Photographs of Vietnam’s Lunar New Year in Hanoi in the 1920s

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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.