Celebrating Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) and welcoming spring through television offers many enjoyable experiences.

Emphasizing humanistic values, lighthearted yet profound entertainment, and the rich flavor of traditional Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year), the series of programs that VTV is preparing to send to viewers nationwide during the 2012 Year of the Dragon Tet holiday will be "worth watching" during the upcoming Tet break.

"The Last Afternoon of the Year," "Tao Quan," "New Year's Gala," "The 12 Zodiac Animals," "Fantasy Television Bridge," "The Scent of the Land," "We Are Vietnamese," "Spring Journey to Explore Regional Cultures"... will be the elaborate and meaningful New Year's gifts that television professionals are preparing for viewers during the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Dragon.

It's not just the "Tao Quan" (Kitchen God) show that's special.

As is customary every year, the "Tet program season" on VTV begins on the afternoon of the last day of the year with the program "Last Afternoon of the Year," produced by the News Department. Lasting nearly two hours, the program creates a unique, rich, and warm atmosphere, imbued with the cultural essence of the ethnic groups and regions of the country, in the spirit of the last afternoon of the year.

Immediately afterwards, at 7 PM, six broadcast channels from VTV1 to VTV6 will simultaneously air the program "Year-End News," presenting a comprehensive overview of various social issues and the atmosphere of Tet preparations among people nationwide and Vietnamese communities abroad.

From 8 PM to 10:30 PM, the special "Meeting at the End of the Year" show will be broadcast on VTV. Still addressing the most pressing social issues of the past year through a humorous, subtly satirical lens, this year's "Meeting at the End of the Year" will feature parodies of familiar songs as an indispensable element.

The Lunar New Year Gala program for the Year of the Dragon. (Source: VTV)

Reportedly, this year will feature several new "Táo" (characters representing government officials) alongside the familiar faces from previous years. In particular, a comedian from the South – a familiar face to viewers of "The Perfect Couple" – will appear in this year's "Meeting at the End of the Year" show.

Following the Táo Quân (Kitchen Gods) show, the Gala to Welcome the Year of the Dragon, produced by the Arts and Culture Department, will be a large-scale, comprehensive cultural and artistic program focusing on the national holiday, promising a relaxing and joyful atmosphere before New Year's Eve. The program is divided into two parts: before and after the fireworks display and the President's New Year's greetings. The entire program will be hosted by MCs Mỹ Lan and Khắc Nguyện.

The special program on the eve of the Lunar New Year will conclude with a special New Year's news bulletin, reflecting the atmosphere of New Year's Eve celebrations throughout the country and among Vietnamese expatriates abroad, as well as the New Year's celebrations in neighboring Asian countries, produced by reporters from the News Department.

After this "channel merging" period, the channels will return to normal broadcasting, and to best meet the needs of viewers during the Tet holiday reunion, the content on each channel has been meticulously prepared.

Channels are buzzing with activity during the Lunar New Year holidays.

On VTV1, in addition to the regular Tet holiday programs, there is a series of programs produced specifically for Tet, such as "Interactions on Tet Holiday Stories" (scheduled to air on the 3rd day of Tet) featuring a New Year's conversation with writer Chu Lai, singer Tran Lap, and others about Vietnamese culture and life.

The "Along the Spring Region" series is the first to introduce viewers to the sacred and mysterious rituals of ethnic minorities, as well as the exquisite artistic values ​​of people from mountainous regions to coastal areas, plains, urban areas to remote regions... The program is produced by the Ethnic Minority Television Department and VTV's resident centers throughout the country.

In particular, the "Homecoming Day" Gala with the theme "We Are Vietnamese" (scheduled to air on the 4th day of Tet) broadcast simultaneously on VTV1 and VTV4 will be a reunion of Vietnamese people who are the pride of Vietnam from all five continents.

The "Homecoming" gala, with the proud theme "We Are Vietnamese," took place in a warm, intimate, and profound setting, featuring distinguished guests such as Professor Ngo Bao Chau, recipient of the prestigious Fields Prize; singer Phi Nhung, who has participated in numerous charitable activities to help Vietnamese people; Professor-musician Nguyen Thien Dao, who was honored with the "André Caplet" award by the French Academy of Fine Arts; and Nam The Man, a two-time European freestyle football champion...

They are Vietnamese people who, despite being far from their homeland, always strive to preserve and promote the identity, essence, and cultural values ​​of Vietnam in foreign lands. The program also marks the return of presenter Hoài Anh as a co-host with Khắc Nguyện.

On VTV2, viewers can watch the special program "Fragrance of the Land" (scheduled to air at 8 PM on the first day of Tet), a unique music and dance program honoring exemplary Vietnamese farmers in various fields. These are individuals with heart and talent, always seeking innovation and aspiring to do meaningful things for the community.

On VTV3, in addition to the regular Tet holiday entertainment programs such as "We Are Soldiers," "Arena 100," "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," "Music Game," "Choose the Right Price," etc., viewers can also watch the Circus and Magic Gala, the 2011 Sports Gala, and the Vietnamese Village Gala, showcasing the festive atmosphere of people celebrating Tet in rural areas across the country...

In particular, the program features a unique cultural exchange and artistic performance with special guests who have made significant contributions during the year, chosen according to the 12 zodiac signs (these 12 individuals are all famous and beloved figures such as singer My Linh, Meritorious Artist Thanh Loc, Cu Trong Xoay, artist Bui Cong Duy, model Xuan Lan, dancer Linh Nga, athlete Pham Van Mach...).

The Comedian Gala, scheduled to air at 9 PM on the second day of Tet (Lunar New Year), will undoubtedly be a memorable gift from television to viewers this holiday season. On VTV6, the most noteworthy program is "The 2030 Fantasy Television Bridge," a fictional story about a newspaper girl from 2011 who dreams of becoming a television presenter.

According to Vietnam+