Preserving cultural traditions through Instagrammable Tet photo spots at home.
As the year draws to a close, many people in Nghe An province are taking advantage of the opportunity to buy more decorative items to add a touch of style to their homes. This year, handcrafted items are particularly popular.
The vibrant colors of Tet
On Le Huan and Hong Son streets (Truong Vinh ward) – considered a "paradise" for decorative items – people are still bustling with buying and selling, even though there are only about two days left until the new year.Year of the Horse 2026The items that are particularly popular these days are decorative items in vibrant red colors and featuring symbolic details of the traditional Lunar New Year.
Accordingly, instead of industrial plastic decorations, many people are using natural and handcrafted materials. These decorations are not simply for beautifying the space; they are deeply rooted in customs and symbolism, recreating a "village courtyard" or an "ancient house" right in the heart of the city.
The miniature landscapes are arranged in multiple layers, creating a sense of abundance and fullness. The rustic nature of bamboo serves as a backdrop for these decorative items, creating a warm and solid feeling. The designs also make full use of other handcrafted details such as woven bamboo trays, bamboo baskets, bamboo fans, palm leaf fans, conical hats, etc., evoking a purely Vietnamese feel and reminding us of our roots. Alongside the rustic colors of bamboo, there are the vibrant colors of fans folded from red paper. Details such as peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, banh chung (square sticky rice cake), banh tet (cylindrical sticky rice cake), mascots, lucky money envelopes, etc., are arranged in the top layer.
People can easily buy ready-made decorative items and hang them up at home, or buy individual materials to design them according to their own preferences. Ms. Luong Hoang Khanh Tram (Truong Vinh ward), the owner of a shop selling ready-made decorations and offering custom installation services, said: “I have been providing this service for many years, but this year's products are quite different because I have imported new materials that are more durable and beautiful. This work requires a bit of creativity, skill, and good aesthetic sense.” The price for these decorative items ranges from 200,000 to 2 million VND depending on size and design.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan, a small business owner specializing in supplying Tet decoration materials at Vinh wholesale market, shared: “From about a month before Tet, customers started looking to buy these products, initially schools and companies, then individual families. In the days leading up to Tet, we had to hire extra staff to serve customers.” According to Ms. Lan, the demand for people to buy items for self-decoration is increasing, so the materials and tools are selling better than in previous years.
Observations on social media forums indicate that the online market for these items is also very vibrant. Besides mini decoration sets, many people offer design and installation services for home decoration for homeowners.
Preserving culture through photo-worthy spots.
These decorated corners are designed like miniature studios, where generations of the family can capture heartwarming moments of togetherness during Tet (Lunar New Year). Ms. Nguyen Ha Phuong (Thanh Vinh ward) shared: “These decorated corners incorporate traditional cultural elements, making them perfect for taking photos in traditional ao dai (Vietnamese dress). As in previous years, guests visiting the house also take the opportunity to pose and take pictures with these decorated corners.”
Even though there are only two days left until the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, the shops selling decorations on the streets surrounding Vinh wholesale market are still bustling with buyers and sellers. The vibrant red color fills the sidewalks, creating a festive atmosphere. Many young people are also taking advantage of the opportunity to take photos in traditional Vietnamese ao dai dresses on these streets.
Incorporating rustic materials like bamboo, rattan, and palm leaves into modern living spaces also promises opportunities for the "revival" of traditional craft villages.craft villagesBasket weaving and conical hat making have added a small "niche" to their product range, helping them continue to preserve and stay connected to the craft.
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More importantly, these Tet corners act as "mini-museums" right in the family home. When children help their parents decorate, hang bamboo screens, or hold red paper fans, they are directly exposed to Vietnamese cultural elements in the most natural way. Instead of abstract concepts, traditional culture is tangible through each small material. This indirectly brings the younger generation closer to their roots, forming an invisible but strong bond between generations in each household.
