Tet in Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most unique experiences because you see an entirely different side of the city.
Tet is the Vietnamese Lunar New Year (typically celebrated sometime at the end of January or the beginning of February) and is the biggest holiday in the country.
I’ve been lucky enough to spend Tet in Ho Chi Minh City, and it was a unique experience. In this post, we’ll talk about what to expect during Tet in Saigon, the must-know dos and don’ts for spending Tet in Saigon, and some other practical information before traveling to HCMC during Tet.
When Is Tet in Ho Chi Minh City?
Tet 2026 will be celebrated in HCMC on February 17th.
Tet begins on the first day of the first month of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, so the date changes from year to year on the Gregorian calendar. The lunar cycle determines the exact date (the same as the Chinese New Year).
Tet marks the arrival of Spring based on the lunar calendar and coincides with the New Moon. Here’s a list of the dates of Tet in the past and future:
- Tet 2023: Sunday, January 22nd 2023 (public holiday from Fri Jan 20th-Thurs Jan 26th)
- Tet 2024: Saturday, February 10th 2024 (public holiday from Thu Feb 8th-Wed Feb 14th)
- Tet 2025: Wednesday, January 29th 2025 (public holiday from Sat Jan 26th-Sun Feb 2nd)
- Tet 2026: Tuesday, February 17th 2026 (public holiday TBA)
So this year, the official day of Tet 2026 in HCMC is Tuesday, February 17th. Tet celebrations almost always last a week.
What To Expect During Tet in Saigon
Think of Tet in Vietnam as Christmas in New York City (and maybe even bigger). Vietnam doesn’t have that many public holidays; Tet is the biggest one, and people go all out. That includes decorations, flowers, music, photos, local food, etc.
If you’re going to be in Ho Chi Minh City during Tet, here are the most important things to expect:
Business closures and operating hours
Business closures are probably the biggest thing you’ll notice with Tet in Ho Chi Minh City. Not all businesses close, but many do, at least for a few days (some close for the entire week). It’s so much more than your usual holiday closures, too.
Shopping malls, big grocery stores, and all local restaurants shut down. Super big chains like 7/11 and Family Mart stay open, but fresh shipments stop for a few days, so things like fresh fruit and prepared foods become limited.
Many stores that stay open have limited hours (usually closing a little earlier and opening up later during the week of Tet).
Higher prices at restaurants and stores
Don’t get me wrong; many restaurants are open during Tet (especially in the city center or around the Thao Dien district, where many foreigners live). However, many of these restaurants will have higher prices (so they can pay employees a higher wage for working through the holidays).
This is normal; tipping and higher salaries are expected yearly during Tet. Do not complain if your bill is higher; instead, be grateful some places are still open.
City atmosphere and traffic
One of the coolest things about being in Ho Cho Minh City for Tet is the city’s atmosphere and (lack of) traffic. As you may know, driving in HCMC is chaotic, and traffic is one of the most dangerous things in the city. But many people go home during the holiday, and the streets look more like ghost towns.
During Tet 2024 in Ho Chi Minh, we spent several days exploring the city’s outskirts, stopping at a few open rare coffee shops, and soaking in the peace and quiet.
There’s not a huge difference in the city center (you might notice MORE people congregating in certain areas, like in photographic spots, pagodas, and popular attractions). Still, you see it on the highways and city outskirts.
Tet Holiday Guide HCMC: Dos and Don’ts During Tet
Based on my experience in Ho Chi Minh City during Tet, here’s an overview of the biggest DOS and DON’TS if you’re sticking around for the holidays.
DO: Book your hotel early
The biggest concern isn’t that all the hotels in the city will get booked; the biggest concern is whether some hotels close (or limit guests) during the holidays. It’s hard to get anything done the closer you get to the holiday, so I recommend not putting anything off.
Book your hotel early, and please take care of your Vietnam visa well before the holidays. Immigration functions at the bare minimum the whole week of Tet, so apply well before the Tet holiday.
DO: Plan ahead and stock up
Probably the most inconvenient thing about Tet in HCM (as a traveler) is that not everything is open, including grocery stores, supermarkets, and shopping malls. Even if you plan on eating out for every meal, try to stock up on the necessities in the days leading up to Tet, just in case.
If you’re just backpacking through, this might just be having a few snacks in your hotel room and some extra water. If you stay longer in the city, you should stock your fridge and pantry with enough food for about 5-7 days.
We were told all of this before Tet. We stocked up and still didn’t stock up enough (granted, we stayed about an hour outside the city in a more local neighborhood).
DO: Learn basic Tet greetings
Tet is by far the biggest and most important holiday in Vietnam, and there’s no other place in the world that celebrates Tet the way they do in Vietnam. The least you can do is learn some basic Tet greetings to show appreciation and share the holiday with the locals. Here are a few phrases to practice:
- Chúc mừng năm mới – Happy New Year (if you only learn one phrase, this should be the one)
- Sức khỏe dồi dào – Plenty of health
- Vạn sự như ý – May all things go favorably
Vietnamese is not easy to learn, so you might have to hop on YouTube and find videos that help with pronunciation, like this How to Wish Happy Tet in Vietnamese.
DO: Stay near the city center
If you’re just in the city for a short time around Tet, I highly recommend staying in the city center (in District 1). Not only will most things be open (as far as restaurants and bars are concerned), but there are usually a lot of fun activities. The Nguyen Hue Walking Street (which stretches from the river to the city’s town hall) usually has some shows and presentations for the holiday.
If you stay in the center, you’ll be near all the action.
DO: Carry red packets for children
In Vietnamese culture, it’s tradition for older people to give little red packets to children around Tet (usually on the first day of the Lunar New Year).
Last year during Tet, I carried around little red packets (you can buy them at almost any store, including 7/11, and many stores give them out for free leading up to Tet) with around 20,000 VND (0.80 USD) in it and gave them to young children. The kids and families loved it. They seemed a bit surprised but super thankful and excited about it.
Nothing is ever expected of foreigners during Tet. The locals know it’s not a Western celebration, but the little things can go a long way.
DO: Tip if a business you frequent is open
It’s required to pay employees more during Tet, so many places already charge higher prices to compensate. However, you should also tip a little extra to eat out or hang out at bars. Tet is a massive holiday, and I’m sure very few Vietnamese enjoy working during the holidays. Most are probably working because they have to.
Tipping is not customary in Vietnam, but I usually tip up to 10% of the bill or leave the remainder of my change when I eat at nicer restaurants. During Tet, I always tip a little extra to show my appreciation.
DO: Enjoy and appreciate the culture
Tet is a special holiday, and HCMC is almost unrecognizable during the holiday (especially on the city’s outskirts). Enjoy the local culture and try to soak it all in. This can look like stopping for pictures at all the popular photo spots in the city, visiting a pagoda, or handing out red packets to local children. Either way, enjoy being lucky enough to be in Vietnam during the most important holiday of the year.
DON’T: Expect normal business hours
As mentioned, Tet in HCMC is a big deal. It’s a big deal everywhere in the country, and many places close for 2-7 days. It’s best to have no expectations and prepare for the holiday as best you can.
DON’T: Plan major travel around Tet
Most Vietnamese travel home for the holiday, and if they aren’t traveling home, they’re going on vacation themselves. So, airports, buses, and train stations get crazy in the days leading up to Tet and the days following.
I strongly suggest avoiding all major travel around Tet. If you have to, try to book everything well in advance and prepare for higher prices.
DON’T: Be surprised by price increases
As mentioned, things can be more expensive during Tet. Don’t complain about a small price increase. It’s the holiday, and things are already very affordable in Vietnam.
DON’T: Apply for a rushed visa during Tet
As mentioned earlier, immigration functions on the bare minimum during the week of Tet. This means things like visas take longer than usual and rarely get issued on Tet. Do not leave visa concerns until the last minute if you travel to Vietnam during Tet. Make sure this is all taken care of and ready to go with plenty of time.
Unfortunately, I heard many stories of travelers getting stuck at the airport because they heard the Vietnam visa only takes 3-5 days to receive, but they applied during Tet. It usually takes a few days, but it can take up to 1-2 weeks around the Tet holiday.
Where To Celebrate Tet in Ho Chi Minh City
There are many great things to do in HCMC, but things are a little more chaotic during Tet. If you’re looking specifically for the best places to go during Tet, here are some ideas:
- Floating Market Flower Festival (tren ben duoi thuyen) (Google Maps location): This area fills up with boats with flowers and Tet trees for Tet. This year, the festivals and celebrations start on Thursday, January 23rd and will be there until the day of Tet. There are bridges overlooking the river with nice lookouts, lots of flowers, and even a cultural show. I think it’s the place to be for Tet in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Tao Dan Park (Google Maps location): In the past, this was one of the most popular places to celebrate Tet in HCMC, but it’s closed until February 2025, so there will be no Tet activities this year.
- Nguyen Hue Walking Street (Google Maps location): This popular walking street runs from the river to the city hall. Around Tet, there are usually great decorations and concerts.
- Ben Thanh Market (Google Maps location): The most popular tourist market in the city is open through Tet. It usually has good decorations, special Tet treats for sale, and lots of people taking pictures out front. Just be aware of scams and expect even more intense bargaining.
- Takashimaya/Saigon Centre (Google Maps location): This is a luxury mall in the city center. They usually have tons of seasonal decorations throughout the year, so it’s a fun place to swing by for a photo or two.
- Notre Dame Saigon Cathedral (Google Maps location): This cathedral, in the city center, usually does a celebration for all major holidays, including lots of beautiful lights. It’s a good place to walk by for a photo.
- Pagodas: Pagodas all around the city have different Tet celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City. They are most lively a few days leading up to Tet but continue for the entire week.
You should also ask your hotel receptionist or any locals you meet where all the good celebrations are. There’s almost always something going on leading up to Tet, and locations change, so just try to do some groundwork to catch a local celebration or event.
Brief Guide For Expats Celebrating Tet in Ho Chi Minh City
All of the above tips for Tet in Ho Chi Minh City are specifically for travelers passing through the city during the holidays. These tips also apply to expats/immigrants/nomads spending their first Tet in Ho Chi Minh City. However, there are a few other notes I’d like to share for those who are in the city for a longer period:
- Give anyone who works for you regularly a Tet bonus: Tet bonuses are common practice and are given to most regular employees. The bonuses range from 1-10 months’ worth of salary (depending on their job and salary). For expats and immigrants living in Vietnam, you should give a Tet bonus to people you regularly employ, usually cleaners, childcare providers/babysitters, personal drivers, and personal chefs. I recommend 1-2 months’ worth of pay for them.
- Make sure you get motorbike maintenance done before Tet: As mentioned, most things shut down during Tet, including the Xe May shops that’ll fix your motorbike. If you plan on driving around during Tet, fix any maintenance issues ahead of time.
- If a local invites you to spend Tet with their family, jump on that invite: The best way to experience Tet is with a local family. If someone from work or a friend invites you home to spend Tet with their family, jump on that offer. It’s a cool experience and a great way to learn more about local traditions and Tet traditions in Saigon.
- Seriously, stock up: I’ve already mentioned it before, but it‘s worth re-emphasizing. We stocked up, but figured all the main places would still be open, so we didn’t stock up nearly enough, which was a mistake.
The most important piece of advice I have for you is to have fun. Embrace the culture and enjoy the decorations, music, and overall positive vibe of the city.
Should You Visit Ho Chi Minh During Tet?
To be honest, I don’t think you should go out of your way to celebrate Tet in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a fun holiday, with a handful of fun celebrations around the city, but it isn’t the best place in Vietnam for Tet. Hanoi has even more events and activities; real celebrations occur in small villages.
Ho Chi Minh City is very much a transient city, most people who live here aren’t from here, so many people go home and many things close down. It’s cool to see the city in a calmer state of mind, but other than that, there’s not too much to write home about.
That said, I think the festivities, decorations, and excitement leading up to Tet (starting about 2 weeks before Tet) are electric.
What do you think, have you heard of Tet before? Where would you want to celebrate Tet in Vietnam? Let us know!
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