Lunar New Year is commonly known as Chinese New Year under western eyes, however, it is not only celebrated in only China, the truth is, Lunar New Year is the beginning of a calendar year whose months are cycles of the moon, that is used widely in many Asian countries that including Vietnam. There are some typical activities you might experience and some places you should visit if you travel to Vietnam during that time.
At midnight on Eve (exactly at 12:00), millions of fireworks are set across the country (mainly in big cities) to celebrate the first moment of the new year. Normally, people can enjoy the fireworks during 15 minutes. In Hanoi – the capital city and one of the must-visit places in 2020, the best place to see the fireworks is around Sword Lake, which is located near the old quarter, where you can also enjoy the festive spirit in the walking street.
2. Buy salt and matches
There are so many Vietnamese traditional customs that local people want to do and should do at the beginning of the year, one of them is buying a small bag of salt and matches (normally on the first day of the year). We believe that salt can protect people from evil spirits and bad luck, bring good fortune and create tighten family bonds. In terms of matches, according to traditional belief, the fire can bring warmth and happiness for the family, hence in order to wish a new year full of luck and happiness, matches are often sold together with salt.
You do not need to buy too much salt, a small bag is enough for this cultural practice activity. That is why salt and matches are usually put into a small red bag (as red is the color that represents good luck in many cultures). One more thing, remember not to bargain when buying salt and matches, as people also believe that the good fortune might be reduced or badly affected.
3. Visit pagoda
In many Asian countries in general and in Vietnam in particular, Buddhism is one of the most popular religious and it plays an important role in people’s beliefs and spirit. Hence, visiting pagoda and pray for a prosperous and fulfilling new year is considered as a must for many Vietnamese.
Tran Quoc Pagoda
If you visit Hanoi during that time, it is a good chance to explore some ancient pagodas and immersed yourself in local people's new year's spirit such as Tran Quoc pagoda (the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi, that is located in a small island of Hanoi’s West Lake), Mot Cot Pagoda (One Pillar pagoda, that have the structure as a lotus flower), etc.
Have you felt interested in experiencing Lunar New Year and its customs in Vietnam? You can apply Visa to Vietnam contact and get more information on our website: - https://applyvietnamvisa.org/
