[10] According to researcher Toan Anh, Tết Nguyên Đán is considered the first festival of the new year, beginning at midnight with the Trừ tịch ceremony.

[10] Researcher Phan Cẩm Thượng, in his book Customs of Human Life, explains that the Vietnamese use the agricultural calendar or lunar calendar, which is based on the moon's rotation around the earth but also accounts for the 24 solar terms of the earth with the sun, including the four key points of the spring equinox, autumnal equinox, winter solstice, and summer solstice.

Tết begins on the first day of lunar January, marking the start of a new year and a new farming cycle.

According to Trần's research, Tết Nguyên Đán in Vietnam dates back to the first century AD.

The legend of Lang Lieu and Bánh chưng also suggests that Tết existed over a thousand years before the period of Chinese domination.

Many customs and traditions are practiced during Tết, such as visiting a person's house on the first day of the new year (xông nhà), ancestor veneration, exchanging New Year's greetings, giving lucky money to children and elderly people, opening a shop, visiting relatives, friends, and neighbors.

Usually, a person of good temper, morality, and success will be a lucky sign for the host family and be first invited into his house.

Engaging in conflict, arguments, or exhibiting any feelings of anger and hatred may bring upon bad luck for the upcoming year.

Local Buddhist temples are popular spots because people like to give donations and get their fortunes told during Tết.

Children are free to spend their new money on toys or on gambling games such as bầu cua cá cọp, which can be found in the streets.

[19] These celebrations can last from a day up to the entire week, and the New Year is filled with people in the streets trying to make as much noise as possible using firecrackers, drums, bells, gongs, and anything they can think of to ward off evil spirits.

This parade will also include different masks and dancers hidden under the guise of what is known as the múa lân or lion dancing.

The lân is an animal between a lion and a dragon and is the symbol of strength in the Vietnamese culture that is used to scare away evil spirits.

After the parade, families, and friends come together to have a feast of traditional Vietnamese dishes and share the happiness and joy of the New Year with one another.

This is also the time when the elders will hand out red envelopes with money to the children for good luck in exchange for Tết greetings.

[21] Traditionally, each family displays cây nêu, an artificial New Year tree consisting of a bamboo pole 5–6 m (16–20 ft) long.

The top end is usually decorated with many objects, depending on the locality, including good luck charms, origami fish, cactus branches, and more.

[24] Vietnamese people also decorate their homes with Hòn non bộ and flowers such as chrysanthemums (hoa cúc), marigolds (vạn thọ) symbolizing longevity, cockscombs (mào gà) in southern Vietnam, and paperwhites (thủy tiên) and orchids (hoa lan) in northern Vietnam.

Gặp nhau cuối năm ("Year-end meet") is a nationally known satirical theatrical comedy show, broadcast on VTV on New Year's Eve.

Prior to 1995, it was customary to use firecrackers at individual homes; however, the government banned the production and use of these fireworks due to fatal accidents.

In December 2020 a regulation was passed that allows "anyone aged 18 and older with legal capacity" to purchase sparklers for special occasions.

[34] The line "If you're a farmer, you'll gain more" refers to beliefs held by many Vietnamese people about the effects the new year will bring on agriculture.