Besides Vietnam, many other countries in Asia such as China, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines… also bustlingly celebrate Lunar New Year. With different cultural traditions, each place welcomes the lunar new year in its own way, but they all have in common the opportunity to reunite with family over a spring feast and wish for good luck and prosperity. Notably, some countries such as South Korea and China this year added more days off to boost consumption and support economic recovery. Below are the customs to celebrate Lunar New Year At Ty 2025 in some countries in the region.
Korea
Lunar New Year in Korea is called Seollal and is one of the important holidays in the Northeast Asian country. According to the sheet The Korea Times Citing the announcement of the Korean Ministry of Personnel Management, this country’s cabinet has approved a proposal to add an additional day for Tet holiday on January 27, making this holiday last 6 days from January 25 to 30, including 2 weekends. The additional day off helps people have a long day off and stimulates domestic consumption to promote economic recovery.
An area decorated with red lanterns in Beijing (China) on January 20
Seollal is an occasion to pay respect to ancestors and the elderly. Korean people often wear traditional costumes (hanbok), children bow to show respect to grandparents and parents, receive lucky money and receive advice for the new year, before the whole family eats traditional dishes. New Year’s Eve. Participating in folk games is also a popular activity to celebrate Seollal New Year in Korea.
China
According to the sheet China DailyChinese people have a one-day longer Lunar New Year holiday this year, after the government announced in November 2024 that the holiday would last from January 28 to February 4. This encourages many office workers to take two days off in advance and add the weekend before Lunar New Year to extend the total holiday period to 11 days. The Chinese tourism industry is very excited about the above information, because the long Tet holiday will help people be more flexible in travel and want to travel more. According to Reuters, there are expected to be 9 billion trips during this Tet holiday in China.
Called Xuan Tiet, the Lunar New Year in China is filled with red from decorations to red envelopes, with the wish for a peaceful and lucky new year. On New Year’s Eve, each person often gives each other gifts, staying up to experience the last moments of the old year and welcome the first moments of the new year. Each family member will give each other good wishes and lucky money for the new year. Lion dance performance is also a popular activity in China during the New Year.
Singapore
On New Year’s Day this year, Singapore holds a spring festival with outstanding events such as the lantern festival, the Singapore River Hongbao Festival (from January 27 – February 5), and the Chingay Street Festival (from February 7 – 8). ), and many other activities. Singaporeans often eat banh tang yuan (floating cake) with the meaning of reunion and reunion. Besides, family members give each other red envelopes to wish for good luck.
This year’s Chingay Street Festival will take place in Singapore with the theme of Joy, an opportunity for people to “reflect on common experiences that transcend ethnic, linguistic and age boundaries through cuisine”, according to organizing committee.
Malaysia
In neighboring Malaysia, Chingay street festivals also take place during Lunar New Year, with the cities of Johor Bahru and Penang hosting many important multicultural events. It is expected that this year Malaysia and Singapore will both jubilantly organize this street festival because the two countries have planned to propose to UNESCO to recognize the event as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Cleaning worker at Tian Hock Kung Snake Temple (Klang, Malaysia) before Lunar New Year 2025
Like other countries that celebrate Lunar New Year, this is also an opportunity for people in Malaysia to reunite and gather. Along with the customs of decorations, dragon dances and family gatherings during Tet, a unique custom that takes place on the last day of the Chap Goh Mei festival (first full moon) is the throwing of tangerines by single girls. Go down to the sea to pray for love.
Philippines
Since 2012, the Philippines has officially recognized Lunar New Year as one of the major holidays. During Tet, Filipinos often go to temples or churches to pray for a happy, peaceful and prosperous year. Many people also see this as an occasion for family reunion. In addition, Binondo neighborhood in Manila, also known as Chinatown, is home to many exciting festivals with lion dances, dragon dances and firecrackers to celebrate the New Year.
