Tet is the main holiday of the country, and it does not coincide with January 1. New Year in Vietnam in 2026 begins on February 17 and lasts a week or longer: cafes and markets in Nha Trang, Mui Ne and Da Nang close for 2–4 days, hotels introduce a mandatory festive dinner, and domestic flights are booked up in advance.
When does Vietnamese Tet begin and how long does it last?
The holiday opens the year according to the lunar calendar, and the date shifts each time. It is useful for a tourist from Almaty to understand in advance how many days of rest fall on the trip.
Dates of the lunar calendar and official days off
Vietnam celebrates New Year on February 17, 2026, and the festive days stretch for a week or longer. The date floats according to the lunar calendar, so it does not fall the same way year to year, and the Vietnamese side announces the days off separately. Officially, the holiday usually lasts five days, but cafes, shops and offices close more widely than the calendar dictates. Many Vietnamese take another two or three days at their own expense and go to their relatives. For a tourist this means that the quiet days in Nha Trang, Mui Ne and Da Nang begin earlier than the official date. Plan the trip so that the first two days after the holiday remain free of excursions.
How long cafes, markets and shops are closed
During Tet itself, many cafes, shops and markets in Nha Trang, Mui Ne and Da Nang close for 2–4 days. Mainly hotels and tourist spots remain open, while the usual eateries with pho and banh mi stand with their shutters down. On Phu Quoc and in Hoi An the picture is softer: the resort infrastructure holds on longer because it lives off guests. Markets come back to life not immediately, but by the third or fourth day, when traders return from the provinces. Stock up on water, fruit and snacks in advance so as not to look for food on the first evening. If you are traveling with children, check at the hotel whether they serve the usual menu on the festive dates.
What to consider when booking a hotel for the festive dates?
The New Year dates in Vietnam are high season, and hotels raise prices along with demand. Let us break down what is included in the rate and when it is better to book.
Festive dinners and surcharges at hotels
For the New Year dates, hotels in Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Da Nang introduce a mandatory festive dinner with a surcharge to the rate. A gala dinner can cost as much as half a night, and you cannot refuse it: it is included in the booking under the terms. The dinner usually takes place on the evening of February 16 or 17, less often on both days, and separate seats are sold for outside guests. In Hoi An and Mui Ne the surcharge is more modest; there they more often get by with the usual menu and a decorated lobby. Look in the rate description for the note about the mandatory dinner, otherwise a surprise awaits you at the front desk. Families with small children should check whether they charge for a child at this dinner.
How many months in advance to book and how to read the tour terms
It is worth booking a hotel for the Tet period 2–3 months in advance: by December the choice at popular resorts is already narrow. Good options by the sea in Nha Trang and on Phu Quoc are snapped up as early as autumn, and by January only distant buildings and the worst views remain. Read the terms carefully: somewhere the prepayment is non-refundable, somewhere part of the sum is returned a month before check-in, and somewhere dates are changed without losses. Compare a couple of options by location: proximity to the beach during the holidays is more important than in ordinary months, because transport runs worse.
How to get there and move around on the festive days
Logistics during Tet are the weakest point of the trip, because the country travels home to its relatives. Let us talk about flights and transport between resorts.
Flights from Almaty and connections
The direct flight Almaty — Cam Ranh is operated by charter flights; connecting options go through Dubai, Istanbul or Bangkok. The time difference with Almaty is plus 2 hours, so acclimatization on a short flight is almost unnoticeable. A week before Tet and in the first days after it, domestic flights, trains and buses between cities are booked up long in advance, and their prices jump. If you are flying to Phu Quoc or Da Nang with a connection inside the country, take a connection with a reserve of several hours. Buy tickets for domestic flights together with the tour, not on the spot.
Transport between resorts on the days of Tet
In the first days of Tet, Vietnamese travel to their relatives, so intercity transport is overcrowded, and taxis in the cities are harder to catch. The bus Nha Trang — Mui Ne or Da Nang — Hoi An runs on a different schedule during the holidays, and some trips are canceled. Drivers charge more than usual, and haggling on the spot almost does not work. Order a transfer through the hotel in advance, even if you overpay: on a festive evening it is harder to find a car than it seems. The distance between Nha Trang and Mui Ne is short, but during Tet the road takes longer because of the traffic. Leave a margin of time before your flight home.
Money, visa and insurance: preparation before departure
Financial and paperwork preparation saves nerves on the spot. Below is what to decide before you fly out of Almaty.
Cash dong, cards and exchange
Vietnamese dong cannot be bought in Kazakhstan, so people bring dollars or tenge and exchange them on the spot. The rate is better in jewelry shops, not at the airport, and there they also exchange large notes without unnecessary questions. ATMs in resort areas often run out of cash during the festive days, so it is better to withdraw cash in advance. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at hotels and large restaurants, but at markets and in small cafes you need cash. Keep part of the sum in small notes: during Tet, Vietnamese give each other red envelopes with money, and it is appropriate for a tourist to have small money for gifts to hotel staff or a guide.
Visa, passport and medical policy
To enter Vietnam, a tourist from Kazakhstan needs a visa, and it is issued electronically in advance or on arrival. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months, and this should be checked before buying tickets. Medical insurance with coverage from 10,000 dollars is mandatory for entry, and it is better to arrange it before departure, not at the airport. Check whether the policy includes active recreation and medical treatment on islands such as Fukuoka. Keep copies of documents separately from the originals, and scans on your phone.
Visa and entry rules change: check the primary source — the Immigration Department of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/. The information on this page was verified on 11.09.2026.
Festive program in cities and on islands
Celebrations take place throughout the country, but each city has its own character. We have gathered what to see on New Year's evenings.
Fairs, fireworks and flower installations
In Da Nang and Hoi An, street fairs, fireworks and flower installations by the river take place on festive days. During Tet, it is customary to decorate homes with blossoming peach branches in the north and yellow oai flowers in the south, and they are sold at festive markets. In Nha Trang and Mui Ne, the embankments are decorated for the holiday, and in the evening people stroll there with families and take photos by the installations. Phu Quoc welcomes the year more modestly, but the beaches are freer than usual these days. Come to the fairs before sunset: after the fireworks the crowd disperses, and transport becomes a problem.
Paper lanterns on the water and gifts in red envelopes
In Hoi An, on New Year's evenings, a mass launch of paper lanterns onto the water is held. The spectacle gathers crowds by the river, and boatmen work longer than usual these days. A red envelope with money is the main Tet gift; it is given to children, relatives and employees. A tourist does not have to participate in the exchange, but a small banknote in an envelope for a guide or maid will be appropriate. You can release a lantern onto the water yourself; they are sold right there on the embankment. Make a wish and do not forget that launching onto the water is not a competition, but a calm evening ritual.
Briefly
- Vietnamese Tet opens the lunar year and in 2026 falls on February 17.
- The resorts of Nha Trang, Mui Ne and Da Nang quiet down for 2–4 days in the first days of the holiday.
- Hotels in Nha Trang, Fukuoka and Da Nang include a mandatory festive dinner in the booking.
- Accommodation for festive dates is booked 2–3 months in advance, domestic flights are bought in advance.
- Cash dong is withdrawn before the holidays; small banknotes are needed for red envelopes.