Day 2: Hoi AnOn the days before the New Year celebration, Vietnamese families give their home a thorough cleaning. It is believed the cleaning sweeps away bad luck and makes their homes ready for good luck to arrive. All brooms and dust pans are put away on New Year's Eve so that good luck cannot be swept away. Some people give their homes, doors and windowpanes a new coat of red paint. Homes are decorated with paper cutouts of Vietnamese auspicious phrases and couplets (short phrases) that speak of "happiness," "wealth," "longevity."After breakfast, go along with family members to the market(Markets are set up near the New Year especially for vendors to sell New Year-related products. These usually open-air markets feature floral products, toys, clothing, for shoppers to buy gifts for new year visitations as well as decor for their homes) to shop some flowers and food for TET. You really have Tet atmosphere.Day 3: Family visitThe first day is for the welcoming of the gods of the heavens and earth. Many people abstain from meat consumption on the first day because it is believed that this will ensure long and happy lives for them. New Year's day is also celebrated within the family. Usually family members gather on the morning of New Year's Day. It is at this gathering that red envelopes are given by senior members of the family, usually married, to unmarried junior members of the family.Red packets traditionally consisted of amounts which were considered multiples. Amounts like VND 5000 or VND 20.000 were acceptable. However, this is not strictly adhered to. The gift was originally a token amount but these days it is not uncommon to receive large sums in affluent families. In some families this tradition has evolved into the practice to substituting money-like instruments (stocks, bonds, unit trust) in place of large sums of cash. Red packets are also given to unmarried visitors but the sums are often smaller than the envelope given to family members or close friends. Employers may also give red envelopes to their employees on the first working day after the festival.Day 4: Hoian city tourBreakfast, then walking around the town to enjoy the Tet atmosphere. At noon, end of tour and say goodbye to the host.
