February 4 – February 8, 2019
Besides the idyllic weather, visiting Vietnam during the Tet celebration can be a wonderful time, but it does pose a specific set of challenges and has some nuances. Because of this we have put together an overview of a sample itinerary that will highlight the best Vietnam has to offer during the Tet celebration.
Realize that because the Tet celebration is the most significant time of year for the Vietnamese people, many people are traveling long distances to return home from work and studies, or are returning to the grave sites of their ancestors. Because of this, a well planned itinerary will help you avoid unnecessary congestion and avoid inconvenient delays and business closures.
About two weeks before the Tet celebration, many temporary flower markets will arise out of nowhere, setting up their shops on streets, sidewalks and other public places and begin selling bonsais, flowers, kumquat, and apricot trees. The vibrant patchwork color created by these markets along with the influx of shoppers and merry makers makes these markets a must see.
Buying potted plants and flowers of various sizes for the Tet celebration is not only a tradition that allows families to decorate their houses and altars, but is also meant to be for the refreshment of one’s spirit for the coming year. The fresh flora and fauna brings about feelings of optimism, a joy of living, and reminds each family about all they experienced the previous year.
In particular, the Mandarin Orange Tree through its shape and characteristics brings the hope of good luck and prosperity. The flowers of this tree represent the incoming year, the buds represent renewal and even more luck, while the green fruits represent the income to be realized in the coming year, and the ripe orange fruits represent the bounteous windfall that has already come to the family.
During the Tet celebration, you cannot say enough about the Earth Cake – ‘Banh Chung’. This heavy and dense cake is used by all people to give thanks and show gratitude to Mother Earth and their ancestors for a bountiful harvest and the fulfillment of wishes for happiness.
We hope that this brief description will wet your appetite to visit Vietnam during the Tet celebration. It really can be a magical time to visit, and we look forward to helping you maximize your time and assuring you have only the best of experiences while in Vietnam. As mentioned, below is a sample outline of a twelve day tour that takes you to visit all three regions of Vietnam where you will discover the differences in culture, religion and customs as they pertain to the most lively celebration of the year, the celebration of Tet.
Prices vary depending on level of accommodation, group size and dates of travel.
Contact us to customize a vacation itinerary and price to meet your needs and budget.
Day 1: Arrival Hanoi
You will visit the flower garden in the afternoon. Follow by the water puppet show.
Day 2: The tour in Hanoi
You will spend a half day to visit the capital of Hanoi including Ho Chi Minh complex and the temple of Literature. You will see the the Bat Trang pottery village in the afternoon and enjoy the traditional music performed by the villagers.
Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long
The journey takes you to Ha Long Bay where you board one of the best wooden boats. The meals will be provided on board, and usually based on fresh seafood.
Day 4: Ha Long – Hue
Today you will board a noon flight to Hue from Ha Long bay.
Day 5: Hue tour
You learn how to make ‘Mut’ Tet’ and having lunch at a garden house. In the afternoon you’ll visit the ancient citadel of Hue – the imperial capital of Vietnam under Nguyen Dynasty between 1802 and 1945, and see the bustling Dong Ba market.
Day 6: Hue and the traditional
The highlights of the tour today are taking a boat trip to Perfume Pagoda, then to the tomb of an Emperor, call in handicraft villages: conical hat making, incense, and traditional painting in Hue.
Day 7: Hue onto Hoi An
The journey takes you approx 3 hours driving from Hue and only 40 minutes to Hoi An from Danang. You will take a walking tour of the delightful town of Hoi An
Day 8: Rural life in Hoi An
The tour today enable you experience the daily life of local people in a vegetable village.
Day 9: Danang to Ho Chi Minh City
The tour will give you a feel for the city of Saigon. You will also wonder to the flower street as the area becomes a popular place for photographs as Tet come closer
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta
You’ll cruise down tributaries and water ways and explore the Delta, learn making ‘Banh Tet’, and spend the night at a local house.
Day 11: Return Ho Chi Minh City from Mekong Delta
You will have a change to visit the floating market and traditional cottage industries before driven back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 12: Departure
Take a flight back home.
