New Year in Vietnamese culture
Explain that Vietnam does not see New Year of this calendar on the night of 31 December as an important celebration day. That is because they have Vietnamese New Year (most people refer this to Chinese New Year), based on the Lunar calendar (lunar new year also called for that reason. Which is not based on the sun like the normal calendar, but on the moon. This event is either in late january or early February and the biggest national holiday of the year, way bigger celebrated that New Years Eve on December 31. with fireworks in every town, year end parties and also visiting pagodas, praying and anchestoral worship.
That said, new years eve does get celebrated more and more with the influences of media and tourists. Specially in a city like Hanoi you don’t need to worry about not being able to celebrate it.
Firework at New Years Eve in Hanoi
Rooftop bars and restaurant in Hanoi
Other New Years Eve celebrations in Hanoi
Old Quarter
Is Hanoi worth visiting on New Years Eve?
If you are looking for celebrations, parties and firework, Hanoi, is the best place to celebrate it. Most other cities in Vietnam don’t have firework shows and as big as celebrations as you can find here in Hanoi. Only Ho Chi Minh City could top that.
Weather on New Years Eve in Hanoi
Peak season during Christmas Holiday in Hanoi
New Year that falls together with Christmas Holiday is part of the peak season. This is exactly for this reason, as many travelers come from countries where they get off during this time and travel here. This is not a peak domestic time for traveling, as most Vietnamese people don;t travel in this time as they are both preparing and saving for Tet (Vietnamese New Year). If you want to know more about the festival spirit of Hanoi around this time, read the guide “Christmas in Hanoi”, were eveything is explained and fun things to do. https://dev.localvietnam.com/hanoi/christmas-hanoi/
January 1 official holiday
Although this New Years is not a big part of Vietnamese culture, Vietnamese people do get an day off at January 1, as it is marked as an official holiday. However, don’t worry, in the old quarter of Hanoi, pretty much all places stay open on this day.
