Vietnam Survival Guide: Lunar New Year Greetings 101

More than the mere “Chúc mừng năm mới” (Happy New Year), Tet (Lunar New Year) greetings are sophisticated - varied by theme and tailored to the recipient's age, family role, social position, or even the emotional or practical circumstances. With the form dancing along between a sentence and a poem, they are often rhythmic and poetic, yet they deliver a clear message of hope for a new year.

Old But Gold: The Typical Greetings

There is a reason certain Tet greetings have remained unchanged for generations. They work in almost every context and convey universally uplifting meanings. So, if you are unsure what to say, these timeless wishes will always serve you well.

“Vạn sự như ý” - May everything go as you wish

This phrase expresses a hope for life to unfold smoothly and in alignment with one’s desires. It suggests ease and a sense of self-control, making it a comforting wish at the start of an unpredictable year.

“An khang thịnh vượng” - Wish you wellness and prosperity

Combining material well-being (“an khang”) and material abundance (“thịnh vượng”), it emphasizes a traditional belief that having good health is the foundation upon which prosperity can grow. This phrase, commonly paired with the first one in the Tet greeting, has created a symmetrical and mutually reinforcing blessing appropriate for various contexts.

“Phát tài phát lộc” - May you gain wealth and fortune

This phrase directly expresses a wish to get (“phát”) financial growth (“tài”) and good luck (“lộc”) in business or work contexts. This phrase is commonly said to working adults, entrepreneurs, and anyone striving to improve their livelihood.

“Mã đáo thành công” - May success come swiftly

“Mã đáo” means “horse returns,” while “thành công” is simply “success.” This phrase is rooted in ancient imagery, which says that when horses return home, it signals peace and victory - a perceived success. Today, it is used to wish for fast, decisive success, especially in careers or new ventures.

The above greetings are all formed in 4-word phrases and share Sino-Vietnamese applications, making them formal, poetic, and yet widely suitable during Tet. These greetings can also become more specific when addressing different generations in both familial and social contexts.

For Grandparents And Elders, Health And Longevity Take Priority

“Dồi dào sức khỏe” - Wish you abundant health

Beyond good health, it emphasizes a hope for strength and vitality lasting throughout the year.

“Sống lâu trăm tuổi” - May you live a hundred years

In Eastern belief, having longevity up to a hundred years signifies not only health but also good fortune, blessings, and merit. Thus, wishing elders “sống lâu trăm tuổi” means wishing them a long and harmonious life.

For Children, Wishes Reflect Hope For Their Growth And Learning

“Học hành chăm chỉ, giỏi giang” - Study diligently and excellently

Since education is considered a key to the future, this greeting usually encourages perseverance and effort in children. At the same time, hope their effort pays off.

“Mau ăn chóng lớn” - Eat well and grow quickly

Casual and playful, this wish reflects care for a child’s physical growth and overall well-being. “Ăn” (to eat) here is not just about taking food, but more about absorbing things into the body and mind. Thus, the better their absorption improves, the smoother their growth gets, and the more they can exert themselves in life.

And when in doubt, simply mentioning words like “bình an” (peace), “hạnh phúc” (happiness), “may mắn” (luck), and “tươi mới” (fresh) is enough for a gentle new year blessing.

Get Creative: When Familiar Greetings Find New Clothes

As much as tradition is cherished, Vietnamese people are also wonderfully inventive. Repeating the same phrases year after year can eventually feel mechanical. At that point, creativity enters the picture to revitalize the tradition of Tet greetings.

Creative Tet greetings, while maintaining the core values of fortune, happiness, ease, and prosperity, express them in more lighthearted, modern, or emotionally stirring ways. And creativity itself, in fact, becomes a sign of sincerity. A thoughtfully crafted wish shows that you have given the recipient sincere consideration compared to opting for formulaic, usual phrases.

“Tiền vô xồng xộc, tiền ra từ từ” - Money comes in fast but goes out slowly

Not just about a general sense of wealth, this rhythmic, cheerful, and realistic wish explains the concept of wealth as financial stability and smart spending.

“Tiền đầy túi, tình đầy tim” - Pockets full of money, heart full of love

Wealth and prosperity are now upgraded. This amusing greeting balances material wealth with emotional richness, suggesting that prosperity arises when material life is intertwined with deep connections.

“Bớt deadline thêm bonus” - “Fewer deadlines, more bonuses.”

Combining humor with sincere desires for balance and reward, it is lighthearted and relatable, particularly among colleagues.

“Mọi điều hanh thông” - May everything flow smoothly

While wishing for the same ease, "hanh thông" evokes images of unblocked pathways and smooth currents, devoid of delays and unnecessary struggle.

“Gặt hái nhiều quả ngọt” - May you harvest many sweet fruits

A metaphorical wish that one’s efforts will pay off. Success here isn’t just earning, but “sweet fruit” gets harvested, rewarding the seed of patience and hard work you’ve invested.

Furthermore, in a world reshaped rapidly by sudden change and lingering uncertainty following the pandemic, definitions of happiness and wholeness have shifted accordingly. People now desire stable well-being, mental tranquility, and the ability to enjoy the present, rather than just achievement or material assurance. And so Tet greetings carry such simple hope.

“Mạnh khỏe, cả về thể chất lẫn tinh thần” - May you be healthy, both physically and mentally

A straightforward yet sincere wish for well-being inside and out.

“Sống trọn từng giây” - May you live every moment to the fullest

A wish for presence and aliveness - to be truly there for your own life, attentive to each passing moment rather than rushing through it.

“Biết đủ với những gì đang có” - May you be content with all you have

Fulfillment from the bottom of the heart, knowing that abundance still surrounds your life.

“Thấy niềm vui mỗi ngày trong những điều nhỏ” - May you see happiness everyday in small little things

Hope for the ability to notice life’s quiet beauty and feel joy in discovering it. In a world where the mind is often crowded with worries about the unpredictable, this capacity becomes essential for anchoring us in the present and gently reminding us why life is still worth living, day after day.

Or Simply Speak From Your Heart

Sometimes, the most touching greeting is not a polished phrase but an honest sentence spoken gently: a wish for rest after exhaustion, for clarity after confusion, or for stability after a difficult year. Because at its core, Tet greetings are not about sounding impressive but about attentiveness, your intention, and your care for the recipient. Genuinely greet what you hope for them, and let your words meet people where they are. In the end, what comes from the heart inevitably reaches the heart.