I’m waiting for the upcoming Tet holiday because I plan to do many activities this Tet holiday. Tet is the most important holiday in Vietnamese Culture. It takes place on the first three days of the first Luna month  (between late January and early February). However, Vietnamese people often spend about nearly a month to prepare and celebrate this special event. Traditionally, the purpose of Tet holiday is that the Vietnamese give thanks to God for the arrival of spring after a cold and harsh winter. It is also an occasion for family’s members to reunite, say goodbye to the old year and welcome a new year. People hope to get rid of the bad fortunes associated with the old year, so they prepare and consume all the best things during this holiday as they want to ensure that they will have a new year full of prosperity. Tet holiday begins on the first day in the Lunar Year, but its preparation starts long before that. One week before this event, I plan to go shopping with my mother for clothes, cakes, candy, tea, fruits, etc. I am going to put a five-fruit tray on a table: custard apple, coconut, papaya, mango and fig. In addition, I will help my parents clean the house, then I’ll decorate it with beautiful appricot apricot flowers and ornamental plants. At New Year’s Eve, I’m going to hang out with my family and friends to see fireworks. When the bell of the twelfth hour rings, I’ll say “Happy New Year” to each family’s members in warm hugs. On the first day of Tet holiday, my family will go to Ho Chi Minh city to visit my paternal relatives. After that, till the fourth day of Tet, my family will stay in my grandmother’s house in Dong Thap province. I plan to make traditional cakes with my grandmother such as square, round and cylindrical glutinous rice cakes. Then, I will give lucky money to children and visit pagodas to pray a good start in the coming year. Moreover, I also plan to go on a trip or play cards with my friends when I have free time. I’m looking forward to the upcoming Tet holiday to do activities I have planned.

                                                                        Tet

Tet is a national and family festival. It is an occasion for every Vietnamese to have a good time while thinking about the last year and the next year. At Tet, spring fairs are organized, streets and public buildings are brightly decorated and almost all shops are crowded with people shopping for Tet. At home, every is tidied, special food is cooked,offerings of food, fresh water, flowers and betel are made on the family altar with burning joss- sticks scenting the air. First-footing is made when the lucky visitor comes and children are given lucky money wrapped in a red tiny envelope. Tet is also a time for peace and love. During Tet, children often behave well and friends, relatives and neighbors give each other best wishes for the new year.