Vietnam It is a country where daily life revolves around ancestral customs, colorful festivals, and a deep respect for family. Travel alone It's not just about changing scenery: it's about entering a different way of understanding time, community, and the relationship with ancestors.
when talking about 3 traditions of Vietnam People often think of Lunar New Year, ancestor worship, and traditional weddings, but that's just the beginning. A whole universe of festivals, customs, birth and death rituals, symbolic cuisine, and legends that explain the origins of the Vietnamese people and their most iconic landscapes is woven around these traditions.
The Tết: Vietnamese Lunar New Year
Tet, or Lunar New Year, is the most important celebration in the entire Vietnamese calendarIt is celebrated between January and February, according to the lunar calendar, and marks the end of the old year and the beginning of the new one, with a huge amount of family and spiritual symbolism.
During these days, families gather at the family home to Honor your ancestors, cleanse accumulated bad luck, and attract prosperity.The home is thoroughly swept, the entrances are decorated, and offerings are prepared on the domestic altar, because it is believed that deceased relatives return to celebrate with their descendants.
One of the essential symbols of Tết is the ballA square cake made of glutinous rice, usually filled with pork and mung beans, wrapped in green leaves and cooked for hours. According to legend, this cake represents the earth and was the humble yet meaningful dish that allowed a prince to be chosen as successor to King Hung.
In the north of the country, houses are decorated with flowering peach tree branches (hoa dao)In the south, yellow apricot blossoms (hoa mai) are preferred. These flowers visually mark the arrival of the new year and are associated with good fortune, joy, and renewal.
During the Tet, they also exchange red envelopes with money (li xi) Among family members, especially from older to younger children, it's a way of wishing them luck and success. The streets fill with fireworks, music, special markets, and a very family-oriented atmosphere: many Vietnamese who live far away return to their hometown to spend these days with their loved ones.
Mid-Autumn Festival (Tết Trung Thu)
The Mid-Autumn Festival, known as Tết Trung ThuIt is celebrated on the night of the full moon of the eighth lunar month, and is closely linked to childhood, family, and gratitude for the harvestOriginally an agricultural festival to give thanks for the end of the rice harvest, today it is celebrated mainly as a great children's festival.
At this time of year, celebrities are eaten. moon cakesRound pastries filled with bean paste, salted egg yolk, or various seeds. They are not just simple sweets: they are given to family and friends as a token of appreciation, and their circular shape symbolizes wholeness, unity, and togetherness.
At night, the cities and towns fill up with children's parades with colorful lanternsChildren stroll through the streets with lanterns shaped like stars, fish, rabbits, or traditional characters, while water puppet shows, folk music, and lion and dragon dances are organized.
The deeper meaning of the holiday is Strengthening the bond between parents and children In a context of abundance after the harvest, many homes prepare trays of fruit and special sweets to offer to children, ancestors, and the moon, which is seen as a symbol of fullness and harmony.
Ancestor worship: the soul of Vietnamese culture
If there is one practice that cuts across all levels of Vietnamese society, it is ancestor worshipIt is so integrated into daily life that, more than a religion, it functions as a mental framework that orders family relationships, morality, and even important decisions.
Almost all homes, offices, and small businesses have an altar dedicated to the ancestorsLocated in the most revered place in the space, it is adorned with photos or plaques bearing the names of the deceased, incense sticks, flowers, fruit, liquor, sweets, and sometimes paper replicas of modern objects such as banknotes, houses, motorcycles, or cars.
The logic is simple: it is believed that The souls of deceased family members continue to accompany the family For two or three generations, they protect and advise her from another realm. In return, the living have a moral obligation to care for them with offerings, respect, and remembrance, so that they do not feel forgotten.
On the days of the new moon and full moon, on festival dates, or when an important project begins (moving, opening a business, the birth of a child), it is They light incense sticks and "talk" to the ancestorsasking for their support and good fortune. They are also consulted on delicate decisions, thus reinforcing the idea of ​​continuity between generations.
In the last days of the lunar year, the so-called cung tien thuongThis is a ritual to invite ancestors to "return home" and celebrate Tết with the family. Beforehand, relatives visit and clean the graves, decorating them with flowers and offerings, just as they clean and decorate the family home to welcome the new year.
The paper objects that are burned in the street—counterfeit bills, houses, clothes, cardboard mobiles—represent symbolic gifts sent to the other worldAs they burn, their "spirit" travels to the afterlife so that the ancestors can use them. Hence the small bonfires seen in neighborhoods and towns on certain dates.
This belief system promotes three key ideas: each person's life is only one part of a very long chain of generationsThe past and present can coexist; and current behavior directly influences the fate of children and grandchildren. Therefore, good conduct is not just an individual matter, but a responsibility towards future generations.
Other major religious and civic holidays
Besides Tet and Mid-Autumn, the Vietnamese calendar is full of religious festivals and national holidays that express the mixture of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and popular beliefs.
El Thanh Minh festivalOften called "Day of the Dead," it is the second most important celebration after New Year's. Families visit the graves of their relatives, carefully clean them, renew the offerings, and say prayers, thus strengthening the bond between the living and the dead.
El Vu Lan o Trung NguyenAlso known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, it is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. It is believed that on that day The souls in torment can be freed from their suffering.Therefore, families come to Buddhist temples with trays of food, flowers and fruit, and also leave offerings in courtyards and corners for those spirits without offspring to honor them.
El Vesak or Buddha's birthday It commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha. It is celebrated in the fourth lunar month with decorated temples, collective prayers, talks by monks, and the lighting of candles on floating lotus flowers, which are released into rivers and lakes with wishes for peace and wisdom.
On the civic level, the Reunification Day April 30th commemorates the fall of Saigon in 1975 and the end of the war. Major cities organize parades, fireworks, and cultural activities, highlighting national pride and the collective sacrifice that led to the country's reunification.
Hospitality and ways of relating
Hospitality is one of the country's defining characteristics: Vietnamese people love it. Invite guests to eat, share tea, and make visitors feel welcome.Repeatedly refusing an invitation can be considered impolite, so it's best to accept at least once.
If you bring gifts to a family's home, it is recommended that they be products that are hard for them to get. —something typical of their country of origin, for example— rather than cheap or common items from the local market. With children, it's better to give each one a small gift, instead of handing out a bag of sweets for them to share.
When tea is served, it is polite to be polite. Accept it and drink at least a littleEven if there's some distrust of the local water, the gesture matters more than the quantity, and it's a way of showing respect and gratitude for the hospitality.
In homes, the seating arrangements and the order of service are always respected. the hierarchy by age and statusThe elderly sit in the most prominent places and are usually served first. It is common for staff or some family members to remain apart or eat in another area when there are guests, not as a sign of disrespect, but so that the visitors feel more attended to.
In conversations, an overly direct style—openly criticizing, raising one's voice, showing anger—can be interpreted as a complete loss of self-control. Society values... self-discipline, patience, and the ability to "keep up appearances"even in tense situations. That's why people often avoid saying "no" directly and opt for roundabout or ambiguous answers.
With all this intricate web of traditions, festivals, rules of etiquette, family rituals, and ethnic and religious diversity, Vietnam showcases a culture where family, respect for ancestors, hospitality, and resilience They remain as guiding threads, even in the midst of globalization and accelerated technological change.
Approaching their customs with curiosity and respect allows one not only to travel through a fascinating country, but also to better understand how a people has managed to keep their identity alive throughout centuries of wars, occupations and transformations.