Where to stay: The Mystery Con Dao offers a calm, understated retreat close to the town centre. Its minimalist design and quiet setting make it particularly suited to travellers seeking reflection rather than festivity.
What to do: se Booking.com to arrange a Con Dao Prison & History Tour before the vigil to understand the island’s profound role in Vietnam’s past.
2. The “Charcoal Tet”: Gie Trieng, Quang Ngai
In Vietnam’s Central Highlands, the Gie Trieng people welcome the new year by quite literally covering it in black. Young men burn selected forest trees to create charcoal, carry it back to the village, and then mix and playfully throw it over fellow villagers. The belief is simple: the more charcoal that clings to you, the more luck the year ahead will bring. The ritual is joyful, chaotic, and deeply communal.
Where to stay: Y.O Inn is one of Kon Tum’s highest-rated stays, offering a comfortable base with easy access to nearby ethnic villages while maintaining a distinctly local character.
What to do: Ask your hotel to arrange a Kon K’tu Village trekking tour to meet Bahnar and Giẻ Triêng communities and learn how their Tết traditions differ from the lowlands.
3. Imperial Grandeur: The Royal Cay Neu Ceremony, Hue
In the ancient capital of Huế, Tet begins as it once did for emperors. Inside the Imperial City, guards dressed in 19th-century court attire raise the Cay Neu, a tall bamboo pole believed to ward off evil spirits. The ceremony marks the official start of the royal holiday and offers a rare glimpse into Vietnam’s dynastic rituals, revived only during this time of year.
Where to stay: Azerai La Residence Hue, a former colonial residence overlooking the Perfume River, mirrors the city’s imperial elegance. Its refined, heritage-led design makes it an ideal setting for experiencing Huế’s ceremonial Tet.
What to do: A Private Citadel & Royal Tombs Tour allows a guide to explain the symbolism of Tết motifs embedded in the palace architecture - details most travellers miss.
4. Fruit Rituals and Flower Boats: Can Tho
In southern Vietnam, Tet speaks through wordplay and water. Families prepare a fruit tray based on a linguistic pun: custard apple (cầu), coconut (dừa), papaya (đu đủ), and mango (xoài), together sounding like a wish for just enough prosperity to live comfortably. At sunrise, head to Cái Răng Floating Market, where boats brim with yellow flowers, turning the river into a floating garden.
Where to stay: Set on a separate Au island, Legacy Mekong, Can Tho, Autograph Collection offers a serene counterpoint to the bustling waterways. Its low-rise architecture and open landscape suit slow, observational travel during Tết.
What to do: A Sunrise Floating Market & Orchard Tour booked through Booking.com often includes a visit to a local home to witness the “ancestor invitation” meal prepared on the first days of the new year.
5. Timeless Heritage: The Stone Village of Cao Bang
Near the Chinese border, Tet unfolds against a dramatic limestone landscape. In Khuoi Ky Village, the Tay people live in 1,200-year-old stone houses, and their New Year celebrations feature singing and quiet merit-making trips to Ban Gioc Waterfall. The atmosphere is raw and understated, far removed from urban festivities.
Where to stay: Pa Hideaway – Thac Ban Gioc is a small boutique retreat built in harmony with local stone architecture, offering comfort without disrupting the landscape.
What to do: Many local hosts offer guided hikes to Nguom Ngao Cave, beautifully illuminated during the New Year period.
6. Lion Dances in Ancient Merchant Houses, Hoi An
Lion dances are common across Vietnam, but nowhere do they feel as atmospheric as in Hoi An. Drumbeats echo through the narrow alleys of the Hoi An Ancient Town, weaving past mustard-yellow merchant houses that have stood for over two centuries. Between performances, locals gather for Bài Chòi - a traditional singing bingo game played directly in the streets.
Where to stay: Nostalgia Boutique Hotel enjoys a central location, allowing guests to step directly into the Old Town’s lively streets while retreating to quieter spaces when needed.
What to do: A Lantern Making Workshop during Tet focuses on auspicious shapes such as “lucky peaches,” making for a meaningful souvenir rather than a generic keepsake.
7. A Nostalgic Northern Tet, Duong Lam Village
Just 50 kilometres from Hanoi, Duong Lam preserves the rhythms of an older northern Tet. The village’s laterite (red clay) houses, communal gates, and calligraphy scrolls create a sense of stepping back in time. Village elders gather for tea and offerings exactly as they have for generations, offering a quiet counterpoint to the capital’s energy.
