Tet is the one week a year when Vietnam really stops. Offices close, families travel home, and cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City go quiet in a way you never see the rest of the year. It is the most important date to check before you plan any trip here. These are the 2027 dates and what they mean for you.
When is Tet 2027?
The first day of the Lunar New Year is Saturday 6 February 2027. Public-sector workers are off for seven days, from Thursday 4 February to Wednesday 10 February, which combines five statutory Tet days with two compensatory days.
| Date (2027) | Day | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 25 Jan – Wed 3 Feb | Weekdays | Offices wind down; markets, flowers and gift shopping; travel home begins |
| Thu 4 Feb | Thursday | Public-sector break starts |
| Fri 5 Feb | Friday | New Year's Eve: family dinners, fireworks in some cities at midnight |
| Sat 6 Feb | Saturday | Lunar New Year's Day: the quietest day of the year |
| Sun 7 – Wed 10 Feb | Sun to Wed | Family visits; most local businesses still closed |
| Thu 11 Feb | Thursday | Offices reopen; business pace returns over the following week or two |
Source: Ministry of Home Affairs announcement, 12 October 2026, as reported by the Government news portal. Private employers choose their own split of the five statutory days.
What closes in Vietnam during Tet?
Government offices, most companies, banks, many family shops and local restaurants close, especially for the first three days of the new year. Hotels, resorts, airports, big supermarkets, convenience stores and tourist areas keep running, often with holiday surcharges.
- Usually open: hotels and resorts, international chains, malls in big cities, convenience stores, Grab (with fewer drivers and higher fares), main tourist sights.
- Often closed: street food stalls, family-run restaurants, markets on New Year's Day, tailors and small shops.
- Busy and expensive: domestic flights and trains in the days before and after Tet, as millions travel home.
- Cash: ATMs in cities can run low over the holiday; our guide to money in Vietnam covers cards and cash.
Can I do a business trip to Vietnam around Tet?
Not productively. Decision-makers wind down in the last week before Tet and take a week or more after it to get back to full pace. For meetings, plan for March onwards, or come in early to mid-January at the latest.
The weeks after Tet are also when companies hold their first meetings of the year, so early March is a good time to visit. Our Ho Chi Minh City business trip plan and business etiquette guide help you prepare; a small gift for a partner you visit just before or after Tet is a welcome gesture.
Is Tet a good time for a holiday in Vietnam?
It can be, if you book early and pick the right place. Hoi An, Da Nang and Phu Quoc stay lively, decorated and open for visitors, while big cities empty out. Expect higher prices and book flights and hotels six weeks or more in advance.
| Place | During Tet | Weather in early February |
|---|---|---|
| Hoi An | Lanterns and decorations; old town open | Mild, mostly dry |
| Da Nang | Beach hotels busy; good base | Mild, sea still cool |
| Phu Quoc | Resorts open; peak season | Dry and sunny |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Flower street, very quiet roads | Dry and hot |
| Hanoi | Very quiet first days; temples busy | Cool, often grey and drizzly |
For the rest of the year, see the best time to visit Vietnam, and for an island Tet, Phu Quoc for traders.
Can I keep trading from Vietnam during Tet?
Yes. Tet closes Vietnam's offices and its own stock exchanges, not global markets. Forex, gold and US indices trade as normal, and London and New York keep their usual Vietnam-time opens, so a trader with a tested hotel desk loses nothing.
Two things to watch. Liquidity in Asian currencies can be thinner while much of East Asia also celebrates the Lunar New Year. And a US jobs report often lands on the first Friday of February, which in 2027 is 5 February, New Year's Eve in Vietnam; check the official calendar and our NFP time in Asia guide. Hotel internet is the same during Tet, but book a room you know works: our trading room checklist shows what to test.
What should I know about Tet etiquette as a visitor?
Greet people with "Chúc mừng năm mới" (Happy New Year), avoid arguments and bad news in the first days, and if you visit a home, bring a small gift such as fruit, tea or sweets. Lucky money in red envelopes goes mainly to children and elders.
Many Vietnamese believe the first visitor to a home after midnight sets the luck for the year, so don't drop in unannounced on New Year's morning. The food guide lists what you'll see on Tet tables, from bánh chưng to pickled onions.
FAQ
What date is Tet 2027?
Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, falls on Saturday 6 February 2027. It begins the Year of the Goat.
How long is the Tet holiday in 2027?
Public-sector workers get seven consecutive days off, from Thursday 4 to Wednesday 10 February 2027. Private employers give at least the five statutory days, split around New Year's Day, and many give more.
Is it a bad idea to visit Vietnam during Tet?
Not for a holiday, if you book early and choose places like Hoi An, Da Nang or Phu Quoc that stay open. It is a poor time for business meetings, which slow down for about two weeks either side of Tet.
Are shops and restaurants open during Tet in Vietnam?
Hotels, resorts, chains, malls and convenience stores mostly stay open. Many family restaurants, street food stalls and small shops close for the first three days of the new year.
Do forex markets close for Tet?
No. Tet closes Vietnam's offices and stock exchanges, but global forex, gold and US markets trade as normal, so you can keep trading from Vietnam during the holiday.
The bottom line
Tet 2027 is Saturday 6 February, with the country on holiday from 4 to 10 February. Keep business trips well clear of it, or embrace it for a holiday in the right town, booked early. Either way, plan around those dates first.
Sources: Viet Nam Government portal, 12 Oct 2026; VietNamNet.