Vietnamese Zodiac Years: 12 Animals, Years & Personality Traits

The Vietnamese zodiac years are an important part of Vietnam's traditional culture. Based on a 12-year cycle, each year is represented by a different animal and is believed to influence a person's personality, compatibility, fortune, and life path.

Whether you're planning to visit Vietnam during Lunar New Year (Tết), learning about Vietnamese culture, or simply curious about your Vietnamese zodiac animal, this guide explains everything you need to know.

Preparing traditional bánh chưng for Tet, a key Vietnamese tradition celebrated each zodiac year

What Are Vietnamese Zodiac Years?

The Vietnamese zodiac, commonly known as the 12 con giáp, is a traditional 12-animal cycle associated with the Vietnamese lunar calendar.

Unlike the Western zodiac, which is determined by the month of birth, the Vietnamese zodiac depends on the lunar calendar, meaning the zodiac year changes on Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tết) rather than January 1.

Every zodiac sign repeats every 12 years and combines with one of the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water), creating a 60-year cycle known as the Can Chi system.

Vietnamese Zodiac vs. Chinese Zodiac: What's Different?

Travelers researching Vietnamese culture often assume the zodiac is identical to the Chinese version. It's nearly the same, but two animals differ:

Position	Chinese  Zodiac	Vietnamese Zodiac	Why It's Different
2nd	Ox	Buffalo (Trâu)	The water buffalo, not the ox, has historically pulled the plow in Vietnam's rice-farming culture
4th	Rabbit	Cat (Mèo)	Several theories exist, including linguistic and cultural explanations. One suggests cats were more familiar in Vietnam than rabbits, while another links the change to the pronunciation of the Earthly Branch "Mão".

Several theories exist, including linguistic and cultural explanations. One suggests cats were more familiar in Vietnam than rabbits, while another links the change to the pronunciation of the Earthly Branch "Mão".

Everything else — the order of animals, the 12-year cycle, the 60-year Can Chi combination, and the core legend of the Jade Emperor's Great Race — is shared between the two traditions.

The 12 Vietnamese Zodiac Animals (In Order)

#	Vietnamese Name	Animal	Hours Ruled	Core Trait
1	Tý	Rat	11pm–1am	Quick-witted, resourceful
2	Sửu	Buffalo	1am–3am	Patient, steady, hardworking
3	Dần	Tiger	3am–5am	Bold, competitive, ambitious
4	Mão/Mẹo	Cat	5am–7am	Gentle, observant, diplomatic
5	Thìn	Dragon	7am–9am	Confident, charismatic, lucky
6	Tỵ	Snake	9am–11am	Wise, intuitive, private
7	Ngọ	Horse	11am–1pm	Energetic, independent, restless
8	Mùi	Goat	1pm–3pm	Gentle, artistic, easygoing
9	Thân	Monkey	3pm–5pm	Clever, adaptable, playful
10	Dậu	Rooster	5pm–7pm	Precise, hardworking, proud
11	Tuất	Dog	7pm–9pm	Loyal, honest, protective
12	Hợi	Pig	9pm–11pm	Generous, easygoing, sincere

What year is it in the Vietnamese zodiac right now?

2026 is the Year of the Horse (Bính Ngọ), beginning on February 17, 2026. The Heavenly Stem Bính is associated with Fire, although the traditional nạp âm classification for Bính Ngọ is Thiên Hà Thủy (Water).

What is 2027 in the Vietnamese zodiac?

2027 is the Year of the Fire Goat, beginning February 6, 2027.

The Horse represents 2026 in the Vietnamese Zodiac Years cycle

What Does Each Vietnamese Zodiac Animal Represent?

1. Rat (Tý)

People born in the Year of the Rat are often considered:

• Intelligent
• Resourceful
• Adaptable
• Quick learners

They are traditionally associated with prosperity and cleverness.

2. Ox (Sửu)

The Ox symbolizes:

• Hard work
• Reliability
• Patience
• Determination

Ox-born individuals are respected for their persistence.

3. Tiger (Dần)

The Tiger represents:

• Courage
• Leadership
• Confidence
• Independence

It is one of Vietnam's most admired zodiac animals.

4. Cat (Mão)

The Cat symbolizes:

• Elegance
• Calmness
• Intelligence
• Diplomacy

In Vietnamese culture, the Cat is often associated with good fortune and peace.

5. Dragon (Thìn)

The Dragon is considered the most powerful zodiac sign.

It represents:

• Success
• Authority
• Prosperity
• Good luck

Many Vietnamese families consider Dragon years especially auspicious for having children.

6. Snake (Tỵ)

Snake-born people are traditionally believed to be:

• Wise
• Analytical
• Calm
• Intuitive

7. Horse (Ngọ)

The Horse represents:

• Freedom
• Energy
• Adventure
• Independence

8. Goat (Mùi)

The Goat symbolizes:

• Kindness
• Creativity
• Compassion
• Gentleness

9. Monkey (Thân)

Monkey years are associated with:

• Curiosity
• Intelligence
• Humor
• Innovation

10. Rooster (Dậu)

Rooster-born individuals are often described as:

• Honest
• Organized
• Confident
• Hardworking

11. Dog (Tuất)

The Dog symbolizes:

• Loyalty
• Honesty
• Justice
• Protection

12. Pig (Hợi)

The Pig represents:

• Generosity
• Kindness
• Wealth
• Happiness

Traditional Tet decorations in Hoi An celebrating the Vietnamese lunar calendar and zodiac years

Five Elements and the Heavenly Stems

Each zodiac year also carries one of five elements, which cycle in Yin/Yang pairs every two years and repeat every 10 years:

• Wood (Mộc) — growth, flexibility
• Fire (Hỏa) — passion, energy
• Earth (Thổ) — stability, nurturing
• Metal (Kim) — strength, determination
• Water (Thủy) — wisdom, adaptability

Under the Heavenly Stem element system, the Horse years 1954 (Giáp Ngọ), 2002 (Nhâm Ngọ) and 2026 (Bính Ngọ) have different stem-element associations. This classification is separate from the nạp âm element used in many Vietnamese fortune traditions.

What is Your Zodiac in Vietnamese Zodiac Years Chart

The table below shows recent Vietnamese zodiac years.

Zodiac Animal	Recent Birth Years
Rat	1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
Ox	1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
Tiger	1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
Cat	1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023
Dragon	1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024
Snake	1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
Horse	1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
Goat	1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
Monkey	1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
Rooster	1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
Dog	1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
Pig	1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

Note: If you were born in January or early February, your zodiac sign depends on the date of Lunar New Year in your birth year, not the Gregorian calendar year.

What is my Vietnamese zodiac sign?

Your sign depends on your lunar birth year, and people born close to Tet should verify the exact Lunar New Year date.

How to Find Your Vietnamese Zodiac Sign

Note your Gregorian birth date.

Determine the Lunar New Year date for that year (or the following year if born early in the calendar year).

Match the lunar year to the animal cycle above.

Optionally identify the element for a fuller reading (online lunar calendar converters or traditional almanacs help with precision).

People born in January or early February should check the exact Lunar New Year date for their birth year to determine which zodiac year applies.

Why Vietnamese Zodiac Years Matter

Although modern Vietnamese society is increasingly globalized, zodiac traditions remain influential in many aspects of daily life.

People often consider zodiac years when:

Celebrating Lunar New Year

• Naming babies
• Choosing wedding dates
• Planning important business openings
• Buying a home
• Moving into a new house
• Selecting lucky dates for major life events

While many people view these customs as cultural traditions rather than strict beliefs, they continue to play a meaningful role in family and community celebrations.

Vietnamese Zodiac During Tết (Lunar New Year)

The zodiac animal of the new year is celebrated throughout Tết, Vietnam's most important holiday.

You will often see:

• Decorations featuring the year's zodiac animal
• Red envelopes with zodiac designs
• Zodiac-themed souvenirs
• Public flower displays
• Cultural performances
• Traditional artwork

For visitors, Tết offers one of the best opportunities to experience how deeply the zodiac is woven into Vietnamese culture.

Key Takeaways

The Vietnamese zodiac is more than a calendar—it is a living tradition that continues to shape festivals, family customs, and cultural identity throughout Vietnam. Understanding the 12 zodiac animals, the lunar calendar, and the Five Elements offers visitors valuable insight into one of the country's most enduring traditions.

Whether you're exploring Vietnam during Tết, researching your birth year, or simply interested in Asian cultures, learning about Vietnamese zodiac years provides a deeper appreciation of the beliefs and customs that remain an important part of everyday life.