Tet is short for Tet Nguyen Dan; it is considered the biggest and most popular festival of the year in Vietnam. Celebrated on the first day of the first month in the lunar calendar, Tet is the occasion for Vietnamese to express their respect and remembrance for their ancestors as well as welcoming the New Year with their beloved family members. It is the longest holiday of the year, which may last up to seven days depending on the particular region of Vietnam.

In the past, Tet was essential, as it provided one of the very few long breaks during the agricultural year; it was held between the harvesting of the crops and the sowing of the next ones. One can imagine Tet as a combination of Christmas and New Year’s, with many traditions that Americans will recognize. During Tet, families get together to decorate their houses and Tet trees and have big meals.

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