1/ Tet falls sometime between 19th January and 20th February on the Western

calendar.

2/ Therefore, Tet marks the beginning of spring and for agrarian people, the start
of a new year on the Lunar calendar

3/ It is the grandest and most important occasion in the year.

4/ Lunar New Year, or Tet, is Vietnam's main holiday

1/ However, a great deal of excitement still builds up well before Tet.

2/ Streets are decorated with colorful lights and red banner.

Shops are full of goods.

3/ Finally, people are busy buying gifts, cleaning and decorating their houses and
cooking traditional foods.

4/ Nowadays the holiday is much shorter.

5/ Tet's preparations and celebrations used to be spread over months.

1/ Peach blossom is traditional at Tet in the North while apricot blossom is

traditional in the South.
2/ In terms of food, the most special one is Banh Chung, which is made from
sticky rice, green beans and fatty pork

3/ First, homes are often decorated with plants and flowers at this time

4/ Mut, which is candied fruits such as sugared apples, plums or tomatoes, is also
popular.

5/ Moreover, The kumquat tree with its ripe deep orange fruits is popular
throughout the country.

1/ Thus, only positive comments should be made.

2/ Children receive their "lucky money” inside red envelopes.

3/ On the days of Tet, everyone tries to be nice and polite to each other.

4/ Specifically, People visit other family members or friends and exchange New
Year's wishes.

5/ Tet is really a meaningful time throughout the country

6/ People believe that what they do on the first day of the year will be influential in
their luck during the whole year.