Tet holiday travel in Vietnam: what closes and when

Tet holiday travel in Vietnam is easiest if you know one fact first: the official break runs seven days, from 8 to 14 February 2024, and Lunar New Year's Day falls on Saturday 10 February. Offices and many shops shut for that week, flights and trains fill with people heading home, and the big cities go quiet. This guide explains what closes, how transport copes, and how to plan around it.

Sources for this section: The Investor, Vietnam approves seven-day Lunar New Year holiday (4 November 2023); The Star, One-week break approved for Tet holiday in 2024 (7 November 2023).

The dates for Tet 2024

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh approved the seven-day break in November 2023, on the proposal of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. It starts on the 29th day of the 12th lunar month and ends on the 5th day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Dragon.

Vietnam Briefing describes Tet as a five-day holiday, and The Investor says the 2024 break was set at seven days. Vietnam Briefing also notes that Tet is generally seen as the most important holiday in Vietnam, and that local businesses are widely known to close during it.

Sources for this section: The Investor, Vietnam approves seven-day Lunar New Year holiday; The Star, One-week break approved for Tet holiday in 2024; Vietnam Briefing, Vietnam's Public Holidays in 2024 (1 December 2023).

What closes during Tet

Government offices and public service agencies are closed for the full seven days. Many private businesses follow the same dates, because workers return to their home towns.

Visitors should expect gaps in sightseeing too. VietnamNet reported on 30 January 2024 that the Tet week is a tricky time to visit, because many landmarks and businesses close for about a week. It quoted a Southeast Asia travel specialist, speaking to Travel + Leisure, who said most key city sights are closed while people go back to their family villages.

• Offices and public services: closed for the whole break.
• Shops and small businesses: many close, because workers return to their home towns.
• Sights and landmarks: many close for about a week, so check each one before you go.

Our advice is simple. Do not assume a place is open because it is listed as open on a normal day. Ask your hotel to phone the places you most want to see.

Sources for this section: The Investor, Vietnam approves seven-day Lunar New Year holiday; VietnamNet, Is Tet Holiday the right time to travel to Vietnam? (30 January 2024); Vietnam Briefing, Vietnam's Public Holidays in 2024.

Flights and airports

Air travel gets busy before and after Tet. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam raised the slot limit at Hanoi's Noi Bai airport for 25 January to 24 February 2024. It allows up to 40 take-offs and landings an hour by day and 30 by night. Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat airport may run 44 slots an hour by day and 40 by night.

Noi Bai expected about 105,000 passengers and nearly 600 flights on its busiest day, and the authority expected ticket prices to match Tet 2023. Vietnam Airlines Group put more than 100,000 extra tickets on sale for 25 January to 24 February.

Sources for this section: The Hanoi Times, Hanoi's international airport to serve more flights ahead of Tet holiday (13 December 2023).

Trains and other transport

Rail is popular for the long trip between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Saigon Railway Transport (Saratrans) added 3,000 seats in early January 2024 and said it had sold 152,000 Tet tickets by 4 January. The extra trains and carriages ran on Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City services, and from Quy Nhon and Quang Ngai to Saigon.

The same report said the railway offered a 3 percent discount on trains leaving Saigon Station on 8 February for trips over 1,000 km, 5 percent off return tickets, and cheaper student fares. Sources we opened give no firm bus schedule, so check with each operator. Some services may run less often during the break.

Sources for this section: Dan Tri International, More train tickets added to serve Tet demand (5 January 2024); The Hanoi Times, Hanoi's international airport to serve more flights ahead of Tet holiday.

How to plan around Tet

You have two good choices. You can travel during Tet and accept the closures, or you can move your trip to dates outside the break.

1. Book early. Flights and trains are busiest at the start and end of the break. Book both your trip in and your trip out well ahead.
2. Pick a base and stay put. Moving between cities on 7 to 8 February or 14 to 15 February is the hardest part. Staying in one place for the middle days avoids the rush.
3. Join the celebrations. VietnamNet named Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City as strong choices for Tet events. In Hanoi the "Vietnamese Tet - Old Quarter Tet 2024" programme runs from 28 January to 9 February.
4. Keep cash and food in mind. Because many small shops close, buy snacks and essentials before 8 February.
5. Check each place. Call ahead for any sight, tour or restaurant you rely on.

VietnamNet adds that the weather suits travel at this time of year, with the central and southern regions not too hot while the north is cold. A beach stop in the south or centre can be a good way to spend the quietest days.

Sources for this section: VietnamNet, Is Tet Holiday the right time to travel to Vietnam?; The Hanoi Times, Hanoi's international airport to serve more flights ahead of Tet holiday; Dan Tri International, More train tickets added to serve Tet demand.

Sources

1. The Investor, Vietnam approves seven-day Lunar New Year holiday: theinvestor.vn
2. The Star, One-week break approved for Tet holiday in 2024: thestar.com.my
3. Vietnam Briefing, Vietnam's Public Holidays in 2024: vietnam-briefing.com
4. VietnamNet, Is Tet Holiday the right time to travel to Vietnam?: vietnamnet.vn
5. The Hanoi Times, Hanoi's international airport to serve more flights ahead of Tet holiday: hanoitimes.vn
6. Dan Tri International, More train tickets added to serve Tet demand: dtinews.dantri.com.vn