Tet Gifts: Silk Scarves and Ties for Lunar New Year
Minchu NguyenQuick answer: A good Tet gift carries a wish for the year ahead and looks right the moment the lid comes off. For her, a red silk square scarf; for him, a woven silk tie; for parents, one of each in the same dragon motif. Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, falls in late January or February, so order from the US about three and a half weeks ahead.
A February afternoon in a family living room: coats piled on the bed down the hall, a plate of candied ginger on the coffee table, red envelopes waiting by the door. An aunt slides a ribbon off a box, the tissue paper crackles, and a fold of red silk catches the lamp. A Tet gift is usually opened in company, so it has to make sense to everyone in the room at once.
What makes a good Tet gift?
A good Tet gift says "may this year go well for you" without needing a speech. In many Vietnamese and Vietnamese American families, the days around the new year are for visiting parents, grandparents, teachers and close friends, and guests commonly arrive with something in hand: tea, fruit, boxed sweets, a bottle of wine, or a keepsake. Children often receive lucky money in small red envelopes, called li xi. Customs vary by family and region, so treat the ideas below as a starting point and follow the household you are visiting.
Three qualities help a gift land well:
- A color with good associations. Red and gold are the colors most commonly seen at Tet, on envelopes, banners and clothing.
- A motif that reads as a wish. In Vietnamese art the dragon is commonly read as strength, wisdom and success, which suits the start of a year.
- Something worn after the holiday. A scarf on a March morning or a tie at a spring wedding keeps the giver in mind long after the envelopes are spent.
If you are new to Tet with a partner's family
Many people searching for Tet gifts are joining the celebration as newcomers, often with a partner's parents. The unspoken worry is simple: arriving with something that feels off in a room full of people who know the customs. A few widely observed habits remove most of the risk.
- Wrap in red or gold. Red paper or a red box reads as festive at once. Many families avoid plain white or black wrapping at the new year, since white is associated with mourning.
- Start with the parents. A gift for the mother or father of the house, handed over early in the visit, sets the tone.
- Give with both hands. Offer the box with both hands and a few warm words. Many hosts set gifts aside to open later, which is simple courtesy.
- Skip sharp objects. Some families avoid knives or scissors as gifts, since they can suggest cutting a tie.
If you are unsure what the family prefers, ask your partner one question before you shop: does your mother wear scarves? The answer settles most of what follows.
Why silk works for Lunar New Year
Silk has a long place in Vietnamese dress, from the ao dai to the scarves worn over it, so a silk gift feels at home on a Tet table. It also suits the visit itself. A 36 inch scarf folds to the size of a paperback, and a tie rolls into a box the width of your palm, which matters when you are flying to see family or carrying three gifts up a driveway.
Mulberry silk is a natural protein fiber, and it takes dye with depth. A red silk scarf holds a clear, warm red that deepens toward crimson in the folds, and under lamplight at a family dinner that shift is what people notice.
A red silk scarf for her
For a mother, mother-in-law, grandmother or host, a red silk square is the classic Tet choice. Our Dragon Dreams silk scarves take their dragon from Ly dynasty art at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi. It is the rain-bringing dragon of a rice-growing culture: a soft, wave-like body without scales, a pearl in its mouth, and four heads turned toward a leaf at the center of the square. Each scarf is hand screen-printed through both faces in our Hanoi atelier, so the dragon reads clearly from either side when the silk moves.
Choose the size by how she dresses:
| Size | Price | How she might wear it |
|---|---|---|
| 22 in (55 cm) | $75 | Knotted at the neck of a winter coat, on a handbag, or at the wrist |
| 26 in (65 cm) | $97 | Neck knot with a blouse, headband, hair tie |
| 36 in (90 cm) | $153 | Loose neck drape, head scarf, or with a collared shirt |
| 44 in (110 cm) | $197 | Over the shoulders of an ao dai or an evening dress |
If you are unsure, choose the 36 inch square. The red Dragon Dreams 36 inch scarf ties at the neck of a coat, covers the head on a cold walk to the car, or drapes over the shoulders indoors. For proportions on the body, see our silk scarf size guide.
How to wear a silk scarf with a collared shirt
Fold a 26 or 36 inch square into a band about 2 inches (5 cm) wide. Open the top button or two of the shirt, slip the band around the neck under the collar, and tie a small square knot slightly off center. Let the collar points sit over the silk. For a softer look, skip the knot: cross the ends at the throat and tuck them inside the shirt front. A red scarf against a white or navy shirt reads as festive without looking like a costume. Our guide to tying a silk scarf around your neck has more knots.
A woven silk tie for him
For a father, father-in-law, uncle or business partner, a silk tie is a natural Tet gift. He can wear it to the family dinner, to a Lunar New Year banquet, and to the next wedding on the calendar. Every Folk Form tie is woven jacquard in 100% mulberry silk, so the pattern is built into the cloth on the loom, and the standard width is 3.1 inches (8 cm).
A dragon tie carries the same wish as the scarf, which makes a matched pair for parents easy to put together. Dragon ties are $167. If he prefers a quieter tie, a red geometric pattern works at Tet for its color alone; geometric ties carry no symbolic meaning, which some men prefer. A red windowpane tie and the line and dot patterns in our silk tie collection are $142. For the story behind the motif, read about the Ly dynasty dragon and its place in menswear.
Silk ties are cared for by dry cleaning alone, so tell him a spill at dinner goes to a cleaner who handles silk. Our guide on how to clean a silk tie covers what is safe to do at home.
Gift pairings by person
| Recipient | Suggested gift | Why it suits Tet |
|---|---|---|
| Mother or grandmother | Red Dragon Dreams scarf, 36 or 44 in | Red for the season, a dragon for a strong year |
| Father or grandfather | Dragon jacquard silk tie | Worn at the family dinner and after |
| Parents as a couple | Red scarf plus dragon tie | One motif, two pieces, opened together |
| Teacher or mentor | Dragon of Grace scarf or a geometric tie | A thank-you that reads as respect |
| Business partner | Silk tie in a hard gift box | Formal, easy to carry, easy to hand over at the office |
Presentation: red, boxed, unhurried
At Tet the wrapping is part of the gift, and a scarf and tie given as a pair look complete in one box. For a sturdier presentation, our gift box and bag sets start at $8, and a red hard box with a matching bag suits the season without any extra paper.
When to order for Tet
Because Tet follows the lunar calendar, its date moves each year, so look up the date for the coming year and count back. Orders leave our Hanoi atelier in 1 to 3 business days, and delivery to the US takes 9 to 15 business days after that, so allow up to 18 business days from order to door. In calendar terms, that is about three and a half weeks. If you are flying to Vietnam for Tet instead, our guide to Vietnamese gifts and what to bring covers the other direction, and what Vietnamese silk motifs mean helps you choose a print.
Frequently asked questions
When is Tet?
Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, falls in late January or February. The exact date changes each year with the lunar calendar, so check it before you plan a gift.
Is red a good color for a Tet gift?
Red is one of the colors most commonly seen at Tet, along with gold, and many families associate it with good fortune. A red silk scarf or tie fits the season naturally.
What should I bring to my partner's family for Tet?
A gift for the parents, wrapped in red or gold and offered with both hands, is a safe start. A silk scarf for the mother and a silk tie for the father make a matched pair.
What does the dragon mean on a Tet gift?
In Vietnamese art the dragon is commonly read as strength, wisdom and success. On a new year gift, it works as a wish for a strong year ahead.
Can silk ties be repaired?
A loose seam, keeper loop or lining can usually be restitched by a tailor who works with silk. A pulled thread in a woven tie is harder to fix, so never cut it.
How far ahead should I order Tet gifts from the US?
Allow up to 18 business days from order to delivery, which is about three and a half weeks. Count back from the date of Tet for the year you are shopping for.
Should I give a scarf and a tie as a pair?
For parents or a married couple, a red dragon scarf and a dragon silk tie make a matched gift that is opened together. The shared motif turns two pieces into one wish.
Browse every guide in our silk scarf and tie guides.
