Lion dances and dragon parades headline events across the world marking the Chinese and Vietnamese new year.

A marquee event in Victoria is the Springvale Chinese New Year celebration, which last year attracted more than 80,000 people to Greater Dandenong.

This year's event is on February 7, from 9am-10pm. Organiser Frankie Chen, of the Springvale Asian Business Association, said it would be "business as usual" at the event, despite upcoming development works on Buckingham Avenue.

Mr Chen said all were welcome to the festival. "It's a celebration of the multicultural diversity that our city embraces.

A week later, Melbourne's Chinatown precinct hosts the city's major Chinese New Year festival, kicking off on Chinese New Year's eve on Saturday February 13, from 5pm-1am. More activity follows on Sunday February 14, with events from 10am-8pm.

A highlight will be at midnight on the February 13, when the countdown will be accompanied by the lighting of strings of firecrackers to usher in the Year of the Tiger and chase away the bad spirits of the old year.

On Sunday the February 14, the Millennium Dragon will be awakened to parade through the streets of Chinatown.

Touching the dragon on this day is said to bring good luck and fortune.

Chinese lions will be out in force and Chinatown will be abuzz with drums, firecrackers, music, singing and food.

Don't forget the Tet Festival, celebrated by the Vietnamese for their new year. This year, it will be celebrated at Sandown Racing and Entertainment Complex in Springvale from 10am-midnight on Saturday, February 13, and from 10am-11pm on Sunday, February 14.

Organiser Bon Nguyen, of the Vietnamese Community in Australia Victorian Chapter, said this year's festival marked 35 years of Vietnamese settlement in Australia.

The festival will also honour those who suffered loss during the Black Saturday fires last February.