and gather together. Along with the customs of decorating, dragon dances, and family gatherings during the New Year, a unique custom that takes place on the last day of the Chap Goh Mei festival (the 15th day of the first lunar month) is for single women to throw tangerines into the sea to pray for love.

Philippines

Since 2012, the Philippines has officially recognized Lunar New Year as one of its major holidays. During the New Year, Filipinos often visit temples or churches to pray for a happy, peaceful, and prosperous year. Many also see it as a time for family reunions. Additionally, the Binondo district in Manila, also known as Chinatown, hosts many lively festivals with lion dances, dragon dances, and fireworks displays to celebrate the new year.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhieu-nuoc-ron-rang-don-tet-185250123215612444.htm