“What will you do on Tết?”

Writer: Thuy Trang Nguyen

Written on: 12th February 2026

“What will you do on Tết?” is a question I get asked almost as often as “Where do you come from?” while volunteering around my Vietnamese coworkers and friends.

At first, it sounds casual. But the more often I hear it, the clearer it becomes that this question carries weight and hints at how important Tết is.

Tết is not just the Vietnamese New Year. It is the most significant time of the year for many people in Vietnam. Work is put aside, cities empty out and attention shifts almost entirely to family. But why is Tết more than just another holiday?

Short history

Tết Nguyên Đán or simply Tết is the Vietnamese Lunar New Year and the most important cultural and spiritual time of the year.

The significance of Tết is deeply rooted in Vietnam’s agricultural history. Traditionally, it takes place right after the most important rice harvest of the year. Food had been stored, debts settled and for the first time in months, families could rest.

Tết marked survival. It was a moment to pause, to be grateful and to look ahead with hope. While modern life has changed many aspects of how people live and work, this underlying idea has remained: Tết is a time to reset together.

Before, during and after

Tết is not just a single day, but a process.

Before Tết, houses are cleaned and decorated, special food is prepared, and families get ready to welcome both guests and ancestors. There are ceremonies, lucky money, shared meals, and many visits. During Tết, cities grow quiet. Streets empty, shops close, and time seems to slow down. Tickets sell out quickly, prices rise, and the pressure to organise travel in advance becomes very real. My family reminded me more than once that I should book my ticket soon, otherwise, getting home might become complicated or unexpectedly expensive. After Tết, life gradually resumes.

So, where will you go?

For me, the answer to is relatively clear: As a Người Đức gốc Việt (German with Vietnamese roots) I will visit my family.

Other volunteers might use this time to travel outside of Vietnam or spend Tết with a Vietnamese host family.

A new year, a new chapter

As the lunar year comes to an end, so does my time at Catalyst for Change. It feels fitting that this chapter closes during Tết: a season of reflection, gratitude and new beginnings.

Over the past months, Đà Nẵng has become a second home, thanks to the people who welcomed me and shared their traditions and everyday life with me.

To everyone at Catalyst for Change: thank you for making this experience so meaningful. Wishing you and your families a joyful Tết and a happy new year.