Part 4: Reading
Reading comprehension about Tet holiday
Reading: Tet in Vietnam
11. Pre-reading Discussion
Before you read, think about:
- What do Vietnamese people do before Tet?
- What happens on New Year's Eve?
- What do people do during Tet?
22. Reading Passage: Tet in Vietnam
Tet - The Most Important Festival in Vietnam
Tet Nguyen Dan, or simply Tet, is the most important festival in Vietnam. It usually falls in late January or early February. Tet celebrates the arrival of spring and the new lunar year.
Before Tet, families clean and decorate their houses. They buy new clothes and prepare traditional foods like banh chung and candied fruits. People also pay off debts and make peace with others.
On New Year's Eve, families gather to watch fireworks and make wishes for the new year. The first visitor of the new year is very important. People believe the first visitor brings good or bad luck for the whole year.
During Tet, people visit their relatives and friends. Children receive lucky money in red envelopes. Everyone wears new clothes and wishes each other good health, happiness, and success. You should say 'Chuc Mung Nam Moi' to everyone you meet!
What shouldn't you do? You shouldn't break things, say bad words, or argue with others. These actions are believed to bring bad luck. Tet is a time for joy, love, and new beginnings.
33. Vocabulary from the Passage
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| lunar year | năm âm lịch | Tet celebrates the lunar year. |
| arrival | sự đến | The arrival of spring. |
| gather | tụ họp | Families gather together. |
| pay off debts | trả nợ | People pay off debts before Tet. |
| make peace | làm hòa | Make peace with others. |
| argue | cãi nhau | You shouldn't argue at Tet. |