Tet 2026 in Vietnam: Closures, Transport, Cash, and Visa Tips for International Visitors

Tet 2026 falls on February 17, the Year of the Horse. The public holiday is likely to run February 15-19, 2026, with official dates confirmed in late 2025. The scheduling move: land February 13 or 14 to settle in before closures begin, or delay until February 20. Those buffer days give you time to find open restaurants and confirm local opening hours before the main holiday. Many restaurants, family-run shops, and small hotels close for 3-7 days around Tet. A shop that shuts on February 14 may not reopen until February 21.

Museums and ticketed attractions often close on February 17-18, 2026. Plan those two days for walking routes, parks, and open malls instead of ticket-based sights. In Hanoi, the area around Hoan Kiem Lake stays walkable even when indoor sites shut. In Ho Chi Minh City, the Landmark 81 area has open public space and a few food court options. Confirm attraction opening hours on official websites or local Facebook groups in the week before Tet, because hours change and some places reopen a day earlier or later than expected.

Fireworks are expected on the night of February 16, 2026, at Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi and Landmark 81 in HCMC. Arrive early for a clear line of sight. Treat February 16 as your anchor night: many convenience stores and hotel bars stay open later than they do during daytime closures on February 17. Plan one display into your schedule, and treat February 20 as your first fully normal day.

International chain hotels and some tourist-area services stay open, but street food stalls in Hanoi Old Quarter and HCMC District 1 are reduced, not all closed. Book hotel breakfasts or stock supermarket snacks before February 15 as a backup. Confirm with your hotel whether the front desk runs 24 hours during the holiday.

Domestic flights and trains sell out 2-3 months before Tet on February 17, 2026. A Hanoi-HCMC return flight booked late can reach 5-7 million VND. Flight and train prices on routes rise 30-50% in the final weeks, while sleeper bus tickets can double. Book round-trip tickets as soon as your dates are fixed. The public holiday runs February 15-19, 2026, and demand stays high in the week after, so locking a return date early prevents last-minute shortages. Final-week availability on popular routes is thin.

For Reunification Express trains, buy tickets through dsvn.vn or authorized agents. The official portal shows available berths for each departure, but popular overnight trains between Hanoi and HCMC sell out fastest. If the site says sold out, check an authorized agent in the departure city; they sometimes hold reserved seats. Avoid resellers that ask for a deposit without a confirmed carriage and berth number.

Sleeper bus tickets can double in price. Book through the operator's own website or at the bus station, not through third-party resellers, which may add a markup and fail to hold a seat. Confirm your departure time again one week before Tet, because schedules shift during the holiday and some operators cancel less popular routes. Check the latest schedule on the operator's website.

ATMs in tourist districts of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City often run dry a few days before February 17, 2026, and the shortage continues through the main holiday. Withdraw 10-15 million VND before February 15, when bank branches still keep regular hours. Treat cash as your default payment method from February 15 onward. Many small restaurants, market stalls, and family-run hotels switch to cash-only during Tet even if they accepted cards earlier in January. International chains in major malls usually stay open and accept cards, but local food stalls often do not. Split the cash across two or three secure pockets or bags, not in a single wallet.

Break large notes at supermarkets or convenience stores before visiting markets. Street food vendors and small shops rarely have change during the holiday. Carry small notes for street food and small purchases, and keep them in a front pocket or zipped crossbody bag. This matters most on February 17 and February 18, when many ATMs are empty and card terminals at small stalls are often switched off.

MoMo and ZaloPay work in Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, but coverage shrinks outside city centers. Do not rely on them for intercity buses, rural homestays, or temple donations, where QR codes are often absent. Rural ATMs are even more likely to be empty, so withdraw in a city before February 15. Keep the apps topped up as a backup, but always carry physical cash for the 3-7 day closure window when many ATMs are either empty or offline.

Exchange money at a bank or a reputable gold shop before February 15. Bank branches may close or reduce hours from February 15-19, 2026, so exchange counters inside banks are not a reliable option after the holiday starts. Show only the note you plan to spend, and never pull out a thick stack of notes in a market or taxi. Keep the rest of your dong in a separate zipped pocket.

Vietnam's e-visa is valid for 90 days, single or multiple entry, which covers the likely February 15-19, 2026 holiday block without forcing a tight exit. Apply at least 2 weeks before your travel date. Processing slows near Tet because the official holiday confirmation comes only in late 2025 and embassy and immigration offices close or reduce hours. If your arrival is on February 17, 2026, submit the application early enough to correct any data mismatch. Choose the multiple-entry option if your plans include a side trip to Laos or Cambodia and back to Vietnam.

Government offices and many embassies in Vietnam reduce staffing in the week before Lunar New Year. Keep the e-visa approval letter accessible in paper form and on your phone while transiting. Border counters at Noi Bai, Da Nang, and Tan Son Nhat may ask to see that letter even when the visa is linked electronically to your passport. A copy left in checked luggage does not help during border inspection; carry it in your hand luggage. If you arrive on February 15 or 16 without an approved e-visa, you risk being denied boarding.

Visa waiver nationalities need to confirm whether their waiver allows 30 days or 45 days. The countdown starts on your arrival date, not on Tet Day. If your departure date falls after the waiver expires, switch to an e-visa before traveling instead of waiting until you are in Vietnam. Overstaying during the February 15-19 block can bring fines and a delayed exit at the airport.

Your passport should have at least six months of remaining validity beyond your planned departure, not just beyond February 17. Renew it before applying if it is close to expiring, because a passport with less than six months can cause a border refusal. Keep the e-visa approval letter ready at the airport, including on your phone, even after you have boarded. Immigration officers sometimes ask to see the letter outside the airport, so do not pack it away once you land.

"Chúc Mừng Năm Mới" (Happy New Year) is the easiest phrase to use from February 17 onward, the first day of Tet 2026. Say it to taxi drivers, market sellers, and hotel staff throughout the February 15-19 public holiday block. Use it before asking for directions, ordering food, or paying at a convenience store. Vietnamese speakers will understand the effort even if your pronunciation is rough, and a local greeting often smooths the interaction faster than switching to English.

If someone offers you lì xì, a red envelope of lucky money, accept it with both hands and do not open it in front of the giver. Adults usually give lì xì to children, but hosts may offer one to visitors as a welcome gesture. That rule also applies if you are handed an envelope at a hotel front desk or a family meal.

At pagodas and temples during Tet, dress modestly: cover your shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes where signs or local practice require. Follow what local visitors do at the entrance. When in doubt, removing your shoes is safer than keeping them on in a main hall. Do not sweep floors in front of hosts or on the first days of Tet. Sweeping is seen as sweeping away luck, and a visitor who grabs a broom can accidentally signal that they are taking good fortune out the door.

International chain hotels and some tourist-area services stay open during the holiday, but do not assume a neighborhood restaurant will be serving. Book hotel breakfasts or stock supermarket snacks before February 15 as a backup. Confirm with your hotel whether the front desk runs 24 hours during the February 15-19 block, and keep a few sealed snacks in your daypack for February 17 and 18.