{"id":5519,"date":"2021-01-19T18:03:12","date_gmt":"2021-01-19T10:03:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=5519"},"modified":"2021-01-19T18:03:12","modified_gmt":"2021-01-19T10:03:12","slug":"tet-celebrations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/tet-celebrations\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Ways T\u1ebft Is Celebrated Differently In The North & South Of Vietnam, From Flowers To Festive Snacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

How Vietnamese in the north and south celebrate T\u1ebft<\/h2>\n
\n

The incense is burning, b\u00e1nh ch\u01b0ng <\/em><\/span>are boiling, the boiled chicken is good to go, and the cherry blossoms are ready to bloom. This is a scene played out in Vietnamese households across the country on the eve of T\u1ebft<\/strong>,<\/em> or Vietnam’s Lunar New Year holiday<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

For those not too familiar with T\u1ebft<\/em> celebrations, it is an annual holiday celebrated on the first day of the lunar calendar. Its celebration often falls in late January or early February, until the third day.<\/span><\/p>\n

While the holiday is the country\u2019s biggest traditional celebration, there are significant differences in the ways Vietnamese people celebrate it. Let\u2019s take a look at the ways T\u1ebft,<\/em> practices and customs differ among Southern and Northern Vietnamese.<\/span><\/p>\n

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1. T\u1ebft<\/em> fashion depends on our climates\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n

\"Mi
\nWarm clothes for T\u1ebft <\/span>in the north
\nImage credit: @mivanng<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

While Northern Vietnam boasts cold winters and regular rainfalls during this time of the year, Southern Vietnam still experiences mild sunny days.<\/p>\n

\"Nguyen
\nSummer clothing for T\u1ebft in the south<\/span>
\nImage credit: @pebap_lovely\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

This is why Northern Vietnamese hit the streets in bundles of jackets and scarves, while Southern Vietnamese are still clad in summer clothes or <\/span>ao dai<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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2. Cherry blossoms in the north, apricot flowers in the south<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n

\"cherry
\nImage credit: @mivanng<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Due to differences in climates, the flowers used for household decorations are also different.<\/p>\n

\"cherry
\nImage credit: <\/span>@rubi.quynhanh<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

For ages, cherry blossoms have been the flower of choice for household decorations in the north during the T\u1ebft <\/em>holiday. The presence of this iconic flower is always associated with the beginning of a new year.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Tet
\nImage credit: <\/span>@inroom_decor<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/a><\/em>
\nGlowing with a yellow tint and exuding a warm vibe, apricot flowers represent the vibrant energy of Southerners and the warm climate of this land of sunshine. For this reason, apricots are the most commonly seen flowers in Southerners\u2019 households during the Lunar New Year.<\/span><\/p>\n

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3. Snacking on b\u00e1nh ch\u01b0ng<\/em> in the north, and b\u00e1nh t\u00e9t<\/em> in the south<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n

\"banh
\nImage credit: @trangnguyen91tlhp<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

During the Lunar New Year Holiday, Northerners eat b\u00e1nh ch\u01b0ng<\/em>, or ch\u01b0ng<\/em> cakes, while Southerners eat b\u00e1nh t\u00e9t<\/em>, or t\u00e9t<\/em> cakes, which are traditional festive dishes.<\/p>\n

Both cakes are made from glutinous rice and filled with simple ingredients such as mung beans, minced pork, and onions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"banh
\nImage credit: @tungdt.do\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The main difference between these cakes lies in their shapes and sizes. Symbolizing the solid foundation of the Earth, b\u00e1nh ch\u01b0ng<\/em> always takes on sharply square shapes.<\/p>\n

\"banh
\nImage credit: <\/span>@chef_thuy_pham\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

B\u00e1nh t\u00e9t<\/em>, on the other hand, are made in cylindrical shapes and of smaller sizes.<\/p>\n

\"banh
\nImage credit: @cuongkhii<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

While most families today order festive cakes delivered to their doorsteps for T\u1ebft celebrations to save time, many others still follow the tradition of gathering together to cook these cakes themselves.<\/p>\n

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4. Different must-have T\u1ebft<\/em> dishes on the first day of the new year<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\"Tet
\nThe dishes featured on the table of a Northern household, including frozen pork with pickles, Ch\u01b0ng cake, deep-fried spring rolls, chicken, and sticky rice.
\nImage credit: <\/span>@rudby_1710\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

In the north, the first meal of the new year usually features <\/span>traditional dishes<\/span> such as frozen pork with pickles<\/span> (th\u1ecbt \u0111\u00f4ng d\u01b0a chua)<\/span><\/em> and b\u00e1nh ch\u01b0ng<\/em>, while the first meal in the south always consists of braised pork and duck eggs <\/span>(<\/span><\/i>th\u1ecbt kho h\u1ed9t v\u1ecbt<\/span><\/em>) <\/span><\/i>and <\/span>b\u00e1nh t\u00e9t<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"canh
\nPig skin soup<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>@linhsfooddiary<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

For soup, Northerners make pig skin soup <\/span>(<\/span><\/i>canh b\u00f3ng th\u1ea3<\/span><\/em>)<\/span><\/i>, a nutritious and sweet-tasting dish made from pig skin, broccoli, mushrooms, and pork perfect for a chilly new year\u2019s eve.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"thit
\nBraised pork and duck eggs and bitter melon soup
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>@rasianbran<\/a><\/span><\/em>
\n
\nMeanwhile, Southerners choose a soup dish that can\u2019t be any more different – bitter lemon soup with pork<\/span> (<\/i>canh kh\u1ed5 qua<\/em>)<\/i>. While this dish is known for its plentiful health benefits such as reducing internal body heat and alleviating diabetes symptoms, it\u2019s also remarkably bitter and hard to eat for many Northerners\u2019 palates.\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"canh
\nThe dishes featured on the table of a northern household, including braised pork and duck eggs and bitter melon soup
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>@lele_vanle<\/a><\/span><\/em>
\n
\nThe words bitter lemon<\/span> (<\/i>kh\u1ed5 qua<\/em>),<\/i> sound like overcoming the suffering in Vietnamese, and thus signifying Southerners\u2019 desire to weather the storms of the old year and advance into the new with better luck.\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

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5. Different but equally delicious five-fruit trays<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\"5
\nImage credit: <\/span>@keomut925<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Five-fruit trays are a common sight on the altars of Vietnamese households during T\u1ebft celebrations. A tray consists of five fruits of different colors, signifying the family\u2019s desire for the new year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A fruit tray in the north typically features banana, grapefruits, oranges, persimmons, tangerines, kumquats, or pears.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What you usually see on the fruit tray of a Southern family includes coconuts, melons, papaya, mango, and figs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"5
\nImage credit: <\/span>@pocahontas_pp\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Southerners have a habit of avoiding using dishes or fruits that sound similar to words with negative connotations. For example, Southerners don\u2019t put bananas on their trays because the word for bananas (<\/em><\/span>chu\u1ed1i<\/span><\/em>)<\/em> sounds similar to <\/span>ch\u00fai nh\u1ee7i<\/span><\/em>, meaning failures. Northerners, on the other hand, prioritize placing a banana on the tray because its curved ends represent protection and cosiness.<\/span><\/p>\n

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6. Different T\u1ebft<\/em> dos and don\u2019ts to ensure good luck<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\"New
\nImage credit: <\/span><\/em>zzugg.migag<\/a><\/span><\/em>
\n
\nNortherners tend to be very selective about the first person to enter their homes on the first day of the year. The one considered suitable to enter the house must be compatible with the homeowner in terms of birth dates and zodiac signs, and must not be going through any mourning period.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"trash
\nImage credit: <\/span>@chikohome_ikea <\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Among other things to avoid includes taking out the trash, which is considered a loss of money and benefits. Breaking tableware is also taboo because it symbolizes separation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Besides, people are also advised against lending fire to someone else to avoid exhausting their luck, and also avoiding lending others water, which is a symbol of prosperity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"tidy
\nImage credit: <\/span>@ljnky<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Southerners believe that losing broomsticks on the first day of the new year will result in frequent check-ins by thieves in their homes. Thus, Southerners have set a rule of putting away broomsticks in a secured place right after pre-T\u1ebft<\/em> cleaning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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7. Buying flowers from vendors in the north and markets in the south<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\"flower
\nImage credit: <\/span>@milivista\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Hanoi is one of the few places in Vietnam where you still see plenty of flower vendors cruising the city on bicycles to sell fresh flowers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Tet
\nImage credit: @phat1501<\/a><\/em>
\n<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

For this reason, most Hanoians don\u2019t go to flower markets or flower shops to buy flowers for T\u1ebft <\/em>celebrations. All they have to do is to wait until a random flower vendor passes by to purchase flowers or go to any random street flower vendors nearby.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ho
\nA flower stall in Ho Thi Ky Market<\/em>
\nImage credit: @dianwithlove<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Saigon<\/span><\/a> residents, on the contrary, usually go to markets dedicated to flowers for T\u1ebft <\/em> flowers and plants. Among the most frequently visited flower markets among Saigon residents include Ho Thi Ky Market in District 10 and Dam Sen Market in District 11.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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8. Different schedules for traveling and visiting relatives\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\"Tet
\nImage credit: @i.ammtee<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Sticking to local tradition, Northerners tend to dedicate the 1st and 3rd days of the new year to visiting close relatives.<\/p>\n

\"Hanoi
\nImage credit: @6unfuos<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

For this reason, most streets in the north are often empty on the first day of the new year.<\/p>\n

\"nguyen
\nImage credit: <\/span>@markuswinkler<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Most Southerners, however, flock to the streets to engage in festive T\u1ebft <\/em> activities or travel to other places right on the 1st day of the year. While the celebratory vibe still penetrates the north until the 7th or the 10th day, Southern cities are already returning to normalcy by then.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While Northerners see T\u1ebft <\/em>as more of a mandatory cultural celebration, Southerners see the holiday purely as an occasion to unwind before returning to work. Thus, most people and service establishments in the South resume work after the T\u1ebft <\/em> holiday several days sooner than those in the North.<\/span><\/p>\n

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T\u1ebft<\/em> celebrations in Northern and Southern Vietnam<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The ways Vietnamese across the country celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday may look similar at first sight. However, there are still things that set Northerners and Southerners’ T\u1ebft celebrations apart.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While the differences in customs and superstitions reflect the diversity of Vietnamese culture<\/a>, the T\u1ebft <\/em>festival nationwide is all about celebrating old traditions<\/a> and honoring family ancestors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Also check out:<\/span><\/p>\n