Here are the top things to do during Tet Holiday in Hanoi. Lunar New Year is probably the most-awaited eve of the year when people in the country finally get to lay down their back after a full year of hard working. If summer is “the time for holiday” to most people, Tết in Vietnam is just like another “party time” when people eventually find themselves good places to make a getaway. This year, follow us to discover your own Tết in the capital.

Events at Tết

This year, do not forget to find yourself some great events to take part in this Lunar New Year in Hanoi. If you have not known where to go or what to do, just check out this list of two outstanding events!

Giảng Võ’s Spring Exhibition (6th – 12th Feb 2018)

Giảng Võ’s Spring Exhibition has become somewhat a “tradition” of people around the capital. The exhibition attracts millions of people each day going shopping to prepare for Tết. There will be a wide range of products of good quality with numerous of cultural activities for you to take part in so do not miss it!

Address: Viet Xo Friendship Labour Cultural Palace, 91 Trần Hưng Đạo Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Time: 9:00 – 21:00
Entrance fee: Free

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology’s Happy Lunar New Year (24th – 25th Feb 2018)

This Lunar New Year, Vietnam Musem of Ethnology will bring yo some surprise with an exciting event held at the campus. You can either participate in the event as a volunteer of the Cuisine team or just a visitor enjoying the wonderful atmosphere of spring. At the event, you will have to chance of tasting Bình Phước’s cuisine as well as other ethnics’ such as Khơ me, Xtieng and so on.

Address: Nguyễn Văn Huyên Street, Cầu Giấy District, Hanoi
Opening time: 8:30 – 17:30 every day (except Monday)
Entrance fee: 40.000vnd (College students: 15.000vnd/ Highschool students: 10.000vnd)

Flower Festivals

One of the most exciting events at Tết in Hanoi is probably the flower festival. Every year, around the capital at this time of the year, most of the places will hold such events. It is like a special imprint of Hanoi that will definitely take your breath away.

Hoàn Kiếm Lake

Hoàn Kiếm Lake is a popular place for a weekend hang out, especially at Tết. Annually, there will be big flower festival around the lake at Lunar New Year. There is also Tết Flower Market in Hàng Lược Street if you want to enjoy the beauty of peach blossoms or buy some to bring to your hometown.Tết in Hanoi always bring home to mind, especially to Hanoians, this is the time when they can truly return to their childhood. Hoàn Kiếm Lake’s Flower Festival will not be a bad choice if you want to find the breath of Tết around the capital.

Address: Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Time: Every Friday to Sunday

Ecopark

Lying on the South-Eastern side of the capital, not only is Ecopark a worth-living city but it is also an amazing place for relaxation with evergreen gardens and beautiful manmade nature. Owning the 500-hectare yard, Ecopark will definitely be the perfect place for this spring’s flower festival.

Address: Rừng Cọ Street, Long Biên – Xuân Quan, Bát Tràng, Văn Giang, Hanoi

Times City

This year, Times City is predicted to hold another flower festival as the last year. Right now in Times City, hundreds of lanterns have been hung. From the bridge to the Times Mall, an arch tunnel has been made and decorated with flickering lights and two lines of beautiful cherry blossoms. You can come to the city at any time to enjoy this beauty.

Address: #458 Minh Khai Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi

Holiday Resorts near Hanoi

Tết is a holiday time for Vietnamese people. If at Christmas, most foreigners want to spend their time with their family, Vietnamese would like to make a getaway in nearby resorts with their family or even alone.

Đại Lải Resort

Only takes an hour or so to get to the resort, Đại Lải is a really perfect place for such short family vacations. If you want to go a little bit expensive, you can book a room in the well-known Flamingo in Đại Lải Resort. Flamingo has even nominated as one of the most beautiful resorts on the planet by Designboom.

Address: Ngọc Thanh, Phúc Yên, Vĩnh Phúc Province

Ba Vì

Besides Đại Lải, you can also enjoy a day-out at Ba Vì or Ba Vì National Garden. The place is popular for is a wilderness of various kinds of flora and fauna. Going to Ba Vì, you can also go to other wonderful destinations such as Thiên Sơn Suối Ngà, Khoang Xanh – Suối Tiên, Ao Vua (The King’s Pond), Ba Vì’s traditional trade village and so on.

Tam Đảo

Tam Đảo is a great destination for vacations near Hanoi. Only takes you about 2 hours by car, Tam Đảo is definitely an ideal location for family outing. Going to Tam Đảo, you can take a look at these destinations: Tam Đảo’s stone church, Silver waterfall, Trúc Lâm Zen Buddhist Temple and so on.

Temples and Pagodas

In Lunar New Year, it is more like a ritual than a tradition that Asian in general and Vietnamese in particular go to the pagodas or mostly temples at Tết. This comes from the belief that human and/or Gods and Buddha are connected through the sacred places such as the churches or temples. It is also added that people believe that by going to the temples and having ceremonial offerings will help them to have a safer and happier new year. In addition, it also helps to keep you away from bad spirits.

Temple of Literature

Since this is the most well-known place in Hanoi, there is nothing much left to say here. If you want to wish for a happy new year for you and for your kid’s studying career, go to Văn Miếu (Temple of Literature)

Address: #58 Quốc Tử Giảm Street, Đống Đa District, Hanoi

Hương Pagoda

This is the most-come location at Tết of all Vietnamese, especially Hanoians. In Lunar New Year, people will flock like birds from everywhere just to get the chance of having offerings in Hương Pagoda. This is not because there is any mystery or supernatural things about the place, but it is more like a habit of most Hanoians whenever Tết comes.

Address: Hương Sơn Commune, Mỹ Đức suburban district, Hanoi

Trấn Quốc Pagoda

Trấn Quốc is a pagoda lying near the capital center. There used to be a poem about the beauty of it which is now still remembered by many generations from young to old. Trần Quốc is located on an island to the South of West Lake and was one of the most renowned wonders under Lê Dynasty. Trấn Quốc is very popular for its sacredness and used to be the place that the King came at every Lunar New Year.

Address: Thanh Niên Street, Tây Hồ District, Hanoi

Ngọc Sơn Temple

Ngọc Sơn is probably the most-mentioned destination along with Hoàn Kiếm Lake – a symbol of Hanoi. Ngọc Sơn used to be the locations where the martyrs of Hà Bắc came to ask for being praised in the studying ladder.

Address: Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Hà Pagoda

Hà Pagoda is the most popular place for love offerings. If you are having trouble finding the other half, just go to Hà Pagoda, you will have one in no time! Well, at least that is what they say. However, you should also be careful that if you have already had a boyfriend or a girlfriend, do not dare to go to this place or you will regret it!

Address: Dịch Vọng Ward, Cầu Giấy District, Hanoi