Top 7 Unique Records of Vietnamese Lunar New Year

The peach tree is an essential part of the Northern Vietnamese New Year celebrations. The price of peach blossoms varies widely, ranging from a few dozen thousand VND for branches to several hundred million for entire trees, with some being priceless and available only for rent. One of the most expensive peach trees in Vietnam is an 80-year-old ancient peach tree located in Phu Thuong, Tay Ho, Hanoi.

This tree, nearly 2 meters tall, is housed in a 1.2-meter diameter oval stone pot and rests on a pair of stone seats, giving it a grand and regal appearance. The owner of this valuable peach tree states that they would never consider selling it, only renting it out. The rental cost for this tree during Tet can exceed 10,000 USD (around 200 million VND). This is a That Chon peach tree, known for its high longevity, rare upright shape, and high value. Typically, such trees are priced between 5 to 16 million VND, with the more expensive ones reaching around 50 million VND.

In 2013, to celebrate the Year of the Snake, Yasaka Saigon Nha Trang Hotel in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, prepared a record-breaking sticky rice cake weighing 832kg and measuring 38 meters in length. The cake had a diameter of 0.2 meters and was divided into sections: 7 meters of white rice with banana filling, 7 meters of white rice with green bean and pork filling, 6 meters of gac fruit with peanut and green bean filling, 8 meters of red bean with green bean and pork filling, and 10 meters of purple yam with green bean and pork filling.

To make this giant cake, a team of 20 staff members worked on wrapping the rice, and about 100 more people were involved in the procession to carry the cake and place it into the cooking pot. All proceeds from the sale of the cake were donated to charity. Every year since, the hotel has continued this tradition, with the length of the cake increasing by one meter each year.

During the Tet celebrations of 2010, a record-breaking fruit offering was displayed at the entrance of Van Mieu Park in Cao Lanh city, with the theme: “Hanoi – A Millennium of Culture, Dong Thap – A Century of Golden Lotus”. This masterpiece was created by artist Tran Van Lam and has since been recorded in the Guinness Vietnam Book of Records. The fruit offering required 5 tons of fresh, clean fruit, measuring 14 meters in width, 4 meters in height, and valued at up to 120 million VND.

The display featured two dragon figures made from 5,000 betel nuts, with the body of the dragons crafted from various specialty fruits such as Hoa Loc mangoes (Cao Lanh, Dong Thap), Lo Ren longans (Tien Giang), coconut (Ben Tre), Lai Vung pink oranges (Dong Thap), and Châu Thanh longans (Dong Thap). At the center of the offering, a bas-relief of the One Pillar Pagoda was created using grains and cereals, with the inscription: “Hanoi, a thousand years of culture, Cao Lanh, a hundred years of pink lotus”.

The couplet consists of two lines, each 50 characters long, written by 50 calligraphers on golden silk. The couplets, measuring 54 meters in length and 1.2 meters in width, are framed with brown silk at both ends and supported by wooden rods with a diameter of 7 cm for hanging. This creation was completed during the First Vietnam Calligraphy Gathering held at Hoa Lu Hotel in Ninh Binh in 2010. This couplet set broke the previous record of a 30-meter-long, 2.4-meter-wide couplet created by artisan Tran Quoc An on April 14, 2005.

The content of the couplet was written by Venerable Thich Chinh Tue from the Giac Ngo Calligraphy Club:

"Trang An, a sacred land where wise kings and heroes are born, displaying the grandeur of the Lac Hong dynasty, glorifying Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang, whose great name established the Hoa Lu capital, inviting prosperity and continuing the history of the Tiền Le dynasty with historical pride."

“Bai Dinh, a sacred peak where great scholars and virtuous men promote peace, helping the nation with the wise and holy Minh Khong, the national master of the Ly Dynasty, expanding the center of Buddhist teachings and guiding the people with endless gratitude and the firm foundation of righteous teachings, spreading everywhere.”

This is considered the longest couplet in Vietnam.

Though Vietnam's Lunar New Year (Tết) lasts just three days, preparations begin up to two weeks in advance. Tết is a time for family reunions, where everyone gathers around the dinner table to share warm meals and wish each other a peaceful year ahead. Children are excited to receive red envelopes filled with lucky money. International visitors are often struck by the festive atmosphere, with streets filled with flowers, lanterns, and sparkling lights. The streets are alive with smiles and good wishes as people greet each other for the new year.

Many foreign tourists enjoy immersing themselves in the rural areas of Vietnam, joining local families in their Tết celebrations. Some love wandering through the flower-filled streets of Hanoi, while others visit temples or take part in the New Year calligraphy traditions. These visitors embrace the deep-rooted cultural customs of the Vietnamese people. What impresses many is the strong focus on family during Tết. No matter the profession or location, people long to return home and reunite with loved ones during this meaningful time. For the Vietnamese, Tết represents hope and optimism for the year to come.

Chưng and Giày cakes are two traditional dishes that are indispensable during the Vietnamese New Year. These cakes carry significant meaning, though many may not realize it during Tết. No matter where they go, Vietnamese people always make sure to have these cakes on the Tết feast table, as a symbol of family respect and cultural heritage. In fact, most homes will have at least a couple of these cakes as offerings to ancestors. The Chưng and Giày cakes are a key part of the Vietnamese tradition of 'drinking water, remembering its source.' In 2008, during the Hung Kings' death anniversary, residents of Ho Chi Minh City traveled over 2,000 kilometers to bring a pair of giant Chưng and Giày cakes to the Hung Temple Festival.

The Chưng cake weighed an incredible 2 tons, measuring 1.8m by 1.8m by 0.7m, made with 900kg of glutinous rice, 200kg of mung beans, and 100kg of pork. The Giày cake, although lighter, weighed around 1 ton and had a diameter of 1.8m. The process of making such giant cakes is both daunting and impressive.

Mr. Pham Xuan Thong, the owner of the Minh Thuy Mai Garden, is known as a wealthy individual for owning a 4,000 square meter plot of land filled with valuable Mai trees. Among these trees is the famous 'Thanh Long Nhất Trụ', which stands 2.5 meters tall with a trunk diameter of 24 cm. This straight, upright tree, which tapers from base to top, is 50 years old and originated from Mang Thit District, Vinh Long Province. In 2004, it won a silver medal at the Spring Flower Festival. The tree was auctioned in 2008, attracting many businessmen who were eager to purchase this symbol of prosperity and success. After an intense bidding war, a female real estate entrepreneur won the auction at 2.5 billion VND. However, Mr. Thong refused to sell, saying he would only part with the tree if he found someone who truly appreciated and could properly care for it.