Distinctive cultural experiences at “Spring Colors Across the Homeland 2026”

Distinctive cultural experiences at “Spring Colors Across the Homeland 2026”

VOV.VN - The “Spring Colors Across the Homeland 2026” festival officially opened on the morning of February 28, the 12th day of the first lunar month, at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Doai Phuong commune, Hanoi.

Party chief’s US trip for Board of Peace on Gaza meeting in the spotlight
Party chief’s US trip for Board of Peace on Gaza meeting in the spotlight

VOV.VN - General Secretary To Lam paid a working trip to the United States from February 18 to 20 to attend the opening session of the Board of Peace on Gaza at the invitation of President Donald Trump, Founding Chair of the board.

Party chief’s US trip for Board of Peace on Gaza meeting in the spotlight
Spring glows in Hoa Lu Old Town - Vietnam’s former imperial capital
Spring glows in Hoa Lu Old Town - Vietnam’s former imperial capital

VOV.VN - Beneath shimmering lanterns and vibrant spring colors, Hoa Lu Old Town in northern Vietnam welcomed thousands of visitors during the 2026 Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, as its signature cuisine, traditional folk games and nightly street performances brought the former imperial capital vividly back to life.

Spring glows in Hoa Lu Old Town - Vietnam’s former imperial capital
Sea of people crowd to see Yin-Yang market at midnight
Sea of people crowd to see Yin-Yang market at midnight

VOV.VN - Large crowds of people flock to the Âm Dương Market (Yin-Yang market) in Bac Ninh province held at midnight on February 20 with the spiritual meaning of “buying luck and selling misfortune”, offering a symbolic space where the living and the deceased are believed to meet.

Sea of people crowd to see Yin-Yang market at midnight
Foreign wrestlers compete at Mai Dong traditional wrestling festival
Foreign wrestlers compete at Mai Dong traditional wrestling festival

VOV.VN - The Mai Dong Traditional Wrestling Festival opened on February 20 (the fourth day of the Lunar New Year) at Mai Dong Communal House in Tuong Mai Ward, Hanoi, in a vibrant and festive atmosphere. The annual event is a distinctive folk festival that reflects the historical and cultural heritage as well as the martial spirit of Thang Long, the former name of Hanoi.

Foreign wrestlers compete at Mai Dong traditional wrestling festival
Bac Hoa village – A rustic beauty in the Northern Highlands
Bac Hoa village – A rustic beauty in the Northern Highlands

VOV.VN - Nestled in Tan Son commune, Bac Ninh province, Bac Hoa village is home to the Nung ethnic community, where centuries-old rammed-earth houses with yin–yang tiled roofs preserve a distinctive cultural landscape.

Bac Hoa village – A rustic beauty in the Northern Highlands
Foreign visitors embrace Lunar New Year traditions at Hue Imperial Citadel
Foreign visitors embrace Lunar New Year traditions at Hue Imperial Citadel

VOV.VN - As Vietnam welcomes the Lunar New Year, thousands of domestic and international visitors flock to the Imperial Citadel of Hue to experience traditional spring rituals, royal performances and the vibrant cultural atmosphere marking the country’s most important holiday.

Foreign visitors embrace Lunar New Year traditions at Hue Imperial Citadel
Horse market amid the mist in Bac Ha highlands
Horse market amid the mist in Bac Ha highlands

VOV.VN - In the cool highland air, the Bac Ha livestock market in northern Lao Cai province convenes from early Friday mornings each week. In the horse trading area, buyers and sellers rely on experience, long-established practices and a deep understanding of animal behaviour rooted in local livelihoods.

Horse market amid the mist in Bac Ha highlands
Crowds flock to Temple of Literature for New Year calligraphy
Crowds flock to Temple of Literature for New Year calligraphy

VOV.VN - On the first day of the Lunar New Year(Tet), large numbers of Hanoi residents visited the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu- Quoc Tu Giam), where the calligraphy area drew long queues of people seeking characters for the new year.

Crowds flock to Temple of Literature for New Year calligraphy
New Year rituals: Hanoians seek blessings at Thang Long’s Four Sacred Temples
New Year rituals: Hanoians seek blessings at Thang Long’s Four Sacred Temples

VOV.VN - Every spring, as the Lunar New Year (Tet) arrives, the people of Hanoi begin their year with a meaningful spiritual journey: visiting Four Sacred Temples of the former Thang Long Imperial Citadel to pray for peace and good fortune.

New Year rituals: Hanoians seek blessings at Thang Long’s Four Sacred Temples
Fireworks light up Vietnam’s skies as people welcome Lunar New Year 2026
Fireworks light up Vietnam’s skies as people welcome Lunar New Year 2026

VOV.VN - Brilliant fireworks illuminated the skies across Vietnam at midnight on February 17 as thousands gathered to welcome the Lunar New Year 2026 – Year of the Horse - in an atmosphere filled with celebration and emotion.

Fireworks light up Vietnam’s skies as people welcome Lunar New Year 2026
Hanoi dazzles with fireworks display to ring in the Lunar New Year 2026
Hanoi dazzles with fireworks display to ring in the Lunar New Year 2026

VOV.VN - Tens of thousands of residents and visitors gathered around Hoan Kiem Lake, the My Dinh National Stadium, and other designated launch sites across the capital at midnight on February 17 to watch the multi-coloured spectacle of an elaborate fireworks display welcoming the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026.

Hanoi dazzles with fireworks display to ring in the Lunar New Year 2026
Happiness Train rolls through Lunar New Year’s Eve, carrying reunion hopes
Happiness Train rolls through Lunar New Year’s Eve, carrying reunion hopes

VOV.VN - As families across the country eagerly prepared to welcome the Lunar New Year, the North-South express train SE3 from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City quietly began to roll, carrying with it not only passengers, but also joy, anticipation and emotions that accompany the long-awaited journey home for reunion.

Happiness Train rolls through Lunar New Year’s Eve, carrying reunion hopes
Giant “Eight Horses” installation draws visitors at Ha Long Bay flower boulevard
Giant “Eight Horses” installation draws visitors at Ha Long Bay flower boulevard

VOV.VN - Eight towering horse figures, each nearly 10 meters tall, are among the most eye-catching installations drawing residents and visitors to check in at the flower and light technology boulevard along Ha Long Bay in northern Quang Ninh province.

Giant “Eight Horses” installation draws visitors at Ha Long Bay flower boulevard
Hanoi fireworks sites ready for Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026
Hanoi fireworks sites ready for Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026

VOV.VN - Preparations at Hanoi’s New Year’s Eve fireworks sites are carried out with strict procedures and clear responsibility. Each firework is inspected and installed in line with rigorous technical protocols, reflecting precision and discipline to ensure a safe launch during the display.

Hanoi fireworks sites ready for Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026
Party leader offers incense at Thang Long Imperial Citadel and House 67
Party leader offers incense at Thang Long Imperial Citadel and House 67

VOV.VN - On the morning of January 29, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, Party General Secretary To Lam offered incense at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel and House 67. Those attending included Politburo member, Secretariat member and Head of the Party Central Committee’s Organization Commission Le Minh Hung, and Chairman of the Party Central Committee Office Pham Gia Tuc.

Party leader offers incense at Thang Long Imperial Citadel and House 67
Vietnam warship celebrates Tet at sea during multinational naval drills
Vietnam warship celebrates Tet at sea during multinational naval drills

VOV.VN - As celebrations for the Lunar New Year of the Horse across Vietnam, Vessel 17 of Brigade 171 under Naval Region 2 sailed thousands of nautical miles to take part in the Multinational Naval Exercise MILAN 2026 in India.

Vietnam warship celebrates Tet at sea during multinational naval drills
Hue welcomes Lunar New Year 2026 with unique horse mascot by Huong River
Hue welcomes Lunar New Year 2026 with unique horse mascot by Huong River

VOV.VN - At the Hue Spring Festival 2026 welcoming the Lunar New Year of the Horse, the horse mascot has been installed along both banks of the Huong River, with prominent displays at the central fountain area, in front of Quoc Hoc Hue High School, and at Thuong Bac Park.

Hue welcomes Lunar New Year 2026 with unique horse mascot by Huong River
Unique Tet experiences across Vietnam
Unique Tet experiences across Vietnam

VOV.VN - For travelers seeking a more personal journey, the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday offers an opportunity to connect deeply with local culture, from southern pilgrimages to ancient stone villages in the northern mountains.

Unique Tet experiences across Vietnam
Bringing early spring to Truong Sa
Bringing early spring to Truong Sa

VOV.VN - Amid January’s rough seas, the vessel Bringing Early Spring to Truong Sa crosses open waters, carrying warmth from the mainland to Song Tu Tay, Sinh Ton and Truong Sa (the Spratly Islands). Meaningful gifts are handed directly to soldiers and civilians, conveying the nation’s trust and affection to those living and serving at the maritime frontline.

Bringing early spring to Truong Sa
Party chief: “VOV keeps watch over airwaves, maintain nation’s information pulse"
Party chief: “VOV keeps watch over airwaves, maintain nation’s information pulse"

VOV.VN - Visiting and extending Lunar New Year (Tet) greetings to the Voice of Vietnam (VOV), Party General Secretary To Lam said he is deeply moved as he shares with the national broadcaster’s officials, staff and technicians, describing them as those who “keep watch over the airwaves and maintain the nation’s information pulse.”

Party chief: “VOV keeps watch over airwaves, maintain nation’s information pulse"
Color-rich spring flower display at Ly Thai To Flower Garden in Hanoi
Color-rich spring flower display at Ly Thai To Flower Garden in Hanoi

VOV.VN -The spring flower display at Ly Thai To Flower Garden opens to residents and visitors from the morning of February 13. The largest event of its kind in Hanoi for the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, it features around 300 peach trees, including ancient-root, sculpted and natural varieties from northern provi

Color-rich spring flower display at Ly Thai To Flower Garden in Hanoi
Hanoi adorned with flags and flowers ahead of Lunar New Year 2026
Hanoi adorned with flags and flowers ahead of Lunar New Year 2026

VOV.VN - Streets across Hanoi take on a festive look ahead of the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, with parks and flower gardens filled with spring colors. Around Hoan Kiem Lake, Thong Nhat Park, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, floral displays and horse-themed decorations line public spaces.

Hanoi adorned with flags and flowers ahead of Lunar New Year 2026
Grilled fish village in Nghe An at peak output ahead of Lunar New Year
Grilled fish village in Nghe An at peak output ahead of Lunar New Year

VOV.VN - At grilling sites across Cua Lo Ward, central Nghe An province, tonnes of fish are grilled around the clock over charcoal fires and shipped out continuously to supply the market ahead of the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026.

Grilled fish village in Nghe An at peak output ahead of Lunar New Year
Passenger traffic at Tan Son Nhat Airport exceeds forecasts ahead of Tet
Passenger traffic at Tan Son Nhat Airport exceeds forecasts ahead of Tet

VOV.VN - Tan Son Nhat International Airport handled 160,459 passengers on February 11 (the 24th day of the 12th lunar month), operating 1,063 flights, surpassing projections and marking an earlier-than-expected start to the Tet travel peak.

Passenger traffic at Tan Son Nhat Airport exceeds forecasts ahead of Tet
Spring colors fill Lunar New Year flower market in Buon Ma Thuot
Spring colors fill Lunar New Year flower market in Buon Ma Thuot

VOV.VN - In the run-up to the 2026 Lunar New Year, the flower, ornamental plant and traditional arts market in Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak, in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, is bustling with residents and visitors.

Spring colors fill Lunar New Year flower market in Buon Ma Thuot
Royal Tet celebration re-enacted at Thang Long Imperial Citadel
Royal Tet celebration re-enacted at Thang Long Imperial Citadel

VOV.VN - The Thang Long–Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre on February 10 hosted a re-enactment of the traditional “Tống cựu, nghinh tân” (farewell to the old, welcome the new) ritual at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, offering visitors a glimpse into royal Tet festivities of the past.

Royal Tet celebration re-enacted at Thang Long Imperial Citadel
Tranh Khuc banh chung village gears up for Tet
Tranh Khuc banh chung village gears up for Tet

VOV.VN - In recent days, households in Tranh Khuc, on the outskirts of Hanoi, have been working at full stretch as Tet approaches, mobilising entire families for every stage of making banh chung (square sticky rice cakes traditionally prepared for the Lunar New Year). The annual peak production period typically runs from the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month through the full moon of the first lunar month.

Tranh Khuc banh chung village gears up for Tet
Foreign tourists enjoy experiencing traditional Tet space in Da Nang
Foreign tourists enjoy experiencing traditional Tet space in Da Nang

VOV.VN - The traditional atmosphere of Tet, Vietnam’s Lunar New Year, is being vividly recreated at East Sea Park in Da Nang from February 6-10, offering both locals and international visitors a glimpse into the country’s festive heritage.

Foreign tourists enjoy experiencing traditional Tet space in Da Nang
Bac Ha market comes alive ahead of Tet with wild peaches and white plums
Bac Ha market comes alive ahead of Tet with wild peaches and white plums

VOV.VN - In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year or Tet, Bac Ha market, in northern Lao Cai province, enters its most picturesque season of the year. The northern highland market grows lively and colorful, filled with spring blooms and a festive pre-Tet atmosphere.

Bac Ha market comes alive ahead of Tet with wild peaches and white plums
Traditional Tet atmosphere at Vietnam’s Ethnic Culture Village
Traditional Tet atmosphere at Vietnam’s Ethnic Culture Village

VOV.VN - The Vietnam Authority of Ethnic Culture organised the 2026 “Green Chưng Cake – Tet for the Poor” programme and the traditional New Year bamboo pole-raising ritual at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism on February 8 - the 21st day of the last lunar month.

Traditional Tet atmosphere at Vietnam’s Ethnic Culture Village