Central Vietnam welcomes Tet 2026 with blossoms, fireworks, and village festivals. These four destinations promise an unforgettable start to the lunar new year.
As Tet (Lunar New Year) 2026 nears, travelers looking to welcome the new year in central Vietnam are spoiled for choice. Below are four destinations where spring unfolds in its most festive and memorable form.
Da Lat, Lam Dong: beneath a sky of cherry apricot blossoms
This year’s cherry apricot season is widely considered the most beautiful in the past decade. Photo: Nguyen Thanh Luan
Nearly a month before Tet 2026, Da Lat is already awash in the radiant pink of cherry apricot blossoms, transforming the highland city into a dreamy canvas of color.
It remains one of the most sought-after spring destinations in central Vietnam and across the country.
Locals say this year’s bloom is particularly striking, with blossoms opening densely and in unison, their pink hue deeper and more vibrant than in previous seasons.
Along central streets such as Tran Hung Dao, Co Giang, Hung Vuong, Hoang Van Thu, and Tran Quoc Toan, the sidewalks glow beneath cascades of flowers.
Tran Hung Dao Street, in particular, retains its romantic charm with two uninterrupted rows of cherry apricot trees in full bloom, creating a poetic corridor in the heart of the mountain city.
Beyond the city center, the Mong Dao Nguyen forest at the foot of Lang Biang Mountain is also in peak blossom season.
Da Lat during Tet is typically cool and crisp, with average temperatures ranging from 15 to 20 degrees Celsius.
It is neither as biting as northern winters nor as sweltering as the southern heat, making it ideal for outdoor spring excursions.
Da Nang: fireworks and festive cheer by the sea
A centerpiece of the celebration is the New Year’s Eve fireworks display, staged simultaneously at six locations across Da Nang.
According to data from major online travel platforms such as Agoda and Booking, Da Nang continues to rank among the country’s most compelling destinations before, during, and after Tet 2026.
Beyond its beaches and natural scenery, the city distinguishes itself with a vibrant lineup of cultural festivals and spiritual tourism activities held throughout the holiday.
These events meet travelers’ desire to reconnect with tradition at the start of the year.
Highlights include the Spring Fair 2026, the An Hai Folk Tet Festival, Traditional Tet Space, the Tet Market and Opening Procession, and Tet Viet 2026.
Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa: sea breeze and island serenity
Bich Dam Island has become a social media sensation, drawing visitors eager to experience its raw and tranquil charm. Photo: Le Duy Hai
Like Da Nang, Nha Trang boasts warm, inviting beaches and a dynamic calendar of events for early-year travelers.
According to the Khanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, this year’s Tet program runs from January 20 to March 3, 2026, corresponding to the second day of the twelfth lunar month through the full moon of the first lunar month.
Festivities will reach their peak from February 16 to 20, featuring large-scale art performances such as the special music and fashion show “Celebrating the Party, Celebrating Spring, Celebrating National Renewal,” alongside “New Spring” and “Melody of Love.”
For those drawn to exploration, Bich Dam Island in the Hon Tre cluster offers unspoiled beauty, free from high-rise buildings and guesthouses.
Tri Nguyen fishing village on Hon Mieu Island, just 15 to 20 minutes by local boat from the mainland, is an ideal place to savor fresh seafood.
Ninh Van fishing village, about 60 kilometers from Nha Trang, invites visitors to slow down and find moments of healing by the sea.
Mang Den, Quang Ngai: highland air and village rhythms
Vi Ro Ngheo village is home to 64 households with more than 300 residents. Photo: Do Do.
Travelers heading to Mang Den during Tet will not only breathe in the cool mountain air and admire cherry apricot blossoms, but also join a series of festive activities.
These include the 2026 Spring Street Festival on the third day of Tet, an ongoing art program from the second to the sixth day of the holiday, and traditional gong performances.
Nature lovers can visit the Vi Ro Ngheo tourism village, often described as a “healing paradise.”
The village enchants with vivid flowers, rustic homestays, and the distinctive culture of the Xo Dang people.
Known as an exceptionally clean village, it is adorned year-round with blossoms such as rhododendrons, purple melastoma, and orchids.
Photos of check-in moments at the rice granaries in Kon Tu Ma have gone viral on social media. Photo: Minh Le.
Visitors can savor simple local dishes including bamboo-tube rice, fermented rice wine, stream fish, forest vegetables, smoked meat, and bamboo-grilled frog.
They can also immerse themselves in Xo Dang traditions, joining residents in farming, forest walks, fishing, and buffalo herding.
For trekking enthusiasts, the surrounding mountains offer rewarding routes through blooming orchid and rhododendron forests.
Kon Tu Ma village is another peaceful retreat for those seeking restoration in Mang Den.
Beyond its scenery and traditions, Kon Tu Ma stands out for dozens of tiny stilt houses made of bamboo and wood, scattered from open fields to garden corners and hillsides.
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
