For Vietnamese people, Tet Nguyen Dan is the most important traditional festival of the year. It marks the transition between the old year and the new, between one cycle of heaven and earth and the next, and embodies the bonds that connect communities, clans and families.

The word “Tet” is the Sino-Vietnamese reading of the character “tiet,” meaning season or festival. “Nguyen Dan” means “the first morning of the year,” symbolizing the beginning and hope of a new cycle in nature and in life.

Tet Nguyen Dan usually falls between late January and mid-February on the solar calendar, depending on the lunar cycle.

For Vietnamese people, Tet Nguyen Dan is the largest traditional festival of the year. It is the sacred moment when the old year gives way to the new, when the cycle of heaven and earth turns, and when communities, lineages and families reaffirm their bonds.

Tet Nguyen Dan is also a time for people to return to their roots, carrying profound spiritual and emotional values at the heart of Vietnamese culture.

In 2026, Tet Nguyen Dan will begin on February 17, 2026 on the solar calendar, which corresponds to the first day of the first lunar month of the year Binh Ngo.

The meaning of Binh Ngo 2026

According to the lunar calendar, 2026 will be the year of Binh Ngo, the Year of the Horse, with the elemental destiny Thien Ha Thuy - water in the sky. The year will begin on February 17, 2026 and end on February 5, 2027.

This is considered a year of special significance in terms of feng shui, culture and spirituality.

Cultural researcher and feng shui expert Pham Dinh Hai from the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations said that according to the traditional heavenly stem and earthly branch system, 2026 is the year of Binh Ngo, the Horse.

The horse is a creature that represents endurance, patience and the powerful ability to break through in life.

In terms of the heavenly stem, 2026 carries the stem Binh, which belongs to the Fire element in the five elements theory.

The stem Binh often symbolizes brightness, enthusiasm and generosity, much like the Sun. Those associated with this stem are believed to possess leadership qualities, the ability to inspire and the power to spread positive energy to those around them.

Regarding the earthly branch, 2026 is the year of Ngo, which also belongs to the Fire element. When both the heavenly stem and earthly branch carry the Fire element, the year is thought to hold strong energy, dynamic movement and significant transformation. The symbolic image is that of a fiery horse, brave and always moving forward, ready to conquer great goals.

However, according to the system of elemental designation known as nap am, 2026 carries the Water destiny, specifically Thien Ha Thuy - water in the sky - one of the four elemental forms of Water.

Thien Ha Thuy evokes the image of rainwater falling from the sky, powerful, vast and highly adaptable.

Unlike river water or seawater, Thien Ha Thuy is regarded as nourishing water. It is not suppressed by the Earth element but instead enriches the soil and makes it fertile.

Therefore, those born in 2026 are often believed to be dynamic, intelligent and far-sighted. They tend to adapt quickly to new environments and emerging trends, while living with generosity and tolerance.

Thao Trinh