Tet is the most significant holiday in Vietnam, and Hanoi takes on a noticeably different atmosphere during this time. The city slows down, streets become quieter, and traditions appear everywhere. Peach blossoms displayed in homes and family altars glowing softly with incense. For tourists visiting Hanoi during Tet 2026, it is common to wonder which activities in Hanoi remain available, especially as many shops and services temporarily close.
Rather than being a time for fast-paced sightseeing, Tet in Hanoi encourages a more mindful way of traveling. Choosing a small number of meaningful activities allows visitors better to understand the city’s rhythm and cultural depth. The following activities in Hanoi during Tet 2026 are especially suitable for travelers interested in culture, creativity, and slow travel.
Understanding Vietnam’s Tet 2026 Schedule
Tet, also known as the Lunar New Year, is Vietnam’s most important national holiday. In 2026, the Tet holiday typically lasts around one week, from Feb 14th to Feb 22nd. However, many businesses may close earlier or reopen gradually after the official dates. During this period, government offices, banks, and a large number of local shops suspend operations, while families return to their hometowns to celebrate together. As a result, major cities like Hanoi become noticeably quieter, with fewer crowds and a slower pace of daily life. For travelers, understanding Vietnam’s Tet holiday schedule is essential when planning activities. It helps set realistic expectations and highlights the value of experiences that remain accessible during this unique time of year.
For tourists, this shift is not a drawback but an important detail to take note of. Understanding the Tet holiday schedule and preparing in advance can make a significant difference to the travel experience. Planning activities ahead of time, checking opening hours, and choosing experiences that continue to operate during Tet, such as cultural walks and creative workshops, helps ensure a smooth and rewarding stay in Hanoi during the holiday period.
With a clear understanding of the Tet holiday schedule and a bit of preparation in advance, tourists can better appreciate which activities remain available. Hence, we can know how to experience Hanoi in a more thoughtful and meaningful way during this special time.
Experiencing activities in Hanoi and Tet in the Old Quarter
During Tet, Hanoi’s Old Quarter transforms into a calm and visually rich space. Many local families decorate their homes with red banners, kumquat trees, and traditional calligraphy, creating an atmosphere that reflects both celebration and reverence. Early mornings are particularly peaceful, making them ideal for photography or unstructured walks.
This is one of the most accessible and authentic activities in Hanoi during Tet. No tickets or guides are required, only time and attentiveness. Visiting small temples, observing families preparing offerings. Or simply walking through the streets allows the city to reveal itself in a quiet, understated way.
Visiting flower markets and Tet fairs during Tet 2026
In the days leading up to and during Tet, Hanoi’s flower markets and neighborhood fairs become vibrant cultural spaces. Locations such as Quang Ba Flower Market are filled with peach blossoms, orchids, and festive decorations that symbolize renewal and good fortune.
For travelers, visiting these markets is more than a visual experience. It offers a direct connection to local traditions and the collective anticipation of a new year. Even without making a purchase, the colors, scents, and atmosphere leave a lasting impression.
Joining creative workshop in Hanoi during Tet - memorable activities in Hanoi
For those seeking indoor activities in Hanoi during Tet, creative workshops offer a practical and meaningful alternative, particularly when the weather is cool and the city remains calm.
Workshops such as pottery, painting, or perfume making encourage a slower pace and hands-on engagement. Unlike busy tourist attractions, these experiences allow visitors to connect more personally with local creativity and craftsmanship, making them well suited to the reflective nature of the Tet holiday.
Perfume making workshop: a sensory way to remember Tet in Hanoi
Among creative activities, perfume making workshop offers a uniquely sensory way to experience Hanoi during Tet. While the holiday is often associated with visual traditions and food, scent plays a subtle yet powerful role in shaping memory.
At NOTE – The Scent Lab, visitors can participate in a perfume making workshop that emphasizes calm, focus, and personal expression. Participants are introduced to a range of fragrance notes, from fresh citrus and green note to warm woody and resinous accords. Through a guided process, they create a fragrance inspired by Hanoi during Tet, quiet mornings, incense smoke, and the crisp winter air.
For travelers, a perfume making workshop in Hanoi is more than a creative activity. The resulting fragrance becomes a personal souvenir, offering a sensory connection to the journey long after the trip has ended.
Why workshops are ideal activities in Hanoi during Tet
Many travelers initially worry that Hanoi may feel too quiet during Tet. In reality, this calmness enhances certain experiences, particularly workshops that benefit from a slower, more intimate atmosphere. With fewer crowds and a more relaxed pace, creative activities allow visitors to engage more deeply, without the pressure of tight schedules or busy sightseeing routes.
Among the many workshops available, perfume making workshop – one of the unforgettable activities in Hanoi, feels especially fitting during Tet. The holiday is closely associated with memory, reflection, and new beginnings, and scent has a natural ability to preserve these elements. Hanoi’s Tet atmosphere, marked by incense, fresh flowers, and cool winter air, translates seamlessly into a sensory experience that feels both personal and culturally grounded.
Workshops also offer a practical advantage during Tet, when Hanoi’s weather tends to be cool, and at times chilly. Temperatures can drop, especially in the mornings and evenings, making outdoor activities less comfortable for some travelers. Indoor workshops provide a warm, welcoming environment where visitors can slow down, stay comfortable, and still enjoy a meaningful cultural experience away from the cold.
This is where NOTE – The Scent Lab in Hanoi becomes a particularly appealing stop for travelers seeking thoughtful activities during the holiday. Located away from the city’s busiest tourist routes, NOTE offers a carefully curated space that contrasts gently with the festive streets outside. During Tet, the workshop environment feels unhurried and calm, allowing visitors to step out of the city’s rhythm and focus fully on the creative process.
The perfume making workshop at NOTE is guided yet relaxed. Participants explore a refined selection of fragrance notes at their own pace, gradually shaping a scent inspired by personal impressions of Hanoi. The warm, aromatic setting adds to the comfort of the experience, making it especially enjoyable during cooler Tet days. This approach encourages reflection rather than performance, aligning naturally with the spirit of the Lunar New Year.
As Tet marks the transition into a new year, creating a personal fragrance becomes a symbolic act, capturing memories, emotions, and intentions in an invisible but lasting form. The finished perfume serves not only as a souvenir, but also as a sensory reminder of Hanoi during one of its most contemplative and atmospheric times of year.
A different way to experience Hanoi during Tet
Hanoi during Tet 2026 is less about checking off famous landmarks and more about understanding the city’s quieter character. By choosing thoughtful activities, especially creative workshops such as perfume making, travelers can discover a side of Hanoi that often goes unnoticed.
For those seeking meaningful activities in Hanoi during Tet, curiosity and openness are essential. Often, the most memorable aspects of a journey are not defined by what is seen, but by what is felt, and sometimes, by what is remembered through scent. Representing to Tet, NOTE recommend tourists to try apricot, airy note and Amber.
FREQUENCY ASKED QUESTION
1. Is everything closed in Hanoi during Tet 2026?
While it is true that many businesses, government offices, and local shops close for the holiday (typically from Feb 14th to Feb 22nd), the city does not shut down completely. For a tourist, this is actually a unique opportunity to see a peaceful side of Hanoi. Major walking streets, temples, and pagodas remain open. Additionally, select cultural experiences and creative spots, like specific workshops, often stay open to welcome visitors looking for meaningful activities in Hanoi.
2. What are the best activities in Hanoi for tourists during the Tet holiday?
Tet is the perfect time for “slow travel.” The best activities in Hanoi during this period include visiting the vibrant Quang Ba Flower Market to see the peach blossoms, taking morning walks around the quiet Old Quarter, and visiting local temples to observe traditional prayers. For a more hands-on experience, joining a perfume making workshop is highly recommended to create a personal scent inspired by the festive atmosphere.
3. Is the perfume making workshop at NOTE open during Tet 2026?
Yes, NOTE – The Scent Lab welcomes travelers looking for unique activities during the holiday.
However, as staff schedules may be adjusted for the Lunar New Year, we highly recommend checking our specific opening hours for Tet 2026 and booking your slot in advance. This ensures you have a guaranteed spot to enjoy this relaxing sensory experience.
4. What is the weather like in Hanoi during Tet, and what should I wear?
Tet 2026 falls in mid-February, which is often cool and sometimes damp with light drizzle. Temperatures can drop, making outdoor sightseeing chilly. This makes indoor activities like our perfume making workshop an ideal choice. It allows you to escape the cold and enjoy a warm, aromatic environment while crafting your own scent. We suggest packing layers and a light jacket for your trip.
5. Do I need to book activities in advance for Tet?
Absolutely. Since many services operate with limited capacity during the holiday, it is wise for any tourist to plan ahead. Whether you are booking a food tour or a perfume making workshop, securing your reservation early ensures a smooth experience and allows you to enjoy the slower, more mindful rhythm of Hanoi without the stress of last-minute planning.
As the busy streets of the capital soften into a peaceful rhythm for Tet 2026, the city offers a rare gift to the mindful traveler: time. For a tourist seeking connection rather than just sightseeing, this holiday is an invitation to slow down. The most memorable activities in Hanoi during this period aren’t found in crowded landmarks, but in the quiet moments, the scent of incense in the air, the vibrant colors of a flower market, and the warmth of a creative space.
By choosing to participate in a perfume making workshop, you are doing more than just filling an afternoon. You are distilling the essence of your journey. Long after you have returned home, a single spray of your custom scent will transport you back to this specific moment in time, reminding you of the cool winter air and the cultural beauty of Hanoi during its most significant holiday.
Don’t let the holiday closures limit your experience. Make your visit to Hanoi truly unforgettable with a hands-on journey into the world of fragrance.
NOTE – The Scent Lab welcomes you this Lunar New Year to create a personalized perfume that tells your story. Spaces are limited during the holiday period, so we encourage you to plan ahead. Looking for unique activities in Hanoi that are open during the holiday? Escape the cold weather and immerse yourself in the art of fragrance at NOTE.
Worried about shop closures and holiday schedules? Simplify your trip planning with our Vietnam Tet 2026 Guide: Cultural Tips & The Ultimate New Year Itinerary For You.
