What Not to Do During Vietnamese Tet Holiday?

Tet – Vietnam’s Lunar New Year is the most important holiday in the country. Beyond the festive food, family reunions, and colorful decorations, Tet also comes with a set of deeply rooted taboos. Vietnamese people believe that what happens during the first few days of the new year sets the tone for the entire year ahead. For that reason, certain actions, foods, words, and behaviors are strictly avoided.

Whether you are a traveler visiting Vietnam during Tet or simply curious about Vietnamese culture, understanding these taboos will help you show respect and celebrate more meaningfully.

Don’t Sweep the Floor During the First 3 Days

This is perhaps the most well-known Tet taboo. Sweeping the house during the first three days of Lunar New Year is believed to sweep away all the good luck, fortune, and blessings that have just arrived. For this reason, Vietnamese families clean their homes thoroughly before Tet begins, then the broom is put away entirely.

The custom originates from an old folktale. A merchant was gifted a housemaid who brought great prosperity to his business. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, she was scolded by her boss and hid inside a pile of rubbish. His wife unknowingly swept her out of the house, and from that day on, the merchant became poor. The story became a warning: do not sweep during the first days of Tet.

As a guest, you should also avoid picking up a broom inside someone’s home during this time. If you drop crumbs or make a small mess, pick it up by hand rather than reaching for the broom.

>>> Read more:  Tips for traveling during Vietnamese Tet holiday

Don’t Borrow or Loan Money or Things

Vietnamese people believe that starting the new year in debt – or by lending things out – is a sign that financial struggles will follow all year long. This applies both to money and to physical objects. All debts are ideally settled before the Lunar New Year’s Eve so that no one enters the new year owing or being owed anything.

During the first days of Tet, avoid asking someone to repay a debt or requesting to borrow anything. Even if someone owes you money, Tet is not the time to bring it up.

>>> Read more: A Trip to Vietnam during Tet Holiday 2026: Your Complete Guide to Lunar New Year Travel

Don’t Eat Certain Foods (Shrimp, Duck, Squid)

Food taboos during Tet are tied to symbolic meanings:

• Shrimp: Shrimp swim and move backwards, which is interpreted as a sign that your career or business will go backwards. People in Central Vietnam are especially known for avoiding shrimp during Tet.
• Duck: Duck is seen as a symbol of separation and bad luck in business, as ducks wander away from the flock.
• Squid: The dark ink of the squid is associated with bad luck and darkness.
• Eggs: Some people avoid eggs and egg-based products as they are considered a symbol of misfortune in the new year.

Don’t Quarrel or Use Negative Language

In the beginning of the new year, words and emotions are believed to carry special weight. Arguments, bad language, or even words associated with misfortune such as “die,” “fail,” “break,” or “lose” – are carefully avoided. Vietnamese people believe that negative words or conflicts during the first days of Tet will attract bad luck and disharmony throughout the year.

Even if something frustrating happens, locals will make a strong effort to stay calm, smile, and work things out peacefully. As a visitor, try to match this energy: keep conversations positive, avoid dark humor, and steer clear of any topics related to death, illness, or accidents.

Don’t Break Utensils or Glassware

Breaking dishes, cups, mirrors in the New Year may make people think of the separation or breaking up.

Don’t Depart or Start Business on the 5th Day of the Month

There has been a folk saying “On the fifth, the fourteenth, and the twenty-third; it’s easy to lose money even when you just go out for a short trip or for a business”. There are several reasons given to explain the custom.

Firstly, this is the time when strong tides rise and come, which may cause deadly threats to fisherman or sailors. In the past, ancient people normally travel by boats; therefore, departing on these days is considered as a bad luck.

Secondly, in terms of science, during these days, humans are affected dramatically by the forces from the moon; which is proved to have a significant influence on our nerve system and health in general. Hence, people become easy to lose their control or make mistakes regarding calculation. There have been researches that investigate the increasing number of traffic injuries during the full-moon week.

Don’t Wear Black or White Clothes

In Vietnamese culture, black and white are the colors of mourning and funerals. Wearing these colors during the first days of Tet is considered disrespectful and inauspicious. Instead, Vietnamese people wear bright, colorful outfits, particularly red, which symbolizes luck, love, and prosperity; and yellow, which represents wealth and happiness.

If you are visiting Vietnam during Tet, pack something colorful. Even a simple red scarf or a bright shirt will show that you understand and respect the tradition.

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Don’t Enter Someone’s House Without Being Invited on the First Day

One of the most important customs of Tet is “xông đất” – the act of being the first person to enter a home in the new year. This person is believed to determine the family’s luck for the entire year. Vietnamese families often carefully choose their “first-foot” based on factors like their zodiac compatibility, age, reputation, and fortune.

If you have not been specifically invited to visit a home on the morning of the first day of Tet, do not show up uninvited. You may unintentionally become the family’s first-foot and be held responsible for any misfortune that follows. Additionally, anyone who has experienced the death of a family member in the past year is advised not to visit other households during the first three days of Tet.

Don’t Take Fire or Water Out of Someone’s House

In Vietnamese belief, fire represents energy and family warmth, while water symbolizes wealth and abundance (“Money rushes in like water”). Taking fire or water in any form out of someone’s home during Tet is seen as removing their prosperity. If you are visiting a household, avoid asking to bring fire (such as a lit cigarette or a lighter flame) outside, and don’t fill up a water bottle to take with you.

A Note for Travelers