Tet is coming soon

A week before the Eve, every local here will be so hustle and busy shopping – normally clothes, plants and trees – to prepare a complete and affluent Tet as Vietnamese's notion that the more carefully we prepare for Tet, the more positive power we will receive for the following year.

If you are an expat or a foreigner who live in Hanoi and want to enjoy Tet holiday like a real local, there are somethings that you need to know about this most important holidays for Vietnamese. First of all, let’s talk about the trees/plants, for Vietnamese, this might be one of the most serious thing during Tet, it is not only just about a random tree or plant, it is also related to feng shui and luck. With Vietnamese, we usually buy one of these 3 trees/plants during Tet: Mai (Ochna), Đào (Peach Blossom) and Quất (Kumquat), each one of them go with their own meaning, Ochna represents for wealth, fortune and high class, Kumquat represents for peacefulness and prosperity, Peach Blossom is what you would see the most, also represents for happiness and health. You will see “Đào” everywhere, in every family or even in a random corner in Hanoi, “Đào” also represents for the vision and progress to Happiness of Vietnamese. If you are living in a property in Hanoi and want to stay here during Tet holiday, planning to buy one of listed plant/tree for the first time, you should try it – to experience Tet like a real local, I am sure the landlord will happily agree.

* There is a tip: If you visit any local family during Tet, you would be able to know what they want for the following year just by seeing what plant/tree they bought in the house During Tet, some people could have both or three of listed*

Two biggest cities, as well as the most two powerful economic development centers in Vietnam are Hanoi and Saigon, with that, everyone flocked into these 2 big cities to live and work even so seeking for growth opportunities. Most of them had to leave their hometown while they were still students and fastened with these lands with not only difficulties but also full of potential. If you ever doubt whether  “Tet” is the most important holiday in Vietnam, I hope this will be the answer, speaking of Tet, we can not help but mention the reunion. I would not exaggerate if there were parents who have been waiting for a whole year until Tet to welcome their busy, beloved children home just to see them a few days, have some meals, spread some energy hugs and kisses after a long year far from home. Because for us - Vietnamese, family is the most important thing!

The following thing that you need to know is the atmosphere of Hanoi during Tet. Everyone would be back to their hometown welcoming the cozy Eve with their family, following that is the natural consequence of Hanoi will be left only with its children – the Hanoian – people who was born and lives here. If you are not a big fan of rush hour and traffic jam in Hanoi then congratulations, you will have a memorable experience staying in another version of the capital of Vietnam, a whole new look about the city, very different from what you usually see everyday. Streets with low traffic, lack of people and closed shops are common things that you will see during Tet holiday. So turn your survival mode: ON in a few days by buying stock, foods and save it in your property. There are so many more things about Tet that I want to tell you but maybe just let’s your experience lead the way. Chuc Mung Nam Moi and I wish all the best may come to you.

22/01/2021 - written by Bob Thai, Hanoi Home