SOME OF ACTIVITIES ON TET HOLIDAY

1. Before Tet holiday

a. Calligraphy giving tradition

Black stroke is written on the red paper made people think of peace and luck charm.
Therefore, when spring came, people flocked to the calligraphy master‘s house to please
calligraphy. These parallel will be handed in their house and in front of the house like a way
to decorate and wish all the best and happiness for the next year.

b. Making Chung Cake

Banh Chung is not only a unique specialty of our country, but itself also includes a whole farming
civilization of vietnamese people. In addition, Chung Cake appears on New Year's Day to express
gratitude to heaven and earth for favorable rain and wind, for a bumper harvest to bring a
prosperous life for people.

c. Cleaning and decorating houses

In spite of being the “nightmare” of both the young and the old, cleaning and decorating houses
before Tet is a cultural custom of our nation. It not only makes our houses more spacious, but it
also helps the owners throw away anything old to welcome a new year with good luck and
fortune.

2. In the New Year’s Eve

a. Countdown events
Countdown events on New Year's Eve are becoming increasingly popular, particularly among
students and young people. The music is loud and resounding all over the world, and the
enthusiasm has seemed to flow forever in the flesh before the magnificent excitement of
thousands of flickering lights and never-ending chanting and of a burning evening. And every
time the clock strikes zero, colorful fireworks fly fast into the sky, welcoming a new year
filled with joy.
b. Watching Tao quan
“Tao quan” can be deemed an essential spiritual support in Vietnamese Tet. From the
time they were first broadcasted in 2003 until now, the characters “Ngoc Hoang, Nam
Tao, Bac Dau” and other kitchen guardians have brought about relaxing and
refreshing laughter for all Vietnamese generations. As society becomes more modern,
the pace of life becomes faster, and meaningful practices are almost forgotten or very
difficult to find in urban cities.
c. Year-end party’s meal
Besides attractive food such as jellied meat, spring roll, another Vietnamese style soup
that is well-known with many people because of the sweet and soft taste from meat
and vegetables is bamboo shoot soup. In addition, the soul of the ancestral tray must
be mentioned is sticky rice cake with some pickled small leeks. The Tet traditional
tray of food in Vietnam includes many nutrients and tastes.
 3. During Vietnam’s Lunar New Year
a. Giving Vietnamese’s lucky money

In the morning of a New Year, the children and grandchildren will come to bless them and
celebrate their grandparents and parents. After that, the older people will be happy to wish
the luck and happiness will come to their children and grandchildren in red envelopes to get
sewing with wishes for them to eat fast, study well, happy and happy in the new year.

b. Lucky Vietnamese’s New Year snacks

During Tet, every family in Vietnam prepares a special tray of snack to offer guests,
containing a variety candies, biscuits, jam, fruits; and roasted nuts are essential components
of the tray. Vietnamese people eat roasted nuts with the main purpose to create a cheerful
and friendly environment in which the hosts and the guests enjoy nuts together.

c. Going to the temple at the beginning of the year

A typical cultural feature of Vietnamese people is that the custom of going to the temple during
the first days of the new year is a beauty of spiritual culture in every Vietnamese life. Incense to
worship the temple at the beginning of the year is not only to pray for a new year of luck and
happiness, but also to express your mind and respect to the Buddha and ancestors.

d. Playing cards and bingo

Playing cards and bingo with your friends is the best option to arouse the atmosphere and avoid bored
feelings when Tet comes. Not only that but these games are also considered opportunities for you and
your friends to tightly knit together.