How Many Days Until Vietnamese New Year 2026?

From today (August 15, 2025), we have 186 more days to welcome Vietnamese New Year 2026 - the Year of Binh Ngo (Fire Horse). This equals about 6 months and 2 days - quite a long time to prepare for a perfect Tet celebration.

Compared to previous years, Tet 2026 comes much later due to 2025 being a leap year in the lunar calendar. Many families have already started asking how many days until Tet to plan their shopping and preparations carefully.

Usually, the gap between two consecutive Tet celebrations is only 354-355 days, but this year it extends to 384 days.

Self-calculating calendar for days until Tet - an essential tool for Vietnamese people

Self-calculating calendar for days until Tet - an essential tool for Vietnamese people

When Does Vietnamese New Year 2026 Fall?

Vietnamese New Year 2026 - the first day of the first lunar month in the Year of Binh Ngo - falls on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

This will be the Year of the Horse according to the 12 zodiac animals, symbolizing energy, freedom, and strength. So what animal year is 2026? The answer is the Year of the Horse with all its positive meanings.

Detailed schedule for Tet holidays 2026:

New Year's Eve (29th Tet): Monday, February 16, 2026
1st day of Tet: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
2nd day of Tet: Wednesday, February 18, 2026
3rd day of Tet: Thursday, February 19, 2026

An interesting point is that 2026 has no 30th day of the last lunar month because the 12th lunar month only has 29 days.

This means after New Year's Eve on the 29th (February 16, 2026), we'll jump straight to the 1st day of the new year. Many families are used to having both the 29th and 30th evenings to prepare, but 2026 will only have one New Year's Eve.

Perpetual calendar for Tet 2026 - Essential reference tool for every household

Perpetual calendar for Tet 2026 - Essential reference tool for every household

How Many Days Off for Tet 2026?

How Many Days Off for Western New Year 2026?

Western New Year 2026 falls on January 1, 2026 (Wednesday). According to regulations, workers get 1 day off with full pay. However, since it falls midweek, there might be compensatory days off to create a longer holiday period.

How Many Days Off for Vietnamese New Year 2026?

According to Article 112 of the Labor Code 2019, workers will get 5 working days off with full pay for Lunar New Year 2026. The expected specific schedule:

Official holiday schedule (5 days):

Monday, February 16, 2026: 29th Tet (New Year's Eve)
Tuesday, February 17, 2026: 1st day of Tet
Wednesday, February 18, 2026: 2nd day of Tet
Thursday, February 19, 2026: 3rd day of Tet
Friday, February 20, 2026: 4th day of Tet (might be compensatory day off)

Extended holiday (7 consecutive days): Including weekends, people might get off from Saturday, February 14 to Sunday, February 22, 2026 (total 9 days), with 7 consecutive days from February 14-20.

Note: The Prime Minister will make an official decision about the specific holiday schedule based on actual conditions. Many people are wondering when Tet 2026 arrives to arrange their work accordingly.

Tet 2026 holiday schedule - Essential information for travel planning

Tet 2026 holiday schedule - Essential information for travel planning

Why Tet 2026 Comes Later Than Usual

Simply put: the lunar year 2025 is "longer" than normal! Instead of just 12 months as usual, the Year of the Snake 2025 has 13 months due to an extra "leap 6th month."

This makes 2025 last 384 days instead of the normal 354-355 days, which is also why how many days until Tet is more than expected. Therefore, when Tet 2026 arrives becomes a question of greater interest to many people.

Why Do We Have Leap Months?

Because the lunar calendar following Moon cycles always "runs faster" than the solar calendar following the Sun. To prevent the two calendar systems from drifting too far apart, every 2-3 years an extra leap month is added to the lunar calendar to "adjust" it correctly.

This is how the lunar calendar self-adjusts to ensure traditional holidays always fall in the right season. Instead of adding 1 day like the solar calendar, the lunar calendar adds an entire month! The result is that Tet 2026 has to "wait" almost 30 extra days compared to normal.

For the same reason, Mid-Autumn Festival 2025 also comes later than usual, creating a special year with many extended traditional festivals.

The Year of Binh Ngo 2026 brings surprises for every Vietnamese family

The Year of Binh Ngo 2026 brings surprises for every Vietnamese family

>>> You might also like: When is Mid-Autumn Festival 2025? How many days until Mid-Autumn Festival?

Special Meaning of the Year Binh Ngo 2026

The lunar year 2026 will be Binh Ngo (Year of the Horse, Heavenly River Water element), carrying many special meanings from feng shui, cultural and spiritual perspectives.

In Vietnamese culture, the horse symbolizes dynamism and the desire for freedom. People born in the Year of the Horse are often considered strong, intelligent and passionate. The Year of Binh Ngo belongs to the Fire element, promising to bring many opportunities for development and good luck.

Many people have started caring about how many days until Tet to prepare feng shui items suitable for the new year. Especially, what animal year is 2026 has been answered - it's the Year of the Horse with many good omens.

The Horse of Binh Ngo - Symbol of dynamism and success in 2026

The Horse of Binh Ngo - Symbol of dynamism and success in 2026

Five-Fruit Tray Suggestions for Tet Binh Ngo 2026

The Year of Binh Ngo carries the dominant Fire element, but according to the Five Elements sound system, it belongs to Heavenly River Water (water from the sky). This special combination creates unique considerations when preparing the five-fruit tray.

Suitable colors for the 2026 five-fruit tray: Since Binh Ngo harmonizes with Wood elements (as Wood feeds Fire) and Earth (as Fire creates Earth), colors like red, orange, purple (Fire colors) and green (Wood color) will bring much luck.

With how many days until Tet as it currently stands, you can prepare and research thoroughly about proper tray arrangement. Tet 2026 will be an opportunity for all families to show their careful preparation.

General Taboos for the Year Binh Ngo

Avoid pears: Southern regions avoid them due to the word play "lê lết" (dragging), not suitable for the dynamic Horse year
Avoid overripe bananas: Dark yellow color doesn't match fresh energy
Avoid fruits with dark black colors: Not suitable for the Fire element of Binh Ngo year

Feng shui arrangement: Place red-orange fruits (persimmons, tangerines) in the center to enhance Fire energy. Green fruits (bananas, green apples) arranged around so Wood feeds Fire.

Tet 2026 five-fruit tray according to feng shui - Beautiful arrangement that matches your destiny

Tet 2026 five-fruit tray according to feng shui - Beautiful arrangement that matches your destiny

Vietnamese New Year Traditions and Customs

The Magical Power of Tet in Vietnamese Hearts

Perhaps nothing can fully describe that emotion - when Tet comes, people's hearts seem awakened by a magical power. As the late scholar Nguyen Van Huyen once wrote: "No event in the outside world can steal from the poorest or richest person this joy in their heart."

It's the intersection between the old and new year, showing connection in community, clan and family. No matter where you are, just hearing "Tet comes, spring returns" makes tears of happiness flow in your heart. And no matter how many days until Tet, that eager emotion always urges every Vietnamese person.

The bustling atmosphere when Tet returns makes many people excited

The bustling atmosphere when Tet returns makes many people excited

Three Sacred Days of Tet

The three days of Tet are the most sacred days of the year. Children from far away find their way home, ancestor altars fill with incense smoke, feast trays are prepared as gratitude sent to the roots. "Going home for Tet" isn't ordinary coming or going, but a pilgrimage back to the source, where one's umbilical cord was buried.

Soul of the Nation

When firecrackers sound on New Year's Eve, when warm Tet wishes are exchanged, we understand again: Tet is the strongest beating heart of the Vietnamese nation.

New Year's Eve fireworks - Fireworks display welcoming the new year full of hope

New Year's Eve fireworks - Fireworks display welcoming the new year full of hope

Preparing for Tet Binh Ngo 2026 with CHUS

186 days seems very long, but time always passes faster than we think. Especially with a special Tet like the Year of Binh Ngo 2026 - a year full of Horse energy and the purity of Heavenly River Water element.

To make this Tet more meaningful, start preparing now for unique handmade gifts that carry deep Vietnamese soul. CHUS is always ready to accompany you in finding special products - from fragrant incense leaves to personalized gifts bearing your family's unique mark.

Because Tet isn't just about time, but about emotions whenever Tet comes. And every gift from CHUS carries a story, carries love and appreciation for the most beloved people.

No matter how much you're still wondering about how many days until Tet, rest assured - with CHUS, every day of preparation will become meaningful and memorable.

Follow CHUS to help you create a truly special and meaningful Tet Binh Ngo 2026!

Toby

Cultural storyteller

14:00 15/08/2025

As a Gen Z - Living that hustle life like any other young person, but sometimes just loves to slow down and view traditional values through a Gen Z eyes. He believes that Vietnamese culture isn't foreign to his generation at all - it just needs the right way to be told and shared naturally, without forcing it."

All articles by Toby