Tet's preparations and celebrations used to be spread over months, but nowadays the holiday is much shorter. A great deal of excitementstill builds up well before Tet. Streets are decorated with coloured lights and red banner. Shops are full of goods. People are busy buying gifts, cleaning and decorating their houses and cooking traditional foods.

Homes are often decorated with plants and flowers at this time. Peach blossom is traditional at Tet in the North while apricot blossom is traditional in the South. The kumquat tree with its ripe deep orange fruits is popular throughout the country. One of Tet's most special foods is banh chung, which is made from sticky rice, green beans and fatty pork. Mut, which is candied fruits such as sugared apples, plums or tomatoes, is also popular.