Tet and Year of the Snake 2025

8:05:59 AM | 1/27/2025

Traditional Tet, also known as Lunar New Year or simply Tet, is the biggest public holiday in the springtime, the time that marks the end of the four-season cycle of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, a new beginning during which new wishes and hopes placed can come true.

Tet is a festive holiday for Vietnamese people to celebrate the transition between the old year and the new year. The transition is momentary but Vietnamese people celebrate it for many days. In the past, Tet sometimes lasted from the 12th lunar month of the old year to the third lunar month of the new year.

Now, Tet is much shorter, only about 7-10 days. Some places keep celebrating Tet for longer, about half a month or a little longer. In addition to bidding the old year farewell and welcoming the new year, Tet signifies reunion, gathering and meeting in joy and happiness.

Because it is the beginning of a new crop season, a new month, a new season and a new year, Tet is highly significant to Vietnamese people.

During Tet, no matter how far away Vietnamese people live for work, they try to return to their hometowns and gather with their families to celebrate the new year. They put aside all work, relax, enjoy time together, and visit and extend good wishes to each other. A lot of festivals are held shortly after Tet.

Tet is also an occasion for Vietnamese people to express their respect to Heaven, Earth and gods, and show their filial piety to their ancestors and the deceased. During this time, they have many unique rituals, customs and practices of worship, which are distinct depending on each religion and belief system.

Moreover, Tet is also an occasion for people to get rid of worries, failures and anxieties from the old year and believe in and hope for a luckier and more successful new year. With all the above meanings, Vietnamese people prepare for Tet very elaborately, decorate their houses beautifully, cook many delicious dishes and perform traditional customs to pray for luck.

2025 is the Year of the Snake in the Vietnamese zodiac system. In the Oriental culture, especially Vietnam, the snake is a mysterious animal with profound meanings. It symbolizes wisdom, caution, dexterity and perseverance. The snake is also a symbol of rebirth and renewal.

According to folklore, the snake is considered an intelligent, skillful and highly adaptable animal to its living environment. This epitomizes flexibility and the ability to solve problems successfully. Snakes are also patient creatures, willing to wait for the right opportunity to act quickly and decisively. This teaches us the importance of perseverance and endurance. It signifies evolution, revitalization and the beginning of a new life.

According to the folk concept, the Year of the Snake brings luck and good fortune. The image of the snake on decorative objects and fengshui conveys wealth and prosperity. It is believed that the Year of the Snake will bring good luck, fortune and success, and people often pray for peace and health for themselves and for their families. 2025 promises to bring many new opportunities while requiring flexibility, adaptation and resilience.

By Quynh Anh, Vietnam Business Forum