If you’re planning to be in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City for the Vietnam New Year 2025, don't expect a wild party. Honestly, if you walk out into the streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter on the actual morning of Tet, you might think the city was evacuated. It’s quiet. Eerily quiet.
Tet Nguyen Dan—that’s the formal name—is essentially the heartbeat of Vietnamese culture, but for a tourist, it’s a logistical puzzle. In 2025, the Year of the Wood Snake officially kicks off on January 29. However, the country basically hits the "pause" button starting from January 27 and doesn't really ramp back up until early February. People always say it’s the best time to visit Vietnam. They’re halfway right. It’s the best time to see the soul of the country, but it’s arguably the worst time to try and check off a standard "Top 10 Things to Do" list.
The Wood Snake and the Jan 29 Kickoff
The lunar calendar is a fickle thing for western travelers used to fixed dates. For Vietnam New Year 2025, the transition from the Dragon to the Snake happens late in January. The Snake is seen as a symbol of wisdom and a sort of calm, calculated energy. It’s not the flashy, fiery energy of the Dragon.
Expect people to be a bit more reflective this year.
The "Golden Week" of Vietnam usually spans about seven to nine days. For 2025, the official government holiday schedule typically sees offices and banks closing from the 26th or 27th of January. If you have visa paperwork or banking needs, do them before the 25th. If you wait, you’re stuck.
What Actually Happens in the Streets?
Everyone talks about the flowers. It’s not just a "decoration" thing; it's a social requirement. In the North, it’s all about the Peach Blossom (Hoa Đào). In the South, you’ll see the Yellow Mai flower (Hoa Mai).
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Walk through the Ho Thi Ky flower market in Saigon or the Quang Ba market in Hanoi around January 24th. It’s chaos. Pure, beautiful, exhaust-fumed chaos. Thousands of motorbikes are zipping by with six-foot-tall kumquat trees strapped to the back. It’s a miracle of physics. These trees represent fertility and fruitfulness for the coming year. If the tree has lots of fruit, the family is happy.
But then, the "Ghost Town" effect happens.
On the night of January 28, 2025 (New Year’s Eve), the energy peaks with fireworks at places like Hoan Kiem Lake or the Saigon Riverfront. Then? Silence. On the morning of the 29th, shops close. Family altars are loaded with Banh Chung (sticky rice cakes) and boiled chickens with roses in their beaks. This is the time of Xong Dat, the first footing. The first person to enter a house after midnight determines the family's luck for the whole year. If you’re a traveler, don’t just wander into a local’s house uninvited on the 29th—you might accidentally be blamed for their bad luck for the next 12 months.
Surviving the Logistics of 2025
Let’s talk about the stuff that actually matters for your wallet.
Transport is a nightmare.
Between January 20 and February 5, 2025, every bus, train, and plane will be booked. Millions of people are moving from the big cities back to their rural provinces. This is called "the Great Migration."
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- Train tickets on the Reunification Express usually sell out months in advance.
- Airfares jump by 200% or 300% on domestic routes like Da Nang to Hanoi.
- Grab (the local Uber) becomes harder to hail because drivers are home eating rice cakes with their moms.
The Food Situation
You will not starve. You will, however, pay more. Many restaurants close for the first three days of Vietnam New Year 2025. The ones that stay open often have a "Tet Menu" with a 20-30% surcharge. It’s fair—they’re paying their staff extra to work during the biggest holiday of the year.
Misconceptions About the "Snake" Year
People think the Year of the Snake is unlucky because, well, snakes. Actually, in Vietnamese zodiac lore, the Snake (Rắn) is often associated with the "Small Dragon." It’s a year for pivoting.
If 2024 was about big, loud moves, 2025 is about the pivot.
Where to Go (And Where to Avoid)
If you want the "real" experience, go to Hanoi. The mist, the cold air (yes, it gets cold—bring a jacket), and the tradition are palpable. The scent of incense around the Temple of Literature is something you’ll never forget.
If you want to actually do things, go to Hoi An. Because it’s such a heavy tourist hub, many shops stay open. The lantern-lit streets are stunning, though crowded.
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Avoid Ha Long Bay on the actual New Year days (Jan 28-30). Many cruise operators reduce staffing or pause departures. Those that do run are often packed with domestic tourists. It’s not the serene escape you see in the brochures.
The Banh Chung Reality Check
You’re going to be offered Banh Chung. It’s a heavy, square block of glutinous rice, mung bean, and fatty pork wrapped in dong leaves. It’s heavy. It’s dense. It’s also a labor of love that takes 12 hours to boil.
Honestly? It’s an acquired taste for many foreigners. But eating it is a sign of respect. Pro tip: If you find it too heavy, ask for the fried version (Banh Chung Chien). It’s crispy, savory, and goes great with pickled scallions.
Essential "New Year" Etiquette
- Don't wear black or white. These are traditional funeral colors. Stick to red or yellow. It’s cliché, but it matters.
- Don't argue. Raising your voice during the first few days of the New Year is seen as an omen that you'll be angry all year.
- Li Xi (Lucky Money). If you’re visiting friends, bring small, crisp bills in red envelopes. Give them to the kids and the elderly. The amount doesn't matter as much as the newness of the bill.
A Note on Money and Safety
ATM machines sometimes run out of cash right before Tet because everyone is withdrawing money for gifts and travel. Get your cash out by January 25th.
Pickpocketing in crowded areas like the flower markets can happen, but generally, Vietnam is incredibly safe. The biggest "danger" is just the frustration of everything being closed.
Actionable Steps for 2025 Travelers
If you are coming for Vietnam New Year 2025, you need a "Tet Strategy."
- Book your accommodation by October 2024. Don't wing it. Many smaller homestays close so owners can visit family.
- Pick one city and stay put. Between Jan 27 and Feb 1, do not try to travel between cities. The infrastructure is stretched to the breaking point. Pick Hanoi, Hue, or Saigon and just soak it in.
- Learn the greeting. "Chuc Mung Nam Moi" (Chook Moong Nam Moy). Say it to everyone. It opens doors.
- Stock up on snacks. Buy some groceries on Jan 27th. You’ll want them when you realize the Banh Mi shop on the corner is closed for the first time in 365 days.
- Check museum schedules. The War Remnants Museum and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum usually close for several days. Check their official websites (or what passes for them) about a week before you arrive.
Vietnam during Tet is a test of patience but a reward for the senses. It's the smell of peach blossoms and the sound of firecrackers (well, digital recordings of them, mostly, since the real ones were banned years ago). It’s a time when the country looks inward. If you’re okay with a slower pace and some closed doors, it’s the most authentic version of Vietnam you’ll ever see.