Bringing a gift when someone moves into a new home is a long-standing custom in Vietnam. The housewarming is called tân gia (literally “new home”). A house is the result of years of effort and one of the big events of a lifetime, so the gift is more than an object handed over: it carries congratulations and wishes for prosperity, peace, plenty and happiness. Finding something that is meaningful, useful and to the host’s taste is not always easy. Below, Flosa sets out the gifts people usually give, and the points to keep in mind when choosing.
What a housewarming gift means
A housewarming gift is given to celebrate the day a family opens its new home to guests. It is a traditional way of showing regard for the hosts and sharing in their joy.
It congratulates the hosts on what they have achieved. This is the occasion to celebrate with them and to recognise their hard work.
It carries good wishes: prosperity, peace, plenty, a warm and well-fed home, happiness.
It shows that you care, and strengthens the bond between giver and receiver.
Each time the hosts use the gift, they are reminded of your visit and of your wishes for them.
A well-chosen gift also simply pleases the hosts, and makes their new home a little warmer and more comfortable.
A pot of phalaenopsis orchids with ten stems in mixed colours is a housewarming gift associated with elegance and wealth
Common kinds of housewarming gift
There is a wide choice, from traditional to modern, and for every budget: gifts under 500,000 VND, around one million, two million and more. These are the usual categories:
Home decoration: feng shui paintings, decorative lamps, ornamental plants.
Food and drink: a box of biscuits, sweets, candied fruit, a fruit basket, good-quality drinks.
Technology: an electronic gift voucher, a television, a speaker, a projector, a security camera.
For the bedroom: a bedside cabinet, a bedding set, a night lamp.
Practical household goods: bowls, plates, a tea set, pots and pans, a microwave, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a vacuum cleaner, a washing machine, a dishwasher, a rice cooker, an air fryer, a blender, a juicer. This is the category most people think of first.
Handmade gifts: personal and full of feeling, because they show the time and care you put in.
Traditional gifts: lì xì (lucky money in an envelope), cốm (young green rice) or candied fruit, depending on the region.
Green gifts: house plants, which make a home livelier and freshen the air.
Gifts chosen for the household: a set of glasses, or toys if the family has small children.
Gifts with a feng shui meaning are often preferred, because they are seen as a wish for luck, peace and prosperity. An inexpensive gift can carry such a meaning just as well as a costly one.
Housewarming gifts chosen for their feng shui meaning
Housewarming gifts that are meaningful and useful
To make the choice easier, here are specific housewarming gifts, with the meaning people in Vietnam commonly attach to each.
Household goods and kitchen appliances
Wall clock: something every home needs. It is taken as respect for the hosts’ hard work and a wish for good times and happy memories. Choose a colour that suits the walls; a pendulum clock looks more formal.
Set of pots and pans: practical, and understood as a wish for plenty and for a harmonious, loving family. Check that it suits the kind of cooker the hosts use.
Dinner set of bowls and plates: useful, attractive, and again a symbol of plenty. It can also be put on display, and shows thoughtfulness.
Microwave: convenient for defrosting, reheating and grilling. It saves time, and is a valuable gift that others are unlikely to duplicate.
Television: for entertainment and for gathering the family together; it also becomes the focus of the living room. In feng shui it is said to keep energy moving and the room lively.
Refrigerator: a necessity that keeps food fresh and supports healthy living. In feng shui it stands for abundance and wealth.
Air conditioner: keeps the home comfortable, brings relief in hot weather and improves the air. In feng shui this counts towards a harmonious house.
Shoe cabinet: keeps the entrance tidy, which is believed to let good energy flow into the house.
Blender: versatile, and an encouragement to eat well and try new things. Fresh ingredients are associated with health and vitality.
Water purifier: clean, safe drinking water stands for health and happiness. Clear water is also a symbol of purity and is believed to strengthen positive energy.
Rice cooker: makes the daily rice easier, and symbolises abundance and nourishment.
Air fryer: for healthier cooking with less oil. Good health is seen as the basis of a harmonious home.
Juicer: fresh juice goes with a healthy way of life; fresh produce stands for vitality and renewal.
Air purifier: clean air matters for health and mood, and is considered important for the flow of positive energy.
Vacuum cleaner: keeps the house clean, tidy and airy, and is kind to the lungs. A clean home is thought to encourage good energy.
Washing machine: saves time on laundry. Clean clothes help a person look and feel confident, which is said to bring good fortune.
Dishwasher: makes clearing up the kitchen easy, saves time and water, and washes thoroughly.
Water heater: warm water, needed for comfort and hygiene.
Cooker hood: ventilates the kitchen and removes smells. Good ventilation is considered important for keeping energy flowing well.
Tea set: a traditional gift that invites the hosts to relax over tea and shows hospitality. Tea stands for harmony and calm. Choose good-quality ceramics with a refined, distinctive design.
Coffee machine: practical for coffee lovers, who can then enjoy good coffee at home.
Bedding set: practical, and a wish for warmth and comfort.
Essential-oil diffuser: uses natural ingredients to give a pleasant, relaxing scent. They come in different capacities to suit the size of the room.
Night lamp: adds warmth and comfort. Choose a simple, elegant design of moderate size with a soft light.
Gift voucher or e-voucher: flexible and convenient, because the hosts can choose what they actually need, so the gift is sure to be useful.
Household goods and kitchen appliances as practical housewarming gifts
Decorations and feng shui objects
Potted plant: brings life and freshness into the house and stands for growth and vitality. Plants improve the air and ease stress. In feng shui they represent the wood element, linked with health and growth. Different plants are said to carry different messages (peace and prosperity, lasting health, growing wealth), so it is worth finding out the meaning and whether the plant suits the host’s mệnh (the feng shui element assigned by year of birth). Popular choices are succulents, phalaenopsis orchids, the ZZ plant and the snake plant.
Wall art: decorates the house and can carry a feng shui message: a blessing for a full, healthy, lucky and prosperous life. Choose a subject to suit the hosts, such as nature or abstract art; embroidered pictures are also given. Pictures are believed to affect the energy of a room, encouraging calm and creativity.
Small ornaments: small, unusual pieces that make the house attractive and may have sentimental value.
Lucky cat figurine: a symbol of abundant wealth, a smooth career and thriving business. It shows goodwill and affection, and is believed to bring luck and peace.
Painting of galloping horses: known as mã đáo thành công (“success arrives with the horses”). Suitable for a boss, a business partner or someone in a senior position. It stands for dignity, strength, overcoming difficulties and prosperity.
Money tree: the cây tài lộc is a favourite feng shui gift, with an unusual shape and a good meaning; it is believed to attract wealth and luck.
Calligraphy: a work of art rooted in Vietnamese culture that carries a subtle, meaningful message and shows esteem. If it is written in the old Chinese-derived characters, it also shows a love of tradition. Fitting words are nhẫn (patience), tâm (heart) and phúc (blessing).
Feng shui horse statue: a symbol of strength and pride, and a tactful way to wish someone well.
Pair of mandarin ducks: a symbol of harmony and faithfulness in love, and so a good wish for a married couple.
Dragon painting: the dragon is powerful, bold and sacred. It is a wish for thriving business and for overcoming obstacles.
Painting of the words Phúc Lộc Thọ (happiness, prosperity, long life): it also stands for many children and grandchildren and a blessed family. A good choice for elderly hosts.
Painting of carp and lotus: suitable for anyone. The carp is a symbol of luck.
Decorations and feng shui objects given as housewarming gifts for good luck
Electronics and entertainment
Speaker: good sound adds to the pleasure of being at home and stands for joy and relaxation; music is said to lift the energy of a room. Look for good sound quality and a design that suits the furnishings. A smart speaker is another option.
Camera: for recording milestones and special moments, and an encouragement to be creative. Pictures of loved ones are thought to bring warm, positive energy into a home.
Projector: turns the home into a place for films and presentations and makes a lively space. Look for high resolution, several ports (HDMI, USB) and a wireless connection.
Robot vacuum cleaner: a much-liked household gift that cleans by itself and saves time and effort, a real help to a busy family.
A Marshall Woburn 2 speaker as a housewarming gift
Other housewarming gifts
Fresh flowers: they bring beauty, colour, scent and a sense of nature into the house, lift the mood, and stand for renewal, happiness and growth. Choose flowers that are considered lucky: gerberas, sunflowers, phalaenopsis orchids or roses. A basket of flowers makes a room feel cheerful and warm.
Box of good tea: practical, because the hosts can serve it to their guests, and a sign of closeness and respect. It is especially welcome to people who enjoy tea, and need not be expensive.
Imported wine or spirits: an elegant gift that the hosts can offer to their own guests. It shows affection and esteem.
An envelope of money: direct and convenient, with no fuss, and the hosts can buy what they need. It is accepted that the feeling matters more than the formality.
Glass table vase: shows attentiveness and helps make the house bright and full of life.
Set of wine glasses: elegant, and makes a dinner party feel more formal. Choose good-quality glass and an attractive design.
The GT40 flower stand, named Đại Cát Tường (“great good fortune”), as a housewarming gift
Important points when choosing a housewarming gift
For the gift to give real pleasure and be of use, consider the following:
Know the hosts’ needs and tastes. Think about how they live and what they like, and try to find out what they are still missing.
Consider the new home itself. Think about its size and layout, and make sure the gift will fit.
Add a personal touch. A personalised gift shows thought; a handmade one is personal and full of feeling.
Respect feng shui. Many families favour objects believed to promote balance, harmony and good energy, such as plants or mirrors. People often find out the host’s mệnh (birth element) so that the gift is thought to bring wealth, luck and peace.
Choose something neutral or versatile. If you are not sure of their taste, pick a gift that goes with any style of decoration.
Be practical. Many hosts have already bought the large items, so a small thing needed every day is often the better gift.
Send good cheer and good luck. The gift should feel festive and have an auspicious meaning.
Consider your relationship:
For a boss: something that suits their position and has a good meaning, but is neither too expensive nor too personal, so that it cannot be mistaken for a bribe.
For a client: something that conveys good wishes and gratitude.
For friends: a touching or personalised gift based on what they like.
For older people: something traditional, practical and auspicious, with a feng shui meaning.
Present it well. The gift should be neatly wrapped in bright paper.
Check whether it can be exchanged, so that the hosts can change it at the shop if they need to.
Do not overdo it. Keep the gift simple and tasteful; the meaning and the message are what count.
Include your wishes. Do not forget a card or note with sincere congratulations. This is what makes a housewarming gift truly meaningful.
A fine tea set as a housewarming gift for hosts who enjoy tea
Gifts to avoid at a housewarming
Besides knowing what to buy, it helps to know what is usually avoided:
Sharp or pointed objects: sets of knives, scissors. Many people in East Asia believe they carry bad energy and bad luck.
Pears and oranges: their Vietnamese names sound unlucky. Lê (pear) recalls lê lết (“to drag oneself along”), and cam (orange) recalls cam chịu (“to resign oneself”), so the fruit is taken to suggest standing still and not getting ahead.
Wrapping that is very dark, or in a colour the hosts dislike.
Things that damage the walls, for example a picture that needs holes drilled to hang it.
Housewarming wishes in Vietnamese
A sincere wish completes the gift. You can copy one of these onto your card:
Chúc bạn hạnh phúc bất tận trong ngôi nhà mới!. Wishing you endless happiness in your new home!
Cầu mong ngôi nhà mới của bạn tràn ngập niềm vui và thịnh vượng.. May your new home be filled with joy and prosperity.
Cầu mong ngôi nhà mới của bạn trở thành ngôi nhà tràn ngập tình yêu và tiếng cười.. May your new house become a home full of love and laughter.
Cầu mong ngôi nhà mới của bạn là một nơi bình yên và hòa hợp.. May your new home be a place of peace and harmony.
Chúc bạn có một khởi đầu tuyệt vời trong ngôi nhà mới xinh đẹp của bạn.. Wishing you a wonderful start in your beautiful new home.
Chúc ngôi nhà mới của bạn được ban phước với hạnh phúc và sức khỏe.. May your new home be blessed with happiness and good health.
Cầu mong ngôi nhà mới của bạn sẽ là nền tảng cho nhiều kỷ niệm tuyệt vời.. May your new home be the foundation for many wonderful memories.
Chúc anh chị tân gia thịnh vượng, phát lộc và thành công mọi lĩnh vực. Wishing you both a prosperous new home, good fortune and success in everything. (Said to a couple older than you, or as a polite form.)
Mừng tân gia phú quý, tháng ngày hòa thuận, gia đình sum vầy, vạn sự như ý., Congratulations on your new home: may it bring wealth, harmonious days, a family gathered together, and everything as you wish.
Chúc nhà mới luôn tràn đầy niềm vui, hạnh phúc và may mắn. Mong rằng mọi điều tốt lành sẽ đến với gia đình.. May the new home always be full of joy, happiness and luck, and may every good thing come to your family.
Nhân dịp gia đình an cư lạc nghiệp, xin gửi đến lời chúc tốt đẹp nhất, mong rằng gia đình sẽ luôn hạnh phúc và tràn đầy niềm vui. Now that your family is settled in its own home, I send my very best wishes; may you always be happy and full of joy.
Household appliances, the most practical gifts for a new home
In short, a well-chosen housewarming gift is a meaningful way to congratulate the hosts and share their joy on an important day. Whether it is a practical object, a handsome decoration or something with a feng shui meaning, each gift has its own value. What matters most is the sincerity behind it: the care and good wishes you are sending to the family.
You can also look at Flosa’s grand-opening flowers, which are often sent to a new home as well.
See more: grand-opening flowers
We hope these suggestions help you find a gift to celebrate with the family. Visit Flosa to see more flowers and gifts for a new home; we deliver across Vietnam, and you can order from abroad.
