Quick Answer
Tet Nguyen Dan, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, falls on February 6, 2027, with the three most important sacred days running through February 8 — Vietnam's single biggest holiday, when the whole country shifts into family-reunion mode and many businesses close for close to a week.
When
Feb 6 – 8, 2027 (core days)
Where
Nationwide — flower markets and public celebrations most visible in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
Est. Daily Budget
$70–$130 (mid-range)
When to Book
This is not a ticketed event — it's a national holiday, and the main planning challenge is the opposite of a festival: many restaurants, shops and even some tourist sites close for several days around Tet as staff travel home to family. Domestic flights and trains sell out well ahead as the entire country travels at once. Decide before booking whether you want to be in Vietnam during Tet (for the atmosphere) or deliberately avoid the core days (for practical travel).
Tet Nguyen Dan — usually just called Tet — is Vietnam's Lunar New Year and by a wide margin its most important holiday, closer in weight to a combination of Christmas, New Year and a national family-reunion day than to a typical public festival. In 2027 the new year falls on February 6, with the three most sacred days running through February 8, though the practical holiday period most businesses observe runs longer either side of that.
Visiting during Tet is a genuinely different experience from visiting Vietnam at any other time, in both directions. On one hand, the run-up is extraordinary: flower markets fill entire streets with kumquat trees and peach blossom, cities put up elaborate lantern and light displays, and Hanoi's Old Quarter and Ho Chi Minh City's Nguyen Hue flower street become week-long open-air spectacles. On the other hand, the core days themselves see much of the country close down as families gather at home — a real practical consideration, not just an atmospheric note.
What Stays Open (and What Doesn't)
What typically closes
Many independent restaurants, small shops, and some smaller attractions close for several days around the core Tet dates, as staff travel to their home provinces to be with family. This can catch first-time visitors off guard in a way it wouldn't in most countries' holiday periods.
What typically stays open
Hotels (including their own restaurants), major tourist attractions in the biggest cities, and larger chain businesses generally continue operating, though often on adjusted hours. Street life around the flower markets and public light displays is, if anything, more intense than usual in the days immediately before Tet.
How Much Does a Trip Cost?
Domestic transport and hotel rates rise around Tet as the whole country travels for the holiday. The estimates below assume a visitor navigating around the closures noted above.
| Budget Tier | Daily Cost (USD) | Accommodation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $30 – $50 | Budget guesthouse | Some street food/eateries closed on core days |
| Mid-Range | $70 – $130 | Mid-range hotel | Hotel restaurants generally open |
| Luxury | $180 – $400+ | 4-5 star hotel with own dining | Private driver, holiday-specific experiences |
When to Book
Booking Timeline
- Domestic flights and trains: book as early as possible. Tet is the single busiest travel period in Vietnam, as the entire country moves for the holiday.
- Hotels: rates and availability tighten in the days immediately before Tet as both domestic and international travelers move around the country.
- Restaurants: if visiting during the core days, confirm your hotel's own dining options and identify a few larger, tourist-oriented restaurants likely to stay open, rather than assuming local eateries will be operating.
Where to Experience Tet
Hanoi's Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake area, and Ho Chi Minh City's Nguyen Hue flower street and Tao Dan flower festival, are the two biggest public showcases — flower markets, lantern displays, and (in the south especially) large-scale public flower exhibitions in the days leading up to New Year's Eve.
What Else to Do
Beyond the Core Days
- Ha Long Bay and Hoi An remain scenically worthwhile even with some local business closures — plan around confirmed-open accommodation and tours.
- Central Vietnam's temples and pagodas are often busier than usual during Tet as locals visit for New Year blessings — genuinely interesting to observe respectfully.
- If flexible, bracketing a trip around rather than through the core Tet days (arriving just before or after) can combine the pre-Tet atmosphere with fewer practical closures.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the exact date of Tet in 2027?
The Lunar New Year falls on February 6, 2027, with the three most important sacred days running through February 8.
Do restaurants and shops close during Tet?
Many independent restaurants and small shops close for several days around the core dates as staff travel home to family. Hotels and larger chain businesses generally stay open, often on adjusted hours.
Is Tet a good time to visit Vietnam?
The run-up — flower markets, lantern displays, public celebrations — is a genuinely unique experience. The core days themselves require more planning around closures and heavy domestic travel demand than a typical Vietnam trip.
Should I book domestic transport in Vietnam well ahead of Tet?
Yes — Tet is the single busiest domestic travel period of the year in Vietnam, as the whole country moves for the holiday. Book flights and trains as early as possible if traveling within Vietnam around these dates.
Fact-Checking & Sources
Status: CONFIRMED · Last verified against the sources below on 2026-09-19. Event dates, venues, and pricing can change — always confirm critical details on the official event website before booking non-refundable travel.
- Authoritative SourceThe Myst Dong Khoi Hotel — Tet 2027 in Saigon Visitor Guide
- Secondary SourceJungle Boss Tours — Vietnam Tet 2027 Dates & What's Open
