What is first-day Tet travel for the 2027 Lunar New Year and why do people care?
First-day Tet travel is the first time you step out of your home in the new year, seen as the start of all travel, business, and visits for the year. According to cultural researcher Nguyen Hieu Tin, people in the past considered this outing very important, even checking the date, hour, and direction. Today many families still care because it ties into travel and visiting relatives during Tet.
One point should be clear from the start: no single book is the only correct standard for everyone. Folk documents, perpetual calendars, and feng shui books may give different joy deity and wealth deity directions because their calculation methods differ. This article presents the common, easy-to-follow method and notes where sources disagree so you can choose what fits your family.
How to choose the hour for first-day Tet travel in 2027?
The common method is to check the auspicious hour table for the first day of Tet in a perpetual calendar, then pick a good time slot, preferably early morning. If you do not have a perpetual calendar, ask an elder in the family or use a reputable lunar calendar app, but check at least two sources before deciding.
Note that books do not fully agree on the names and calculation of good hours. Some use auspicious hours, some use the Luc Dieu or Khong Minh travel hour systems, and results can differ. So choose a time that fits your family schedule, as long as you avoid going too late at night, when health is poor, or when the weather is bad.
Steps to choose the hour
- Open a perpetual calendar or lunar calendar app and find the first day of Tet 2027.
- Note the time slots marked as auspicious that day.
- Cross-check with a second source to avoid errors.
- Choose a slot when the whole family can go, usually after the New Year's Eve and first-day offerings.
- Avoid slots that are too early and cold, especially for the elderly and young children.
How to choose the direction for first-day Tet travel in 2027?
The common method is to look up the joy deity and wealth deity directions for the first day in a perpetual calendar, then pick one as your first direction. According to Tuoi Tre, for the first day of Tet Giap Thin 2024, the northeast was listed as the joy deity direction and the southeast as the wealth deity direction. This shows directions change each year, so check the correct year 2027 rather than reusing last year's direction.
To be clear: this article does not give specific 2027 direction numbers because the provided sources do not include a direction table for that year. Check a perpetual calendar or a feng shui book for the 2027 Lunar New Year to get accurate figures.
Steps to choose the direction
- Look up the joy deity and wealth deity directions for the first day of Tet 2027 in a perpetual calendar.
- Pick one main direction, usually the wealth deity if you focus on work and business, or the joy deity if you focus on good news and family events.
- Identify that direction on a map or compass relative to your home.
- Choose a destination in that direction, such as visiting a relative, going to a pagoda, or taking a short walk.
- If the good direction has no convenient road, walk a short stretch in that direction and then turn onto your actual route.
Preparing offerings and items before the outing
Not every family makes offerings before the outing, but if you want the fuller folk practice, you can prepare the following. This list is for reference; adjust by region and family conditions.
- Incense and candles or oil lamps.
- Betel and areca, fresh flowers, and fresh fruit on the altar.
- A simple first-day offering if your family has one: sticky rice, chicken or meat, banh chung or banh tet depending on region.
- Small change or red lucky money envelopes in your bag for visits.
- Neat, weather-appropriate clothing.
- A charged phone, cash, and ID if travelling far.
- For families with young children or the elderly: warm clothes, water, personal medicine.
- If burning joss paper: a metal tray or safe burning spot, never indoors.
Safety notes
- Do not burn incense, candles, or joss paper near flammable items such as curtains, paper, or fuel.
- Do not let children burn joss paper or play with fire.
- Burn joss paper in an open area, with an adult watching, and put out the fire completely before leaving.
- At pagodas, follow the temple's instructions on incense and joss paper.
Step-by-step first-day Tet outing
Step 1: Make the morning offering to ancestors
Light incense and pray to ancestors in your family's way. Many families do this before leaving home to ask permission from ancestors. If your family does not follow this custom, you can skip it.
Step 2: Confirm the chosen hour and direction
Review the auspicious hour and the joy and wealth deity directions you noted earlier. Prepare your route so you do not hesitate at the door.
Step 3: Step out in the chosen direction
Your first step should follow the chosen direction. If there is no road in that direction, walk a short stretch that way and then turn onto your actual route. The key is to keep a relaxed, cheerful mood.
Step 4: Visit relatives or go to a pagoda
According to Tuoi Tre, if you go to a temple, pray for blessings rather than wealth, speak kindly, do good deeds, and keep a good heart. This fits the spirit of Tet.
Step 5: Return home
People in the past avoided going out without returning during the three Tet days, meaning you should come home by evening. However, according to researcher Nguyen Hieu Tin, in modern times when the outing can be a long holiday trip, this taboo no longer fits everyone.
Step 6: Note or share something good
Many people choose to write a lucky line or note a good wish after the outing. This often happens from the second day of Tet or another day depending on conditions, not necessarily on the first day.
Where do books and sources differ?
This is the key part because many people wonder why each source gives a different direction.
| Difference | Common understanding | Effect in practice |
|---|---|---|
| How joy and wealth deity directions are calculated | Each book uses its own formula or table | The same day can yield two different directions |
| How good hours are calculated | Auspicious hours, Luc Dieu, and Khong Minh differ | A good hour in one book may not be good in another |
| Whether the householder's age is used | Some books use only the day, others combine age and fate | On the same day, each person may have a different suitable direction |
| The taboo of going out without returning | Some keep it, some consider it outdated | You may stay overnight or return home depending on circumstances |
| Praying for wealth at temples | Some encourage blessings, some still pray for wealth | Agree within the family before going |
This article follows the convention of presenting the common method, noting disagreements, and not claiming one way is the only correct one. Choose according to family tradition, practical conditions, and the health of family members.
Common taboos and modern interpretation
According to Tuoi Tre, people in the past avoided going out without returning during the three Tet days, drinking alcohol during the outing, and having a bad mood. For writing, they avoided vulgar content, unrefined handwriting, and writing carelessly on old, poor paper.
Modern interpretation: these taboos mainly remind us to keep a positive, safe, and civil attitude on the first day of the year. Do not let them become pressure that makes Tet stressful. If your family has different views, respect each other and choose what fits best.
Brief conclusion
First-day Tet travel for the 2027 Lunar New Year can follow this order: check the auspicious hour and the joy and wealth deity directions for the first day, prepare offerings and essentials, make the ancestor offering if your family does so, step out in the chosen direction, visit relatives or a pagoda, and return home. Books may give different directions and hours, so cross-check at least two sources and prioritise safety, health, and a cheerful family atmosphere on the first day of the year.
