A guide to the Vietnamese lunar calendar
1. How the lunar calendar works
The Vietnamese lunar calendar (âm lịch) follows the phases of the Moon, while solar terms keep it aligned with the seasons. A lunar month starts on the day of the new moon and lasts 29 or 30 days; roughly every three years a leap month is added. Vietnam computes the calendar for the UTC+7 time zone, which occasionally makes it differ by a day from the Chinese calendar.
2. Can Chi and the zodiac
Days, months and years are named with a 60-step cycle combining:
- 10 Heavenly Stems (Thiên Can): Giáp, Ất, Bính, Đinh, Mậu, Kỷ, Canh, Tân, Nhâm, Quý.
- 12 Earthly Branches (Địa Chi): Tý (Rat), Sửu (Ox), Dần (Tiger), Mão (Cat), Thìn (Dragon), Tỵ (Snake), Ngọ (Horse), Mùi (Goat), Thân (Monkey), Dậu (Rooster), Tuất (Dog), Hợi (Pig).
2026 is the year of Bính Ngọ, the Fire Horse.
3. Auspicious hours
Every day has six auspicious "yellow path" hours (giờ hoàng đạo) and six inauspicious ones, determined by the day's earthly branch. Families often pick these hours for weddings, moving house, opening a business or starting a journey.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Vietnamese lunar calendar (âm lịch)?
It is a lunisolar calendar based on the cycles of the Moon and the Sun. Vietnamese people use it for Tết (Lunar New Year), festivals, death anniversaries and choosing auspicious days.
Is the Vietnamese lunar calendar the same as the Chinese one?
Almost always, but Vietnam calculates it for the UTC+7 time zone (Hanoi) while China uses UTC+8. In rare years this shifts a new moon by one day or moves a leap month, so Tết can fall on a different day.
What are auspicious hours (giờ hoàng đạo)?
Each day has 12 two-hour periods named after the 12 zodiac branches. Six of them are considered auspicious and are traditionally chosen for important events such as signing contracts, moving house or weddings.
Why does Vietnam have the Cat instead of the Rabbit?
In the Vietnamese zodiac the fourth animal (Mão) is the Cat, while the Chinese zodiac uses the Rabbit. The other eleven animals are the same, except the Goat (Mùi) which is sometimes called Sheep.