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Tết 2027 in Vietnam: What's Open, What's Closed and How to Book

Updated 18 October 2026 · Facts checked against the sources listed below on 18 October 2026. Rules and schedules change, so check official sites before you travel.

Tết (Tết Nguyên Đán, Lunar New Year) is Vietnam's biggest holiday. It's a wonderful time to see Vietnamese culture, but it changes how the country works for about a week, and travel around it is the busiest of the year. Here is what to expect for Tết 2027 and how to book so you don't get stuck.

Tết 2027 dates at a glance

Date (2027)	What it is
Fri 5 Feb	New Year's Eve (the 29th of the last lunar month; there is no 30th this year)
Sat 6 Feb	Mùng 1 Tết: Lunar New Year's Day, Year of the Goat (Đinh Mùi)
Sun 7 – Mon 8 Feb	Mùng 2 and Mùng 3: family and friend visits continue
Thu 4 – Wed 10 Feb	Official public-sector holiday (7 days in a row). Private employers choose their own 5-day arrangement around Tết.

Sources: Thư viện Pháp luật (lunar dates); Ministry of Home Affairs Announcement 11483/TB-BNV (9 Oct 2026); Tuoi Tre News. Checked 18 Oct 2026.

What's open and what's closed

Banks and government offices close for the official holiday (4–10 Feb 2027 for the public sector). (source: MOHA announcement)
Restaurants and shops: with many staff gone home to their families, businesses and restaurants typically shut for at least the first few days of Tết. Cities go quiet, and dining and shopping options are limited. (source: Vietnam National Authority of Tourism)
Museums and attractions: opening hours change over Tết and differ from site to site. Check each site's own announcement for 2027 before you go.
Getting around town: if you rely on ride-hailing apps, expect fewer drivers and higher fares at the busiest moments, especially on New Year's Eve.
Cash: ATMs are under heavy pressure just before Tết. Some machines run out of cash or show errors for a few hours, even though banks are told to keep them stocked. (source: VnExpress, Jan 2019) Withdraw what you need a few days before the holiday.

If you stay in a family-run homestay or guesthouse, ask your host directly whether they are open over Tết and whether breakfast and other services run as normal. Like other small businesses, some reduce service while staff and family celebrate. (source: VNAT)

Booking tips: transport is the hard part

People from all over the country return to their hometowns for Tết, so bus, train and plane tickets and hotel rooms are in heavy demand. Book far in advance if you must travel. (source: VNAT)

Peak period: Vietnam Railways' Tết 2027 transport peak runs from 23 January to 25 February 2027. (source: Nhân Dân) In 2026 the biggest outbound rush came in the last three days before New Year's Eve. (source: VietnamPlus) By our estimate from that pattern, the equivalent days in 2027 are about 3–5 February. The return rush comes after the holiday ends on 10 February.
Trains: Tết 2027 train tickets went on sale on 5 September 2026. You can buy them on the official sites (including dsvn.vn), in banking and e-wallet apps, and at stations. (source: Nhân Dân) Book as soon as you know your dates, because peak-day sleeper berths sell out.
Flights: book domestic flights early for Tết week. Compare routes and dates here: search flights.
Buses and ferries fill up too. Book trains, buses and ferries online: train, bus and ferry tickets.
Rooms: book early, especially in holiday areas. Compare hotels and homestays on Agoda.
Airport transfers: book a car ahead for arrival days close to Tết rather than relying on finding a taxi.

What to enjoy

Flower markets before Tết: in Hanoi, Quảng Bá Flower Market near West Lake sells peach blossom in the week before Tết. In Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyễn Huệ Street hosts the country's largest flower show, and yellow ochna (mai) flowers are the southern Tết symbol. (source: VNAT) Dates for 2027 are usually announced closer to Tết.
New Year's Eve fireworks at midnight in major cities. For Tết 2026, Hanoi held displays at more than 30 locations, including Hoàn Kiếm Lake, and Ho Chi Minh City at 17 locations, each running 00:00–00:15. (source: VietnamPlus) (source: Government portal) Look for the 2027 lists in late January.
Pagodas and temples are busy on the first days of the year. Wear modest clothing and take off your shoes and hat. (source: VNAT etiquette)
Tết food: in the north, essential Tết dishes include nem (fried spring rolls), bánh chưng (square sticky rice cake) and whole boiled chicken. A southern Tết meal includes caramelised pork, bitter melon soup and chicken salad. Families offer candied fruits to guests. (source: VNAT)
Bookable experiences: see tours and activities on Klook. Check each listing's Tết schedule.

Tết etiquette for visitors

Say Chúc mừng năm mới (Happy New Year) to everyone you meet in the first days of the year. (source: VNAT)
Don't drop by a Vietnamese home without an invitation during Tết: the first guests of the year are specially chosen to bring good luck to each household (xông đất). Being invited is a huge honour. (source: VNAT)
When visiting a family home, bring a small gift such as biscuits or cake, fruit, flowers or soft drinks, but never anything black. (source: VNAT etiquette) Lucky money (lì xì) in red envelopes is traditionally given by elders to younger family members, or by managers to employees. (source: VNAT)
Many families avoid sweeping the house and taking out rubbish in the first three days of the new year, so as not to "sweep away" luck. (source: VnExpress, Feb 2015)

Quick checklist

Transport booked for both directions, avoiding peak days if possible
Accommodation confirmed, including whether it is open and what's included over Tết
Enough cash withdrawn before 4 Feb 2027
A backup food plan for 5–8 Feb (ask your host or hotel what will be open)
Visa checked: e-visas are issued for up to 90 days on the official portal evisa.gov.vn. Use only the official site. (source: U.S. Embassy)