Why Does Vietnam Celebrate the Year of the Cat?

The Year of the Rabbit has begun ... unless you’re in Vietnam, where it’s the Year of the Cat. In Hanoi, feline likenesses can be seen everywhere — from larger-than-life statues to itty bitty kitties, and real, live cats, as well. There’s no official explanation for why Vietnam observes the cat, instead of the rabbit. Some suggest it’s because the Mandarin word for ‘rabbit’ and the Vietnamese word for ‘cat’ sound similar.