Central Highlands
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Con Dao Archipelago
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LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAY WITH LOCAL FAMILY DONG HOI 2027
Location
Đồng Hới, Quảng Trị
AVAILABILITY
From Jan 29 to Feb 09, 2027
LEVEL
Easy
GROUP SIZE
Private group only
ACCOMODATION
Homestay
MEALS
Breakfast, Dinner
TOUR OPERATOR
Endless VietnamMORE INFOMATION
OVERVIEW
Celebrate Lunar New Year festival with a local family in Dong Hoi 2027
Welcome to 2027 – The Year of the Fire Goat!
Lunar New Year Festival (we call it Tết or Tết Nguyên Đán) is the soul of Vietnamese culture—a time of family reunion, honoring ancestors, shedding past misfortunes, and welcoming good health and fortune for the year ahead.
If you travel across Vietnam during Tết, you will easily find that the daily life quietly slowing down when the restaurants, shops, and attractions close family gatherings.
While the streets grow quiet, a local hearth comes alive. Instead of watching the festivities from afar, we invite you to step over our threshold as an honored guest, stay with us, and live the true, heartfelt spirit of Tết in Dong Hoi.
HIGHLIGHT
- Flexible stay between Jan 29 and Feb 9 at Those Were the Days Homestay to feel the true authentic vibe in suburb Dong Hoi.
- Participate the daily activities with local family: pre-Tet preparation, during-Tet ceremonies and visits.
- Join the feasts with local family to understand deeply the Central Vietnam cuisine.
- Interact with local people and listen to the explanation for the so-called “superstition” during the most importation festival in Vietnam culture.
ITINERARY
Pre-Tet Preparations (Jan 30 – Feb 5, 2027)
Jan 30 (Lunar Dec 23)
Kitchen Gods Send-off (Cúng Ông Táo): Participate in the traditional send-off ritual for the household deities reporting to the Jade Emperor.
This day is marked as the beginning of the Tet preparation. People start to use the Lunar calendar since that day (instead of the regular Solar calendar).
Feb 1 – Feb 4
During this time of the year, the local people will spend most of the time for home adornment & local markets. The activities can include:
- Visit bustling local flower markets
- Pick out peach blossoms/ apricot blossom or kumquat trees
- Decorate the ancestral altar
- Make a lot of food: jam, pickled vegetable, cakes
- Make Chưng cake (Green square steamed sticky rice cake): the soul of the Tet Festival. Chưng cake making takes quite a long time to prepare, warp and cook so your hand lending is highly appreciated.
- Year-end feast: It is special meal to offer to our ancestors, as an invitation of our ancestors to come home and celebrate the new year with us.
If you don’t feel fully interested in the basic cleansing activities, we recommend that you should join a cave tour (still, set your time for Chung Cake making). The cave tour is not included in the price, but we are more than happy to arrange the tour for you.
Feb 5 (Lunar Dec 29)
Last day of the year. Final clean-up of the house, year-end shower, prepare some basic food for the New year Eve offering, and fireworks.
Main New Year Celebrations (Feb 6 – Feb 8, 2027)
Feb 6 (Lunar Jan 1)
Ancestral Tributes & Lucky Red Envelopes: Put on your finest clothes for morning altar offerings, receive lucky red envelopes (Lì Xì), and join the family to visit ancestral grounds.
Feb 7-Feb 9 (Lunar Jan 2-3)
Relatives’ Visits (Chúc Tết): Step out to visit local relatives, share tea, candied fruits (Mứt Tết), and cheerful greetings across the community.
PRICING
The Cost Includes
-
Homestay accommodation: Warm, comfortable stay with your host family in Đồng Hới -
Home-cooked meals: Daily traditional breakfast & family dinner, including festive feasts (on a few days)
-
Transportation: Free bicycle and scooter rental for exploring locally (gasoline excluded).
-
Laundry service: Complimentarily handled by the host
-
Cultural Immersion: full access and active participation in all family Tết rituals taking place during your stay.
The Cost Excludes
-
Gratuities for the tour guide and hosts. -
Extra drinks or snacks that are not mentioned above.
-
Cave tours
WHAT TO BRING
- Enthusiasm
FAQS
Do I need to book and stay for the entire period from January 29 to February 9, 2027?
No, not at all! While our doors are open throughout the entire Tết season (Jan 29 – Feb 9), you have complete flexibility. You can choose to join us for a single day, a few specific core days (such as the Bánh Chưng wrapping day or New Year’s Eve), or the full multi-day immersion depending on your personal travel itinerary.
I heard most places close down during Tết in Vietnam. How will I find food or get around?
That is precisely why this experience is so special!
While commercial shops, restaurants, and tourist attractions close due to the holiday, our home becomes vibrant and fully stocked. You will never have to worry about meals, as traditional home-cooked feasts are prepared right in the hearth. Plus, with your complimentary scooter and your host as a guide, you can easily navigate the tranquil, traffic-free streets of Đồng Hới.
What is the accommodation like at the family home?
You will be staying in a comfortable, clean, and private guest room within a genuine local household. It is designed to offer an authentic glimpse into everyday Central Vietnamese life while ensuring you have all essential modern comforts, privacy, and a warm, welcoming environment. Please check the photos of the homestay here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15qTY1Qo4qR6ji9yyTA-UscS-rTZnFqvZ?usp=sharing
Can I combine this cultural homestay with a trip to the Phong Nha caves?
Yes, absolutely. On days during the holiday schedule that call for lighter household activities or rest, you can easily take a day trip to explore the world-renowned karst caves and underground rivers of nearby Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park before the caves close for the Tet festival. Endless Vietnam can seamlessly arrange these day excursions for you as an add-on service.
Can you accommodate vegetarian diets or specific food allergies during the traditional Tết feasts?
Yes, absolutely. While traditional Tết meals feature classic festive meat dishes, vegetarianism is also deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture, especially during the Lunar New Year. We are more than happy to adapt our family recipes and prepare delicious, traditional plant-based or allergy-friendly alternatives so you can fully enjoy every home-cooked meal with us. Simply let us know your dietary needs when booking!
BOOK NOW
1. Choose your dates
Available from Jan 29 to Feb 9, 2027. Click your check-in date, then your check-out date. Dates already booked are crossed out.
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2. Your details
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Adult
900.000₫ /person
Child
800.000₫ /person
The price is per person:
Solo: 1,600,000đ/ day- 2 adults: 1,200,000đ/ day
- 3–4 adults: 900,000đ/ day
- Kid (6–12): 800,000đ/ day
- Kid under 6: Free
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