Streets in Hanoi have become more crowded and colorful when Tet approaches. Flower markets are vivid with pink peach blossoms, yellow apricot blossoms, and other types of flowers and bonsais. Hang Ma street turns red with lanterns, parallel sentences, and other decorative items.
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| Busy Tet preparations across Vietnam |
Nguyen Thi Hao, who lives in Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi, said, “I want to buy dried fruit, coffee, tea, confectionery, and offerings to the ancestor. I wish good health for my whole family, success in my children’s career, and high academic results for my grandchildren. The weather has been good these days so it’s really enjoyable preparing for Tet”.
Hanoians are delighted by lighting displays at main roads, residential areas, main entrances to the city, parks, and major tourist destinations. They are also treated to painting and photo exhibits to welcome the new year.
In the central city of Danang, local people prefer visiting flower markets where they can find any type of flowers to decorate their homes during Tet. A spring market at the Danang Fair and Exhibition Centre offers a variety of goods like processed food, footwear, clothes, and handicraft products.
Nguyen Ha Bac, Deputy Director of the Danang Department of Industry and Trade, told VOV, “Our top priority is the product quality which we strictly control via enterprises’ registration, labels, and other market management measures”.
Can Tho city is hosting a week-long event introducing the cuisine and traditional handicraft of people living in the Mekong Delta region, such as mat weaving and brocade weaving.
Mari Dam of Phong Chau commune, An Giang province, comes to this event to talk about the traditional weaving of the Cham minority people. “There are 8 looms in my house now. I want to preserve this weaving craft. This is the third time I’ve been to such an event. It’s really joyful. Everyone loves preparing for Tet”.
In Ho Chi Minh city, flower markets are opened at some major parks. A book street, which has become a popular Tet activity for locals, stretches from Nguyen Hue to Mac Thi Buoi and Ngo Duc Ke streets in district 1 with 26,000 publications on display.
Vo Van Long, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Information and Communications, said “This year, for the first time, we display newspapers in addition to books. They are the winning publications from the spring press competition”.
Vietnamese appear eager to welcome a new year with prosperity and happiness with their loved ones.
