According to the local’s tradition, back in the days when the country wasn’t as developed, Vietnamese looking forward to Tet – Vietnamese Lunar New Year to be able to unite with family members and have a feast together. It is the time for citizens of the S-Shaped Land to have a relaxing time after a year of hard work.
The paper clothes for the Kitchen God are displayed at the local market in Hai Ba Trung District. Photo: Ollie Le Nguyen
A Vietnamese housewife is getting a set of Kitchen God clothes for her offering on the 23rd of Lunar month. Photo: Ollie Le Nguyen
Following the tradition, on the 23rd of the last lunar month, a big banquet with traditional food such as Boiled Chicken, Xôi – Vietnamese Sticky Rice, and some fruits were prepared with paper clothes, incense to farewell the Kitchen Gods so the family's ancestors could take over the family alter and spiritually reunite with the family for the occasion.
You can get bánh chưng or sticky rice premade and ready to eat at any local market during Tet holiday. Photo: Ollie Le Nguyen
Leaves to wrap the Bánh Chưng. Photo: Ollie Le Nguyen
Nguyen My Linh's family alter display Lunar New Year delicatecy offering to the Kitchen Gods. Photo: Linh Bún
Counting down to the eve, the locals spend a lot of time cleaning up the house, sometimes they even take advantage of the long holiday to make final correction to perfect the house outlook. You’d see construction sites or paint works finish shortly just before the Lunar New Year.
Five-colored sticky rice representing color of desire, properity, development, nature and love. Photo: Linh Bún
As a traveler or tourist you would easily spot a market popping up on the street selling kumquat trees, peach blossoms and some other plans for Tet decoration as Poinsettia or Golden marguerite. Their distinctive colors are considered to be the symbol of luck and fortune.
A local Vietnamese was trying to get his peach blossom home from Den Lu Market. Photo: Ollie Le Nguyen
“A tree on the back of the motorbike impressed me the most,” says Glen MacDonald, USA. Photo: Ollie Le Nguyen
Nguyen My Linh shares that she wanted to pass down the tradition by teaching her children, nieces and nephews to make Banh Chung, Photo: Linh Bun
Close up shot of My Linh's family alter. Photo: Linh Bún
After a month staying in Hanoi, Joey M, a French expat, is fascinated with the holiday vibes, saying “the traffic is quite interesting." The 31 years old decided to leave the cold Korea to visit Hanoi for the holiday, and he's impressed by the colors of Tet in the capital of Vietnam.
My Linh's family alter. Photo: Linh Bún
Hoan Kiem Lake, morning January 13, 2023. Perfect weather to travel around, enjoy the spring in Hanoi. Photo: Linh Bún
Peach blossom are blooming welcome the spring. Photo: Linh Bún
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, on the afternoon of April 10, presented a Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Dr., entrepreneur Nguyen Thanh My, an overseas Vietnamese in Canada and currently an advisor to the Business Association of Overseas Vietnamese (BAOOV), in recognition of his positive contributions to building and developing the Vietnamese community overseas and activities directed toward the homeland.
The consolidation of key leadership positions by the 16th National Assembly has been viewed by many international organizations, partners, and overseas Vietnamese communities as an important political milestone. It ensures continuity in governance, strengthens confidence, and opens up opportunities to advance reform, integration, and the country’s standing in a new stage of development.
Over April 13-14 in Hanoi, Friendship School 80 organized celebrations of the traditional New Year festivals Bunpimay of Laos and Chol Chhnam Thmay of Cambodia for international students currently studying at the school.
On the occasion of the traditional New Year festivals Bunpimay and Chol Chnam Thmay in 2026, various gatherings and cultural exchange activities for Lao and Cambodian students, as well as Khmer ethnic youth, were held in An Giang, Thanh Hoa, and Da Nang.
A foreign visitor has drawn widespread attention after recording the moment he broke down in tears while leaving Vietnam, clearly showing his deep attachment to the people and culture of the country.
On the occasion of Bunpimay, the traditional Lao New Year, Thanh Hoa and Da Nang organized gatherings to extend congratulations and present gifts to Lao students studying in the local area.
On April 7, Viet Duc University Hospital (Hanoi) announced a special case of organ donation from a 19-year-old British female tourist, bringing a chance of survival to three patients suffering from organ failure in Vietnam.
According to InterNations - a platform specializing in assessing the quality of life of expatriate communities worldwide, Vietnam has once again been voted the country with the lowest cost of living in the world in 2026. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Vietnam has held this position.
From pots of banh chung simmering over red embers through the night, to family reunion meals and the red envelopes exchanged at the start of the year, the Lunar New Year is not only a traditional celebration of the Vietnamese people but has also become a profound cultural experience for many foreigners living and working in Vietnam.
Joe Ruelle, Marko Nikolic, and Jesse Peterson come from distant countries of the world, yet they have chosen to forge deep ties with Vietnam by writing literature in Vietnamese. For them, Vietnamese is not merely a tool for communication but also a medium for creativity - a way to tell stories, to understand, and to live within Vietnamese culture. Beyond recounting everyday life, they transform the language into a heartbeat that resonates with the culture, the people, and their own emotions.
Overseas Vietnamese
Overseas Vietnamese
Expats in Vietnam
Expats in Vietnam
Expats in Vietnam
Expats in Vietnam
Expats in Vietnam
Expats in Vietnam
Expats in Vietnam
Expats in Vietnam