Let’s talk about Tết, baby

Richard Burrage
Jan 14, 2026

Tết: what has changed and why it matters?

This article is based on a recent episode of the #YouDontKnowVietnam podcast, titled “Let’s talk about Tết, baby”. Richard Burrage and Ian Paynton discuss how Vietnam’s biggest holiday is evolving and what Cimigo’s consumer research reveals about changing priorities, spending and sentiment.

You can listen to the full episode here.

Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/3NaBXjn.
Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Yyjdg2.
Listen on Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/4qLMUGj.
Discover more episodes: https://wecreatecontent.vn/podcasts.

How has the Lunar New Year (Tết) in Vietnam changed?

Let's talk about Tết, baby

Tết has always been Vietnam’s most significant moment of the year. It is culturally central, emotionally charged and commercially important. For decades, it has driven peaks in spending, travel and celebration. Recent years, however, suggest a clear shift in how Vietnamese consumers approach the holiday.

At a surface level, Tết still looks familiar. Families reunite. Homes are cleaned and decorated. Traditional foods are prepared. Rituals continue. But beneath those constants, Cimigo has found that behaviour has changed in ways that are easy to miss if brands rely on old assumptions.

Despite strong GDP growth headlines, many households feel financially exposed. Rising living costs, income uncertainty, and a greater emphasis on saving are influencing decision-making. This is most evident at Tết, when discretionary spending is most pronounced.

Let’s talk about Tết, baby: the change is massive

Cimigo’s consumer research points to a more cautious mindset.  Tết is quieter. Spending is more deliberate. Gifting is more restrained. There is less spectacle and more caution. Overall spend is down. Gifting has become more practical and less symbolic of status. Smaller, more private gatherings are replacing large-scale celebrations.

Experience now matters more than display, but even experience spending is approached carefully. Emotional security outweighs status. Tradition remains, but excess does not.

Tết has changed and why it matters?

This is not a rejection of Tết. It is a reframing of it. The meaning of the holiday remains rooted in family, continuity and emotional security. What has changed is how those values are expressed.

For brands, this creates a gap between old assumptions and current reality.  Many Tết campaigns still assume abundance, indulgence and noise. Tết strategies built on cliched stories of returning home to joyous celebrations now miss the mood. They project optimism without acknowledging tension. As a result, they feel out of step with reality. For brands, this matters. The opportunity now sits with those who understand the evolution of Tết.

The “Let’s talk about Tết, baby” podcast runs for around 30 minutes and looks in detail at why Tết is quieter, why spending is more considered, and why many brands have not yet adjusted.

You can listen to the full episode here.

Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/3NaBXjn
Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Yyjdg2
Listen on Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/4qLMUGj
Discover more episodes: https://wecreatecontent.vn/podcasts

Thanks to Ian Paynton for producing and hosting #YouDontKnowVietnam. Ian’s own history and observations in Hanoi bring so much to the conversation.  Ian and his team at https://wecreatecontent.vn/ have created a fabulous space for informed, grounded conversations about Vietnam’s culture, society and consumer behaviour.

If you have any questions or specific needs, please get in touch with us at ask@cimigo.com.

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