With Chinese Lunar New Year fast approaching I thought I would give you a heads up of what may happen in Danang. Sunday the 14th of February is the first day of the new year, the year of the tiger. On the 14th, 15th and 16th Danang will virtually shut down, no businesses will be open, traffic will be light, everyone will be home with family and friends.
A word of warning, get shopping done as soon as possible, the 3 days before the new year are arguably Vietnam’s busiest shopping days. You may have already noticed how Metro and Big C are busier than usual.
Tet is officially only three days but most shops will be shut down for longer than that. Expect some shops and restaurants to open on the 17th, more than likely with increased prices. With each day more shops will be open. Expect business to be back to normal on the 22nd of February.
Businesses which tend to stay open are coffee shops, which usually add a surcharge, and hotels, which in some cases double their prices.
I was on Tet holiday in Danang city 2 years ago. By that time, I saw that many shops opened near the 29-3 park on the first day of the new year.