Not all places have the same custom of welcoming spring. And these strange New Year customs in the Northwest will surprise you with their unique features!
Each region has its own features in the custom of celebrating Tet . If you are interested in learning, you will know the strange New Year customs in the Northwest . However, despite their unique and strange features, these customs are all directed towards the good meaning of wishing for a happy, prosperous and lucky new year. 
Strange Tet customs in the Northwest. Photo: Lam Thanh
Learn about the strange New Year customs in the Northwest
Let’s learn some strange Tet customs in this Northwest highland with Vietnam Travel , which will definitely make you excited and want to experience it once!
1. The Pa Then custom of worshiping a bowl of water
If you pay attention, you will see on the ancestral altar of Pa Then people in Ha Giang there is always a bowl of water. This water bowl must be clean water and is taken from the source of the clearest, cleanest spring in the village and is covered all year round. According to the principle, Pa Then the host is never allowed to let the water in the bowl run dry. 
The Pa Then people have the custom of worshiping a bowl of water. Photo: Vntravellive
Every year, the host is only allowed to open the water bowl twice at the end of June to refill the water and on the 30th day of the New Year to change the water bowl with a new one.
Accordingly, on the 30th of New Year’s Eve, families in Pa Then will close their doors, seal all the ventilation holes in the house, and then cook a pot of chicken porridge for the whole family to gather to celebrate Tet. After eating porridge, the host will go down to get a bowl of water from the altar to clean and change the water.
According to the unique New Year custom of Pa Then people in Ha Giang , this work must be done discreetly because Pa Then believes that if outsiders see the sacred water bowl being cleaned or changed, the family will have a lot of bad luck in the new year.
2. The white Thai custom of washing hair with sour rice water
On the afternoon of the 30th of the Lunar New Year, the White Thai people in Son La have the custom of washing their hair to drive away all the bad luck in the past year – a strange New Year custom in the Northwest.
White Thai people wash their hair with sour water to dispel the bad luck of the old year. Photo: Baomoi
They prepare bowls of rice water that has been soaked to sour and then slowly pour it over their hair. This custom is meant to evoke good things for tomorrow to enter the new year so pure. The shampooing ceremony ends with a boat race between men and women.
3. The Lo Lo people’s custom of stealing for luck
The Lo Lo people in Ha Giang believe that at the moment of entering the new year, if someone brings home a little something, the family will have many good things in the new year. Therefore, they go to steal for good luck but do not take much or valuable objects, but only onions, garlic, firewood …
Lo Lo girls. Photo: Baodantocmiennui
People who go to get lucky do not go public, do not invite each other to go, do not want the landlord to catch them. Everyone went quietly, quietly, meeting acquaintances who did not say hello. However, if they were caught by the owner, they would not be blamed. This is also the cultural beauty of Ha Giang that the Lo Lo people still keep and maintain!
In particular, each family has to steal something and have to get 12. For example, get 12 corn; get chicken, rice, and fruit for every 12. That is a lucky number corresponding to 12 months in the next year.
4. The Muong custom of calling the buffalo to celebrate Tet
Considering “the buffalo is the head of the fortune”, during the Tet holidays, the Muong people also do not forget to let this important animal celebrate Tet with their family – This is considered a unique New Year custom in the Northwest . passed down from a long time ago.
The custom of calling the buffalo ass of the Muong people
A few times before New Year’s Day, people will prepare a bowl, after New Year’s Eve, burn it to call the buffalo to return. Not only that, the Muong also hang strings of tube cakes on daily labor tools such as plows, harrows, and poles… to invite these “close friends” to celebrate Tet.
This interesting New Year custom of the Muong ethnic group has a very humane meaning, expressing the gratitude of people for their loyal pets that have helped their owners with the farm work all year round. The Muong believe that, after a year of hard work, the buffalo or the plow also deserve to rest.
5. The Pu Péo . custom of singing contests with roosters
This is a strange New Year custom of the Pu Peo people , in Ha Giang province. On New Year’s Eve, the Pu Peo will stay awake to watch over their rooster. When the chicken flaps its wings and prepares to crow, they will light a firecracker and throw it into the coop to make the chickens in the coop jump and crow. 
Pu Peo people in Ha Giang. Photo: VOV4
When the rooster crowing began to echo, the Pu Peo people also followed and sang to the sky. For the Pu Peo, the rooster crowing is a sign to wake up the sun and start a good new day. Therefore, whoever sings loud and strong to drown out that sacred crow will have much good luck and happiness in the new year.
6. Cao Lan people’s custom of sealing houses with red paper
The Cao Lan ethnic group welcomes the New Year with the first job to prepare to celebrate the new year is the custom of pasting red paper in the house (in Cao Lan, it is Chi Tet).
Accordingly, 2 days before Tet, they will “seal” everything that belongs to the family. The knife, the plow, the harrow, the hoe, the shovel, the trees around the house, the barn, etc. are all red paper glued so that these objects can be “on Tet holiday”. The whole house was suddenly dyed a brilliant red.
Sticking red paper on important places is the beginning of a new year with the wish of good health, prosperity, and bountiful crops.
Stick red paper on important items of Cao Lan people
Also according to Cao Lan’s ethnic custom, on the 1st day will visit relatives, on the 2nd day of the village. And eating a typical dish on New Year’s Day is shoulder cake (besides Banh Chung, donuts, and Banh Xeo like other ethnic groups).
During the Tet holiday, every Cao Lan family makes shoulder cakes. It is a type of cake made from glutinous rice, wrapped in banana leaves, filled with beans and sugar. And they will use this cake to go to Tet holidays with distant relatives. Because the cake is structured in length, it can be hung on the shoulder, so it is called a shoulder cake.
How do you see these strange New Year customs in the Northwest ? They all have their own unique features, and all convey a good meaning for a new year full of happiness and prosperity.
Photo: Internet