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TL;DR: Vietnamese people traditionally believe 'to be cautious is to be safe' and 'a good start leads to a good finish', so many taboos are observed during Tet. Common ones include avoiding sweeping, lending money, breaking things, and arguing. These customs are mainly passed down orally, carrying cultural and spiritual rather than scientific value.
What is the "better safe than sorry" philosophy in Vietnamese culture?
Tet (Lunar New Year) is the most important festival in Vietnamese culture. According to folk beliefs, events during the first days of the year set the tone for the months ahead. This explains the popular sayings "a good start leads to a good finish" (đầu xuôi đuôi lọt) and "to be cautious is to be safe" (có kiêng có lành). Even skeptics often follow these traditions to wish for a peaceful and prosperous new year.
Summary table of Tet taboos and corresponding folk reasons.
| Taboo | Reason according to folk beliefs | How to resolve or practice |
|---|---|---|
| Sweeping the house, taking out the trash | Sweeping away all the family's wealth and luck | Clean the whole house before the afternoon of Tet 30, gather trash in one corner and clean it up after all Tet offerings are done |
| Lending or borrowing money | Giving away the whole year's wealth to others, easily leading to poverty | |
| Going to repay debts | Bad omen, signaling a difficult year in business | |
| Breaking objects | Bad omen, signaling cracks and discord in the family | Say "be binh an" or "vo la tai tuc" |
| Arguing, saying unlucky things | Crying, illness, and death are bad omens for the whole year | Keep a cheerful atmosphere, indulge children |
| Wearing white or black clothes | These are funeral colors, unsuitable for a joyful atmosphere | Choose outfits in red, pink, blue, or yellow |
| Eating dog meat, duck meat, bananas, balut | Comes from pronunciation and folk associations | |
| Going out on the 5th day | Considered a bad day | |
| Letting children go out and return before the New Year's Eve transition | ||
| Refusing food or drink when visiting for Tet greetings | Afraid of offending the host | |
| People in mourning going to give Tet greetings | Avoid affecting everyone's joy | Arrange the funeral affairs within the old year or wait until the 2nd day to hold the funeral |
What are the most common Tet taboos?
Why do people avoid sweeping and taking out trash during Tet?
Sweeping the house during Tet is believed to sweep away good fortune and wealth. Families clean thoroughly before New Year's Eve and store brooms away during the first three days. If cleaning is unavoidable, rubbish is gathered in a corner and disposed of only after the holiday ends. In southern Vietnam, some families hide brooms entirely, as losing a broom at the start of the year is thought to bring financial loss.
Why do people avoid lending or borrowing money during Tet?
Lending money at the beginning of the year is seen as giving away one's fortune, while repaying debts is considered an omen of financial hardship ahead. People therefore avoid money transactions during the first days of Tet.
What does breaking things during Tet mean?
Breaking bowls, cups, or mirrors during Tet is considered a bad omen, foreshadowing family conflicts or separation. If something breaks accidentally, people often say auspicious phrases like "broken for peace" to neutralize the bad luck.
Why do people avoid arguments and bad words during Tet?
Tet is a time for harmony. Vietnamese people avoid raising voices, arguing, or mentioning unfortunate topics like illness or death. Adults also indulge children to prevent crying, as tears at the start of the year are thought to bring misfortune.
Why do people avoid wearing white or black during Tet?
White and black are associated with mourning, so wearing these colors during Tet is traditionally avoided. Bright colors like red, yellow, and pink are preferred for their festive and lucky connotations. However, this practice is fading in modern times, as many believe wearing what makes you comfortable and confident is more important.
Which foods should you avoid during Tet?
Some foods are avoided during Tet, including dog meat, duck meat, bananas, and fertilized duck eggs. The taboo often stems from wordplay: "banana" (chuối) sounds like "chúi" (to plunge), suggesting failure. Regional differences exist though, as northerners avoid fertilized eggs while southerners eat them to ward off bad luck.
Other taboos and their humanistic values
Additional taboos include avoiding travel on the 5th day of the new year (considered unlucky), ensuring children return home before New Year's Eve, and never refusing food or drinks when visiting someone's home. People in mourning also avoid visiting others during Tet, and families try to complete funeral arrangements before the new year or wait until the 2nd day to announce a death.
These taboos go beyond mere superstition. They encourage harmony, careful speech, respect for wealth, and family unity. Even as Vietnam modernizes, these customs persist as cultural treasures, preserving the unique spirit of the traditional Tet holiday.
