You should bring a small gift or some flowers as a gesture of goodwill. Additionally, you can consider bringing traditional Vietnamese food or sweets to share with others during the celebration.
When attending a Vietnamese New Year’s party, it is customary to bring a small gift or flowers as a gesture of goodwill. This thoughtful gesture shows respect and appreciation for the host and the occasion. In addition to this, you can consider bringing traditional Vietnamese food or sweets to share with others during the celebration, which will add to the festive atmosphere.
In Vietnamese culture, gift-giving plays an important role in fostering relationships and showing gratitude. According to Nguyen Van Tiep, a Vietnamese historian, “Gifts are not merely presents, but also a symbol of the donor’s heart and emotions.” Therefore, it is essential to choose an appropriate gift that reflects your sincerity and good intentions.
To help you decide on the best gift to bring to a Vietnamese New Year’s party, here are a few ideas:
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Traditional Vietnamese Flowers: Flowers hold deep meanings in Vietnamese culture. Blossoms like apricot blossoms or peach blossoms symbolize good luck, while marigolds represent fortune and prosperity. Presenting a bouquet of these flowers will be appreciated by the host.
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Lucky Money Envelopes: Known as “li xi” in Vietnamese, these red envelopes containing money are traditionally given to children during the Lunar New Year. They symbolize good fortune and blessings for the upcoming year. While this gift is typically given to kids, you can also offer it to the host as a token of good luck.
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Vietnamese Tea: Vietnamese tea is renowned for its unique flavors and health benefits. Consider bringing a box of high-quality Vietnamese tea as a gift. It can be enjoyed during the celebration or later as a reminder of the joyful event.
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Traditional Vietnamese Desserts: Vietnamese cuisine is known for its delightful desserts, such as banh cam (deep-fried sesame balls), banh chung (sticky rice cakes), or che chuoi (banana and coconut milk dessert). Bringing these traditional sweets as a gift will allow everyone to indulge in the flavors of Vietnam’s New Year festivities.
Now, let’s explore some interesting facts about Vietnamese New Year, also known as Tet:
- Tet is the most important and widely celebrated festival in Vietnam. It marks the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new lunar year.
- The exact date of Tet varies each year but generally falls between late January and mid-February based on the lunar calendar.
- Preparations for Tet begin well in advance, with families cleaning and decorating their homes to welcome good luck and fortune for the coming year.
- Traditional customs during Tet include visiting relatives, honoring ancestors, and paying respect to elders.
- One of the most striking Tet traditions is the act of giving lucky money to children and unmarried adults. The money is presented in vibrant red envelopes.
- Fireworks and dragon-dancing performances are common during Tet, symbolizing warding off evil spirits and bringing luck.
- Vietnamese people often make special offerings of food, fruits, and flowers on their ancestor altars during Tet, with the belief that their ancestors will visit and bless the family.
- Tet lasts for about a week, with many businesses and schools closing for the duration of the festivities. It is a time for families to come together and celebrate the new year.
To sum up, when attending a Vietnamese New Year’s party, bringing a small gift or flowers as a gesture of goodwill is a meaningful tradition. Consider offering traditional Vietnamese food or sweets to share, as it adds to the festive atmosphere and allows everyone to savor the flavors of Tet. Remember, the most important aspect is the sincerity behind your gift, reflecting your respect and good wishes for the host and the new year.
Below is a table summarizing the gift ideas mentioned:
Gift Ideas for Vietnamese New Year’s Party:
- Traditional Vietnamese Flowers (e.g., apricot blossoms, peach blossoms, marigolds)
- Lucky Money Envelopes (red envelopes containing money)
- Vietnamese Tea
- Traditional Vietnamese Desserts (e.g., banh cam, banh chung, che chuoi)
“Gifts are not merely presents, but also a symbol of the donor’s heart and emotions.” – Nguyen Van Tiep
See further online responses
What to get someone for Vietnamese New Year?Gift-exchanging The popular presents are cookies, chocolates, fruit baskets, wine, soft drinks or other kinds of treats. Usually, people can buy a pack of gifts in the shops which includes many different kinds of food. If you have a Vietnamese business partner, take this opportunity to enhance the relationships.
Related video
The YouTube video focuses on the preparations for the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, Tết. It covers various aspects including decorating homes with peach blossoms and kumquat trees, using lucky colors like red and yellow, buying Tết candies and presents, giving red envelopes with lucky money, and making banh chung. The video also highlights cultural traditions such as celebrating the Kitchen God’s Day, burning votive paper, cleaning houses and altars, and purchasing new clothes. Viewers are encouraged to stay tuned for more Tết-related content.
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If invited as a guest in a Vietnamese home, bring fruit, sweets, flowers, or incense. Avoid giving handkerchiefs, anything black, yellow flowers, or chrysanthemums. The best dishes will likely be offered to you; be sure to taste and share these dishes.