Traveling in Vietnam during Tet?Know what changes before you arrive.

01

CONTEXT

What Tet means for a traveler

Tet Nguyen Dan is Vietnam's Lunar New Year and the country's most important family holiday. Many Vietnamese travel home, visit relatives and spend the first days of the year with family. Tourism continues, but the rhythm is different from an ordinary week.

• Expect very high domestic travel demand around the days before and after Tet.
• Some family-run businesses close for several days, while hotels, airports and major tourist services may continue operating.
• Opening hours can change at short notice, so 'normally open' is not the same as 'open during Tet'.
• Tet is not a reason to avoid Vietnam; it is a reason to plan the essential parts earlier.

02

DATES & STATUS

Read Tet dates with a status label, not as a rumor

03

OPENING HOURS

Does Vietnam close during Tet?

Vietnam does not simply 'shut down'. Different sectors follow different schedules, and the biggest variation is usually among public offices and small family businesses.

04

AIR TRAVEL

Flights during Tet

• Book important domestic sectors early when your dates are fixed.
• Allow more time for busy airports and ground transport.
• Check the airline directly for schedule changes; social posts are not a substitute for your booking status.
• If your international flight connects to a domestic sector, avoid an unnecessarily tight connection during a peak travel period.

05

INTERCITY TRANSPORT

Trains and intercity buses

• Demand rises sharply because many people travel to their home provinces before Tet and return afterward.
• Use official or established booking channels and keep the ticket / booking reference.
• Confirm departure station, pickup point and reporting time because holiday traffic can slow local transfers.
• Do not build a same-day critical connection around an unverified bus arrival time.

06

TAXI · GRAB · PRIVATE CAR

Local transport can still work — but availability and timing can change

• Airport and hotel transport should be confirmed before a critical arrival or departure.
• Ride-hailing supply can vary by time and location; do not assume an ordinary weekday wait time.
• Confirm any holiday surcharge before the ride when using a private service.
• Save the vehicle plate and driver's contact when a transfer is important.

07

MONEY

Banks, ATMs, cards and cash

• Handle branch-dependent banking before the public holiday period when possible.
• Carry a reasonable cash backup without carrying more than you can secure safely.
• Use ATMs in well-lit, established locations and save the bank / machine details if a card is retained.
• Do not rely on one card, one wallet or one payment method for the entire trip.

08

FOOD

Restaurants: expect a mix of open, closed and holiday schedules

The most common planning mistake is assuming a restaurant's normal online opening hours automatically apply during Tet.

• For an important dinner, message or call the venue close to the date.
• Hotels can be a useful backup for meals when small local restaurants close.
• Ask about Tet menus or surcharges before ordering when a venue is operating on a holiday schedule.
• Keep one flexible meal plan rather than locking every meal weeks in advance.

09

THINGS TO DO

Attractions and tours

• Major attractions may operate during Tet but can use special hours, capacity controls or holiday prices.
• For sea tours, weather and authority decisions still matter even when the attraction is scheduled to operate.
• A private guide, driver or activity should be reconfirmed because staff availability can differ during the family holiday.
• Do not plan every day at maximum intensity; Tet traffic and crowds can make transfers slower.

10

HEALTH & SUPPORT

Keep emergency and local-help information saved offline

Pharmacies, clinics and hospitals do not all follow the same holiday hours. If the situation is urgent, use the official emergency service rather than waiting for a tourism contact to answer.

11

PRICES

Tet surcharges: ask before you confirm

It is inaccurate to say that 'everything doubles' during Tet. Some services may apply a holiday surcharge because of staffing and demand; others keep normal pricing.

• Ask whether the quoted total already includes any Tet / public-holiday surcharge.
• Get the amount in writing for a private car, guide or special service.
• For metered / app transport, use the platform's displayed fare where applicable.
• Do not accept a vague 'holiday fee' after the service if it was never disclosed and you had a confirmed price.

12

CULTURE

Simple Tet etiquette for visitors

• Use a friendly 'Chuc Mung Nam Moi' (Happy New Year) greeting.
• If invited to a home, follow the host's lead and keep the first visit respectful and relaxed.
• Lucky money is a cultural gesture, especially for children; it is not a payment for hospitality.
• Dress respectfully at pagodas and religious sites.
• Ask before photographing private family moments or ceremonies.
• Avoid turning superstitions or first-visitor customs into jokes; practices vary by family.

13

TRAVEL WITH CHILDREN

Tet with children: reduce transfer risk, not the experience

• Avoid stacking a long flight, long road transfer and evening activity into the same day.
• Keep snacks, water, basic child essentials and one payment backup with you on transport days.
• Confirm child ticket rules and heights for attractions before you arrive.
• Choose one must-do experience per peak day and leave room for crowds or slower traffic.

14

PRIORITY ORDER

What should be secured early?

15

BY DESTINATION

How to think about Tet in key Vietnam destinations