The Chinese zodiac calendar contains twelve different animals and this year it’s the Year of the Rabbit. However, the word for rabbit in Chinese sounds like the Vietnamese word for cat. That’s why in Vietnam, they’re not celebrating the Year of the Rabbit but the Year of the Cat.
Cats are actually popular in Vietnam because rice is a huge part of their agriculture, and rats get in the field. Since cats kill rodents, the Vietnamese prefer to celebrate cats instead. So whether you want to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit of the Year of the Cat, this should be a year of good luck (especially if you’re a cat).
To learn more about the Vietnamese Year of the Cat, click here.