2026 Lunar New Year Holiday Schedule – Year of the Fire Horse – VietNam

Lunar New Year, known as Tết Nguyên Đán, is the most important traditional celebration in Vietnam. It marks the beginning of the new year according to the lunar calendar. The year 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse (Bính Ngọ), and the first day of the lunar year falls on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 in the Gregorian calendar, corresponding to the 1st day of the first lunar month.

Official holiday period

During this time, workers, students, and families across the country enjoy an extended holiday for reunion and celebration.

Government employees and workers are expected to have a holiday lasting approximately nine consecutive days, beginning in mid February and lasting through the first week of the lunar new year. The break combines official public holidays with weekend days, allowing families to travel, return to their hometowns, and prepare for traditional rituals.

Students in many provinces often receive even longer breaks depending on local school schedules, sometimes extending beyond ten days. This creates one of the longest and most anticipated holiday periods of the year.

The Tet holiday is not simply a time off from work. It is a sacred period dedicated to honoring ancestors, welcoming spring, and setting intentions for the year ahead.

The Cultural Meaning of Tet and Important Moments

Tet is deeply rooted in spiritual and family traditions. It represents renewal, gratitude, and hope. In the days leading up to the new year, households thoroughly clean and decorate their homes, symbolically sweeping away bad luck and making room for good fortune.

Families prepare traditional foods such as sticky rice cakes, preserved fruits, and festive dishes that vary by region. The ancestral altar becomes the spiritual center of the home, where offerings are made to invite forebears to return and celebrate with their descendants.

New Year’s Eve marks the sacred transition between the old year and the new one. At midnight, families perform rituals to welcome deities of the new year, pray for peace, and express gratitude for the year that has passed. Fireworks, temple visits, and early morning prayers are common ways people begin the year with optimism.

The first days of the lunar year are dedicated to visiting relatives, teachers, and close friends. These visits reinforce bonds and spread blessings for prosperity and harmony.

Auspicious Days During the 2026 Tet Holiday

Choosing a favorable day for important activities is a long standing custom. Many families consult the lunar calendar to select good days for the first trip of the year, opening a business, or conducting meaningful ceremonies.

The first day of Tet is considered highly auspicious for visiting temples, offering prayers, and exchanging New Year wishes. It is believed that actions taken on this day set the tone for the entire year.

The second day of Tet is ideal for family gatherings and visiting relatives, strengthening kinship and harmony.

The fourth day of Tet is often regarded as one of the most favorable days for beginning business activities, reopening shops, or making important plans related to work and finance.

The sixth day is a suitable time to resume normal routines, clean up after the festivities, and symbolically clear away what no longer serves the household.

The eighth, ninth, and tenth days of the lunar new year are also seen as harmonious days for social visits, spiritual ceremonies, and financial intentions. The tenth day, in particular, is popularly associated with prayers for wealth and prosperity.

Some days are traditionally viewed as less suitable for major undertakings. Certain midweek days in the early lunar month are believed to carry unstable energy, so families often avoid long distance travel or launching important ventures at those times. These beliefs are part of folk tradition and serve more as cultural guidance than strict rules.

What People Should Do During Tet 2026

Tet is a time for meaningful, joyful, and spiritually mindful activities.

Families gather for the New Year’s Eve ceremony to honor ancestors and welcome the new year with sincerity. Many households invite a person whose zodiac sign is considered compatible to be the first visitor of the year, a custom known as the “first footing,” believed to bring luck to the home.

Visiting relatives and offering lucky money in red envelopes to children and elders is one of the most cherished traditions. These small gifts carry wishes for health, success, and happiness.

People often attend spring festivals, flower streets, and cultural performances. These public celebrations reflect the vitality of the new year and bring communities together in a festive spirit.

Tet is also a reflective time. Many individuals quietly think about goals, financial plans, education, and personal growth for the coming year. The calm pause between years provides space to reset emotionally and mentally.

What Should Be Avoided During Tet

Just as there are customs that invite good fortune, there are also actions people traditionally avoid to prevent bad luck.

Arguments and harsh words are discouraged, especially during the first days of the year. Maintaining a calm and positive atmosphere is believed to influence the emotional tone of the months ahead.

Sweeping the house or throwing out trash on the very first day is often avoided because it symbolically represents sweeping away fortune. Many families clean thoroughly before New Year’s Eve so they can rest during the opening days.

Lending or borrowing large sums of money at the start of the year is also approached cautiously, as it is thought to affect financial stability for the year.

When visiting temples or elders, people dress modestly and respectfully. Clothing choices reflect reverence, especially in sacred or family settings.

Zodiac Age Guidance During the Tet Holiday

According to traditional zodiac compatibility, each age group may benefit from choosing certain days for their first outing or important activities during Tet. These suggestions are general cultural beliefs rather than strict rules.

People born in years associated with the Rat, Monkey, and Dragon are often believed to harmonize well with the early days of Tet, particularly the first, fourth, and ninth days of the lunar month. These days may be favorable for travel or symbolic beginnings.

Those born in Ox, Snake, and Rooster years may find the first days and the day associated with wealth rituals especially meaningful for financial intentions or ceremonial openings.

Individuals born in Tiger, Horse, and Dog years are often encouraged to focus on days linked with vitality and forward motion, using the holiday period to set plans in motion and strengthen personal resolve.

Those born in Cat, Goat, and Pig years are traditionally associated with harmony and relationships, making certain midweek days suitable for social visits, agreements, or family discussions.

Specific auspicious hours can also be selected from the lunar calendar for greater alignment with personal zodiac signs. However, many families emphasize that a positive mindset and kind actions matter more than precise timing.

Final Thoughts

The Year of the Fire Horse 2026 promises a long and meaningful Tet holiday filled with opportunities for reunion, gratitude, and fresh beginnings. With an extended break, families can spend valuable time together, participate in traditional rituals, and step into the new year with intention and optimism.

Choosing favorable days, following cultural customs, and maintaining a peaceful spirit are ways many people seek to align themselves with good fortune. Whether through temple visits, family meals, or quiet reflection, the essence of Tet lies in renewal and connection.

Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful, joyful, and prosperous Lunar New Year 2026. May the new spring bring health, success, and lasting happiness.