Tet Festival Vietnam has many secular and religious holidays but none can be compared to Tet Nguyen-Dan or, in short, Tet. Tet is a wonderful time for visitors to observe the country at its best festive mood. It is a week-long festival in Vietnamese lunar New Year and may fall in late January or early February. Each lunar month has 29 or 30 days. In order to keep the lunar year in sync with the solar year, approximately for every 3 years, an extra month is added between the 3rd and 4th months. The 1995 lunar year is a leap year which has 13 months, that is why the upcoming 1996 Vietnamese New Year Day corresponds to February 19, 1996, instead of late January as usual. During Tet festival, all stores are closed and businesses are interrupted for at least 3 days. Flights into and out of the country are likely to be booked solid long in advance. Car rental rates are also higher than usual. Vietnam's hotels are packed with overseas Vietnamese visiting relatives. Accommodation around the country is hard to find especially in Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi, and other favorite cities such as Vung Tau, Da Lat and Da Nang. Vung Tau is a beach resort 80 miles south east of HCM City. Vung Tau has about 9 miles of fine sandy beaches. Da Lat is located at the foot of Lang Biang mountain in Central Highlands, nearly 200 miles from HCM City. It is a favorite honeymooning spot for its cool temperature at the elevation about 1500m above sea level, surrounded with lakes and waterfalls. Da Nang, located about 970 Km north of HCM City, is well-known for its China Beach (Non Nuoc). Tet is the most appropriate occasion for business people to treat each other generously, exchanging gifts is expected as well as for friends to visit friends. These Tet visits are taken seriously. People will visit the most important persons to them on the first day, and the less important ones on the second and third days. It is also customary that people wish each other all sorts of good things. Children of the family usually expect money gift from visitors to their home during the first 3 days of the year. If you are in Vietnam during Tet and planning to visit a Vietnamese family, it is best to practice the much appreciated custom li xi. That is to give each of their children some money in a red envelop. New bank notes in small denomination are usually preferred. Also bring to the host a small gift such as fruit, preferably something you can give in pairs such as du du (papaya), xoai (mango) and mang cau. Other good gifts are top quality tea, coffee, American or French cosmetics, chocolate and liquor. Men appreciate brandy and liquor from overseas, which can be purchased duty free on the arriving planes. Women like cosmetics especially popular American and French brands. When you give or receive a gift (or any other object), use both hands. The host may politely refuse the gift but you are expected to persist. Do not surprise if the recipients do not open gifts in your presence.