Vietnam’s Tết(Lunar New Year) 2025

The Year of the Snake Blooms with Peach Blossoms and Sticky Rice Cakes

Overview

In Vietnam, Lunar New Year—known locally as Tết—is a time of vibrant transformation. As the country ushers in the Year of the Snake, each region celebrates with its own unique blend of floral displays, traditional foods, and family-centered rituals. Peach blossoms in the north and yellow apricot (mai) flowers in the south symbolize renewal and hope, turning streets and homes into colorful canvases of celebration.

Holiday Highlights

Family Altars
- Ancestral Veneration: A cornerstone of Vietnamese culture, family altars are carefully decorated with offerings of fruit, flowers, and incense. These gestures honor departed relatives and underscore Confucian values of filial piety.
- Communal Bond: Gathering around the altar to recite prayers or place fresh blooms fosters a deeper sense of unity, linking multiple generations together in the spirit of Tết.
Bánh Chưng and Bánh Tét
- Northern vs. Southern Delights: Bánh Chưng, typically square-shaped and popular in the north, contains sticky rice, mung beans, and seasoned pork. In the south, Bánh Tét appears as a cylinder but features similar ingredients.
- Symbolism: These iconic rice cakes symbolize gratitude for the earth’s bounty and the importance of agricultural heritage. Families often spend hours (or even an entire night) prepping and boiling them, turning the process into a memorable communal event.
- Gifting Tradition: Beyond being a festive meal, these cakes are frequently exchanged as gifts to convey well-wishes for prosperity and good health.
Lucky Money (Lì Xì)
- Red Envelopes: Like in neighboring China, children receive money in red envelopes for good fortune. In Vietnam, these envelopes are called “bao lì xì,” and they often contain small sums symbolizing abundance.
- Personalized Wishes: Givers usually write or share blessings of health and success along with the envelopes, reinforcing Tết’s emphasis on positive beginnings.

What Happened in 2025

City Celebrations
- Fireworks & Festivities: Both Hanoi (in the north) and Ho Chi Minh City (in the south) kicked off Tết with breathtaking fireworks displays. This year, due to economic pressures, some families and localities scaled back or pooled resources to create more modest yet heartfelt gatherings.
- Floral Markets: The famed flower markets in Hanoi’s Quảng Bá and Ho Chi Minh City’s Hoàng Hoa Thám thrived, with vendors showcasing not just peach and apricot blossoms but also kumquat trees, daisies, and orchids. Despite cautious spending, the bustling atmosphere reaffirmed Tết’s enduring allure.
Small Business Boost
- Government-Led Campaigns: To counter lingering economic slowdowns, authorities launched promotional events and discount programs encouraging residents to shop local.
- Community Spirit: Streets glowed with lanterns and Tết-themed banners, while small businesses—ranging from confectioneries to souvenir shops—reported increased foot traffic. This boost in consumer confidence offered relief to local entrepreneurs.
- E-Commerce Growth: With tech-savvy consumers embracing online platforms, many brands offered limited-edition Tết gift sets for home delivery, blending modern convenience with timeless tradition.

Takeaway

Despite the backdrop of economic caution, the spirit of Tết in 2025 remained unmistakably vibrant. From the meticulous preparation of sticky rice cakes to the exchange of lucky money, Vietnamese families sustained a balance between frugality and festivity. For many, the Year of the Snake symbolizes resilience and renewal, offering hope that as challenges arise—be they financial or otherwise—the bonds of family, culture, and heritage will endure.

Whether you’re savoring a slice of Bánh Chưng by the family altar or watching fireworks along the Saigon River, Tết is a season that unites people in celebration of tradition, togetherness, and the promise of a fresh start.