In the run-up to the Lunar New Year (Tet) 2026, the red carp farming village of Ninh Chau commune in Quang Tri province is entering its busiest harvest season of the year, as farmers rush to supply fish for Kitchen Gods’ worshipping day.
The “Ong Cong, Ong Tao” (Land Genie and Kitchen Gods) worshipping ritual, held on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, which falls on February 2 this year, is also considered the start of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival - the biggest and most important traditional holidays of Vietnamese people.
The 23rd day of the last month of every lunar year is when the Kitchen Gods return to Heaven to report to the Jade Emperor what happened on earth during the year.
Worshipping “Ong Cong, Ong Tao” (Land Genie and Kitchen Gods) is a long-standing custom of great significance as it symbolises the farewell to all bad things of the old year to help people relaxedly enter a new year of peace and happiness.
The Vietnamese traditional New Year (Tet) festival actually begins on the 23rd of the last month of the lunar year, which falls on February 4 this year, with the “Ong Cong - Ong Tao” (Land Genie and Kitchen Gods) ritual.
The Kitchen Gods - the guardian spirit of the kitchen are believed to comprise two male gods and one female who bless the household and keep up the kitchen fire making every member of the family happy and well-off.
US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J. Kritenbrink on January 15 performed the Vietnamese traditional New Year ritual of releasing carps into a lake to bid farewell to the Kitchen Gods at Kim Lien pagoda in Hanoi.
The traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) is the biggest and oldest festival in Vietnam, bringing its people together to celebrate the sacred and meaningful annual event.
The 23rd day of the last month of every lunar year is when the Kitchen Gods return to Heaven to report to the Jade Emperor what happened on earth during the year.
Hanoi people are busy staging a farewell ceremony for the “Ong Cong - Ong Tao” (Land Genie and Kitchen Gods) on the 23rd of the last month of the lunar year, which falls on February 8.
For most Vietnamese, Tet (Lunar New Year festival) has actually begun with the “Ong Cong - Ong Tao” (Land Genie and Kitchen Gods) ceremony on the 23rd of the last month of the lunar year, which falls on January 20 this year.
The traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) is the biggest and oldest festival in Vietnam, bringing its people together to celebrate the sacred and meaningful annual event.
For most Vietnamese, Tet (Lunar New Year festival) has actually begun with the “Ong Cong - Ong Tao” (Land Genie and Kitchen Gods) ceremony on the 23rd of the last month of the lunar year.
