Photographs of Vietnam’s Lunar New Year in Hanoi in the 1920s
Rare photographs that show how Vietnamese people celebrated Lunar New Year in Hanoi in the 1920s.
| Offerings for heaven and earth in Tet | |
| Healthy eating tips during Lunar New Year's reunion dinner | |
| 2020: Love compatibility, horoscope, personality |
Vietnamese people celebrate the Lunar New Year annually, which is based on a lunisolar calendar (calculating both the motions of Earth around the Sun and of the Moon around Earth).
Tet (Lunar New Year) is the time for all family members to get together while enjoying traditional dishes.
Vietnam’s biggest, most important traditional festival, also is a time of renewal, a time to thank Gods and ancestors and pray for their blessings.
Here’s an early 20th century Tet celebration in colored photos.
 |
| Nearly one hundred years ago, Tet evoked the same excitement and expectations it does today; except, things were very different. Photos colored by Dai Nam Phuc Anh |
 |
| A woman sells dong (Phrynium) leaves to wrap banh chung, a traditional Vietnamese glutinous rice cake that is a Tet specialty, at Hanoi’s Dong Xuan Market in 1929. |
 |
| People gather at the Dong Xuan Market in Hanoi the day before the Lunar New Year. |
 |
| People gather at the Dong Xuan Market in Hanoi the day before the Lunar New Year. |
 |
| An old man chooses a daffodil as a Tet decoration. Daffodils are believed to awaken one's hidden potential, including talent and creativity. They also represent rejuvenation, chivalry and generosity. |
 |
| People pick branches of peach blossoms, for long used in the north as the main Tet adornment for the house. Peach blossoms are believed to repel ghosts and demons, and symbolize youth, fertility and hope brought by spring. In the south, the flowers of choice for Tet is the yellow Mai flower. |
 |
| Flower market. |
 |
| Flower market. |
 |
| A merchant sells bananas in Hanoi’s Dong Xuan Market in 1929. |
 |
| People walk through Ho Guom (Sword Lake). |
 |
| A Hanoi family decorates their house with flowers, Tet fruit tray. |
 |
| The house is decorated with peach blossom tree to drive away evil spirits and bad luck. |
Tags:
Most read
Related Stories
National
Vietnam News Today (Sep. 21): Vietnam Remains Bright Spot in Foreign Investment Attraction in ASEAN
Vietnam News Today (Sep. 21): Vietnamese top leader’s Cuba visit of historical significance: Cuban Ambassador; Vietnam remains bright spot in foreign investment attraction in ASEAN; Ample room remains for Vietnam - Hong Kong (China) relations; Northern region to welcome first cold spell.
September 21, 2024 | 07:09
Viet's Home
Warm Charity Market in Ho Chi Minh City: Where Leaves Used as Currency
At the special market, buyers receive leaves as a blessing for the new year. Instead of money, they use the given leaves to exchange for necessities.
March 12, 2024 | 14:12
Overseas Vietnamese
Homeland Spring Brings Cultural Beauty of Vietnamese Tet to Australia
This is the first time "Homeland Spring" has been held on a large scale in Northern Australia with the participation of many artists and artisans from Vietnam.
March 04, 2024 | 23:40
Viet's Home
Teen Designer Brings Ao Dai Collection to The UK
14-year-old fashion designer Anna Hoang debuted a new Ao Dai collection inspired by the Lunar New Year at House of iKons Fashion Week London.
February 21, 2024 | 15:59
Recommended
Viet's Home
Vietnam Tops ASEAN in Students Studying in the USA
The number of Vietnamese students at US universities and colleges continues to grow, reaching 22,066 during the 2023–2024 academic year.
November 22, 2024 | 16:37
Viet's Home
Naval Region 2 Organizes Legal Education Session in Vung Tau City
On November 21, in Vung Tau city, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, the Naval Region 2 Command in collaboration with the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Provincial Police and Center 286/BTL 86 organized a conference on sharing information about legal education in 2024.
November 22, 2024 | 16:26
Viet's Home
Local Friendship Associations Make Substantial Progress in 2024
On November 20th, in Ca Mau, the Union of Friendship Organizations of provinces and cities (Group 5), including Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Kien Giang, Dong Thap, An Giang, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, and Can Tho City, organized a conference to summarize people's diplomacy work in 2024 and deploy key tasks for 2025.
November 22, 2024 | 13:47
Viet's Home
Collaborative Efforts in Can Tho to Launch “Fulfilling Dreams” and “I Love Vietnam” Programs
The Can Tho City Traffic Safety Committee (TSC) and the city's Department of Education and Training have announced a joint plan to implement the National Traffic Safety Committee’s 2024 initiatives: the “Fulfilling Dreams” and “I Love Vietnam” programs. These efforts also promote adherence to legal regulations, particularly prohibiting the use of vehicles by individuals not meeting the required conditions for operating them in traffic.
November 22, 2024 | 12:36
Popular article
Viet's Home
Vietnam - Australia Partner for Sustainable Agriculture and Workforce Development
Leveraging Australia's strengths in human resources and technology, alongside Vietnam's growth potential, the two nations are working together to build a modern, efficient, and environmentally friendly agricultural sector.
November 21, 2024 | 23:08
Viet's Home
Swedish Ambassador Hands over Helmets to Vietnamese Students
The Swedish Embassy in Vietnam aims to raise awareness and promote the proper use of standard helmets to ensure public safety, particularly for children. Swedish Ambassador Johan Ndisi personally handed out helmets to the students during the event.
November 21, 2024 | 22:58
Viet's Home
Vietnam Reinforces Global Role with UNCITRAL Re-election
In its role as a UNCITRAL member, Vietnam will continue to play a role in shaping international trade law through direct participation in negotiations.
November 21, 2024 | 22:57
Viet's Home
Operation Smile performs smile surgery for nearly 100 children with cleft lip and palate
On Nov 19, Vietnam - Cu Ba Friendship Hospital, Hanoi coordinated with Operation Smile to implement a cleft lip and palate surgery program for nearly 100 children. The program will be carried out until Nov 22.
November 21, 2024 | 22:56