Tết 2027 visitor playbook

TếtTết (Tet)tetVietnamese Lunar New Year, the most important national holiday, typically in January or February; a time for family reunion, ancestor worship, and new-year rituals. Nguyên Đán — Vietnamese Lunar New Year — is the country's biggest holiday, and for a foreign visitor it can feel like the whole country quietly closes its shutters for a week. Based on the lunar calendar, Tết 2027 is estimated to fall around 6-12 February 2027, though the exact public holiday window is set by an annual government resolution and should be confirmed closer to the date rather than assumed this far out. This playbook covers what typically closes, what tends to stay open, how transport gets squeezed, and how to behave respectfully if you're travelling through Vietnam during the holiday.

Estimated dates and why they're not final yet

Tết follows the lunar calendar, so the Gregorian date shifts every year. Lunar New Year's Day (mùng 1 Tết) in 2027 is estimated to land on 6 February 2027, with the broader public holiday typically spanning several days before and after — commonly cited as roughly 6-12 February 2027 based on lunar-calendar projections. In most years, the Vietnamese government issues an official resolution confirming the exact public-sector holiday dates only a few months ahead of the holiday itself, sometimes as late as September or October of the preceding year. Until that resolution is published, treat any specific date range — including the one in this article — as a planning estimate, not a confirmed schedule. Confirm with an official Vietnamese government source or your accommodation provider once the resolution is out, typically in late 2026.

What typically closes

Tết is the one holiday where the closures genuinely surprise first-time visitors. In most cases, expect the following to be shut or running reduced hours for several days around Lunar New Year's Eve and the first few days of the new year:

• Government offices, embassies, and consulates (this affects visa processing — see the visa section if you're planning to apply or extend around this period)
• Banks and many currency-exchange counters
• Most local family-run restaurants, cafés, and small shops, especially outside the main tourist districts
• Local bus routes in smaller towns, and some intercity services on the exact new year's day
• Many local markets, though flower and food markets often run long hours in the days just before Tết itself

Shops and restaurants that do reopen tend to do so gradually over the days following New Year's Day, so the first 2-3 days are typically the most affected. If you're staying in a smaller town rather than a major city, closures tend to run longer and hit a higher share of businesses.

What tends to stay open

Tourist infrastructure in major cities generally stays more accessible than local infrastructure does. In most cases you can expect:

• International-standard hotels and their in-house restaurants
• Convenience store chains (Circle K, GS25, WinMart+) in urban areas, though hours may be trimmed on the peak days
• Major attractions in tourism hubs like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hoi An — though some smaller sites and family-run museums may close
• Ride-hailing apps, though drivers are fewer and surge pricing is common
• Hospitals and pharmacies for emergencies, though staffing is typically reduced

It's worth researching your specific itinerary city by city rather than assuming a blanket rule, since a beach resort area and a rural provincial town behave very differently during Tết.

Transport surge and how to plan around it

The days immediately before Tết are, in most years, the single busiest travel period in Vietnam, as tens of millions of people head home to their family provinces. This creates real friction for visitors:

• Domestic flights and train tickets on routes into and out of major hubs can sell out weeks in advance, and prices typically rise well above normal
• Long-distance buses get fully booked on the days right before New Year's Eve
• Within cities, motorbike rental demand spikes and returns can be delayed, so book and confirm return logistics early if your trip overlaps this window
• Ride-hailing wait times and prices increase noticeably, particularly around New Year's Eve itself and the days just after

A practical rule of thumb: book any intercity transport for the week around Tết as early as you reasonably can, and build slack into your itinerary rather than planning tight same-day connections. If your trip is flexible, some travelers find it easier to be already settled in one region for the peak days rather than trying to move between regions.

Cultural etiquette during Tết

Tết carries real cultural weight, and visitors who show a bit of awareness tend to have noticeably warmer interactions. A few points worth knowing:

• Avoid discussing death, illness, or bad luck in the days around New Year, especially with hosts or new acquaintances — it's considered a poor omen for the year ahead
• If invited into a Vietnamese home, it's customary to bring a small gift (fruit, tea, or sweets are safe choices) and to greet elders first
• Lucky money (lì xì) in red envelopes is given to children and sometimes unmarried younger relatives — as a visitor you're not expected to participate, but you may receive or be offered one in some settings, which is polite to accept graciously
• Dress and demeanor matter more than usual around temple visits during Tết, since many families visit pagodas in the first days of the new year — modest clothing is appropriate
• The "first visitor" (xông đất) tradition means some households are selective about who enters their home first on New Year's Day; this is a private family matter and not something a visitor needs to worry about unless specifically invited

Where to base yourself if you're visiting during Tết

If your trip overlaps the holiday, it's typically easier to base yourself somewhere with strong tourist infrastructure rather than a rural or provincial area. Areas like Hoi An and central Da Nang tend to keep a reasonable share of restaurants and services running for visitors, partly because of consistent international tourist demand. Large cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City empty out somewhat as residents travel to their home provinces, which can actually make for a quieter, less congested visit in the tourist core — just with fewer local eateries open.

Money and practical prep

Because banks and many ATMs run reduced hours or fill up quickly during the holiday, it's worth withdrawing extra cash a few days ahead of Tết. Confirm with your bank or card provider about international withdrawal limits before you travel, since running short on cash mid-holiday can be genuinely inconvenient when banks are closed. If you're relying on visa services, health appointments, or other administrative tasks, plan those for well before or well after the holiday window — see practical planning resources for related prep, including travel insurance that covers holiday-period disruptions.

Related

• Hanoi region guide
• Ho Chi Minh City region guide
• Motorbike rental
• Vietnamese Lunar Zodiac