Traditional Tet in the North: Cultural characteristics and customs of Tet

Tet is the most important cultural festival of the year for Vietnamese people, bringing joy, reunion and hope for a peaceful and prosperous new year. During Tet, it is not only an occasion for people to return to their families, but also a time for Vietnamese people to cherish and preserve traditional customs, show respect to ancestors and long-standing cultural values. Tet in the North is also an occasion for each family and each individual to look forward to good things, welcoming new beginnings.

1. Worshiping the Kitchen Gods

The custom of releasing carp on the day of worshiping Ong Cong and Ong Tao (Photo source: Collected)

The traditional Tet holiday in the North begins on the 23rd of December, when people worship Ong Cong and Ong Tao to send the gods to heaven. This custom shows respect for ancestors and wishes for a peaceful and happy new year. The offering tray to Ong Cong and Ong Tao usually includes typical dishes and goldfish, representing the wish for the family to always be peaceful and happy.

>>> Refer to the Northern tour for Tet 2025 <<<
1. Hanoi - Sapa - Fansipan - Yen Tu - Ha Long - Ninh Binh - Trang An - Bai Dinh
2. Hanoi - Ha Long - Yen Tu - Ninh Binh - Bai Dinh - Trang An
3. Northeast: Hanoi - Ha Giang - Lung Cu - Dong Van - Ma Pi Leng - Meo Vac - Cao Bang - Ban Gioc Waterfall - Ba Be Lake - Free boat ticket to Nho Que River
4. Northwest: Hanoi - Hoa Binh - Moc Chau - Dien Bien - Lai Chau - Sapa - Fansipan - Yen Bai | Free Muong Hoa mountain train ticket

2. Visiting ancestors' graves

On the days leading up to Tet, children and grandchildren in the family often visit their ancestors' graves, showing filial piety and respect for their ancestors. This is an indispensable custom during the traditional Tet holiday in the North, a beautiful traditional cultural feature of the Vietnamese people, helping to maintain the morality of drinking water and remembering its source.

3. Clean the house

House cleaning during the Lunar New Year in the North is one of the most important customs. Cleaning is not only to clean the living space but also to wash away bad luck from the old year and welcome good luck in the new year. Every family buys new items, bringing a fresh atmosphere, full of hope for the new year.

4. Wrapping Chung cake and Tet cake

Experience wrapping Chung cake on traditional Tet holiday (Photo source: Collected)

One of the indispensable characteristics of the traditional Tet holiday in the North is the custom of wrapping Chung cake. Chung cake, with its square shape symbolizing the earth, is an indispensable traditional dish during the Lunar New Year in the North. This custom and beauty has appeared and been preserved for a long time in our country's cuisine. Over time, this activity has become a familiar custom for people in the northern provinces.

Starting from December 27, every family in the North has started to cook banh chung. Everyone gathers together to prepare ingredients, light a fire, wrap the cakes,... The square cakes show gratitude to the land, sky, and ancestors. As well as gratitude for a year of favorable weather.

5. Playing with flowers on Tet holiday

Flower market on Tet holiday (Photo source: Collected)

Flowers are an indispensable part of the traditional Tet atmosphere in the North. In particular, peach blossoms and kumquat trees are popular, not only because of their bright colors but also because they carry wishes for a lucky and prosperous new year. Red peach blossoms symbolize luck, while kumquat trees with many fruits symbolize fortune and wealth.

6. Erecting the flagpole

Another typical custom of Tet Nguyen Dan in the North is the erection of a pole to ward off evil spirits and welcome good things. The pole is usually erected high, decorated with items such as gold and silver paper, wine, and lanterns. This is a way to protect the family from bad things, and at the same time signal the family reunion during Tet. Usually, the pole is erected from December 23 to January 7, then it is taken down.

7. Tet Market

Hang Ma Street is bustling on the eve of Tet (Photo source: Collected)

Tet markets are a unique feature of the traditional Tet culture in the North. Unlike regular markets, Tet markets are always crowded and bustling. People not only go shopping for necessities for Tet but also enjoy the spring atmosphere, meet friends and relatives. These markets are not only a place to exchange goods but also an opportunity for people to share the joy of the beginning of the year.

8. Display the fruit tray

Tet fruit tray (Photo source: Collected)

The five-fruit tray is a symbol in the Tet customs of the people in the North. The fruit tray is usually placed solemnly on the ancestral altar, expressing the wish for a peaceful, lucky, and prosperous new year. The five-fruit tray in the North must follow its own standards. In particular, the fruits must be white (metal), green (wood), black (water), red (fire) and yellow (earth). Therefore, the fruits often chosen are green bananas, Buddha's hand, grapefruit, guava, figs, chili...

9. Ancestor worship ceremony

The ancestral worship ceremony on the occasion of the traditional Tet holiday in the North is a sacred ritual, showing respect to ancestors. The offering tray is fully prepared, with the hope that ancestors will bless their descendants with a new year of peace and prosperity. This is also an occasion for families to gather and show their closeness.

10. New Year's Eve

Fireworks display to welcome the new year (Photo source: Collected)

Welcoming the New Year is an indispensable part of the Lunar New Year in the North. This is a sacred moment, marking the transition between the old year and the new year. The New Year's Eve ceremony is held outdoors, with the hope of dispelling bad luck and welcoming good things in the new year.

11. The custom of visiting first person on New Year's Day

During Tet in the North, the custom of visiting first in the house is indispensable. That is, the homeowner will choose the first person to come to the house at the beginning of the year to bring luck. The chosen person is usually someone who is compatible with the homeowner’s age, healthy, and good-natured. Therefore, most people in the North rarely go to wish New Year’s greetings early in the morning. Because they are afraid of becoming the “unwilling” first person to visit.

This is a long-standing custom in Vietnam and is highly respected. Usually, the first visitor to enter the house is someone who is arranged in advance. When they arrive, they will bring cakes, fruits and lucky money for the children in the house. Along with that, the homeowner will welcome them enthusiastically and happily.
Most of the people who come to visit the house for about five to ten minutes only to wish the family a happy new year. It is a simple thing but it brings joy and belief in a more prosperous and lucky new year. And even the first person to visit the house will feel happy because they have given good things.

12. Picking the first luck of the year

Picking the first lucky branches of the year on Tet holiday (Photo source: Collected)

The custom of picking the first shoots of the year is a popular activity during the traditional Tet holiday in the North. Early in the morning of the first day of the new year, people often pick green shoots, with the hope of receiving fortune and luck throughout the year. This is an act with deep spiritual meaning, expressing the expectation of a favorable and successful new year.

13. New Year wishes and lucky money

Happy New Year to grandparents (Photo source: Collected)

During the traditional Tet holiday in the North, New Year greetings and lucky money are a meaningful tradition, expressing love and care between family members. According to the ancients, giving lucky money at the beginning of the new year will bring the recipient good luck and fortune throughout the year. Therefore, on these days, children and grandchildren often gather to send good wishes and lucky money to grandparents and parents. After that, grandparents and parents also send their love and lucky money to their children and grandchildren.

The bright red envelopes carrying good wishes will be a very meaningful spiritual gift for everyone on this special occasion. In addition, the custom of giving lucky money at the beginning of the year can also be performed between friends, colleagues, etc. People can give lucky money to each other to wish each other a new year of peace and prosperity.

14. Going to the temple at the beginning of the year

Going to the temple at the beginning of the year (Photo source: Collected)

Going to pagodas at the beginning of the year is an indispensable custom during the Lunar New Year in the North. Vietnamese people go to pagodas to pray for peace, health and luck for themselves and their families. This is also a way for people to show their respect to the gods and at the same time seek peace of mind.

15. Asking for the first words of spring

The custom of asking for words at the beginning of the year (Image source: Collected)

The custom of asking for calligraphy at the beginning of spring is a beautiful feature of the traditional Tet holiday in the North, with the hope of receiving good things in the new year. People often go to calligraphers to ask for beautiful calligraphy, carrying wishes for success, health, and happiness in the new year.

The traditional Tet holiday in the North is not only a festival but also a time for Vietnamese people to express their gratitude to their ancestors, family and country. Tet customs not only reflect the national culture but also congratulate and wish for a new year full of joy, peace and prosperity. These customs will forever exist in the hearts of every Vietnamese person, as an indispensable part of cultural and spiritual life.

For more information about the program, please contact:
VIETRAVEL
190 Pasteur, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, HCMC
Tel: (028) 3822 8898 - Hotline: 1900 1839
Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/vietravel
Website: www.travel.com.vn

Source of article: Collected and compiled
@traveltips #traveltips

Source: https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/tet-co-truyen-mien-bac-v16321.aspx