Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year) 2025 & 2026: Jan. 29, Animal Sign Snake, Zodiac

Contents

When is Tet 2025?
How long does it last?
What is the animal sign of Vietnamese New Year 2025?
How long is Tet 2025 Holiday?
Vietnamese New Year day in 10 years

Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year) 2025, also known as Tet Nguyen Dan, will fall on Wednesday, January 29th, 2025, marking the beginning of the Year of the Snake. As a public holiday, Vietnamese people will get 7 days off from January 27th (Monday, 29/12 lunar calendar) to February 2nd (Sunday, 06/01 lunar calendar) in 2025.

Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year) 2025 & 2026: Jan. 29, Animal Sign Snake, Zodiac

IN A NUTSHELL

2025 is the Year of the Snake (Tỵ).
The 2025 Tet holiday will last for 7 days, from January 27th to February 2nd, 2025.
Tet 2025 will fall on January 29, 2025.

When is Tet 2025?

Peach blossom - Photo: @_su_xinh_ / Instagram

The Vietnamese New Year, known as Tet, will be celebrated on January 29, 2025, in the Gregorian calendar and on January 1, 2025, according to the Lunar calendar. The date of Tet varies each year due to the leap months in the Lunar Calendar, but it typically occurs between late January and early February.

The term "Tet" is an abbreviation of "Tet Nguyen Dan," which translates to the celebration of the first morning of the year. This festival is the most significant event in Vietnamese culture, marking the transition from the old year to the new, as well as the connection between the cycles of nature and life. It is a time for honoring ancestors, family reunions, and showing gratitude.

How long does it last?

As the festival approaches, many Vietnamese begin preparations weeks or even months in advance. Tet is recognized as a public holiday that generally spans around 7 official days, but celebrations can last for over 20 days in total.

Tet in 2025 will be observed from December 23, 2024, to January 15, 2025, based on the Lunar calendar. The festivities comprise a variety of activities, each holding spiritual significance for the Vietnamese people.

The Tet celebration can be categorized into three key periods:

Pre-New Year's Eve (December 23-30)
New Year's Eve (December 30)
The New Year (January 1-15)

	Lunar dates	Activities	Meanings
Before New Year’s Eve	December 23	Kitchen God Day - Clean altar, set offerings, release carp @tygonhongtrongnangmai81191	Also called Tet Ong Cong - Ong Tao, this day honors the kitchen gods who oversee household affairs. Families bid farewell to these deities as they return to heaven for their annual report. Cleaning the altar, preparing offerings, and releasing carp are rituals assisting the gods on their journey.
	December 24 - 30	Wrap Chung Cake - Tet Cake Wrapping Chung cake	Chung Cake, or Tet Cake, is a staple enjoyed during Tet celebrations. Families gather to prepare these cakes (typically between December 26 and 28 in the Lunar calendar) as offerings and for festive meals.
		Clean and decorate house	To create a welcoming atmosphere, Vietnamese homes are cleaned and decorated. This practice symbolizes the elimination of bad luck and the preparation for good fortune in the coming year.
		Prepare five-fruit trays @linhlydinh	The five-fruit tray embodies abundance and prosperity. Preparing this tray for ancestors shows respect and symbolizes prayers for a fruitful, joyful new year.
		Visit ancestor’s grave	Before Tet, it is customary for Vietnamese people to clean and place incense at the graves of their ancestors as a sign of gratitude for past blessings and a prayer for health and happiness in the new year.
New Year’s Eve	December 30	Give offerings to ancestor’s altar	Presenting a lavish food spread on the ancestor's altar is a crucial ritual. It symbolizes the farewell to the old year and a heartfelt invitation for ancestors to celebrate Tet with the family.
New Year’s Eve	December 30	“Xống đất” - first visit in the house	Traditionally, the first visitor to enter a home in the new year is thought to bring luck. This person should embody a good spirit and possess traits aligned with the family's astrology.
The New Year	January 1	Visit relatives on father’s side	Traditionally, the first day of the year is spent visiting the father's relatives. After honoring close family, they extend well wishes to other relatives. Family members often exchange lucky money for good health and longevity, particularly from elders to children.
	January 2	Visit relatives on mother’s side	On the second day, families visit the mother's relatives, continuing the cycle of well-wishing.
	January 3	Visit teachers	Recognizing the hard work of educators, Vietnamese students traditionally visit their teachers with gifts on the third day of the new year.
	January 4 - 5	Visit other relatives, neighborhoods, friends	The holiday period is also an opportunity to reconnect with friends and further family, often accompanied by discussions of past events and future plans. This time may include trips to the pagoda for blessings or simply unwinding at home in preparation to return to work.
	January 15	Tet Nguyen Tieu	Also known as "Ram Thang Gieng," this is the first full moon of the lunar year. Many Vietnamese observe this day as one of reverence, often visiting temples to pray for happiness and success in the year ahead.

What is the animal sign of Vietnamese New Year 2025?

According to the traditional 12-animal zodiac, each year is associated with a specific animal, which follows a cyclic order. The sequence includes rat, ox, tiger, cat, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Following the Year of the Dragon in 2024, the Vietnamese New Year in 2025 will be the Year of the Snake.

The snake is a symbol of wisdom, mystery, ambition, and transformation. Those born in the Year of the Snake (including the years 2025, 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, and 1941) are believed to reflect calmness, high intuition, and adaptability.

Furthermore, 2025 is anticipated as an auspicious year for childbirth, as it is thought that babies born in the Year of the Snake will possess thoughtful personalities and a strong potential for growth.

How long is Tet 2025 Holiday?

Tet is recognized as the longest public holiday in Vietnam. Depending on employment status and work schedules, the Tet holiday varies from 5 to 9 days. In 2025, the holiday is scheduled to last for 7 days, from January 27 (28th of Lunar December) to February 2, 2025 (5th of Lunar January). This schedule may change as directed by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs as Tet approaches.

Tet 2025 schedule (Photo credit: Vnexpress.net)

Although this schedule applies to government officials, employees, and students, private companies and organizations in Vietnam may choose their own holiday timelines.

Vietnamese New Year day in 10 years

Tet Decoration in Hoi An - Photo: @econd2none.travel / Instagram

While the specific date for Vietnamese New Year changes annually, the celebration period and its traditions remain consistent. Tet falls between late January and early February in Vietnam. The timeline for the festival over the next decade is outlined in the table below:

Vietnamese New Year	Date	Animal sign
2024	February 10	Dragon (Thìn)
2025	January 29	Snake (Tị)
2026	February 17	Horse (Ngọ)
2027	February 6	Goat (Mùi)
2028	January 26	Monkey (Thân)
2029	February 13	Rooster (Dậu)
2030	February 3	Dog (Tuất)
2031	January 23	Pig (Hợi)
2032	February 11	Rat (Tý)
2033	January 31	Buffalo (Sửu)