Tết and Vietnamese Festivals in Australia
Tết Nguyên Đán — the Vietnamese Lunar New Year — is the most important celebration in the Vietnamese calendar, and Australia’s Vietnamese communities maintain it with considerable energy. Understanding how to observe Tết while navigating Australian workplaces and public life is something most Vietnamese newcomers think about early.
Tết in Australia — dates and timing
Tết falls on the first day of the lunar calendar, usually between late January and mid-February. The date shifts each year. Unlike the Chinese New Year public holiday observed in some Asian countries, Tết is not a public holiday in Australia. Vietnamese Australians typically request annual leave for the days around Tết, which under the Fair Work Act is a right like any other leave request — employers are not required to approve it, but refusal must be reasonable.
Plan annual leave requests early — the weeks around Chinese New Year are a popular leave period for many employees, and approvals can be competitive in some workplaces.
Community events and celebrations
Major Vietnamese community events around Tết are held in most capital cities. In Sydney’s Cabramatta, in Melbourne, and in Brisbane’s Inala, there are multicultural festivals, street markets, lion dance performances, and fireworks. Many Vietnamese Buddhist temples and Catholic parishes hold special services during the Tết period.
Local council websites and Vietnamese community Facebook groups advertise events. These festivals are open to all Australians and are often promoted broadly by tourism bodies.
Family customs in a new context
Common Tết customs that families maintain in Australia include:
- Dọn nhà (cleaning the house) before the new year begins
- Visiting family and giving lì xì (red envelopes with money) to children and elders
- Preparing traditional dishes — bánh chưng/bánh tét, dưa hành, and others — or purchasing them from Vietnamese grocery stores
- Setting up an altar with offerings for ancestors
Many of these customs adapt naturally to life in Australia. Bánh chưng can be found in Vietnamese grocery stores in most major cities, and sending lì xì digitally to relatives in Vietnam is now common.
Balancing cultural observance and Australian workplaces
Tết can create tension with Australian work expectations, particularly if it falls during January (a common holiday period already) or during a busy season for your employer. Being transparent with managers about the significance of the dates — without over-explaining or apologising — is generally effective. Most Australian employers are accustomed to accommodating cultural and religious observances.
If your workplace has a leave blackout period, you may need to negotiate alternative arrangements — working extra hours before or after, or swapping public holidays.
Other Vietnamese cultural occasions
Beyond Tết, Vietnamese Australian communities also observe:
- Tết Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn Festival, approximately September) — particularly celebrated with children, lanterns, and mooncakes
- Giỗ Tổ Hùng Vương (Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day, 10th day of the 3rd lunar month) — recognised as a cultural occasion in some states
- Family anniversary days (giỗ) for deceased relatives
These occasions are primarily family and community affairs, not involving leave entitlements. They are an important part of cultural continuity for Vietnamese Australian families.