Just about everything closes down for a period of about ten days in Vietnam. Vietnamese businesses pay their staff an extra month’s salary at this time of year. For anyone doing business here, it is important to respect this cultural phenomenon. Buying gifts for clients is well respected and very much appreciated. The giving of red envelopes with a small amount of ‘lucky’ money (li xi) is also the norm. These are normally given to children or members of staff.
It is worth remembering that the year of a person’s birth sign, (Ben Ming Nian) is thought to be unlucky. Therefore, 2021 will be a turbulent year for the people born in earlier years of the Ox. They will feel that they are facing unexpected challenges, especially in their careers and studies. This may leave them feeling stressed out, distracted, and emotional. Tread carefully.
The Ox is the second of the Zodiac animals and is believed to be good for careers as it denotes hard work, positivity, and honesty. These beliefs run right through large parts of Asia. Particularly Vietnam, China, Korea, and Japan. A full explanation can be found here.