In Vietnam, the calendar was devised based on the regularly changing phases of the moon. Most Vietnamese, even city dwellers and overseas Vietnamese, have a lunar calendar in their homes to consult for festivals and auspicious dates. Because of the use of the lunar calendar, the actual days of the New Year vary from year to year.

The equinoxes and solstices that marked the beginning of the European seasons were taken as the midpoint by the Asian calendar with the result that each Vietnamese season begins six weeks earlier than its European counterpart.

Each year is "sponsored" sequentially by one of the twelve animals of the Vietnamese zodiac: the rat comes first, then the buffalo or ox, followed in order by the tiger, cat, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, cock, dog, and lastly, the pig.

Of these animals one is mythical (the dragon) and four (rat, tiger, snake and monkey) are wild, shunning contact with humans. Seven are domesticated. Every twelve years, the sponsorship reverts to the same animal. For example, the years 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 are dragon years.

In addition the Vietnamese use another set of names by repeating a cycle of 60. The 60-year cycle is made up of combinations of the twelve animals representing the earthly signs of the Vietnamese zodiac and ten heavenly or celestial signs usually called "stems". The Asian calendar forms a cycle of 60 years similar to the western century of one hundred years. The 60-year cycle begins when the first of the twelve zodiac signs is joined with the first of the ten celestial "stems". When each of the ten "stems" is matched with an animal, the result will be 60 different sets. The celestial "stem" attached to the zodiac animal provides modifying influences on the characteristics of the animal. For example, the year of the dog sign can be "modified" by each of ten different associated "stems".

Enjoy the Tet with our exciting predictions of your future. And after reading your animal sign, please believe in good things and forget bad ones.

RAT

Personality

You enjoy life's pleasures, are a gourmet and connoisseur of good wine, curious about everything and an opportunist. Your fertile imagination pushes you to get out of your daily routine through the delightful things you think up to do, to the joy of your friends. But if your family and, above all, your little ones, are delighted by your unfailing love, your individualistic side comes out as soon as you leave home. Magnetic and charming, you are surrounded by a mysterious halo. Your relationships are formed with people that can help you, at least in the beginning. But sometimes a sincere and solid friendship is formed. Faithful in love and friendship, your circle of close friends is small because you have chosen them carefully. You know how to use this close circle of friends to get what you want, if need be. Manipulation is an art that you know well, with no sense of guilt. Naturally distrustful, you are secretive about your life and always attack first when you feel threatened. Your hypersensitivity makes you hate being laughed at or reproached and you can become aggressive over nothing. Be careful about being too cynical because it can sting. Your fault: You are overly critical.

Work

Your mindset and innate gifts as a strategist tend to make you an incredible politician. You are also at ease in the business world and have an intuition that allows you to know which way the wind is blowing. While you excel at thinking things through, you balk at taking action yourself and delegate work that bores you to a maximum. Your projects don't often get set up because you lack perseverance and don't implicate yourself enough; you run away from routine and don't like to feel hampered by set hours, places or constraints in general. Your gifts as a strategist come out when you are independent but you sometimes hesitate undertaking your own projects.

Money

You can be extravagant or miserly with money; everything depends on the period and your mood. The Rat is lucid so you know how to adapt yourself to any financial situation. You have almost as much taste for rigor as you do for opulence. No matter the drink provided, what's important is getting drunk... Your skillfulness and cunning allow you to rapidly regain a financial equilibrium when the balance tilts in the wrong direction. It is rather common that you have a secret nest egg that you don't hesitate digging into, to the delight of your loved ones. What irritates you most: waste.

Love

While you sometimes seem egotistical on the outside you are highly sensitive and sentimental on the inside. You are very emotional, and easily carried away by your passion and jealousy. You love fiery love that is agitated and tumultuous. Your only fear is finding yourself enclosed in a frightening routine! You don't hesitate using your imagination to preserve the freshness of your couple. You know how to play the role of the lover, the loved one and the faithful friend. To seduce you, a person must be understanding, respect your taste for mystery and often surprise you. "Surprise me..." is your first commandment.

Compatible with: Buffalo, Dragon and Monkey

Non-Compatible with HorseWestern Counterpart: Pisces

Character: Wise & Insightful, Rabbits have a deep understanding of others. Not a risk-taker, they are cautious when making decisions. A protector of diplomacy, they seek compromise to conflicts. Their creativity and style surround them with beauty.

Famous Rabbits:

Albert Einstein, Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jordan, Confucius, Michel Keaton, Jane Seymour, Orson Welles, Neil Simon, Ming-Na Wen, John Adams, Arthur Miller, Andy Warhol, George C. Scot, tJudy Collins, Peter Falk, Fidel Castro, Roger Moore, Harry Belafonte, Peter Fonda, Helen Hunt, Drew Barrymore, Walter Mondale, Marie Curie, Ingrid Bergman, Josef Stalin, and Brigitte

BUFFALO

Personality

You go through life with determination and common sense. You love nature and so like working outdoors. You also like quiet cottages, and have respect for traditions. You are solid, with a quiet interior force that people can count on. You also have a great sense of humanity, are loyal, honest, upright, faithful and have integrity. No job turns you off when you have made a decision and you never go back on your word even if it means being unduly stubborn. You suppress your emotions, and hide them most of the time - notably when you are in love because you are afraid of being rejected. You are not afraid of solitude, and prefer spending your evenings in a quiet cottage in the countryside rather than a Parisian lounge watching the beautiful people go by. A little bit rustic, you are not a diplomat, and let others know what you think without hesitation. If someone attacks you, you fight back like a bull with your head lowered and horns ready to gouge your enemy. Those who hurt you or those close to you should watch out: you hold grudges for a long time - excessively so - and never forget a name or a face. You always get sweet revenge... even several years later. Your fault: You're a bad loser and can't stand failure.

Work

You take on mountains of work without apparent effort. You are well grounded both physically and mentally, face problems head on and always find a solution that is never "the easy way out". You inspire confidence in those close to you because you keep your word and are respected because of your honesty and steadfastness. You master the workings of business affairs and your strong will always gets you to your fixed objective even if the road is longer than expected. Your endurance is without limits.

Money

You are reasonable and know how much money you have right down to the penny. You earned your money through sweat and hard work and you are not the kind of person to throw it away on an impulse. You invest in land, real-estate, and durable goods, and never spend your money unwisely. Your family lives in relative comfort at home but you have to be pushed out of the house to take part in outings or leisure activities. You are an excellent money manager with the mindset of a countryman: you can live on very little and love seeing your nest egg get bigger and bigger...

Love

"Slow but sure" is your motto in love. You love pleasure but you never get involved quickly and it is likely that you will remain alone if someone doesn't come looking for you! Passion and ardent declarations of love make you feel uneasy. You like to establish a relationship slowly, step-by-step, and take time getting to know a person to learn to appreciate them. To attract you, the person your seeking has to gain your confidence, respect nature, be very tender and have nothing against slipping on some comfortable slippers! Compatible with

Cock, Rat, and Snake

Non-Compatible with

Goat Western Counterpart: CapricornCharacter: Keeper of tradition, the Ox maintains a classic and sophisticated style. Iron-willed, they remain true to their beliefs. A strong leader, their hard work and dedication are an inspiration to all. Ox people never stray from their chosen path.

Famous Oxen: Waren Beatty, Bill Cosby, Madeleine Albright, Margaret Thatcher, Bruce Springsteen, Vincent Van Gogh, Jon  Bon Jovi, Charlie Chaplin, Aristotle, Robert Kennedy, Dustin Hoffman, Adolf Hitler, Richard Burton, Kate Moss, Meg Ryan, George Clooney, Sammy Davis Jr., Anthony Hopkins, Saddam Hussein, Heather Locklear, Eddie Murphy, Jane Fonda, Princess Diana, Meryl Streep, Sigorney Weaver, Jim Carrey, Gerard Ford, Walt Disney, Paul Newman, and Jack Nicholson.

Tiger

Personality

You have a rage to live and the teeth to sink into a plank of wood. Fortune doesn't motivate you but your desire for passionate adventure and impossible challenges does! Nothing stops you, neither eccentricity nor danger. You decide on your course of action through impulse; you listen to your heart more than to your reason. Your fearless enthusiasm motivates others. People would follow you to the end of the earth if only to take part in the wild dreams that you imagine each day to get beyond the reality and routine of every day life. This extravagance goes hand-in-hand with a need to command: you love it when people obey you without a word. Caution to those who don't: they could get badly clawed. Excessive in everything, your behavior betrays the force of your emotions: passion and anger are part of your every day life. If someone tries to put you in a cage, you become crazed and roar loud enough to dislocate your jaw! An insatiable adventurer, you build your life from the hazards and opportunities you encounter, grabbing onto the chances that are offered to you with an almost unconscious audacity. Your fault: You are unpredictable and not very good at making others feel secure.

Work

A charismatic person, you are a leader of men, a maestro, a captain of ships. If you are put into a subordinate job, you die. You need action and independence to give measure to your talents in convincing clients, amassing business affairs, and conquering markets. You make your path in a universe that is wild, anarchic and without hierarchy. Roads that have already been taken don't interest you. You can't conceive of working without passion and refuse to bow down to logic, fixed hours and uniforms. A lord reigns in you! Money

Savings, security, and organization are abhorrent to you. You love to play the stock market, go to the races and bet your salary on an even number. Money interests you only to the extent that it can buy you emotional thrills and pleasures. Your generosity is often without limit. You will invest in a new undertaking without hesitation, confident in your luck and intuition. It's true, the risks you take are generally compensated for! You are ready to give your friends a lot of money and in time you will become a magnificent hero who lights up the world.

Love

Your love life is as intrepid and romantic as your life in general. Like a white knight, you have no fear and no reproaches to make. You climb up balconies to save princesses. The first days of passion are fiery and you shine! Completely fickle, you run away as soon as routine is present. If your loved one leaves you, you act like a lord, admitting defeat without bitterness. One love lost is ten more found! To seduce you, a person must be ready for anything, respect your sense of space and liberty, love disorder and adventure and purr with pleasure when your paws become velvet!

Compatible with

Horse, Dragon & Dog

Non-Compatible with Monkey

Western Counterpart: Aquarius

Character: Brave and courageous, the Tiger is ready for any challenge. Nothing can tame their adventurous & rebellious spirit. A supreme optimist, they pursue their goals with fierce intensity. Tigers are admired for their vibrant and playful personality.

Famous Tigers:

Rosie O'Donnell, Jodie Foster, Emily Dickinson, Natalie Wood, Stevie Wonder, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Marilyn Monroe, Demi Moore, Sun Yat-sen, Garth Brooks, Rush Limbaugh, Lionel Ritchie, Kenny Rogers, Mel Brooks, Tom Cruise,  Queen Elizabeth II,  John Steinbeck, Jean Kirkpatrick,  Paula Abdul,  Leonardo DiCaprio, Peter Gabriel, Charles Lindbergh, Marco Polo, Mark Spitz, Ludwidg van Beethoven, and Roberta Flack.

CAT

Personality

 Lively yet tranquil, peaceful yet realistic, you use your intelligence to create a burrow made just for you, where everything you hate is banished forever: disorder, quarrels, indiscretion, anguish, tumult, and haste. You are a diplomat in society: highly courteous and with an elegance that charms those around you. You know how to listen to others who gladly tell you their secrets. Still, you think that everyone must solve their own problems and don't get involved in the affairs of others unless you have to. Underneath you soft, silky skin is a calm, highly determined person who can get out of any situation. Effusive sentiments and tumultuous emotions make you feel uncomfortable. You face agitated situations with logic and a certain detachment that can make you seem indifferent or cynical. In fact, your aspiration for peace is above all others. You look for the tranquillity of a place that will least upset your inner world: after long reflection, you can build the universe that fits you best. An aesthete and erudite, you love to plunge into books and long evenings near the fire in company of those close to you. Your fault: A tendency to go back into to your burrow the moment a cloud appears and to run away like a Cat when conflicts arise.

Work

Your talents as a negotiator and your open mind allow you to rise rapidly in society, even if you don't run after promotions. You have confidence in your instincts, can "feel" a good deal, and get into the race astutely. Your luck will do the rest. You aren't very good at working in groups but are most productive in the quiet isolation of an office or workshop. Your capacity to synthesize makes you an excellent organizer and manager... of your own work. As for colleagues, you don't always like working by their side nor getting involved in their projects. You are extremely independent and try to maximize your autonomy.

Money

You are generally well situated on the financial level. This is fortunate because you appreciate having a comfortable lifestyle. You hate being caught off guard so you save your money regularly and invest in low risk ventures that promise a peaceful future. You probably have savings accounts and life insurance, etc., that will assure you a comfortable life old age. This prudence is mixed with a healthy organizational sense that frees you from money worries and allows you to live a pleasant, comfortable life.

Love

You are a solid person that your friends can count on. In love you prefer tender hugs and caresses to tumultuous passion. A romantic in your soul, sensitive and attentive to you partner, you know how to make yourself wanted through your kindness and charm. Dinners by candlelight and weekends in Venice are what you aspire to in love. You are happy with someone gentle who is neither possessive, jealous nor impulsively aggressive. To attract you, a person must be cultivated, romantic, warm and well brought up.

Compatible with

Goat, Dog & Pig

Non-Compatible with Cock

Western Counterpart: Pisces 

Character:

Wise & Insightful, Rabbits have a deep understanding of others. Not a risk-taker, they are cautious when making decisions. A protector of diplomacy, they seek compromise to conflicts. Their creativity and style surround them with beauty.

Famous Rabbits:

Albert Einstein, Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jordan, Confucius, Michel Keaton, Jane Seymour, Orson Welles, Neil Simon, Ming-Na Wen, John Adams, Arthur Miller, Andy Warhol, George C. Scot, tJudy Collins, Peter Falk, Fidel Castro, Roger Moore, Harry Belafonte, Peter Fonda, Helen Hunt, Drew Barrymore, Walter Mondale, Marie Curie, Ingrid Bergman, Josef Stalin, and Brigitte Nielson.

DRAGON

Personality

Sovereign in your kingdom, you exist to be flamboyant and exceptional. Like the mythic, fiery Dragon, you love to confront the enemy in battle, leaving the earth behind you burnt to a crisp, and hearts inflamed along your path. Great commander of the rain and fine weather, one must respect you when you talk, admire you when you act and submit when you command. An impetuous energy animates every one of your actions: you are ready to take on any challenge, go off on a conquest of power, and tear down any obstacle. If by chance you fail, you will never admit to being vanquished and will find in this snub a new will to conquer. An insatiable warrior, you become stronger after each defeat, and more invincible after every wound. Demanding of others, you are rather gentle on yourself and rare is the Dragon who recognizes his faults... Intelligent, lucid and clairvoyant, you willingly bang your fist on the table when your audience doesn't share your point of view. You like to see life as a big adventure and can't stand it when those around you lack ambition. Your fault: A bit of megalomania and narcissism!

Work

You are meant for big projects. A tunnel under the Atlantic, a trip to Mars, a pyramid at the Louvre... You are at your best when involved in great projects and in extreme situations. Intuitive and visionary, you are exceptionally creative, endowed with an innate sense for the show and stage. You belong to the race of powerful men and horsemen. Hungry for success, you can work day and night without sleeping to get a big project going. Boredom is what kills you, not work.

Money

An aristocrat in the world, you love to live in a grand style, going out every night and spending money without counting. You are generous to yourself, family and friends, and you cover them with presents... especially if they show their gratitude! Born under the sign of Luck, the Dragon is rarely without money. But come what may, you never lower yourself to do work that you hate for money. You have your pride even where money is concerned!

Love

Exasperating Dragon! Your irresistible powers attract consenting victims into your den. When you deign to lower your regard to the chosen one, you know that they are already conquered, all the better, since you hate all forms of resistance! In exchange, you ask for nothing more than to be honored when they are at your side. For you, love is something owed to you, not a duty, so your partner must often make do with little to be happy. If they reproach you the slightest thing, you leave by slamming the door, once you have let out all your rage. Trying to blackmail you has no effect. To seduce you, a person needs to be fascinated by you and your gestures, to swoon in admiration, and hide a strong heart and seemingly happy behind a seeming fragility.

Compatible with

Monkey, Rat and Snake

Non-Compatible withDog

Western Counterpart: Aries 

Character: Never cautious, the Dragon is not afraid when faced with a challenge. They will defend and protect any cause close to their heart. Confident and strong, they enter all battles. Dragons are known for their powerful and majestic spirit. Famous Dragons:Bruce Lee, Martin Luther King , Shirley Temple, Grace Kelly, Oliver Hardy, Christopher Reeves, Florence Nightingale, Robin Williams, Roseanne, Courtney Cox, Keanu Reeves, Dan Aykroyd, Calista Flockhart, Sarah Bernhardt, Salvador Dali, Sigmund Freud, Joan of Arc, Bing Crosby, Neil Diamond, Placido Domingo, Bo Diddley, Tom Jones, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Raquel Welch, Pearl Buck, Lewis Carroll, Lady Godiva, J. Paul Getty, Marlene Dietrich, Faye Dunaway, Joan Baez, Frank Zappa, Mae West, Joseph Campbell, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, William Harrison, and Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson

SNAKE

Personality

Like the Snake that enchanted Eve, you know how to make more than one person lose their head! Refined, funny and gifted in seduction, you shine in society with your intelligence and vivacious spirit. The snake is admired in Vietnam for his wisdom and you have a philosophy in life that is all your own. Intuitive and lucid in all situations, you become reserved when conversing and are silent most of the time, preferring to let your thoughts make their way in silence rather than through chatter. However, if the subject is abstract, you don't hesitate expressing yourself while your audience looks up to you in admiration, seduced by your knowledge. A cold blooded animal, you love intrigue and playfulness in life, but preserve large periods of time for idleness. You have the capacity to realize your projects in a few hours while others would take days to complete them. When you start out, your efficiency is terrifying and all the more so as you often work alone and at your own rhythm. You are faster than the average person, as you slide over obstacles like a snake in the grass. With your venom, you willingly attack your enemies with acerbic comments, leaving them only when your thirst for revenge has been satisfied. It's better being your friend...

Work

You solve most of your problems in solitary, preferring your inner rhythm to that of the outside world. A fine negotiator, you love to come up against difficult partners. You have the inner resources and calm necessary to get what you want in any circumstances. You're not afraid of responsibility and efficiency is your forte. With little movement and few words, you analyze the situation with your uncommon gift for synthesis. Once the path has been outlined, you go straight for the target, absolutely remarkable! One single fault : You can't stand failure. Proud Snake that you are!

Money

You love money but only for the pleasure that it allows you to enjoy. This is all the more true since you appreciate a universe with a minimum of comfort. You will gladly spend a lot of money on an art object or trip to a warm climate rather than buy a washing machine or car. More of an ant than a cicada, you have a tendency to spend all of your money very easily. You are lucky to be calculating, good in business, at choosing collaborators and making relationships with people who are capable of helping you enrich yourself with the least amount of effort.!

Love

Once your pray has been hypnotized, you are sensual, passionate and very possessive. A dominator in your soul, you overtly demand that your partner satisfy all of your desires. While you are jealous, you are not very steadfast nor faithful. You like to seduce any pray that passes your way if only to reassure you in your capacity for seduction. Your favorite arm: talking about Prometheus or Freud to enchant your future conquest with an undercurrent of erotic suggestions. To attract you, your pray must be intelligent, licentious, admiring and passionate.

Compatible with

Buffalo, Cock & Dragon

Non-Compatible withPig

Western Counterpart:Taurus

Character:

A natural philosopher, the Snake is blessed with a profound wisdom. Always on a mission, they are dedicated to their chosen quest. Seductive and mysterious, many are blinded by their hypnotic charm, unforgettable elegance and style.Famous Snakes:Oprah Winfrey, Bob Dylan, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Art Garfunkel, Charles Dawin, Kim Basinger, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Charlie Sheen, Carole King, Ann Margaret,  Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis, Edgar Allan Poe, John F. Kennedy, Howard Hughes, Pablo Picasso, Tim Allen, Maya Angelou, Greta Garbo, Chubby Checker,  Howard Stern, Mao Tse Dong, Dean Martin, Indira Gandhi, Aristotle Onassis, Ryan O'Neal, Art Garfunkel, Henry Fonda, Paul Simon, Brad Pitt, Yarrir Arafat, Dionne Warwick and Brooke Shields.

HORSE

Personality

You have vivacity, loyalty, the elegance of a thoroughbred, and the impatience of a child. You are worldly and at ease in high society and are an elegant conversationalist. Your intelligence and fluidity of thought easily convince people of the soundness of your ideas. But a "big talker" is often a "small doer" and this failing follows you around. What keeps you from taking action is a fear of failure because you never come out of your adventures intact. On the other hand, if the subject is familiar to you and you have some reassuring support, you jump headlong into the adventure. You love to move around: constant movement animates your being, but you most often get around obstacles rather than jump over them. This fear of failure paralyses you. Your dynamic spirit is never dampened. You can't stand idleness, and long-term plans don't attract you because you are quickly unmotivated. You paw the ground with impatience when there are traffic jams and will cut across a field to get out of one with gusto. Your fault : A lack of confidence in yourself.

Work

You need to feel independent, free and above all, you don't like to have someone watching over you. Your elegance of expression and convincing words make you an excellent salesperson, especially if you have spent the day on the road. Sitting in an enclosed office doesn't fit with your desire to be on the move. The ideal profession for you is one where you can travel a lot. You love to innovate and make decisions quickly, but work that requires endurance is not for you. It is through the race and movement that you gain speed. Now, you just need to know when to stop at the right moment and at the right place...

Money

You don't save for the future and are not consistent with money. If you have some, all the better; if you don't, you live without. Earning money is not a motor in your life. On the contrary, it often takes last place in your life. Your fickle lifestyle - notably concerning work which you change often, reinforces this financial insecurity. If you need money right away, you will gladly sell your furniture and personal things; You are an idealist rather than a materialist. You have confidence in you luck and never doubt that you will be able to get out of any situation. Your opportunistic side sometimes comes to your aid...

Love

Eternally in love, and fiery like a stallion, you love the tumultuous emotions you feel when falling in love and discovering a partner; you throw yourself body and soul into a new adventure and are immediately passionate but without jealousy nor possessiveness. A wonderful companion, you shower the people you love with presents. But passion only lasts for a time and you get bored quickly... At the first sign of routine, you take off for greener pastures.

Compatible with

Goat, Tiger & Dog

Non-Compatible withRat

Western Counterpart: Gemini

Character: A free spirit, Horse people cherish their independence. Always on the move it is hard to slow them down. Given the power of persuasion, they can obtain whatever they desire. Horses need constant stimulation to appease their wild soul.

Famous Horses: Isaac Newton, Leonard Bernstein,  Ross Perot, Clint Eastwood, Frederic Chopin,  Neil Armstrong, Mike Tyson, Jimmy Hendrix, Cindy Crawford, Kathleen Turner, Aretha Franklin, Janet Jackson, Barbara Streisand, Joanne Woodward, Andy Williams, Sean Connery, Paul McCarthy, Raquel Welch, Kevin Costner, Louis Pasteur, Harrison Ford, Theodore Roosevelt, James Dean, Linda Evans, John Travolta,  Kristi Alley, Anwar Sadat, and Billy Graham.

GOAT

Personality

An artist in your soul, you are gentle and peaceful, a fine aesthete who loves the touch of the noblest materials under his feet. Work bores you, and idleness you adore! Your ideal: to have someone take care of you. You dream of living under the protection of a prodigal patron who would let your creative talents bloom with no material constraints. You love working with your hands when it concerns art but hate anything to do with work associated with daily life around the house. You are looking for the right person to take care of you, make decisions for you, flatter you and take you to a silky, green field every day. The imaginary universe that you live in is very far from reality where "everything is but luxury, beauty, calm and voluptuousness...". When you come back to earth, you fall into a dark pessimism, are very stubborn, capricious and can pout. Your over sensitivity is only matched by your sluggishness. When conflicts arise you take cover until the storm has passed; you never even think of ramming your adversary with your horns. You usually win your fights because your perseverance and your natural charm are endearing. Your fault : You are an easy mark for wolves.

Work

You excel in creative, artistic fields and in anything to do with the theater or putting on a show. You have a purely conceptual mind that likes to be surrounded by realistic collaborators who will take care of the books and the commercial side of things because management isn't your field of predilection. You want neither power nor honors. You are at ease in the thick of things, far from the decision-makers. You work in a bubble with an excessive desire for perfection.

Money

You will gladly spend the money of others! You know how to surround yourself with benefactors who believe in your talent and know how to show it. You don't run after money and are capable of paying four times too much for an object without batting an eye. You have holes in your pocket and you are terrible at managing your money. Who cares! You live in a universe where good taste rules, either because you have money or are resourceful. You could transform any stable into a palace from the Arabian Nights!

Love

Anxious and dependent, you can't live without love. You need a companion that can protect you, is tender and will shower you with attention. Fights at home and raised voices make you extremely anxious. An ideal love, you are faithful and happy in an atmosphere of calm and security. To seduce you, your partner must be romantic and gallant, and invite you out to cultural events. Above all, they should never give you an ultimatum or look as though they want to leave you. In this case, you will be the first to leave the prairie!

Compatible with

Cat, Horse and Pig Non-Compatible with Buffalo

Western Counterpart: Cancer

Character: Gentle and docile, the Ram is sincere & kind-hearted. A pacifist, they never question authority. Fueled by compassion, they admire all of nature’s beauty. Rams strive to  

Famous Rams:

Mel Gibson, Bill Gates, Charles Dickens, Pamela Anderson, Robert De Niro, Mick Jagger,  George Wallace, Mark Twain, Barbara Walters, Julia Roberts,  Boris Yeltsin, Bruce Willis, Michelangelo, Malcolm Forbes, Julio Iglesias, John Wayne, Joni Mitchell,  William Shatner,  George Burns, John Denver, Mikhail Gorbachev, Benito Mussolini, Billy Idol and Joe Pesci.

Monkey

Personality

Of all the animals of the Vietnamese zodiac, your are the most intelligent. Your pranks, finesse and craftiness get you out of the most delicate situations without a scratch. Particularly at ease in public and at parties with beautiful people, you are charming, surprising and entertaining with the faces you make, and your irresistible, funny stories. You can also laugh at yourself with astonishing lucidity. Your character is that of a "happy pessimist" and you adapt easily to any context - and not without a certain amount of cunning. Confronted by a muscle-bound adversary, you use servility and flattery to lead him by the nose. Your skillfulness in the art of manipulation has no equal and you easily play the actor to soothe those around you. Crocodile tears and shameless lies are part of your daily bread. If you are caught, you have the good grace to recognize the error of your ways and can make others forgive you. You jump from branch to branch, from problem to problem, with an incredible degree of fickleness which borders on childishness. It is difficult to keep you in one place; at the least sign of boredom, you swing to another tree. Your fault : You want to be first at any price...

Work

Ambitious, inventive and gifted, you work on all fronts with incredible speed. You constantly need new projects to undertake and daring challenges. You are resourceful in business, skillful in negotiations and insatiable in all that you do. Your good humor easily motivates the troops. While success comes to you easily, it quickly becomes difficult for you to manage. Success goes to your head and you become arrogant and mean to those around you. No-one would hesitate slipping a banana peel under your feet - a pirouette and you're gone!

Money

You love money because it is an exterior sign of your value. A Monkey never works "for nothing" - all the more since you spend your money to create a comfortable, luxurious life for your family. You love to make them happy by giving them sumptuous gifts and often buy expensive, impractical presents on the spur of the moment. You don't hoard money and claim that you will never be lacking in anything. You are lucid and lucky.

Love

Passion exalts your imagination so you dislike the routine of everyday life. You idealize your partner but can't bear that they are only human with faults and manias like everyone else. But you can't live alone. You are an eternal adolescent, in love with the stars and with a taste for seduction. You are gifted in seducing and ravaging hearts with no sense of guilt. Being funny, imaginative and mischievous are your favorite arms. To seduce you, a person must tell you that you are the best, surprise you every day, laugh at your jokes and never yawn with boredom.

Compatible with

Rat, Dragon & Dog

Non-Compatible with Tiger

 Western Counterpart: Leo

Character:

Clever & quick-witted, Monkeys are successful in every endeavor. Inquisitive, they constantly seek new opportunities & adventure. Their intellect & versatility allow them to adapt to any situation. Their mischievous spirit is entertaining.

Famous Monkeys:

Julius Caesar, Lyndon B. Johnson, Tom Selleck, Danny De Vito, Ricki Lake, David Copperfield, Yul Brynner, Debbie Reynolds, Johnny Cash, Elizabeth Taylor, Ted Kennedy, Diana Ross, Tom Selleck, Rod Stewart, Tom Hanks, Jennifer Aniston, Leonardo da Vinci, Susan B. Anthony, Charles Dickens, Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Will Smith, Little Richard, and Alice Walker.

Cock

Personality

 Your bright red comb frightens bad spirits away in Vietnamese tradition. Protected from them, you don't hesitate parading around ostentatiously in public. Hungry for honors and medals, you love to be recognized for your talents at their just value and to be congratulated in all circumstances. Spiteful people who criticize you quickly get clawed because you hate being criticized. Your best quality is your frankness. You always say what you think even at the risk of hurting those close to you. Yet you always hide your real feelings out of an extreme sense of propriety because you can't stand people meddling in your affairs. In public, you are a true Rooster : an extravagant dandy who is curious about everything, you strut down the street - a smooth talker who loves to be the center of attention. Appearances are more important to you than what's inside. If people don't look at you, you get depressed. You will happily spend hours before the mirror to admire your wonderful, flamboyant feathers. But your attention to detail and perfectionist nature sometimes make you forget the essential. As a loyal and courageous friend, you don't hesitate attacking if you need to defend your friends, even if the battle seems lost in advance. You respect all the rules of the society because you are a real conformist. Your fault : You are somewhat narcissistic and pedantic.

Work

You have your feet on ground and your head in the accounts! An expert planner and master of beautiful discourses, you excel at organizing and directing the work of others on a well-outlined path. You use tested methods rather than trying to initiate new ones, but methods as old as the world allow you to make money easily. You know your work and how to take measured risks. Risky undertakings make you "sick". Although your obsessive perfectionism tends to slow you down, it also helps you to avoid certain traps. When you have succeeded in a mission, your superiors would be well advised to show their appreciation. Honors and recognition motivate you a lot!

Money

Your qualities as a manager help you to invest wisely and you often save the ante as well; you back down before no expense to shine in the eyes of society: sumptuous dinners, dressing to the nines, the hottest cars, showy jewelry, etc. Those close to you have to keep up the pace and style, which makes you look generous in their eyes. In fact, only your friends profit : you are generous only because you care about how you look in the eyes of society; you are quite mean with those you do not know and keep a rigorous account of expenses, stopping yourself before you go into the red.

Love

As a conformist, you prefer stability to adventure and simple sentiments to passionate ones. But living with you can be trying because you don't hesitate commenting on the pimple your partner has on their nose or the ugly bulge around their waist while you yourself, accept no criticism. You are incorrigibly jealous and tolerate no rival. If your partner has the misfortune to look elsewhere you quickly become aggressive. To seduce you, your partner must find you irresistible, take care of your every need, be understanding and have a taste for social life.

Compatible with

Snake, Buffalo and Dragon

Non-Compatible with Cat

Western Counterpart: Virgo 

Character: Self-reliant and independent, the Rooster is not one to seek counsel. They are confident and aggressive and are most at home in a crowd. A perfectionist, they leave no detail undocumented. Roosters will never abandon their dreams.

Famous Roosters:

Michelle Pfeiffer,  Bette Midler, Eric Clapton, Melanie Griffith, Alex Haley, Donny Osmond,  Katharine Hepburn,  Goldie Hawn, Larry King,  Benjamin Franklin,  Steve Martin, Carol Burnett, LeVar Burton, Joan Rivers, Diane Keaton, Priscilla Presley, Elton John, Joan Collins, Neil Young, Yoko Ono, Van Morrison, Dolly Parton, Katherine Hepburn, George Segal, Errol Flynn, Gloria Estefan and Groucho Marx.

Dog

Personality

 The Dog's loyalty and sense of smell make him a sure friend with brilliant intuition. You are very human and warm and people count on that. You advance in life with a logic that is materialistic and you have a high sense of honor. Injustice makes your fur stand on end and you fight to the end against dishonesty and oppression. Those who get in your way should be careful: your bite is deep and your bark thunderous. Willfully incisive, your cynicism is sharp and constantly fed by your pessimistic nature. This lucid realism allows you to rise quickly from your gloom. Nothing surprises you and certainly not worst case scenarios. Your confidence in the goodness of men is relative and you have a tendency to distrust people that you don't know. But if someone conquers your heart, you are a great friend. You love to frolic in the countryside, spend an evening by the fire, and have your nose in a book. A philosopher and discreet, you don't think that you can change society. To protect yourself from disappointment, you choose your close friends with care after having tested them in the smallest details. In this closed universe where affection reigns, you gladly show yourself as a nutty, eccentric companion that is fun to be around. Your fault : As an introverted Dog, you are on the defensive a little too much.

Work

Honest and conscientious, you don't work with passion but are consistent and courageous. Appreciated for your realism and sense of smell, you have a tendency to see things in black, but this pessimism allows you to see the worst case scenario and to anticipate possible solutions in a crunch. A Dog never lets himself be caught off guard. Altruistic and devoted, you let the interest of the community come before your own and this attitude assures you the friendship of your colleagues. You excel in the domains of justice, teaching and any kind of social work.

Money

You have no talent for speculation but the idea of not having money terrifies you. It's not that you are a spendthrift, but you want very much to assure the comfort and happiness of your home. Happily, you know how to sniff out good deals and find the truffles under the trees. If a business deal is honest, you know how to bring it to a close and harvest the fruit. If not, you prefer to tighten your belt rather than be in bad company.

Love

When you love it is for life. But you have a hard time finding the right person right away and can easily wander the streets alone like a beaten down dog. After looking for a long time you may find the love you have so desperately been looking for - you get what you want by never letting up on your pursuit, showering those you love with presents and giving lots of licks! You know how to make someone attached to you. You are made for family life. You are faithful, helpful and your pessimism often brings you surprises. To seduce you, the person in your life should caress you in the direction of your fur and speak of the eternal love they have for you.

Compatible with

Tiger, Horse & Cat

Non-Compatible with Dragon

Character: Noble & true, the Dog will fight to mend all that is unjust. A loyal & faithful friend, Dogs make any sacrifice for the sake of another. They will never abandon their post. A genuine listener and confidant, the Dog is the keeper of all secrets.

Compatible with:Tiger, Horse & Rabbit

Non-Compatible with:Dragon

Western Counterpart: Libra

Famous Dogs: William Clinton, George W. Busg, Connie Chung,  Andre Agassi, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Claudia Schiffer, Elvis Presley,  the artist formally known as Prince, Sally Field, Candice Bergen, David Bowie, Cher, Madonna, Winston Churchill, Liza Minelli, Michael Jackson,  Mother Theresa, Linda Ronstadt, Sophie Loren, Sade, Norman Schwarzkopf, Sylvester Stallone, Shelly Winters, Mariah Carey, and Rodney Dangerfield.

PIG

Personality

 Honest and upright, you advance in life like a tranquil bulldozer. You hate lies, hypocrites and artifice. If you do something bad you feel terrible and guilty about it for a long time after the fact. For your family and friends you are generous and helpful. Sometimes you are even a little bit too generous because you don't know how to say no: people don't hesitate taking advantage of your good nature. Underneath your exterior hides a ferocious determination for your inner codes to be respected. Nobody can impose their will on you unless you decide to let them. You make your decisions and take responsibility for your failures in private. You don't blame others for your mistakes. When there is a conflict, you take cover until the storm has passed. You may be criticized by others for preferring to run rather than fight but raised voices, fights and power games revile you. If your back is against the wall with no escape possible you become a daunting and violent adversary. Behind your apparent good nature you hide your hypersensitivity and soul of a gambler. You love to experience all the pleasures that life has to offer to a maximum. Your sensuality and your taste for pleasure make you an expert in love - especially physical love. Your only risk is falling into lustful ways!

Work

You love to work and want to succeed in your professional life but not at any price. You refuse to compete, to be opportunistic and to make deals under the table. You want to be recognized for your talent and competence, and won't resort to political intrigue. So you are not always a diplomat and prefer leaving a business meeting by slamming the door rather than approve an unsound project. You will gladly spend more time on your personal rather than professional life, unless you are your own boss. In this case, you won't count the hours and will see your projects through to the end.

Money

The Pig symbolizes material wealth in Vietnam so you rarely lack money. Your love of pleasure contributes to turning you into a big spender but you are above all, very generous. You love to have friends for dinner, give your friends presents and take your family on sumptuous trips. A cultivated aesthete, you love to invest in beautiful objects and dream of having a library as wonderful as the one of ancient Alexandria. Sometimes you just can't pass up a work of art or rare book. Still, money doesn't seem to matter to you. Even if you were a billionaire, you would probably continue to drive a beetle!

Love

You are in love with love in all its forms : tender caresses, romantic gestures and sensuous meals. Although you are faithful in love, you are very possessive and jealous. To be happy, you need a curious cocktail of solitary moments coupled with moments of tenderness and wild passion. You love it when your partner shows their continuing passion and infinite love for you in public. To seduce you, your partner must say yes to everything, especially to the pleasures in life which they will be able to fully partake of in your company!

Compatible with

Tiger, Cat, Rat and Goat

Non-Compatible with Snake

Western Counterpart:Scorpio

Character:

Pure of heart, Boar people are generous and kind. Full of inner strength and courage, they can take on any task. A friend who listens, the Boar is sincere and trustworthy. They are driven by their passion for life.

Famous Boars:

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chiang Kai-Shek, Woody Allen, Lucille Ball, Billy Crystal, Steven Spielberg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Stephen King, Henry Ford, John McEnroe,  Tracey Ullman,  Phil Donahue, Fred Astaire,   Thomas Jefferson, Dudley Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Robert Dole, Jerry Lee Lewis,   Humphrey Bogart, Julie Andrews, Richard Dreyfuss,  Henry Kissinger, Marie Osmond, Ralph Waldo Emerson and the Dalai Lama.

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