On the days before Tet, Vietnamese families plant a "Cay Neu", which is an extremely tall bamboo tree in front of their homes. The bamboo pole stripped of its leaves except for a tuft on top so that it can be wrapped or ornamented with good luck red paper. According to famous legends in the Vietnamese culture, the red color scares off evil spirits and the tree is supposed to ward off the evil spririts during absence of Tao Quan (the Kitchen Gods) who leave the family at this time to visit the palace of the Jade Emperor. “Cay Neu”are decorations similar to Christmas tree that is displayed in variouscultures. Bows, arrows, bells and gongs are hung on the treetop withthe hope that all the bad luck of the past year will be chased away andeveryone will have a happy New Year.

Legends have it thatlong long ago, humans and devils co-inhabited the earth. The devilsoverwhelmed the former and invaded their land. Buddha told the devils:"I will hang my cassock on top of the bamboo, and wherever the shadowfalls is Buddha's land, and you devils must give it to men." The devilsagreed. So after planting the bamboo, Buddha flung his robe to the topand made the bamboo higher by means of magic; as a result, the cassockovershadowed the whole land and the devils were chased to the East Sea.Then the devils prayed to Buddha for permission to return to themainland for a three day visit to their ancestors' tombs on theoccasion of Tet. For this reason, Neu is often planted on this occasionwith green leaves, an eight sign amulet and earthen bells hung from itstop. Lime powder is scattered round its base to allow the painting ofcross-bows and arrows to chase away the devils or keep them at bay. Theshadow of Neu symbolizes the land acquired by the men in the legend.The sounds of small bells and gongs on Neu remind us of man's right toown the land and the bows and arrows tell us that they were once theweapons used to fight off the devil.

CayNeu is ceremonially removed after the seventh day of Tet. This is thelast ritual, which brings an end to the New Year celebrations.