Common Vietnamese New Year Superstitions

Step right into the most vibrant time of the year in Vietnam—Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. These aren't random folk tales—they are time-honored codes of behavior that Vietnamese families follow to ensure a year filled with good fortune, harmony, and joy. As a traveler, understanding these customs isn't just respectful—it's essential to fully experience the heart of the Tết holiday. Let's explore with Vietpower Travel in the post below!

1. Don’t Sweep the Floor on New Year’s Day

It may seem trivial, but to Vietnamese people, sweeping on mùng Một—the very first day of the lunar month—is a big no-no! Why? Because it symbolizes sweeping away your good luck and wealth. In many households, sweeping is completely forbidden until at least the third day of Tết the Vietnamese Lunar New Year.

Travel Tip:
If you’re staying in a homestay or a local guesthouse, do not offer to help sweep or tidy up, no matter how polite you're trying to be. It may seem like a kind gesture, but locals may interpret it as you pushing away good fortune from their home!

Whether you're exploring the chaotic streets of Ho Chi Minh City, the ancient alleys of Hanoi, or the serene countryside of Southern Vietnam, you’ll quickly realize that this country offers a truly unique cultural experience. But before you pack your bags, let’s dive into 15 fun facts about Vietnam culture that will enhance your journey and help you appreciate the country like a true insider with Vietpower Travel in the post below.

2. Avoid Breaking Glass or Ceramics

This vietnamese new year superstition is deeply tied to emotional and relational stability. A broken bowl or teacup isn’t just a mess—it’s a bad omen that suggests broken relationships, family arguments, or a chaotic year ahead.

Practical Insight for Travelers:
Be mindful when handling red envelopes, teacups, and dishes, especially when dining with local hosts. Avoid placing delicate gifts (such as ceramic souvenirs) near edges or on unstable surfaces. If you’re shopping during Tết, ask vendors to double-wrap breakables.

3. No White or Black Clothes

Here’s a Tết etiquette essential: skip black or white outfits, especially on the first three days of the year. These colors are traditionally associated with funerals and mourning in Vietnamese culture—a sharp contrast to the cheerful energy of Tết.

What to Wear Instead:
Choose vibrant colors, especially red and yellow—symbols of good luck, prosperity, and happiness. If you’re a planner arranging Tet holiday tours, be sure to inform guests to pack colorful outfits in advance. This small touch can go a long way in showing cultural sensitivity.

You can find more posts related to this topic in our Vietnam culture category. Explore festivals, local customs, and insights into the daily life of Vietnamese people.

4. Skip Haircuts and Nail Clipping

Another powerful lunar new year superstition Vietnam locals follow: no cutting hair or nails during the early days of Tết. The word "cut" (cắt) phonetically resembles words related to loss. So, to cut your hair is to cut away your luck—not a great way to start the year!

Cultural Etiquette Tip:
Barbershops are packed in the days before Tết, so if you’re planning on looking sharp for photos, get your haircut no later than the 29th day of the last lunar month. And if you're touring Vietnam during this special time, remind your guests not to clip nails during homestays or communal settings.

5. No Borrowing or Lending Money

This one goes straight to the heart of financial luck. Lending money during the Tết holiday—or even being in debt—can be seen as inviting bad luck and continuous financial struggle for the rest of the year. It's more than just a money matter—it’s spiritual.

What This Means for Travelers:

• Don’t ask to borrow anything valuable (yes, even temporarily!) from locals during the first three days of Tết.
• Tour planners and guides should consider adjusting payment schedules, as locals prefer not to handle debts or financial issues during this special occasion.
• Even among friends, vietnamese people avoid money talk during these days, focusing instead on lucky money and festive moments.

You can find more posts related to this topic in the category below:

• 10 Facts About Coffee Culture in Vietnam
• Inside the Heart of Vietnamese Family Culture

6. Don’t Visit Uninvited on the Morning of Tết

In Vietnamese culture, the first visitor of the year—called “người xông đất” or “first-footer”—is considered a bearer of fortune or misfortune for the entire lunar year. It’s believed that the first person who enters a home influences the household’s destiny for the next 365 days of the year.

Real Travel Consequences:
If you’re staying with a family, never leave your room and enter the main space without permission on mùng Một (New Year’s Day). Families often pre-arrange who will "xông đất," choosing someone with a compatible zodiac sign, positive energy, and recent good fortune.

Pro Tip for Travel Planners: Avoid scheduling check-ins, home visits, or community tours during the morning of the first day of Tet the Vietnamese lunar new year. Many hosts will politely decline any outside interaction until their home has been “blessed” with a favorable visitor.

7. Don’t Give Fire or Water

Both fire and water are potent symbols in Vietnamese new year superstitions. Fire represents good luck, prosperity, and continuity—especially for businesses and family kitchens. Water symbolizes flow, wealth, and cleansing. Giving either to someone during Tết is akin to handing away their good fortune.

What to Avoid:

• Don’t ask for a lighter or fire during house visits or at small family-owned shops.
• Don’t casually request water or offer it to others unless you are sure it's appropriate.

How to Respond Politely: If someone declines your request for fire or water, don’t take offense. Instead, try responding with a cheerful Vietnamese New Year greeting like “Chúc mừng năm mới!” and change the subject.

8. Avoid Negative Words or Arguments

Words are powerful, especially during the sacred window of Tết. Saying things like "chết" (death), "mất" (lost), or anything implying loss, illness, or disaster is considered to invite evil spirits or bad luck into the new year.

Cultural Tip: Conversations should revolve around happiness, health, prosperity, and harmony. Even tone and facial expressions matter! Smile, use light-hearted phrases, and above all—avoid arguments, even over trivial topics.

Example for Visitors: Instead of saying, “I got sick last week,” try something festive like, “I feel very lucky to be in Vietnam during this special occasion.” You’ll earn respect and admiration from Vietnamese people for embracing their values.

Discover more posts on the same topic to deepen your understanding of Vietnam’s culture:

• Vietnamese Wishes and Greetings: What to Say and Why It Matters
• A Complete Visitor Guide to Understanding Gift Culture in Vietnam

9. Close Cabinets and Keep the Door Open

This is one of the most overlooked yet symbolic tet superstitions. Open doors on New Year’s Day invite good luck and positive energy into the home. Closed cabinets? That’s to prevent your wealth from “escaping.”

Visual Reminder:

On Tết morning, you might see Vietnamese families flinging windows open, propping doors wide, and allowing natural light and fresh air in. Simultaneously, cupboards, drawers, and wardrobes stay tightly shut.

Relevance for Travelers:

• If you’re in a homestay or hotel, avoid slamming doors or entering closed rooms uninvited.
• Leave doors open when appropriate, especially in shared spaces.

10. Avoid Wasting Food

Respect for food is deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture, but during Tết, the spiritual weight of not wasting food increases dramatically. Throwing away leftovers or serving excessive quantities that aren’t eaten is seen as disrespectful—not just to the cook, but to ancestors and good fortune itself.

Why This Matters:
During Tet holiday meals, food is offered not only to guests but also in ancestor altars—a practice believed to strengthen ties between generations. Every grain of rice matters.

Dining Etiquette for Visitors:

• Serve yourself in small portions and always finish your plate.
• Praise dishes enthusiastically. This honors the cook and shows cultural sensitivity.
• During food tours or community meals, listen closely to instructions and avoid overindulgence.

Conclusion

Traveling during Tet the Vietnamese Lunar New Year is a rare and beautiful opportunity to witness how deeply Vietnamese culture intertwines the spiritual and the practical. By embracing New Year superstitions in Vietnam, you’re not just observing—you’re participating in a ritual that binds families, neighborhoods, and even strangers through shared values.

Continue exploring Vietnam’s culture through its traditions, festivals, and local life. Visit our Vietnam culture category for more insights, then book a Vietnam culture tour with Vietpower Travel to experience it firsthand.