Where should you travel domestically at the beginning of the year?

Travel trends at the beginning of the year

After a year of hard work and dedication, choosing to travel at the beginning of the year is the ideal time to reward yourself and welcome a new year filled with excitement and joy.

Traveling during the first days of the year is often associated with visiting temples, participating in festivals, and religious activities. At these times, people exchange greetings or pray for a happy, peaceful, and lucky new year. These early-year trips are undertaken with a positive spirit, replenishing energy to face the challenges of the year ahead.

Furthermore, traveling during Tet (Lunar New Year) becomes even more impressive because this is the time when everywhere is celebrating the new year with many unique traditional customs and practices. Traveling to new places like Sapa, Ha Giang, the Central Highlands, An Giang, Soc Trang, Sa Dec, etc., you will experience and discover different Tet cultures and customs that create a unique identity for each region.

However, traveling at the beginning of the year, or more specifically during Tet (Lunar New Year), also comes with its share of drawbacks. Overcrowding at popular tourist destinations is unavoidable. This also means higher prices for transportation, airfare, and potential price gouging at some tourist spots. Since Tet offers many days off and people are eager to travel, careful planning and itinerary preparation are essential for a comfortable and smooth trip.

Where to travel at the beginning of the year?

Sapa

Traveling to Sapa at the beginning of the year allows you to experience the Lunar New Year in the highlands and admire the natural scenery of the Northwest mountains and forests as they are covered in the colors of spring. The weather in Sapa at this time is quite cold, and visitors can also see ice and snow on the summit of Fansipan, immerse themselves in the vibrant scenery of the Muong Hoa Valley, or watch the roaring waterfalls cascading down, creating a white foam at Silver Waterfall.

During the Lunar New Year, Sapa offers ethnic festivals, local markets, Fansipan peak, and the Muong Hoa valley…

Immersed in the majestic natural landscape, you will enjoy a truly "clean" Tet (Lunar New Year). Without the smog, traffic noise, or hustle and bustle of the city, Tet in Sapa possesses a captivating beauty with gentle breezes carrying the scent of flowers and grass, and morning mist. Furthermore, during this time, visitors to Sapa can also wear traditional brocade clothing, dance with the villagers around a crackling bonfire, participate in traditional festivals, and stroll through the traditional markets.

Ha Giang

For travel enthusiasts and explorers, visiting Ha Giang at the beginning of the year will allow you to witness scenes that seem straight out of a fairy tale. The stunning natural landscape of peach and plum blossoms, and the romantic mountain scenery of Ha Giang, are experiences you absolutely must try at least once during the New Year. At this time, you will truly be immersed in the poetic and charming natural scenery amidst the majestic rocky plateau.

Each season in Ha Giang brings its own unique beauty and distinctive colors, and visitors will experience different emotions when exploring this rocky plateau that also blossoms. Visiting Ha Giang at the beginning of the year will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in unique traditional festivals and many fascinating folk games of the ethnic minorities here.

Tam Chuc Pagoda, Ha Nam

Tam Chuc Pagoda is a popular tourist destination near Hanoi, loved by visitors from near and far. Every spring, tens of thousands of tourists flock to Tam Chuc Pagoda to pray for peace and good fortune at the beginning of the year, while also enjoying the scenery and admiring the unique architecture of the pagoda.

Upon arriving here, visitors will be amazed by the sight of the vast lake unfolding before their eyes. Within the lake are six bell-shaped mountains and seven towering peaks representing seven stars, creating a majestic, sacred, yet poetic scene.

Central Highlands

If you want to experience early year travel and enjoy the Tet (Lunar New Year) atmosphere in a place with a gong culture, come to the Central Highlands. In the Central Highlands, there are many unique spring travel destinations such as: the World Coffee Museum, Buon Ma Thuot Cathedral, Khai Doan Pagoda, the majestic cluster of three waterfalls Dray Sap - Dray Nur - Gia Long, Yok Don National Park in Buon Ma Thuot…

Da Lat

During Tet (Vietnamese New Year), Da Lat is even more full of flowers, making it easy to take beautiful photos when visiting the city during this time. With its convenient geographical location, Da Lat is always a top choice for people from Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding areas when traveling at the beginning of the year.

For spring in Da Lat, the defining characteristic is the vibrant colors of flowers covering every road. When visiting Da Lat at the beginning of the year, you can stroll around Xuan Huong Lake to breathe in the fresh air, admire the cherry blossoms in full bloom at Da Quy - Trai Mat slope, and marvel at the stunning scenery of the maple forest along the shores of Tuyen Lam Lake.

Hue

In the dreamy city of Hue, besides admiring apricot and peach blossoms, you can also experience the traditional spring atmosphere spreading throughout every corner, participate in the boat racing festival on the Perfume River, explore the magnificent architecture of the Hue Imperial Citadel, visit Thien Mu Pagoda, and enjoy unique and diverse art programs.

The first tourist destinations visitors should visit when arriving in Hue on New Year's Day are the Imperial Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda, Huyen Khong Son Thuong Pagoda, Khai Dinh Mausoleum, and Hon Chen Palace. These destinations attract a large number of locals and tourists alike.

Da Nang, Hoi An

Combining a trip to Da Nang with a visit to Hoi An will undoubtedly be an unforgettable early-year trip, allowing you to experience two completely contrasting Tet (Lunar New Year) atmospheres. Da Nang is vibrant and bustling with New Year's celebrations such as street dances and flower festivals… while Hoi An is ancient, nostalgic, and enchanting in the dazzling light of lanterns, offering spring excursions such as: traditional New Year festivals, strolling through spring flower gardens, participating in folk games, taking a boat ride to release floating lanterns, and visiting temples at the beginning of the year…

Con Dao

Another tourist destination in Ba Ria Vung Tau province that has been added to the list of places to visit this spring is Con Dao Island. The beginning of the year is a time when many people are interested in and travel to Con Dao to seek good fortune, especially those in business and those who frequently visit temples.

Here, you can enjoy a private, tranquil world, admire the breathtaking coastal roads, watch romantic sunsets with your loved one, and capture rare peaceful moments together at the beginning of the new year.

The unspoiled beauty of Con Dao Island has attracted many tourists. During the Tet holiday, Con Dao is definitely an interesting destination if you want to find a peaceful place with fresh air to relax.

Sa Dec, Dong Thap

This is a popular spot for young people to check in at the beginning of each year. Sa Dec is known as the capital of flowers. Thousands of flower varieties are carefully cultivated to bloom just in time for Tet (Lunar New Year), making the Sa Dec flower village vibrant on the first day of spring. The beautiful flowers, combined with young people checking in, wearing ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) or Tet attire, make the atmosphere here even more lively.

Phuong Thao is an editor at Travellive magazine. She is passionate about traveling and enjoys capturing moments with her camera in every place she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are Phuong Thao's favorite writing topics.

Phuong Thao