My first Lunar New Year in Vietnam :)

As you maybe aware, I recently came back from holidaying in Vietnam. And the best thing about this trip was that I was FINALLY able to spend my first Lunar New Year in Vietnam which is known as Tết. I learnt that Tết lasts for at least 3 days. However, day 1 is far more important when it comes to traditions.

So heres a quick run down on was the Lunar New Year/Tết was about:

Before the new year, the markets are opened all day 4 days before the Tết. Here, the markets are filled with Kumquat trees and Cherry Blossom Trees, along with fowers and various other items to decorate the house with. The markets are packed throughout the day, however, the prices of various goods increase once Tết is almost coming.

The kumquats that they sell in the markets all day

Some people open their stores until midnight so people could buy more items

1 or 2 before Tết people clean their houses. This symbolises of taking out the old luck and replacing it with the new luck on Tết. Some people even was all their clothes so that the new year would bring them luck.

So, at about midnight there were people lighting up illegal fireworks to welcome the New Year. And it is traditional that, if someone enters someone elses house then they supposed to greet you with a message like "I/we wish you a Happy New Year. May This year bring you a happier and much more joyful year than before ...". This is supposed to mean that because another year has ended, and a new person has come and wished you a happy new year, they are supposed to bring you luck.

Fireworks at midnight to welcome the new year

On the first day of the new year, your supposed to open your doors to invite guests and let them know that you are home and you welcome them. By opening the doors it supposed to mean, you want the luck of the new year to come in and by closing your doors and not letting people it means you don't want any luck.

Red pocket money, also known in Viet lì xì, is given to people to wish them luck. Inside the lì xì is money. People give around 5.000 dong to 500.000 dong which is about 0.25 cents AUD to $25.00 AUD. I was lucky to receive my first lì xì in Vietnam by my 2 Aunties, my older cousin, and a few family friends.

Lì xì in Vietnam with the Vietnamese currency

On the 2nd day of Tết the local Priest held a ceremony at a cementary. This ceremony was about praying for the dead. Hundreds of people came to the cementary to attend this special mass. Before the mass began, they brought flowers to stick near the tomb. Some even quickly cleaned the tombs for the dead.

On the 3rd day, I attended the usual evening mass. This mass was about praying for the working class but also, to bring luck for yourself (if your working as well). It was more like praying for your career. After mass, there was an announcement to invite all university students to gather at the priest's court yard (which was like a 30 second walk away from the church).

Here, I was able to meet with other students around the area that goes to uni. As I record, there was about (including me) 5 or 6 students from the same youth/ area as me. The rest where from near by districts. There was about 10 or so of them. Here, we introduced our names (including our saint name), what we were studying and where we are from. It seems like I was the only one that was further away from the parish aka I'm the only student that studies in another country. After the introduction, there was a 30-40 minutes pray.

Tết in Vietnam was interesting to experience if you live in a province. Because Tết in the city is slightly different but there is more entertainment. Overall, I really can't believe that I actually experienced my first Tết in Vietnam because it was something that I looked forward to all year!