Vietnam is usually forgiving, but during Tet, the spiritual stakes are high. Every action in the first three days is seen as an omen for the year ahead. Innocent acts—like sweeping the floor—can accidentally “curse” your host.
Avoid these cultural landmines with the guide below. (And for the physical challenges, like traffic and closed shops, check The Ultimate Guide to Riding Vietnam During Tet).
If you are staying in a homestay or visiting a Vietnamese family, the home is where the strictest taboos apply. The energy (“Khi”) of the house must be protected at all costs.
This is the most famous taboo. Legend says that sweeping the floor during the first three days of Tet is equivalent to sweeping the family’s wealth and luck out the door. You will notice brooms are hidden away. If you drop crumbs, pick them up with your hands. Do not reach for the broom!
Similarly, taking out the garbage is forbidden. It symbolizes throwing away prosperity. Families will pile trash in a corner of the garden or back room for three days. As a guest, do not be helpful and take the trash bags to the curb; you are essentially throwing away the family’s money.
The sound of breaking dishes is the sound of a “break” in relationships or business. It signals a year of separation or failure. Be extra careful with your teacups and rice bowls. If you are clumsy, maybe stick to plastic for a few days!
Water symbolizes wealth (“money flows like water”), and fire symbolizes the warmth and spirit of the family. If you ask a neighbor for a lighter or a cup of water, you are asking to take their wealth and spirit. Ensure you have your own supplies.
Social interactions are choreographed carefully. Who you see and when you see them matters immensely.
This is critical. The first person to step through the door after midnight on New Year’s Eve determines the family’s luck for the year. This ritual is called Xong Dat. Families carefully select this person (usually a successful, healthy, compatible man). If you—a random tourist—wander in uninvited on Day 1, and the family has a bad year, you will be blamed. Wait for an explicit invitation.
If you are traveling in a group, do not shake your friends awake or yell at them to get up on Day 1. It is believed that if you are woken up by someone else on New Year’s Day, you will be passive, lazy, and ordered around by others for the rest of the year. Let everyone wake up naturally.
Tet is a festival of joy. Crying acts as a magnet for negative spirits. Even if things go wrong—your bike has a flat tire, you get lost, or you feel homesick—try to keep a smile on your face in public. The “Vietnamese Smile” is your shield during Tet.
Words have power. Avoid topics like accidents, illness, or death. Do not tell “dark humor” jokes. Keep the conversation light, positive, and focused on prosperity, health, and beauty.
Money is a central theme of Tet, but the flow of money must be handled with specific care.
You should not lend money or borrow money during the first days of the year. If you borrow, it means you will be in debt all year. If you lend/repay, it means you will be paying out money all year. Settle all your bills (including your motorbike rental balance!) before Tet begins.
Haggling is a national sport in Vietnam, but not during Tet. If you haggle with a seller on the first day of the year and walk away without buying, you have “jinxed” their shop. They believe they will suffer from difficult customers all year. If you ask the price, buy it. Or better yet, just pay the asking price as a “lucky tip” for the New Year.
When giving Li Xi (Red Envelopes), avoid giving amounts with the number 4 (which sounds like “death”) or odd numbers (which are associated with funerals). Stick to even numbers (50k, 100k, 200k, 500k). Also, never use old, crumpled notes. Tet money must be crisp and new.
You are what you wear, and you are what you eat.
In Vietnamese culture, white is the color of death/funerals, and black is the color of evil/darkness. Wearing an all-black or all-white outfit on Day 1 is seen as incredibly gloomy and disrespectful. Pack something red, yellow, or blue. If you only have black biker gear, try to wear a bright scarf or t-shirt over it.
Specific foods are avoided because of their metaphorical meaning:
For the motorbike traveler, the road has its own set of spiritual rules during this time.
The streets are quiet, and the mood is peaceful. Aggressive honking, revving your engine, or shouting road rage is seen as spreading bad energy. Ride gently. Flow like water.
“Hastiness leads to failure.” Rushing on the first day sets a frantic pace for the year. Take your time. Drive slowly. Enjoy the scenery. This is the one week where nobody is in a hurry—join them.
If you are pulled over (common for drunk driving checks during Tet), stay incredibly polite. Arguing with an authority figure on Day 1 is a terrible omen for your legal luck in the coming year. Smile, apologize, and show respect.
Don’t panic. You won’t be deported! But your host might look visibly stressed. Just apologize immediately (“Xin loi”) and stop what you are doing. A sincere apology helps restore the harmony.
Yes, blue jeans are fine. The taboo is specifically against all-white (funeral) or all-black (mourning/evil) outfits. A black t-shirt with blue jeans is acceptable, though a red t-shirt is much better!
Absolutely! This is encouraged. Shout “Chuc Mung Nam Moi!” (Happy New Year) to people you pass on the road, to security guards, or to kids waving at you. It spreads joy and luck.
Yes, but be a “easy” buyer. Don’t pick up 10 items, inspect them, criticize them, and then walk away. If you touch it and engage the seller, try to buy something small to “open their sales” for the year.
Mostly, yes. The core taboos (Sweeping, First Footing, Arguments) are universal. However, food taboos vary. For example, Southerners avoid bananas (Chuoi) because it sounds like “sliding/failing,” while Northerners love bananas on their altar. When in doubt, ask your guide!
Navigating Tet isn’t just about avoiding traffic; it’s about navigating the invisible web of culture that holds the country together. While these taboos might seem superstitious to a Western mind, respecting them shows a deep appreciation for your hosts.
When you wear a red shirt, pay the full price with a smile, and wait for an invitation before entering a home, you aren’t just a tourist anymore; you are a welcome guest. You are participating in the collective hope for a better, brighter year.
Ready to ride into a lucky year?
Book your Motorbike Rental with us (before the holiday starts!) and experience the magic of Vietnam responsibly.
Engine Type
air-cooled, single cylinder, SOHC
Displacement
411 cc
Bore X Stroke
78 mm x 86 mm
Ignition
TCI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
9.5:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
telescopic forks; stanchion diameter 41 mm
Rear Suspension
linkage-type monoshock
Front Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 300 mm, 2-piston floating caliper
Rear Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 240 mm, single-piston floating caliper
Front Tyres
90/90 – 21
Rear Tyres
120/90 – 17
Wheelbase
1465 mm
Seat Height
800 mm
Ground Clearance
220 mm
Kerb Weight
199 kg
Fuel Capacity
15 litres
Dimensions
2190 mm (L) x 840 mm (W) x 1360 mm (H)
Daily
Total
Rider (CRF 300)
$220
Pillion
$120
Damage Waiver
$20
Private Room
$40
Support Vehicle*
$150
* All prices given are in USD and apply per rider except for the support vehicle. The support vehicle is free for groups of 7 or more, otherwise the cost is shared across the group.
Daily
Total
Rider (XR 150)
Rider (CRF 300)
Rider (CB 500X)
Rider (Himalayan 400)
$220
Rider (GS 1250)
Pillion
$120
Damage Waiver
$20
Private Room
$40
Support Vehicle*
$150
* All prices given are in USD and apply per rider except for the support vehicle. The support vehicle is free for groups of 7 or more, otherwise the cost is shared across the group.
Daily
Total
Jeep (1 PAX)
$210
Jeep (2 PAX)
$120
Jeep (3 PAX)
$90
Jeep (4+ PAX)
$80
Rider (Easy Rider)
$115
Rider (Self-Drive)
$105
Private Room
$15
* Our jeep tour prices operate on a sliding scale. The larger your group, the less each person pays—each member of your group will pay the lowest daily rate shown. For example, if you have a group of 4 or more, you will each only pay $80/day. All prices are given in USD.
Engine Type
air-liquid cooled, twin cylinder, DOHC, boxer engine
Displacement
1255 cc
Bore X Stroke
102.5 mm x 76 mm
Ignition
FI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
12.5:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
6-speed
Front Suspension
BMW Motorrad Telelever; stanchion diameter 37 mm
Rear Suspension
single-sided swing arm with BMW Motorrad Paralever
Front Brakes
dual disc brake, floating brake discs, diameter 305 mm, 4-piston radial calipers
Rear Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 276 mm, double-piston floating caliper
Front Tyres
120/70 R19
Rear Tyres
170/60 R17
Wheelbase
1514 mm
Seat Height
850 mm
Ground Clearance
790 mm
Kerb Weight
249 kg
Fuel Capacity
20 litres
Dimensions
2207 mm (L) x 952.5mm (W) x 1430 mm (H)
Engine Type
air cooled, OHC, single cylinder
Displacement
149 cc
Bore X Stroke
57.3 mm x 57.8 mm
Ignition
CDI
Fuel System
20 mm piston valve carburettor
Compression Ratio
9.5:1
Starter
electric with kick starter backup
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
telescopic fork, 180 mm axle travel
Rear Suspension
single shock swing arm, 150 mm axle travel
Front Brakes
dual piston caliper, 240 mm disc
Rear Brakes
mechanical drum
Front Tyres
90/90 19
Rear Tyres
110/90 17
Wheelbase
1362 mm
Seat Height
825 mm
Ground Clearance
243 mm
Kerb Weight
129 kg
Fuel Capacity
12 litres
Dimensions
2091 mm (L) x 811 mm (W) x 1125 mm (H)
Engine Type
liquid cooled parallel-twin four stroke
Displacement
470 cc
Bore X Stroke
67 mm x 66.8 mm
Ignition
PGMI – FI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
10.7:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
6-speed
Front Suspension
41 mm SFF-BP USD Forks
Rear Suspension
Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster
Front Brakes
dual 296 mm discs with 4 piston calipers; ABS
Rear Brakes
240 mm disc; ABS
Front Tyres
110/80R19M/C (59H)
Rear Tyres
160/60R17M/C
Wheelbase
1445 mm
Seat Height
830 mm
Ground Clearance
180 mm
Kerb Weight
199 kg
Fuel Capacity
17.7 litres
Dimensions
2,155 mm (L) x 830 mm (W) x 1,410 mm (H)
Engine Type
single cylinder, DOHC, liquid cooled
Displacement
286 cc
Bore X Stroke
76 mm x 63 mm
Ignition
Full Transistor Digital
Fuel System
PGM-FI electronic fuel injection
Compression Ratio
10.7:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
43 mm telescopic upside down
Rear Suspension
Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster
Front Brakes
Rear Brakes
220 mm disc, single piston caliper
Front Tyres
80/100 21
Rear Tyres
120/80 18
Wheelbase
1455 mm
Seat Height
880 mm
Ground Clearance
285 mm
Kerb Weight
142 kg
Fuel Capacity
7.8 litres
Dimensions
2230 mm (L) x 820 mm (W) x 1200 mm (H)
