The hoa vang ceremony is a crucial ritual within Tet Nguyen Dan customs, marking the final offering that concludes the festive spring days. It is not merely a ritual to bid farewell to ancestors; it also embodies the principle of "reciprocity and gratitude", demonstrating the filial piety of descendants towards their origins.

This ritual clearly expresses the Vietnamese tradition of filial piety and gratitude. The sequence of events begins with seeing off Ong Tao (Kitchen God) to heaven on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, followed by welcoming Ong Tao and ancestors back for Tet on the afternoon of the 30th for the tat nien offering. At the end of Tet, families perform a thanksgiving and farewell ceremony, allowing everyone to "return to their respective duties".

Following the custom of the "three days of Tet", families typically organize the hoa vang ceremony on the third day of Tet. After this ritual, daily family activities resume their normal pace, without the need for strict observances or taboos as during the first three days of the year. While families may extend their Tet holiday depending on practical circumstances, the third day remains the most common timeframe recorded in customary documents.

A distinctive aspect of the hoa vang ceremony is that families often display a feast and any unused Tet offerings. About 90% of the votive papers are burned, while the remaining portion is kept on the altar as "capital". This act symbolizes preparing gifts, travel expenses, and provisions for the deities and ancestral spirits to return to their realms, demonstrating the thoughtful care of the living for the deceased.

This year, the third day of Tet falls on Giap Ty day, which is a Thanh Long Hoang Dao (highly auspicious) day. According to experts, in addition to the customary midday offering, families can choose the auspicious hours from 5 PM to 7 PM to perform the ceremony, praying for a peaceful and prosperous new year.

Similar to the Nom prayers during Tet, the recipients of the hoa vang ceremony include: deities, Ong Tao, spirits, Tho Dia (Earth God), and ancestral spirits. The prayers should focus on the main points:

- Expressing deep gratitude for the deities and ancestors who reunited and celebrated spring with their descendants.

- Respectfully bidding farewell to the revered ones as they return to their daily duties and abodes.

- Praying for the family's health, happiness, and prosperity in the new year.

Cultural and feng shui researcher Pham Dinh Hai