During Tet (Lunar New Year), the biggest Vietnamese traditional festival of the year, there are many things to do in Hoi An Vietnam for visitors. In this article, HoiAn Day Trip Company will provide visitors all information.
You may also like: Da Nang during Tet (Lunar New Year)
• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
Better to Know about Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year)
– Starting date: 1st day of the 1st lunar month (late January-February)
– Ending date: three most important days are from 1st to 3rd days of the first lunar month, while the official Tet holiday is from 5 to 7 days (or even longer).
– Origin: Tet’s origins are rooted in the ancient wet rice civilizations of the Red River Delta, where it began as a celebration of the spring harvest and the start of a new agricultural cycle. While later influenced by Chinese lunar traditions during centuries of occupation, the holiday is uniquely Vietnamese, as seen in the legend of Banh chung (sticky rice cake) which dates back to the era of the Hung Kings. Today, it serves as the most sacred time of the year for family reunions, honoring ancestors, and letting go of the past to welcome a fresh start.
– Cultural significances:
Family reunion: It is considered the most vital time for people to travel back to their birthplaces, as the holiday serves as a sacred bridge that reunites living family members from across the country.
Ancestor veneration: Families meticulously clean their household altars and present elaborate food offerings to invite the spirits of deceased relatives to join the celebrations, ensuring the lineage remains connected.
The fresh start Philosophy: Individuals strive to settle all financial debts and resolve personal grievances before the new year begins to ensure that no negative energy or “bad luck” carries over into the future.
Lucky money: Red envelopes containing crisp new banknotes are exchanged between generations to spread prosperity, with specific wishes for health for the elderly and success for the young.
Symbolic floral decorations: Households are adorned with specific blossoms—pink peach branches in the north and yellow apricot flowers in the south—to attract wealth and symbolize the resilient spirit of spring.
The first visitor: Great importance is placed on the very first person to enter a home after midnight, as their personality and zodiac sign are believed to determine the family’s fortune for the next twelve months.
The Kitchen Gods ritual: One week before the main holiday, families perform a ceremony to send the guardian spirits of the home to heaven on the backs of golden carp to report on the family’s behavior.
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Hoi An Weather During Tet (Lunar New Year)
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Official Days of Lunar New Year 2026 in Vietnam
In 2026, the official dates for Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year) holiday is from 14th to 22nd February 2026 (totally 9 days).
The Lunar New Year’s eve 2026 is on 16th February. Days from 17th to 19th February are most important in Vietnamese culture.
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
What to Do in Hoi An During Tet (Lunar New Year) for Tourists?
List of Tet Events in Hoi An
– Cam Ha Kumquat Festival around Trang Keo Lake (about 20 days before Lunar New Year’s eve)
– Program “Tết reunion – Spring sharing” and “Spring Warmth – Tết cherishing” at Hoi An Central Park
– Spring Flower Festival around Trang Keo Lake (about 7 days before Lunar New Year’s eve)
– Spring Press Festival at Thanh Hóa Library, 131 Nguyen Truong To Street
– Art performance welcoming the Lunar New Year & Firework performance at Hoi An Central Park
– Tree-planting Festival, Nguyen Chi Thanh Street
– Cau Bong Festival at Tra Que Vegetable Village (7th day in Tet holiday)
– Kim Bong Death Anniversary of Carpentry Village’s Founder and Kim Bong Traditional Craft Village Festival at Kim Bong Carpentry Village (6th day in Tet holiday)
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Things to Do Before Lunar New Year Eve
Before Tet (Lunar New Year), we highly recommend visitors going to the Hoi An Flower Market. It transforms the central streets surrounding the Ancient Town into a vibrant river of color, featuring iconic golden kumquat trees from Cam Ha village and radiant yellow apricot blossoms. Beyond just a place to shop, the market serves as a festive cultural hub where locals and travelers gather to soak in the bustling atmosphere and capture the essence of a traditional Vietnamese spring. Read more information & details
Cam Ha Kumquat Festival is another highlight in Hoi An before Tet. It’s a vibrant annual event in Hoi An that honors the local traditional craft of growing ornamental trees, showcasing thousands of meticulously shaped kumquat pots that symbolize prosperity for the New Year. Typically held at the Trang Keo residential area in late January or early February (ahead of the Lunar New Year), the festival features exciting competitions for tree shaping, local culinary fairs offering kumquat-based jams and juices, and traditional folk games.
Visit local markets such as Hoi An Central Market or Tiger Market (Tan An Market) when it’s most vibrant and most colorful during the year. Visitors will see a diversity of flowers, cakes, candies, decorative items, and much more, alongside with joyful, high-speed rush to prepare for their most important holiday. On the day of the Kitchen God ceremony (23rd day of the 12th lunar month), have the chance to see thousands of vibrant golden carp and ritualistic paper offerings filling every corner. It is the best time to witness the transition from daily life to spiritual preparation, as locals gathered in a festive rush purchase “divine transport” to send their household deities on their annual journey to heaven.
Markets before Tet are always crowded, therefore visitors should be aware of pickpockets.
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Lunar New Year Eve (Giao Thua) & Fireworks
Visitors can expect to see a public countdown party in the Lunar New Year’s eve. It often takes place on the square of Hoi An Central Park, in the heart of Hoi An and very close to the Old Town area (so, visitors can have dinner and join activities there before walking to this park for countdown and watching fireworks).
Many hotels and resorts in Hoi An organize a countdown party with fireworks for the guests, such as Four Seasons The Nam Hai, Hoiana Resort, Vinpearl Nam Hoi An, Palm Garden Hoi An, Anantara Hoi An, Victoria Hoi An,…
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes tours in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Things to Do on Lunar New Year Days [MUST READ]
Things to do in and around Hoi An throughout Tet (Lunar New Year):
+ Hoi An Old Town (UNESCO world heritage site): Open on all days during Tet. From the last day of the old year until the 3rd day of the new year (totally 4 days), visitors don’t need to buy a ticket to enter Hoi An Old Town world heritage area as well as some attractions within it (such as Japanese Bridge, Cantonese Assembly Hall, Fujian Assembly Hall, Hainan Assembly Hall, Trung Hoa Assembly Hall, Teochew Assembly Hall, Quan Cong Temple, Quan Am Pagoda, Phap Bao Pagoda,…). There is no pedestrian times anymore during this period (meaning motorbikes can move around the area in all hours).
Old houses, museums, night markets,… will be closed until the end of the 3rd day of the new year.
From the 4th day of the new year, everything is back to normal. Each visitor needs to pay 120,000 VND for a ticket if want to enter the Hoi An Old Town world heritage site and its attractions. This day onwards, all attractions open. During the day, motorbikes and cars will be prohibited from 9:00 to 11:30 am and from 3:30 to 9:30 pm.
Local businesses like restaurants, shops, cafes,… will close in the afternoon of the last day of the year and at least 3 more days then. We advise checking the opening days of the place in advance to save time (the best way is calling directly). Restaurants inside hotels or shopping malls or tourist areas, often open.
+ Thanh Ha Pottery Village: open throughout Tet (culturally everything is ready before the last afternoon of the old year and after the first morning of the new year)
+ Tra Que Vegetable Village: open throughout Tet (culturally everything is ready before the last afternoon of the old year and after the first morning of the new year)
+ Cam Thanh Coconut Village: open throughout Tet (culturally everything is ready before the last afternoon of the old year and after the first morning of the new year)
+ Kim Bong Carpentry Village: open throughout Tet (culturally everything is ready before the last afternoon of the old year and after the first morning of the new year)
+ Cham Islands: closing on the last day of the old year and the first day of the new year, opening from the 2nd day of the lunar new year if the weather is good. Speedboats or/and day tours to this marine park are often fully booked. For that reason, we suggest making a reservation in advance.
+ VinWonders Nam Hoi An Theme Park: open throughout Tet
+ Hoi An Memories Show: closing from 10th to 16th February 2026, opening from 17th February. Meaning that visitors can watch this spectacle every day after Lunar New Year’s eve. We want to remind that tickets will be sold out quickly, therefore you should buy ticket as early as possible, especially HIGH and VIP classes.
+ Teh Dar Show at Hoi An Lunar Center: closing from 14th to 20th February 2026, opening from 21st February. Meaning that visitors can watch this amazing Vietnamese bamboo circus every day from the 5th day of the Lunar New Year. We want to remind that tickets will be sold out quickly, therefore you should buy ticket as early as possible.
+ famous attractions near Hoi An that open during Tet: Sun World Ba Na Hills, Golden Hands Bridge, My Son Sanctuary, Marble Mountains, Linh Ung Pagoda in Son Tra Mountain, Big Lady Buddha, My Khe Beach, Museum of Cham Sculpture, Da Nang Museum, Son Tra Night Market, Hai Van Pass, Mikazuki Water Park, Nui Than Tai Hot Springs Park,…. (Vietnamese people will come to temples for praying during Tet, so all of them definitely open).
+ traditional festivals: Cau Bong Festival at Tra Que Vegetable Village on 6th and 7th day of the first lunar month, festival of Kim Bong Carpentry Village on the 10th and 11st day, boat race on the 12nd day, Lantern Festival in Hoi An’s Old Town on the 14th day, Nguyen Tieu Festival from the 10th to 16th day,…
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company still opens during Tet Holiday (working online only). Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com when you need a tour, transfer or ticket reservation. Thank you very much!
Hoi An or Da Nang for Tet Holiday?
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes tours in Vietnam Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Travel Advices for Visitors Coming During Tet
– Book everything 3–4 months in advance: this is the most critical tip. Millions of Vietnamese travel home or take vacations. Flights, trains, and popular hotels in Da Nang (especially beachfront resorts) sell out months ahead. Don’t rely on last-minute bookings.
– Expect a “service surcharge” (20% – 50%): most restaurants and cafes that stay open during the 9-day holiday will add a “Tet Surcharge” to your bill. This helps them pay staff double or triple wages to work during the holiday. Don’t be surprised if prices for a bowl of Mi Quang or a taxi ride are higher than what you read online.
– Cash is king (ATMs run out): banks close for about a week, and ATMs often run out of cash due to high demand. Withdraw enough Vietnamese Dong (VND) for your entire Tet week before the holiday begins (ideally by February 14, 2026).
– Big attractions stay open, small shops close
+ open: Sun World Ba Na Hills, Marble Mountains, and Son Tra Peninsula (Linh Ung Pagoda) generally remain open throughout Tet.
+ closed: Local family-run restaurants, street food stalls, and local markets (like Han Market or Con Market) usually close from Tet Eve to the 3rd day of the New Year.
– Avoid “the first visit”: Vietnamese believe the first person to enter a house in the New Year determines the family’s luck. Never enter a local home or a small shop on the morning of the 1st Day of Tet (February 17, 2026) unless you have been specifically invited by the owner.
– Dress in bright colors (avoid all-black/white): in Vietnamese culture, black and white are associated with funerals. To be respectful and blend into the festive mood, wear bright colors like red or yellow, which symbolize luck and prosperity.
– Watch the Dragon bridge fire show: during Tet, the city often schedules extra performances for the Dragon Bridge. Usually, it’s at 9:00 PM on weekends, but during the Tet week, it may happen nightly. It will be extremely crowded, so arrive at least 45 minutes early to get a spot.
– Don’t bargain aggressively: the first sales of the year are considered an omen for the merchant’s business. Bargaining too hard or walking away without buying after a long negotiation is considered “bad luck” for the shopkeeper. If you enter a shop, try to be polite and buy something small if you’ve taken up their time.
– Learn a simple greeting: a little effort goes a long way. Use these two phrases to instantly win over locals:
+ Chúc Mừng Năm Mới! (Happy New Year!)
+ Vạn Sự Như Ý! (May everything go as you wish!)
Pro Tip: If you see children or staff at your hotel, giving a small “Lucky Money” red envelope (Li Xi) with a 20,000 or 50,000 VND note is a great way to participate in the tradition.
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes tours in Vietnam Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Other Festivals & Cultural Events in Hoi An
Besides Tet (Lunar New Year), visitors can visit these festivals in Hoi An:
+ monthly festivals: Hoi An Full Moon Lantern Festival
+ yearly festivals: First Full Moon Festival (Tet Nguyen Tieu), Mid-Autumn Festival (Tet Trung Thu, Children’s Festival), Dragon Boat Festival (Tet Doan Ngo), Hung Kings Festival, Lunar New Year (Tet Festival, Tet Nguyen Dan), Hungry Ghost Festival (Vu Lan Festival), Cold Food Festival (Tet Han Thuc), Hoi An International Food Festival, Corn Festival, Long Chu Festival, the Buddha’s Birthday (Le Phat Dan), Vu Lan Festival, Balloon Festival, Cau Bong Festival, Cau Ngu Festival, Hoi An International Choir Competition, Hoi An Japan Cultural Exchange,…
+ Other events: Vietnam Independence Day, Vietnam Reunification Day (Liberation Day), Anzac Day, Christmas, International New Year, St Patrick’s Day, An Bang Beach Food & Music Festival, Kite Festival,
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes tours and transfers in Hoi An Vietnam. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Photos, Videos about Hoi An During Tet (Lunar New Year)
Here are photos, videos about Hoi An in Lunar New Year:
