Tet Fest Transforms New Orleans East Into Lunar New Year Celebration

Mary Queen of Vietnam Church hosts three-day festival with Vietnamese food, music, and cultural performances.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The annual Tet Fest is returning to the grounds of Mary Queen of Vietnam Church in New Orleans East next weekend, turning the area into a hub for Lunar New Year celebrations. The free, three-day festival features Vietnamese street food, live music, dragon and lion dances, and a fireworks display to close out each evening.

Why it matters

Tet Fest has grown to become one of the city's biggest Lunar New Year events, drawing families and visitors from across the Gulf Coast region to experience Vietnamese culture and cuisine. The festival serves as an important cultural anchor for New Orleans' Vietnamese community, which has been centered around Mary Queen of Vietnam Parish since the 1980s.

The details

The festival features a mix of beloved Vietnamese staples and rare, festival-only dishes. Booths staffed by parishioners and church ministries serve up pho, spring rolls, banh xeo, hu tieu, pandan waffles, and more. Cooks work overnight shifts to prepare the pho broth, which can require up to 12 hours of simmering. Evening programming includes lively lion and dragon dances as well as a fireworks display to close out each night.

  • Tet Fest will take place next Friday through Sunday on the grounds of Mary Queen of Vietnam Church.
  • The festival runs from Friday 6-11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

The players

Mary Queen of Vietnam Church

A cultural anchor for New Orleans' Vietnamese community since the 1980s, hosting the annual Tet Fest celebration.

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What’s next

The parish will also host Giao Thua and New Year Mass events earlier in the week around the Tet Fest celebration.

The takeaway

Tet Fest showcases the vibrant Vietnamese culture and community in New Orleans East, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience traditional food, music, and performances during the Lunar New Year celebration.