Red lanterns and gold Tet holiday decorations displayed at a bustling Asian market stall

Tết preparations

Tết preparations

Every year Vietnamese celebrate the Tết Nguyên Đán festival. It usually takes place in January and February of the Greogrian calendar and celebrates the beginning of spring. During this time, many people return home to their families and celebrate together with them for several days.

Like Christmas in Europe or the USA, there are many traditions and certain foods. Of course, the house or apartment is also decorated. Many weeks in advance, dealers sell flowers, trees and decorations.

The dominant colour at this time is red. The color red symbolizes good luck and is a symbol to ward off evil spirits. Also red are the envelopes in which money is given away to the young and old generation.

This set of pictures was taken in 2018 in the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi.

Pink and red blossoms on slender branches in front of a historic stone building
Weathered French colonial building with ornate stone facade on a Hanoi street, colorful artificial flowers and blue shop awning at ground level
Pink cherry blossoms on branches in front of a traditional wooden building
Artificial red pink and white plum blossoms with warm golden festive lights for holiday decoration
Potted kumquat trees with ripe oranges displayed on blue stools at an outdoor plant market
Illuminated Vietnamese Tet festival LED sign glowing over a dark city street
red and pink foil animal balloons at a vietnamese street market at night during tết holiday celebrations
Golden glittery artificial holiday decorations displayed in plastic wrapping at a market stall
Miniature fashion dolls with braided hair hanging as keychains on a metal display rack
Miniature dressed dolls hanging as keychains on a metal display rack
Red lanterns and gold Tet holiday decorations displayed at a bustling Asian market stall
Colorful Asian paper lanterns and festive decorations hanging in a crowded holiday market stall
vibrant red pink and yellow artificial blossoms on dark branches with softly blurred bokeh background
Colorful plush toys and stuffed animals stacked in plastic packaging at retail display
street vendor selling bags of cotton candy from a cart on a lantern decorated city street
Colorful festive market stall displaying traditional decorations and goods in a dense urban neighborhood
Colorful stacks of Vietnamese Tết red envelopes and lucky money packets displayed at a market stall
Colorful display of lucky maneki-neko cat figurines with red envelopes and boxed god of wealth collectibles in a shop
Red and gold Lunar New Year hanging ornaments with embroidered fish, Chinese knots and tassels
Red and gold Vietnamese Lunar New Year ornaments hanging on a wire display rack
Colorful ceramic lucky cat ornaments hanging from a metal display rack with red tassels
Red and gold Vietnamese Tết holiday banners with calligraphy ornaments hanging from tree branches
Red and gold Vietnamese Tết holiday ornaments and banners hanging from branches with small lanterns
Red and gold Tet holiday decorations hanging above market stalls with red envelopes and festive supplies
Vibrant red and gold Lunar New Year decorations, including lanterns and tassels, hanging densely in a market stall