The “Tet” Shutdown: How to Survive Vietnam’s 3-Week Manufacturing Blackout

If you are new to sourcing in Vietnam, you are about to hit a brick wall called “Tet” (Lunar New Year).

Unlike the Western “Christmas break” where people answer emails, Tet is a total shutdown. Factories close. Customs slows down. Trucks stop running. If you don’t plan for this, you will have zero inventory for February.

1. The Timeline (What Actually Happens) Tet is not just one day. It is a season.

• 2 Weeks Before: Workers start quitting early to travel back to their home provinces. Production slows down.
• Tet Week: TOTAL BLACKOUT. No one answers the phone. Ports operate on skeleton crews.
• 2 Weeks After: The “Labor Hangover.” Many workers do not return to the factory immediately (or at all). Factories scramble to hire new staff, leading to quality control issues.

2. The “Gold” Advice: Ship Before the Rush Every exporter is trying to get their container on the boat before the holiday.

• The Consequence: Freight rates spike 50% in the month before Tet. Spaces on vessels are fully booked.
• The Strategy: Book your shipments at least 3 weeks before the holiday starts.

3. The 13th Month Salary If you run your own team or factory here, you must pay the “13th Month Bonus” before the break. If you don’t, your workers will not come back after the holiday. It’s not law, but it is the unwritten rule of Vietnam.

Conclusion: Don’t fight the culture. Respect it. Plan your Q1 inventory assuming February is a “lost month,” and you will be fine.