Tet in Da Nang: What's Open and How to Enjoy Lunar New Year

Tet in Da Nang is a wonderful time to visit if you plan ahead: the city fills with flower streets, lanterns, midnight fireworks and pagoda visits, but many family-run restaurants, street food stalls and small shops close for several days. Hotels, big chains, convenience stores, malls and most major attractions usually stay open, often with shorter hours and holiday surcharges. For 2027, Lunar New Year's Day falls on Saturday, February 6, and the official public holiday runs roughly February 4 to 10.

Why does this matter? Tet is the biggest holiday of the year in Vietnam, and it changes how the whole city works for about a week. Travelers who arrive expecting business as usual often end up hungry, short on cash or stuck without transport. Travelers who prepare get one of the most memorable cultural experiences in Asia, with quieter beaches and a city dressed in red and gold.

Key Takeaways

• 2027 dates: Lunar New Year's Day is February 6, 2027 (Year of the Goat). The approved public holiday is reported as February 4 to 10, 2027. Confirm closer to the date.
• What closes: Many local restaurants, street stalls, markets, banks and government offices close for several days, especially the first three days of the new year.
• What stays open: Hotels, resort restaurants, international chains, convenience stores, big malls and most major attractions, usually with reduced hours.
• Plan your cash and transport early: Withdraw cash before the holiday, and book flights, trains and airport transfers weeks ahead.
• Expect surcharges: Many places that stay open add a Tet surcharge. Ask before ordering.
• Best experiences: Flower streets along the Han River, New Year's Eve fireworks, pagoda visits and the festive markets in the days before Tet.

When Is Tet in 2027 and How Long Does It Last?

Tet, short for Tet Nguyen Dan, follows the lunar calendar, so the date moves every year. In 2027, Lunar New Year's Day falls on Saturday, February 6, marking the start of the Year of the Goat. New Year's Eve, the most important night, is the night of February 5 into February 6.

As of late 2026, Vietnamese media reported that the government approved a seven-day public holiday from February 4 to February 10, 2027. That is the official break for public workers. Many private businesses follow it closely, but some family shops close a few days earlier or reopen a few days later.

In practice, think of Tet in Da Nang in three phases:

1. The build-up (about 7 to 10 days before): Markets are packed, flower stalls pop up, streets get decorated and prices for some goods rise. This is a fantastic time to visit.
2. The core days (New Year's Eve plus days 1 to 3): The quietest period. Many local businesses close and families stay home or visit relatives and pagodas.
3. The slow return (days 4 to 10): Shops and restaurants reopen gradually. By the end of the official holiday, most of the city is back to normal.

Holiday dates can shift if the government adjusts the schedule, so check official news a few weeks before you travel.

Is Da Nang Open During Tet? What Closes and What Stays Open

This is the question we hear most. The honest answer: Da Nang is open, but it is a different city for a few days.

What usually closes

• Small family-run restaurants and street food stalls. Many shut from New Year's Eve through day 3, and some stay closed longer.
• Traditional markets. Busy markets like Han Market and Con Market are packed before Tet, then many stalls close for several days afterward.
• Banks and government offices. They follow the official holiday, so plan any banking before it starts.
• Tailors, small shops and local services. Many staff go home to their families in other provinces.
• Some museums. Public museums may close for a few days or keep shorter hours over the holiday.

What usually stays open

• Hotels and resort restaurants. These are your safest bet for meals during the core days.
• Convenience stores. Circle K and similar stores are open in most neighborhoods.
• International and national chains. Fast food chains, big coffee chains and some Korean and Japanese restaurants in tourist areas often stay open.
• Large malls and supermarkets. Often open with shorter hours, though some close on the first day.
• Big attractions. Places like Sun World Ba Na Hills and the Marble Mountains generally welcome visitors, and they can be very busy with local families.

Hours change from year to year, so check each place directly or on its official page before you go. Our directory map is a good place to start your shortlist.

How to Enjoy Lunar New Year in Da Nang: The Best Experiences

Tet is not a party holiday like Western New Year. It is about family, luck and fresh starts. Still, there is plenty for visitors to see and feel.

Walk the flower streets along the Han River

In the weeks before Tet, the city usually decorates the riverside. In recent years, Bach Dang Street on the west bank has hosted a spring flower street with colorful displays, lanterns and landscaped centerpieces. Go in the early evening when the lights come on. It is free, family friendly and one of the best photo walks of the year.

In 2026, the city also ran a folk Tet festival at the park on the east bank near the Dragon Bridge, with traditional games, food and performances in the days before and after New Year. Exact events change every year, so watch local tourism news in January.

Watch the New Year's Eve fireworks

Da Nang usually holds fireworks at midnight on Lunar New Year's Eve. In 2026, the city announced a 15-minute show starting at midnight, spread across six locations, including a site on Bach Dang Street near the Han River. Locations and timing for 2027 will be announced closer to the date.

Our tips for fireworks night:

• Arrive at least an hour early for a good riverside spot.
• Expect heavy traffic and road closures around the river.
• Book your ride home in advance or plan to walk. Grab drivers are scarce right after midnight.
• Keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket in thick crowds.

Visit a pagoda

Many Vietnamese families visit pagodas on New Year's Eve and the first days of the year to pray for good luck. Linh Ung Pagoda on the Son Tra Peninsula, home of the giant Lady Buddha statue, is a popular choice and has wide sea views. Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered), speak softly and avoid blocking people who are praying. Read our Son Tra and Lady Buddha guide for how to get there.

See the Dragon Bridge show

The Dragon Bridge usually breathes fire and water on weekend nights, and in some years there have been extra performances over the holiday period. Check the current schedule in our Dragon Bridge fire show guide.

Take a day trip to Hoi An or Ba Na Hills

Hoi An Ancient Town is beautiful at Tet, with lanterns, flowers and festive events, and it has run a longer Lunar New Year festival in recent years. Sun World Ba Na Hills has also hosted flower festivals in the spring season. Both can be crowded during the holiday, so go early in the day.

Tet Customs Every Visitor Should Know

Knowing a few customs helps you join in respectfully and makes interactions much warmer.

• Li xi (lucky money). Adults give small red envelopes with new banknotes to children and sometimes elders. If you are invited into a home, bringing a few envelopes with small notes for the kids is a kind gesture.
• The first visitor matters. Many families believe the first person to enter their home in the new year affects their luck. If you are invited to a home on day 1, ask your host about timing first.
• Avoid bad luck topics. People try to keep the first days positive. Avoid arguing, complaining loudly or talking about death or illness.
• Traditional foods. You will see banh chung or banh tet (sticky rice cakes with pork and mung bean), pickled vegetables, boiled chicken and trays of candied fruits and seeds.
• Flowers and trees. Yellow apricot blossoms (hoa mai) and kumquat trees are everywhere in central Vietnam during Tet. They are symbols of luck and wealth.
• Greeting. Say "Chuc mung nam moi" (Happy New Year). Locals will love it.

Food During Tet: How Not to Go Hungry

The biggest mistake visitors make during Tet in Da Nang is assuming their favorite noodle stall will be open on day 1. It probably will not.

Here is a simple plan we recommend:

1. Stock up two days before New Year's Eve. Buy snacks, fruit, bread, bottled water and instant noodles from a supermarket or convenience store.
2. Book a hotel or resort dinner for New Year's Eve. Many hotels offer set menus. Book early.
3. Know your backup spots. Find two or three chain restaurants, hotel restaurants and convenience stores near where you stay before the holiday starts.
4. Check delivery apps. GrabFood and ShopeeFood usually keep running, but far fewer restaurants accept orders during the core days. Check the app the day before to see what is accepting orders near you.
5. Eat at the markets before Tet. The days before the holiday are the best time to try festive snacks and street food.

From around day 4 or 5, more local eateries reopen. By the end of the official holiday, most of the food scene is back.

Money, Prices and Tet Surcharges

Cash still matters in Vietnam, and Tet makes it matter more.

• Withdraw cash before the holiday. Banks close for the official break, and some ATMs in busy areas can run low on cash during long holidays.
• Bring small notes. Taxi drivers, small shops and temples may not have change.
• Expect surcharges. Many restaurants, spas and services that stay open add a holiday surcharge, sometimes shown on the menu and sometimes added to the bill. Ask "Is there a Tet surcharge?" before you order or book.
• Hotel rates rise. Domestic travel is huge during Tet, so beach hotels often charge peak rates. Book early.

For more on cash, cards and ATMs, read our guide to money in Da Nang.

Getting Around During Tet

Tet is the biggest travel period of the year in Vietnam. Millions of people travel home to their families, and it shows.

Flights and trains

Domestic flights and trains around Tet often sell out weeks in advance, and fares rise sharply. If you plan to arrive or leave close to Tet, book as early as you can. The days just before New Year's Eve and the days right after the holiday ends are usually the busiest.

Grab and taxis

Ride-hailing apps keep working, but there are fewer drivers, waits are longer and fares can be higher, especially on New Year's Eve and day 1. Book airport rides in advance. A pre-booked hotel or private transfer is the least stressful option.

Road safety

Roads are busier than usual before Tet and around festive nights, and there are more people on motorbikes after family gatherings. If you are not an experienced rider, this is not the week to learn. Walk, use Grab or hire a driver.

A Simple 5-Day Tet Plan for Visitors

If you are in Da Nang over the holiday, here is a relaxed plan that works around closures:

1. Two days before New Year's Eve: Visit Han Market or Con Market for the pre-Tet buzz. Buy snacks and supplies. Withdraw cash.
2. The day before New Year's Eve: Walk the flower street on Bach Dang in the evening. Book your New Year's Eve dinner and ride.
3. New Year's Eve: Early dinner at your hotel or a pre-booked restaurant, then head to the river for the midnight fireworks.
4. Day 1: Sleep in. Visit Linh Ung Pagoda in the morning to see families praying. Spend the afternoon on a quiet beach.
5. Days 2 and 3: Day trip to Hoi An or Ba Na Hills, or take it slow with a spa at your hotel. For more ideas when places are closed, check our free things to do guide.

Mistakes to Avoid During Tet in Da Nang

• Arriving without a hotel booking. Rooms fill up with domestic travelers.
• Planning a tailor order or a big shopping trip for Tet week. Many shops close and staff go home.
• Relying on one restaurant. Always have backups.
• Waiting to withdraw cash. Do it before the holiday starts.
• Booking trains or flights last minute. Prices jump and seats disappear.
• Being loud or rude at pagodas. These are sacred, family moments.

Tet rewards travelers who plan: book early, carry cash, keep food backups and spend the evenings by the river.

Plan Your Tet Trip With Da Nang Directory

Tet in Da Nang can be the highlight of your trip when you know what to expect. Use our Explore page to find hotels, attractions and places to eat near you, and save your backups before the holiday starts. Chuc mung nam moi, and enjoy the new year in Da Nang.