Tet in Hanoi of the past, as seen through precious archival photos.

From mid-December, the Tet atmosphere begins to permeate all 36 streets of Hanoi. Following farmers from nearby rural areas or from distant provinces in the North, hundreds of types of goods converge on Dong Xuan Market and other markets in the city to serve families' Tet preparations.

Besides food and other goods, another "specialty" during Tet is flowers and ornamental plants, which are brought to the Hang Khoai and Hang Luoc flower markets by people from famous flower-growing areas on the outskirts of the city, such as Quang Ba, Nghi Tam, and Nhat Tan.

Among them, the most characteristic flower of spring in Northern Vietnam is the peach blossom. Besides the two varieties of pink and light pink peach blossoms widely grown in Nhat Tan, there are also varieties such as white peach blossom and seven-inch peach blossom that only the wealthy could afford. Even more elaborate are the branches of wild peach blossoms brought in from the mountainous regions of Son La and Lao Cai...

The appearance of brightly colored paintings on the streets is also a sign that Tet (Lunar New Year) is approaching. One of the characteristic folk painting styles of Hanoi is Hang Trong painting. People in the past often chose to buy paintings with auspicious meanings to hang in their homes during Tet, both for decoration and to express their hopes for good fortune in the new year.

There was a time when the image of calligraphers setting up their stalls to write auspicious characters in the days leading up to Tet was closely associated with the traditional Vietnamese New Year in particular and the Tet celebrations of old Hanoi in general.

On the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, in addition to the ritual of sending the Kitchen God to Heaven, New Year's poles are also erected in offices and private homes with the purpose of warding off evil spirits and wishing for peace and safety, according to ancient beliefs.

Inside the living room of a wealthy family in Hanoi on Tet (Lunar New Year).

One of the iconic features of the Tet (Lunar New Year) celebration in ancient Thang An (Hanoi) that cannot be overlooked is the tradition of cultivating narcissus flowers. The skill of the flower grower is demonstrated through the beauty of the narcissus pot, which has been carefully tended and pruned for a long time.

On the first morning of the new year, the children of the family gather to wish their parents a happy new year.

Meanwhile, the village elders and dignitaries gathered at the communal house to perform the ancestral rites, offer prayers for the king's longevity, and pay respects to the tutelary deity at the beginning of the new year. The women, on the other hand, chose to visit temples and shrines such as Ngoc Son Temple, Bach Ma Temple, and Tay Ho Shrine…

• The fragrant aroma of Tet sticky rice cakes fills many alleyways.
• Celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year) on a remote island.
• Weather during the Lunar New Year holiday across the country.
• 'We cannot abandon the traditional Lunar New Year yet.'
• The beautiful cultural traditions of early spring at the Temple of Emperor Quang Trung.
• Why would anyone want to abolish the traditional Lunar New Year?
• Unique types of banh chung (Vietnamese sticky rice cake) for Tet (Lunar New Year)