Vietnamese New Year (Tết) marks the lunar new year with family gatherings, ancestral veneration, and fresh starts. Send invitations for Tết celebrations, reunions, and festive dinners.

About Vietnamese New Year

Tết Nguyên Đán, or Vietnamese New Year, falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, typically in late January or early February. It is the most important celebration in Vietnamese culture, spanning multiple days of family reunions, temple visits, and feasts. Tết invitations should include the date, time, and location of gatherings—whether home dinners, temple ceremonies, or community celebrations. They often communicate the significance of renewal and respect for ancestors. Key traditions include cleaning homes to remove bad luck, exchanging monetary gifts (lì xì), preparing special foods like spring rolls and sticky rice cakes, and wearing new clothes. The zodiac animal of the year is central to Tết identity. Invitations may reference lucky colors (red and gold), flowers (peach blossoms, kumquat trees), and symbols of prosperity. Tết celebrations can last up to two weeks, with the first three days being the most significant for family and spiritual observance.

Cultural context

Tết is rooted in lunar calendar traditions and Confucian values of family and ancestor reverence. It marks both a new year and a renewal of relationships between the living and deceased. The celebration reflects Vietnamese beliefs in auspicious timing, luck, and the influence of zodiac cycles. Temples and homes receive visitors and offerings during this period.