The Vietnamese zodiac: 12 animals and what they mean
By jimwest405.comThe Vietnamese zodiac has 12 animals in a repeating 12-year cycle: Rat, Buffalo, Tiger, Cat, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. It closely follows the Chinese zodiac, with two well-known differences: Vietnam has a Cat instead of a Rabbit and a Buffalo instead of an Ox.
Each animal is tied to an "earthly branch" in the traditional lunar calendar, and each lunar year starts at Tết rather than on January 1.
The 12 animals in order
Here are the animals with their Vietnamese branch names and everyday animal words. Pronunciation hints are approximate.
Tý (Chuột) — Rat. Associated with cleverness, quick thinking and resourcefulness. Recent years: 2008, 2020.
Sửu (Trâu) — Buffalo. The water buffalo is the classic farm animal of Vietnam's rice fields. Linked to hard work, patience and reliability. Recent years: 2009, 2021.
Dần (Hổ) — Tiger. Bold, brave and confident. Tigers appear widely in Vietnamese folk art. Recent years: 2010, 2022.
Mão or Mẹo (Mèo) — Cat. Gentle, graceful and clever. This is where China has the Rabbit. Recent years: 2011, 2023. We explain the swap in why Vietnam has a Year of the Cat.
Thìn (Rồng) — Dragon. The most prestigious sign, linked to power, luck and ambition. Dragons are central to Vietnamese origin legends. Recent years: 2012, 2024.
Tỵ (Rắn) — Snake. Wise, intuitive and calm. Recent years: 2013, 2025.
That's the first half. The second half follows.
The second six
Ngọ (Ngựa) — Horse. Energetic, free-spirited and hardworking. Recent years: 2014, 2026.
Mùi (Dê) — Goat. Gentle, artistic and kind. In Vietnam it's usually pictured as a goat rather than a sheep. Recent years: 2015, 2027. See Year of the Goat 2027.
Thân (Khỉ) — Monkey. Playful, curious and smart. Recent years: 2016, 2028.
Dậu (Gà) — Rooster. Hardworking, honest and confident. Recent years: 2017, 2029.
Tuất (Chó) — Dog. Loyal, honest and protective. Recent years: 2018, 2030.
Hợi (Lợn or Heo) — Pig. Generous, easygoing and warm. Lợn is the Northern word and heo the Southern one. Recent years: 2019, 2031.
The traits above are traditional folk associations. They're fun to talk about, but they aren't scientific descriptions of personality.
How to find your animal
Because each lunar year begins at Tết, which falls between late January and mid-February, people born in January or early February need to check the exact Tết date for their birth year. For example, someone born on January 20, 2023, belongs to the Tiger year (2022's lunar year), not the Cat year, because Tết 2023 was on January 22.
The 60-year cycle
The 12 animals combine with 10 "heavenly stems" (thiên can) to create a 60-year cycle. The stems are linked to the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire and earth. So each year has a full name, like Đinh Mùi for 2027 or Bính Ngọ for 2026. The same full name repeats only once every 60 years, which is why a 60th birthday has special meaning in many East Asian cultures.
Compatibility and the three harmonies
Traditional astrology groups animals that are considered compatible. One common set of groupings, called tam hợp (three harmonies), is:
- Rat, Dragon, Monkey
- Buffalo, Snake, Rooster
- Tiger, Horse, Dog
- Cat, Goat, Pig
Families sometimes consult these when choosing a first visitor for Tết, picking wedding dates or naming a business. How seriously people take it varies a lot, from strong belief to light fun.
How the zodiac shows up in daily life
You'll see zodiac animals everywhere around Tết: on red envelopes, calendars, flower displays and stamps. People ask each other's zodiac year as a friendly way to work out age, which also affects how they address each other in Vietnamese. That's also why Vietnamese people so often ask your age.
Your own zodiac year, called năm tuổi, is sometimes considered a year to be a little careful. Some people wear red or make offerings for luck; others just enjoy the attention.
A quick memory trick
Many Vietnamese children learn the branches in order as a chant: Tý, Sửu, Dần, Mão, Thìn, Tỵ, Ngọ, Mùi, Thân, Dậu, Tuất, Hợi. Saying it out loud a few times is the fastest way to remember the sequence.
Look up the Tết date for your birth year, find your animal, and you'll have an easy conversation starter at any Vietnamese gathering.