TL;DR: The Si La people in Lai Châu celebrate their traditional Tet earlier than the Kinh, usually in January when peach blossoms bloom, with timing based on harvest season rather than fixed dates. Tet lasts three days with special rituals like slaughtering black pigs, ancestor worship at the clan head's house, and making double chung cakes.
How do the Si La people celebrate Tet early?
Among Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups, the Si La are one of the smallest populations, yet they possess a rich and distinctive cultural heritage. In Lai Châu province, the Si La live mainly in Can Hồ commune, Mường Tè district, with nearly 150 households and over 580 people. Their most remarkable custom is celebrating the traditional Tet early, a rare cultural practice preserved through generations.
Unlike the Kinh and many other ethnic groups who mark the new year at midnight, the Si La celebrate Tet when the harvest season ends. Therefore, their Tet is not fixed on a specific date but varies depending on when the harvest finishes in each locality. Usually, when peach blossoms (called "kỳ khà vẹ") begin to bloom across the mountains, the Si La joyfully welcome their Tet, known as "cô tô cơ ồ xị".
Table summarizing the main Tet days and rituals of the Si La people in a three-day sequence.
| Day | Name | Main activities | Offerings |
|---|---|---|---|
| The day before Tet | cù phạ há nhi | cleaning the house, washing cooking utensils, preparing food and drinks, women catch crabs and fish and prepare a branch of glutinous rice to offer to ancestors | a branch of glutinous rice |
| The first day | vạ sị nhi | slaughtering a pig, worshiping ancestors, eating at home, representatives of families bring offerings to the clan head's house to worship ancestors | pig, 2 squirrels, 2 crabs, 2 fish, 2 round glutinous rice cakes |
| The second day | chí xi tố nhi | married couples bring wine and dried squirrel to their adoptive parents' and wife's parents' houses to wish them a Happy New Year, visit, eat and drink all day | one bottle of wine, one dried squirrel |
| The third day | chè chớ nhi | wrapping banh chung, offering the cakes on the altar to worship ancestors and announcing that Tet is over | 1-2 pairs of banh chung |
How do the Si La choose their Tet days?
The Si La celebrate Tet according to clan lines, and choosing the right day is crucial. The first day of Tet must not coincide with the death anniversary (burial day) of any immediate ancestor (parents) in the clan, nor with the days of the Tiger and Monkey, which are considered unlucky.
Tet lasts three days, each with its own name and meaning:
- First day: "vạ sị nhi" (pig slaughtering day)
- Second day: "chí xi tố nhi" (wine drinking day)
- Third day: "chè chớ nhi" (ending day)
What do the Si La prepare before Tet?
The day before Tet is called "cù phạ há nhi" (vegetable preparation day). Families clean their houses, wash cooking utensils, and prepare food and drinks for the holiday. Women go out to catch crabs, fish, and prepare a bundle of sticky rice for ancestor worship.
What happens on the first day of Si La Tet?
On Tet day, families wake up at the first rooster crow. The head of the household fires a gunshot into the air to announce the new year. Women pound sesame and steam sticky rice. By around 4 a.m., the sound of pounding bánh giầy (round glutinous rice cakes) echoes throughout the village.
On the first day, every family slaughters a pig. Before the pig is slaughtered, it is "offered Tet" with bánh trôi (glutinous rice balls) and wine. The owner places the pig on a bench or a high stone in the yard, puts three bánh trôi on its snout, and pours wine into its mouth three times, chanting: "This year 1 quintal, next year 2, the following year 3," hoping for a healthy and prolific herd.
According to custom, the clan head's family slaughters the pig first, then other families follow. This creates a lively atmosphere with pig squeals, chopping sounds, and laughter. The Si La believe that the family finishing first will have good luck in the new year. Pigs must be male and of the traditional black breed.
After slaughtering, the liver is examined by the eldest man to divine the family's fortune. The front legs, some intestines, and lean meat are used for ancestor worship, cooked in a small kitchen in the worship room, where the couple sleeps. The offering ceremony is held immediately after cooking.
In the afternoon, representatives of families bring offerings to the clan head's house. Offerings include pig meat, 2 squirrels (symbolizing agility), 2 crabs, 2 fish (praying for water for the Si La wherever they go), and 2 bánh giầy (called "ba pa"). The clan head leads the prayer: "The old year has passed, the new year has come; children and grandchildren gather to offer gifts to ancestors. May our ancestors bless us with a full and warm new year, with more than enough to eat and drink." After the ceremony, participants share a meal or take offerings home.
What happens on the second day of Si La Tet?
The second day, "chí xi tố nhi", is for drinking wine. Couples bring a bottle of wine and a dried squirrel to visit their adoptive parents and in-laws, wishing them a happy new year and spending the day together.
What happens on the third day of Si La Tet?
On the third day, families wrap chung cakes. Si La chung cakes are unique: they are "double" cakes, with two small cylindrical cakes wrapped together. After boiling, the owner offers 1-2 cakes on the ancestor altar to announce that Tet is over.
Only after Tet do the Si La rearrange the ancestor altar. The parents perform this ritual, but if they are unwell, the eldest daughter-in-law does it, as she will become the future head of the family. The altar is placed in the corner of the house facing the setting sun, where the parents sleep.
How is Si La Tet culture preserved today?
In the past, due to a nomadic lifestyle, the Si La did not organize games during Tet. Today, with state support, cultural and sports activities such as tug-of-war, stick pushing, and traditional dances are held. The Si La love music and craft traditional instruments like flutes and bamboo zithers.
However, some traditional cultural values, dishes, and folk songs are fading. The Mường Tè district (before July 2025) authorities are working to preserve them by encouraging people to maintain rituals and cultural activities and establishing art teams.
The early Tet custom of the Si La is not only a unique cultural feature but also a symbol of community solidarity, filial piety, and hope for a peaceful and prosperous new year.
