Traveling to Vietnam During Tet 2027: What Opens, What Closes

Traveling to Vietnam during Tet works well if you plan for one quiet week: many shops, museums and family restaurants close, transport sells out and prices rise, while temples, flower markets and big hotels are busy and festive. This guide from our Vietnam travel blog covers what closes and what stays open, transport and money, etiquette, and what to sort out before you fly.

Lunar New Year falls on Saturday 6 February in Tet 2027. Vietnam's offices close for about a week around it, including visa processing, so apply for a Vietnam e-visa online well before the break.

Tet 2027 at a glance:

Is traveling to Vietnam during Tet a good idea?

Yes, Tet is a good time to visit Vietnam if you want to see the country's biggest celebration and do not mind closures. It is a poor time for a first trip packed with sightseeing, tailors and markets.

The days before Tet are lively, with flower markets, decorated streets and shopping. The first three days of the new year are quiet in cities, as people visit family and temples. Things reopen gradually over the following week.

What is closed during Tet

What is closed during Tet varies by city, but expect a quiet first three days of the new year. Plan around these closures:

• Family-run restaurants and street food: many close for three days to a week.
• Traditional markets and small shops: usually closed for three to five days.
• Museums: many close for a few days around New Year's Day.
• Banks and government offices: closed for the whole break, and ATMs can run low on cash.
• Tailors, laundries and small tour operators: often closed or charging holiday rates.

What stays open

Major hotels, convenience stores, international chains and many restaurants in tourist areas stay open during Tet. Pagodas and temples are at their busiest, as families pray for luck in the new year.

Some big sights stay open, including Hoi An's Old Town and Hue's Imperial City, though hours can change on New Year's Day. Ho Chi Minh City's Nguyen Hue flower street and Hanoi's lakeside decorations draw crowds in the evenings.

Transport and money

Flights, trains and buses run during Tet, but seats sell out weeks ahead as millions travel home. Book every domestic leg early, and arrive at airports with extra time.

Ride-hailing apps like Grab work, with higher fares and fewer drivers. Withdraw cash before the break, because ATMs may not be refilled and small shops do not take cards. Our guide to getting around Vietnam covers each type of transport.

Tet etiquette for visitors

Tet etiquette for tourists is simple: be polite, cheerful and respectful of family time. Say "Chuc mung nam moi" (Happy New Year) to people you meet.

If you are invited to a Vietnamese home, bring a small gift such as fruit, tea or sweets, and avoid arriving very early on New Year's Day, when the first visitor is thought to bring the year's luck. Dress modestly at temples, which are crowded. Two practical points remain: your visa, and where to spend the week.

Before you fly at Tet

Arriving around Tet takes more planning than any other time of year. These two decisions make the biggest difference.

Get your visa before the break

Getting a visa during Tet is slow, because Vietnam's immigration offices do not process applications during the holiday. Our guide to Vietnam visa processing during public holidays explains how to count working days. If you run out of time, a weekend and holiday e-visa speed is available.

Where to spend Tet

Beach and heritage towns such as Hoi An, Da Nang and Nha Trang keep more places open and have a festive feel, while big cities empty out. Our Hoi An travel guide covers a town that works well at Tet. Book hotels early.

VietnamVisa-Easy.com is a private visa service operated by H2 Global Travel JSC since 2012, not a government website, and you can apply directly at evisa.gov.vn for US$25. If you would like the working days counted for you before the holiday, start your application with us.