Tet, a festival for locals and foreigners

Matthew Lourey, 43, Australia Managing Partner, Domicile Corporate Services

Matthew Lourey

As an Australian who has been in Vietnam for around 13 years, I have experienced many Tet celebrations in the country. The lead up to Tet is one of frenzy – people rushing to get everything completed and arranged before the holiday, along with swarms of people seeking to travel back to their hometowns to be with their families.

During Tet, Ho Chi Minh City becomes calm and peaceful, without the traffic or the mayhem that is normally a staple of the city. People are relaxed and happy, and there is a vibe of serenity and tranquillity that makes me want the city to be like this all year round.

Families can be seen in houses and in the streets, eating and drinking; enjoying the special foods of Tet – unfortunately, I don’t personally enjoy all of the Tet specialties. Children run around in their best clothes, with red envelopes in their hands, laughing and playing with their relatives and friends. It is at Tet where you can see the close bonds of Vietnamese families being displayed, as generations share stories and experiences with each other.

Tet in 2018 is quite different to my first Tet in 2005. Back then, nothing was open for many days and people spent their time solely in houses visiting family and friends. Now, restaurants, cinemas, and shopping centres are open and attract many looking to enjoy their holidays. Tet is evolving, with the cultural and traditional family roots firmly entrenched in the celebrations, but with modern lifestyles creeping in.

I personally look forward to relaxing at Tet too, surrounded by kumquat trees and yellow blossoms, and eating and drinking with family and friends.

Chung cake is a traditional and irreplaceable cake of Vietnamese in the Tet holidays

Adam Fitzpatrick, 36, UK, Investment Properties | Advisory & Transaction Services, CBRE Vietnam

Adam Fitzpatrick

I think the traditional Tet festival in Vietnam is fantastic, of course! I don’t know the history of the festival or the cultural traditions particularly well, but I recognise the change in atmosphere in the run-up to Tet and during the holidays. It’s a very similar feeling to the anticipation of Christmas in England. The general mood in Ho Chi Minh City is even more relaxed, friendly, and generous than normal. That’s a great thing and you can tell that people here are preparing for the festival. I like the decorations, the clothing, the gift giving – it’s a real celebration!

The only negative thing I’ve noticed so far is the traffic, which is even worse than normal! Great highlights are all the lunches, dinners, and excuses to drink with friends – it’s party season and you can really feel that. There are challenges at work of course, as the commercial wheels of the city slow down and this aspect of Tet can be challenging for international firms that share different holiday patterns. But this the nature of doing business here and something we all must manage. One of the major factors for me choosing to live and work in the city was the warmth of the Vietnamese people. I believe that Tet really highlights this. The small gestures I receive from clients, colleagues, even my landlady and her family, really go to show what an important time of year it is. I missed the festival last year but hope to spend Tet this year in the countryside with a Vietnamese family. I look forward to understanding the traditions more closely and getting a firsthand experience of a real Vietnamese festival experience.

Adam Fitzpatrick enjoys the Tet spirit with his friends

Bram Rutgers, 54, Netherlands Director, Project & Development Services Cushman & Wakefield Vietnam

Bram Rutgers

As we get closer to the Year of the Dog, you see the tension and anticipation rising. Having worked in Asia for the last eight years – the last one and a half years in Vietnam – it’s understandable. It is the longest and most important holiday of the year. A time to enjoy with family, with extensive eating and drinking, and remembering the important people that passed away. It’s completely different to our – much more boring – European New Year celebrations. Living here I celebrate both, since I never miss a chance to celebrate.

For me, living and working – or the other way around – in bustling Ho Chi Minh City, it is a great time. I enjoy everyone’s excitement as Tet is approaching, the extra tension of all the preparations, the buying of delicious foods, the decoration and cleaning of the house. Especially the cleaning, getting rid of the old year. Even though the city becomes a lot quieter during Tet, I enjoy being here, mostly because of my Vietnamese friends inviting me to join them in their celebrations. We not only enjoy the great food, but also being together and in each other’s company.

Business-wise, it becomes a bit more difficult to get things done, but that and finding a taxi are the only negative things I can think of. I am really looking forward to enjoying Tet and I’m already getting my red envelopes with lucky money ready – I got a lot of new one-dollar bills for it. I really love the tradition of Tet.

I wish everybody and their loved ones a great and enjoyable Tet and CHÚC MỪNG NĂM MỚI!

Kai Marcus Schröter, 50, Germany, CEO of HTM Management Consultancy

Kai Marcus Schröter

When the time of the Lunar New Year approaches, a special feeling of excitement overtakes me. Most expats who haven’t stayed in Vietnam for long or who are without local attachment usually see Tet as a time of quiet and going abroad for holidays, either to nearby beaches in Vietnam, Thailand, or Bali, or to their home country. Those few who stay behind will usually witness the chaos and hectic activities on the streets prior to the festivities, and enjoy the quiet solitude and empty roads for some days after Tet.

As a long-term expat with a Vietnamese family I have had the opportunity to witness Tet first hand. For someone like me with a spouse and extended family in Vietnam, attending and celebrating the Lunar New Year is a must and a pleasure at the same time, at least for a few days. This is the time of the year when all come together, which is a rare occasion in our busy lives. And since I don’t celebrate Christmas that much anymore, I have immersed myself in the local culture, with lots of smiles and happiness, good wishes, food, drinks, and cheer during Tet. Then I usually head off with my wife to quieter shores for a couple of days of relaxation and rejuvenation. The ‘escape’ for a few days after Tet and after family duties are done is a growing trend I also observe amongst the more affluent middle-class Vietnamese; those who can afford it seek a few days of quiet and peace to recharge their batteries.

Apart from the horrible traffic jams and drinking excesses, I enjoy the Lunar New Year festivities. I think we all need time off once in a while and to spend quality time with family and friends. Best wishes for the Year of the Dog! Happiness, health, and prosperity to all!

As Vietnam sees further integration into the global economy, Tet’s length is expected to be reduced, Photo: Le Toan

Stephen Wyatt, 43, UK, Country head of JLL Vietnam

Stephen Wyatt

Tet is a very special time of the year. As a foreigner having had the privilege of living and working in Vietnam for a number of years, it is always fascinating to witness this wonderful event every year. It is great to see that the tradition continues year after year. It is a time for families to reunite, a time for giving, and a time for friends, for eating, drinking, and playing games.

The general level of excitement grows considerably at this time of year. This year, it feels slightly different to previous years, as the real estate market is so active and most people with my company JLL will be working flat out until the official holiday begins.

It is very unusual in this day and age to have a public holiday this long and from a business perspective, it can be quite disruptive. I do believe that, over time, the length of the public holiday will be reduced as Vietnam becomes even more integrated with the international community.

This year, my family will be visiting from the UK to experience Tet in Vietnam. We intend to try a number of traditional Vietnamese experiences, which I am sure they will enjoy.

CHUC MUNG NAM MOI to all VIR readers from all of us at JLL.