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Vietnam Tết 2026: A Community Journey
Eight days of connection, culture, and celebration
February 12–20, 2026
A Journey Beyond Tourism
Connection Through Culture
This isn't just a trip—it's an invitation to become part of something meaningful. Over nine transformative days, strangers become friends through shared experiences, authentic traditions, and the warmth of Vietnamese hospitality.
Immersive & Authentic
We celebrate Tết not as observers, but as participants. From crafting bánh chưng with local families to singing karaoke on New Year's Eve, every moment brings us closer together and deeper into the heart of Vietnamese culture.
Understanding Tết: Vietnam's Heart Festival
Welcoming Spring
Tết Nguyên Đán marks the lunar new year—Vietnam's most important celebration. Families reunite, homes bloom with flowers, and communities gather to honour ancestors whilst welcoming prosperity.
Sacred Traditions
The festival interweaves ancient customs: preparing bánh chưng symbolises Earth's gifts, ancestral altars connect generations, and lucky money in red envelopes carries blessings forward into the new year.
Creating Community Through Shared Moments
Cook Together
Rolling sticky rice into bánh chưng, sharing hotpot by the river—food becomes the language of friendship as we learn recipes passed through generations.
Celebrate Together
From water puppet shows to family-style New Year's Eve karaoke, we experience joy collectively, creating memories that outlast the journey itself.
Discover Together
Walking through craft villages, tribal communities, and countryside landscapes, we explore as one group—each discovery deepening our bonds with each other and Vietnam.
Our Nine-Day Journey Begins
1
Feb 12 – Hanoi Arrival
Evening exploration of Old Quarter's buzzing streets, enchanting water puppet show, and our first gathering as a community over a welcome dinner.
2
Feb 13 – Craft Villages
Nhat Tan Flower Village ablaze with Tết blooms, Bat Trang Pottery Village where we try our hands at traditional ceramics together.
3
Feb 14,15 – Moc Chau and Mai Chau
Immersed in the lush highlands, we visit local markets, trek through emerald rice terraces, and share meals with ethnic minority families, gaining insight into their vibrant cultures and daily lives.
4
Feb 16,17 – Hoa Binh
Journey into the peaceful countryside of Hoa Binh, immersing ourselves in rural Vietnamese life and slower rhythms.
5
Feb 18,19 - Ninh Binh
We explore ancient temples, limestone karsts rising dramatically from emerald paddies, and take a boat ride through the stunning Trang An grottoes, appreciating the serene beauty and deep history of the region.
The Heart of Tết: February 16
Preparation Day—Our Most Meaningful Experience
Making Bánh Chưng
With a local family, we wrap sticky rice, mung beans, and pork in banana leaves—learning the technique and stories behind this sacred dish.
Tribal Village Visit
Connecting with indigenous communities, understanding their unique Tết traditions and cultural heritage.
Riverside Hotpot
As evening falls, we gather for steaming hotpot beside flowing water—sharing stories, laughter, and anticipation.
New Year's Eve
Family-style celebration complete with karaoke—welcoming the new year together as our community bonds deepen.
The Cultural Meaning Behind Our Experiences
Flower Markets
Blossoms aren't mere decoration—peach flowers symbolise luck, kumquats represent prosperity, and marigolds honour ancestors. At Nhat Tan, we witness families carefully selecting blooms that will welcome spring into their homes.
Bánh Chưng
These square cakes represent Earth itself in Vietnamese cosmology. Wrapping them together isn't just cooking—it's participating in a ritual connecting heaven, earth, and humanity that's been practised for centuries.
Ancestral Altars
Throughout our journey, we see elaborate altars laden with offerings. They embody Vietnamese reverence for family lineage, ensuring ancestors join Tết celebrations and bless the living with protection and guidance.
Community Gatherings
From karaoke to shared meals, Tết emphasises togetherness. By celebrating communally rather than privately, we honour the Vietnamese belief that joy multiplies when shared amongst loved ones—and new friends.
Journey's End, Friendships Beginning
February 20 – Return to Hanoi
Our final morning brings us back to where the countryside adventure began. As we return to Hanoi, we carry more than memories—we carry the bonds forged through shared laughter, collective discovery, and the magic of experiencing Tết together.
Though the trip concludes, the community we've built continues. Strangers arrived on February 13th; friends depart on February 20th, forever connected through this extraordinary cultural journey.
Join Our Community
Celebrate Tết With Us
This journey offers something rare: the chance to celebrate one of Asia's most beautiful festivals not as a tourist, but as part of a community. From Hanoi's ancient streets to Mai Châu's village homestays, from making bánh chưng to singing karaoke on New Year's Eve—every moment is designed to connect.
Vietnam Tết 2026 awaits. Will you join us?
February 12–20, 2026
Your Hosts - The Sontakkes
We are an Indo-Vietnamese family that loves to travel and create authentic travel experiences for other likeminded people. Mayur travelled solo around SE Asia for a year before meeting Joy. Joy left her corporate Joy to move to India and they started NomadGao together. Joy is also a master croocheter and runs https://anvisgranny.com/. We also run The Hotpot House, a Vietnamese-Asian restaurant in beautiful Dharamsala.
Tun, Tyn, and Anvi love craft, reading, cooking, and storytelling.
Check out our adventures on Youtube.
Trip Details & Pricing
Our 8-day journey offers an immersive and hassle-free Tết experience. Here's what to expect:
What's Included:
  • 8 nights accommodation in hostels and homestays (Dorms/Double Occupancy)
  • Community Lunch on opening day
  • New Year's Eve Family Dinner
  • One gala hotpot by the river
  • Parting breakfast in Hanoi
  • Transportation for long trips (Moc Chjau, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh)
  • All site entance fees
What's Excluded:
  • International flights to/from Hanoi
  • Vietnamese visa fees
  • Mandatory travel insurance
  • Meals other than specified
  • Personal expenses
  • Unspecified activities
  • Alcoholic beverages
Pricing:
INR 64,500/- +GST for NomadGao members (799 USD)
INR 69,500 +GST for others (859 USD)
Reserve your spot by paying just Rs. 10,000/-