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:
Recommended

Open Visa Policy Positions Vietnam as Leading Regional Destination
With nearly 17.6 million international arrivals in 2024, Vietnam has not only nearly fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels but has also surpassed several renowned Southeast Asian destinations, including Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia. According to Indonesia’s Tempo newspaper, Vietnam’s remarkable tourism rebound is closely linked to its open visa policies and effective promotional strategies.
February 23, 2025 | 18:21

More Than 400 International Delegates Participate In 2025 Friendship Spring Tour
On March 1, the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations will coordinate with the Hanoi Department of Tourism and the People's Committee of Me Linh district to organize the 2025 Friendship Spring Tour program.
February 21, 2025 | 22:01

Resolution 57: Key to Vietnam’s Breakthrough Development
On December 22, 2024, the Politburo issued Resolution 57 on breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation, and national digital transformation. For the first time, these areas have been prioritized as the “top critical breakthrough,” serving as the main driving force for rapidly developing a modern productive force, refining production relations, innovating national governance methods, advancing socio-economic development, preventing the risk of stagnation, and propelling Vietnam toward prosperity in the new era.
February 20, 2025 | 13:55

Francophone Space Launched at Hanoi Medical University
On February 17, Hanoi Medical University held the launching ceremony of the "Francophone Space", marking an important step in developing the studying and teaching of the French language and promoting international cooperation in medical education.
February 19, 2025 | 12:24

Hello Vietnam: Artists Rediscover Roots Through Art
The "Hello Vietnam" exhibition is an opportunity for Vietnamese-American artists to showcase their artistic perspectives and a journey of rediscovering their roots through each brushstroke.
February 19, 2025 | 10:56

46 Years On: Vietnamese Sovereignty at the Northern Border Endures
The date February 17, 1979, marks the beginning of the Northern Border Defense War, a conflict that arose from territorial disputes between Vietnam and China. While a tragic moment between the two socialist nations, the justified conflict serves as an important reminder of Vietnamese sovereignty and the profound sacrifices of Vietnam's military and people.
February 19, 2025 | 10:51

Vietnam: Prosperity Through Renovation
Since the beginning of the Doi Moi (Renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnam has made remarkable progress, steadily advancing on the path of development toward prosperity. Through careful planning and leadership, Vietnam's journey toward prosperity and growth continues to inspire other nations both within and beyond the region.
February 18, 2025 | 01:06

Vietnamese Wife, Western Husband: Love Stories Born from Serendipitous Encounters
A message on a dating app, a chance meeting by Hoan Kiem Lake, or an online conversation, these are the beginnings of many beautiful love stories between Vietnamese women and their Western husbands.
February 14, 2025 | 19:37