Vietnamese Festivals

Tet is the most important Vietnamese holiday. It marks the beginning of spring and the celebration of New Year. The three-day festivals are time for reunion with family, gift exchanges, and best wishes for the New Year.

Phao No

Phao No is the first day of Tet and it marks the beginning of New Year in the Lunar calendar. Many are careful with their action because what they do in the in the first week will determine fortune for the year. To start out they paint and clean their house. Bills and debts should be paid and new clothes are purchased. The first guest to the house is very important. They make sure that the first visitor is rich, happy and kind.

Le Tao Quan

It is the feast of the household Gods or Le Tao Quan. On this day the Kitchen god return to the heavens to report on the family activities. The previous spirit is replace by a new spirit for the coming year. On this day families offer the kitchen god fish for his journey to the heavens and burn him gold paper.

Le Giao Thua

This event occurs during Tet between the old and New Year. It is the most important event during Tet, which occurs during midnight on New Year's Eve. On this occasion families usher out the old spirit and welcome the new spirit. At this hour firecrackers are set off.

Cay Neu

It is a bamboo pole decorated with re paper. Planted outside of the house to scare off the evil spirit while the old spirit leaves for the heavens.