Tết 2027 falls in early February, with Vietnam’s official seven-day break for civil servants and public employees running from February 4 through February 10. The Vietnamese Tết holiday is a family reunion first and a visitor attraction second. That distinction explains both its beauty and its practical challenges: flower markets fill the streets before New Year, while transport sells quickly and many independent businesses close for several days.
If you will be in Vietnam around Tết, secure intercity travel and accommodation early, finish banking and routine errands before the break, and confirm opening hours directly. Then leave room for the quieter rhythm of the first days of the year. This guide to the lunar new year in Vietnam separates official dates from business-by-business decisions and gives you a respectful plan for the holiday.
Tết 2027 dates and what they mean
Tết Nguyên Đán is Vietnam’s Lunar New Year and its most significant annual celebration. New Year’s Day falls on Saturday, February 6, 2027. Vietnam Government News reports that civil servants and public employees will have seven consecutive days off from Thursday, February 4, through Wednesday, February 10, 2027. The statutory arrangements for private employers allow several combinations of days before and after the new year, so one government calendar does not tell you when every café, clinic or tour operator will close.
| Period | What to expect | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Two to three weeks before | Decorations, flower markets, shopping and rising demand for travel | Book long-distance transport; ask accommodation and providers about holiday hours |
| Final days of the old year | Heavy movement toward hometowns; some businesses close early | Complete banking, prescriptions, groceries and laundry; avoid tight connections |
| February 4–10 official break | Reduced government and business services; family visits and celebrations | Use confirmed options rather than assuming normal schedules |
| First working days after | Services reopen at different speeds; return travel may remain busy | Reconfirm appointments and allow flexibility |
The celebration extends beyond the official break. Preparations begin weeks ahead, and an individual business may close for a shorter or longer period. Treat dates advertised by airlines, rail operators, hotels, clinics and attractions as more useful than a generic “everything closes” rule.
What the Vietnamese Tết holiday means
Tết is centred on renewal, family reunion and respect for ancestors. Homes and businesses are cleaned and decorated before the new year. Peach blossoms are strongly associated with the north, while yellow hoa mai are common in the south; kumquat trees appear across the country. Families prepare food, visit relatives and wish one another health and prosperity.
The first visitor to a home can carry symbolic importance for the year ahead, a custom known as xông đất or xông nhà. This is why arriving unannounced on the first day is not a harmless social call. Vietnam’s official tourism site advises visitors to enter a home only when invited.
Lucky money, lì xì, is given in red envelopes, especially to children and older relatives. It is a wish for good fortune rather than a payment or a display of wealth. Customs vary by household, region and generation; a local host’s guidance is more reliable than a universal list of “rules.”
Should you travel in Vietnam during Tết?
Yes, if you value atmosphere and can accept reduced choice. The weeks before Tết bring extraordinary colour: flower markets, decorations, gift baskets and busy streets. During the first days of the year, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City can feel unusually calm as many residents visit their hometowns. The trade-off is that the restaurant, museum, transport and administrative routine you expected may not be available.
Avoid building an itinerary that depends on several unconfirmed services on the same day. A prepaid hotel room is not proof that its restaurant, spa, airport transfer or tour desk will operate normally. Ask specific questions: Will reception be staffed all night? Is breakfast served? Can the property arrange transport? Which nearby pharmacies and food options expect to open?
Transport
Demand for buses, trains and domestic flights rises as people return home before Tết and travel back afterward. The official tourism authority recommends booking transport and accommodation well in advance. Buy through the operator or a reputable channel, keep a copy of the booking and leave a larger buffer between connections than you normally would.
Food, shops and cash
Many family-run restaurants and shops close for at least the first few days, while hotels, convenience stores and businesses in tourist areas may keep limited hours. Do not rely on a static list from a previous year. Confirm locally, buy a modest supply of food and drinking water, and complete cash withdrawals or transfers before the holiday rather than waiting for the final day.
Healthcare and administration
Emergency services continue, but routine clinics, pharmacies, banks and government offices may have reduced schedules. Refill essential medication early and keep your insurer’s assistance number and the address of an appropriate hospital. Visa or immigration deadlines should be managed before the public holiday. The Vietnam relocation guide provides broader planning context, but current official instructions control your individual case.
A before, during and after checklist
Seven to fourteen days before
- Confirm every flight, train, bus and hotel directly.
- Ask your accommodation which services will operate during the holiday.
- Fill prescriptions and complete time-sensitive banking or government tasks.
- Save offline copies of tickets, insurance and important addresses.
- Plan a small number of flexible activities within walking distance.
During the first days
- Check same-day opening hours before crossing the city.
- Keep noise and photography respectful around family rituals and places of worship.
- Do not enter a private home without an invitation.
- Expect service charges or limited menus, but ask politely rather than assuming.
- Use “Chúc Mừng Năm Mới” as a warm New Year greeting.
After the official break
- Reconfirm appointments; reopening is staggered.
- Allow extra time for the return travel wave.
- Do not assume every office or independent business resumes on the same morning.
Tết etiquette for visitors and expats
If a family invites you to celebrate, ask whether you should bring anything. Fruit, sweets or another modest host gift may be appropriate, but the host’s advice should lead. Dress neatly, follow cues around the family altar, and wait before photographing people or religious objects. An invitation into a home is hospitality, not an attraction included in a tour.
For lì xì, use clean notes and red envelopes. The meaning matters more than copying an amount from an old article. Relationship, age and family practice affect what is suitable, so ask a trusted Vietnamese friend or host privately. Hand and receive gifts politely, and avoid turning the exchange into a public comparison.
The first day is often reserved for close family. Later days may include visits to wider relatives, friends and teachers, but practices differ. A simple greeting, patience with closures and willingness to follow your host’s lead are more useful than trying to perform every tradition.
What to eat and see
Tết foods vary by region. Bánh chưng, a square sticky-rice cake traditionally associated with the north, and cylindrical bánh tét, common in the centre and south, combine glutinous rice with fillings such as mung bean and pork. Candied fruits and seeds are offered to guests. Northern tables may include fried spring rolls and boiled chicken; southern meals often feature caramelised pork and eggs or bitter-melon soup.
The days before New Year are often the easiest time for visitors to experience public celebrations without depending on private invitations. Explore flower markets, decorated streets and seasonal displays while normal services still operate. In Hanoi, peach blossoms are prominent; in Ho Chi Minh City, yellow hoa mai and the Nguyễn Huệ flower display are characteristic. Event dates and access change each year, so use the relevant city’s current announcements.
Who will enjoy Tết travel — and who should change dates?
Travel during Tết can suit a flexible visitor who has already booked the essentials, enjoys walking and public atmosphere, and does not need every attraction or restaurant to be open. It is a weaker fit for a tight multi-city itinerary, an important medical appointment, a visa deadline or a trip built around specific small businesses.
If your dates are fixed, simplify: use one well-served base, confirm food and transport, and keep one free day around any essential journey. If your goal is an ordinary look at daily life, arrive after services have fully resumed. Tết is memorable precisely because ordinary life pauses.
Frequently asked questions
When is Tết in Vietnam in 2027?
Vietnam’s official holiday for civil servants and public employees runs from February 4 through February 10, 2027. Private employers and individual businesses may use different closing and reopening dates.
Does everything close during Tết?
No. Many independent businesses close, especially during the first days, while some hotels, convenience stores, tourist services and restaurants remain open with reduced hours. Confirm each essential service directly.
Is Tết a good time to visit Vietnam?
It can be excellent for festive atmosphere and quiet city walks, but poor for a rigid sightseeing schedule. Book intercity travel early and plan for fewer open businesses.
Can visitors give lucky money?
Yes, when it fits the relationship and the host’s practice. Use a red envelope and clean notes, and ask a trusted local about an appropriate amount rather than copying a universal figure.
Sources and limitations
- Vietnam Government News: 2027 public holiday schedule
- Government Office document 10065/VPCP-KGVX
- Vietnam Tourism: A traveller’s guide to Tết
- Vietnam Tourism: Tết traditions, reunion and food
Official public-holiday dates do not guarantee a specific business schedule. Transport, event, medical and immigration arrangements can change. Confirm critical services with the responsible provider before travel.
Official Sources
What To Verify Before You Decide
Use these official pages to verify stay length, income proof, extensions, documents and permitted activity. The article explains the trade-offs; the authority publishes the rule.