Tết, Vietnamese New Year, Vietnamese Lunar New Year or Tet Holiday, is the most important celebration in Vietnamese culture.
Considered the first day of spring and most important of national holidays in Vietnam, Tet is the annual Vietnamese New Year celebration, coinciding with the Lunar New Year celebrated throughout the world in January or February.
The majority of all factory production will shut down for at least a week during this time. The dates vary year to year but are usually start at the end of January or the beginning of February.
This time is especially difficult for products that are due for shipment in the spring and summer season. Think spring wear, swimwear, and outdoor furniture.
To help counter the problems that occur during Tet, get a confirmation on your factories’ schedule in advance to prevent delayed orders and also speak with your shipper about when they will stop shipping. Yes even DHL grinds to a halt here in Vietnam.
Another good idea is for orders normally received in March, take 50% of the volume and receive it in January. Receive the other 50% of that volume in February.