[Photos] Foreign Ambassadors Experience Vietnamese Tet
The traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) festival, imbued with Vietnamese identity, has left an indelible mark on the hearts of foreign diplomats in Vietnam.
Norwegian and Bristish diplomats experienced some customs during the Lunar New Year in Vietnam.
 |
| Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken and her family ask for calligraphy in Vietnamese in Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam or Temple of Literature. Photo: VNA |
 |
| The tradition of collecting letters has become part of Vietnamese culture whenever the Lunar New Year arrives. Photo: VNA |
 |
| The Norwegian Ambassador asks for “Xanh” (green) calligraphy, which symbolises hope for peace in the world, especially in the context of formidable challenges around the globe. Photo: VNA |
 |
| Through the calligraphy, the Ambassador expects that Vietnam and Norway will see further cooperation in the fields of green economy, the circular economy, and energy transition. Photo: VNA |
 |
| She also asks for “Hanh Phuc” (Happiness) calligraphy to have happiness year-round. Photo: VNA |
 |
| Decorating home with apricot blossoms for Tet. Source: Norwegian Embassy in Hanoi |
 |
| This will be the first Tet in Vietnam for her and family. Source: Norwegian Embassy in Hanoi |
 |
| "Tet is a time for peace and love, and I wish the Vietnamese people a joyful and relaxing Tet with the people they love, savouring traditional foods and reflecting on achievements in the past year and goals for the next. I know the setence 'Chúc mừng Năm mới' in Vietnamese. But I am also practicing a longer sentence 'I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous year of the cat!' the ambassador shared with the World and Vietnam Report. |
 |
| Bristish Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew also embraced the pre-Tet spirit. Source: Bristish embassy in Vietnam |
 |
| He learns how to make Banh Chung or squared sticky rice cake. Source: Bristish embassy in Vietnam |
 |
| Dressed in ao dai, British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Emily Hamblin and members of the consulate came to visit the Vietnamese New Year Festival at the Thanh Nien Cultural House. Source: British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. |
 |
| She was appointed as British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City on September 22, 2020, as one of the youngest Consul General among foreign diplomats working in Ho Chi Minh City. Source: British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. |
 |
| The British Consul General is very fond of Vietnamese calligraphy writing. Source: British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. |
 |
| Accompanying Emily on her spring trip was British Deputy Consul General - Sam Wood. Source: British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. |
 |
| He also enjoyed the colorful and bustling scene of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year Festival, besides the traditional calligraphy writing. Source: British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. |
 | Hai Phong: Discover The Best Destinations For Taking Instagrammable Tet Photos At the end of the year, when the Tet holiday in Vietnam is coming close, Hai Phong, “the city of red phoenix flowers” is bustling ... |
 | Vietnamese Culture Shines in France On January 14, the Association for the Promotion of Vietnamese Culture (APCV) organized a special cultural and artistic program in Paris. This is one of ... |
 | How To Celebrate Tet Like A Vietnamese: A Helpful Guide for Expats Tet is a special occasion for Vietnamese and preparing for the holiday is even more important than the holiday itself. |
Related Stories
Friendship
International Friends Enchanted by Vietnamese Culture
The growing strength of international cultural exchange poses numerous challenges to local cultures. However, such exchanges also provide an opportunity to showcase the beauty of Vietnamese culture, as more international friends become devoted to preserving and spreading the traditions of Vietnam.
January 24, 2025 | 12:16
Viet's Home
Vietnamese Calligraphy Exhibition Highlights Literary Masterpieces
More than 30 calligraphy works are on display at the Temple of Literature in Ha Noi, inspired by literary masterpieces.
November 06, 2024 | 10:57
Recommended
Friendship
HSF Reaffirms Its Role as Trusted Partner of Vietnam in Sustainable Development
On May 14 in Hanoi, the German Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) held a ceremony marking its 15th anniversary of operations in Vietnam, celebrating a journey of cooperation and partnership in the fields of sustainable development, governance, social welfare, and climate change adaptation.
May 15, 2026 | 14:29
Friendship
Inauguration of Community Bridge in Tuyen Quang Funded by the UAE Embassy in Vietnam
On May 10, the inauguration ceremony for the Na Hu community bridge was held in Nam Dan Commune, Tuyen Quang Province. The project, funded by the UAE Embassy in Vietnam, is expected to help improve the living conditions of residents in the mountainous area of Tuyen Quang.
May 11, 2026 | 21:19
Friendship
Da Lat, Trouville-Deauville Stations Forge Historic Partnership After Nearly a Century
The signing ceremony of a sisterhood agreement between Vietnam’s Da Lat Station and France’s Trouville-Deauville Station officially took place on May 7 at the French Embassy in Hanoi, attended by French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet, leaders of Vietnam Railways (VNR), representatives of the French National Railway Company (SNCF), the French Development Agency (AFD), and numerous organizations operating in the fields of transport, construction, and heritage preservation in both countries.
May 10, 2026 | 13:49
Friendship
Activities Held in Ha Noi, HCMC to Mark Victory Day of Soviet people in Great Patriotic War
Many activities marking the 81st anniversary of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet people (May 9, 1945 - May 9, 2026) took place in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City on May 7, highlighting the significance of peace, historical memory, and the friendship between Viet Nam and the Russian Federation.
May 10, 2026 | 13:49
Friendship
Vietnam-Austria Friendship Association and Austria-Vietnam Society Sign Memorandum of Understanding
On May 8, at the headquarters of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), the Vietnam-Austria Friendship Association and the Austria-Vietnam Society signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening bilateral friendship, promoting people-to-people exchanges, and expanding multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Austria in the new period.
May 09, 2026 | 17:02
Friendship
Party General Secretary, State President To Lam Receives President of India-Vietnam Friendship Association
As part of his State visit to the Republic of India, on the afternoon of May 6 in New Delhi, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam received the President of the India-Vietnam Friendship Association.
May 07, 2026 | 11:18
Friendship
Pages Bridging Vietnam-Azerbaijan Friendship
The short story collection “What I saw in Vietnam” by Azerbaijani writer Ajdar Ibrahimov is not merely the observations of a foreigner about the S-shaped country, but is also expected to serve as a cultural bridge, contributing to deepening mutual understanding between the peoples of Vietnam and Azerbaijan.
May 05, 2026 | 22:22
Friendship
Elevating Traditional Vietnam-India Friendship
At the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam To Lam, together with a high-level Vietnamese delegation, will pay a State visit to the Republic of India from May 5 to 7, 2026. On this occasion, Nguyen Manh Cuong, Member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ministry, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, had an interview to the press ahead of the visit.
May 04, 2026 | 11:34