In Vietnam, what household task is traditionally avoided during the first days of Tết?

In Vietnam, sweeping the floor is traditionally avoided during the first days of Tết. According to the superstition, sweeping during this period could sweep away good luck and prosperity that have entered the home for the new year.

Families commonly clean their homes before Tết begins, so the house is prepared in advance. During the opening days of the festival, rubbish may be left in place temporarily rather than carried out. The timing matters: cleaning before the new year is associated with preparation, while sweeping immediately afterward is symbolically linked with losing fortune.

This custom is similar to New Year cleaning taboos in several East and Southeast Asian traditions, but it should not be treated as identical everywhere. Vietnamese Tết practices vary by family, region, and generation.

Tết is the Vietnamese Lunar New Year festival and usually falls between late January and February in the Gregorian calendar. It includes family reunions, ancestor remembrance, special foods, and wishes for prosperity.