Traditional Vietnamese customs for lucky new year

Every time Tet and Spring come, Vietnamese people eagerly go shopping for kumquats, peaches, and apricots to decorate their homes.

First of all, the custom of displaying kumquats, peaches, and apricots during Tet days among the Vietnamese people is mentioned. The bright red pink color of peach blossoms not only creates a cheerful spring atmosphere, but it also has the meaning of repelling evil spirits and bringing good luck in the new year. The most popular type of peach is the one with large, many-petaled, dark-colored flowers. The kumquat tree is also the tree chosen by families in every Tet and spring since the tree symbolizes prosperity, fortune, and success. Apricot blossoms with a bright yellow color are a symbol of glory, success, fertility, and luck in the new year.

Traditional Vietnamese five-fruit tray.

The custom of displaying a five-fruit tray is an indispensable custom of Vietnamese people during the New Year celebration. “Ngũ” is the number 5, a symbolic number of life such as the five elements, five spices, five colors, five organs, etc. Fruits represent prosperity, abundance, and flowering. Each region has a different way of displaying the five fruits, but each fruit has a special meaning. On the days near Tet, people often eagerly go to the market to buy traditional fruits such as green bananas, pomelos, dragon fruits, tangerines, apples, pears... to display the most beautiful five-fruit tray on the family altar. A perfect, round tray of five fruits, full of five elements for convenience, prosperity, and luck.

The Vietnamese concept of “xông đất” (first footing) is also a very unique feature.

The Vietnamese concept of first footing on the first day of the year is also a very unique feature. Vietnamese people believe that the first person to come home after New Year's Eve or on the first day of Tet will decide everything for the whole year. The person invited by the homeowner is usually someone of the right age, healthy, successful, and good-natured, with the hope that they will bring luck to the whole family. The first person to enter the residence will greet the homeowner and wish them well. Such people themselves also receive the blessings.

The custom of giving lucky money and wishing longevity at the beginning of the year has become a meaningful traditional culture in every Vietnamese family.

The custom of giving lucky money and wishing longevity at the beginning of the year has been preserved for hundreds of years and has created a meaningful traditional culture in every Vietnamese family. Accordingly, the first morning of Tet is the time when children and grandchildren gather to wish their grandparents and parents a long life, expressing filial piety and respect for the elders in the family. Children will receive red envelopes containing new coins called “opening money” to help them grow up quickly and have lots of fun and luck in the new year.

The custom of asking for calligraphy letters.

The custom of asking for calligraphy letters at the beginning of the year is a cultural beauty of the Vietnamese people, symbolizing the tradition of studiousness and respect for words. People often go to the homes of the elderly, temples or Temples of Literature to ask for words with good meanings such as Phúc, Lộc, Đức... to pray for a lucky and fulfilling new year. The graceful and flowery handwriting on red or yellow paper has spiritual meaning and brings a solemn atmosphere to the spring day.

Pagoda worship is a cultural beauty of the Vietnamese people.

The custom of pagoda worship at the beginning of the year is an indispensable spiritual activity at the beginning of spring for Vietnamese people. Normally, after the meal on New Year’s Eve, the women in the family often prepare the ceremony and go to the temple near their home to pray for blessings. Instead of picking fortune, people often buy sugar cane, begonia flowers or bamboo branches to bring good luck to their families. At the beginning of the year, people often take spring trips to many famous pilgrimage destinations to pray for their families' well-being and prosperity.