Culture

The Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 arrives in the familiar rhythm of heaven and earth. In this moment of seasonal transition, Tet is not only a time for reunion, but also an occasion for each person to reflect on social life, contemplate ongoing changes, and place trust in the journey ahead.

The traditional Tet feast of Ha Noi is like a work of art, a harmonious blend of colours, ingredients, and delicious flavours. It serves as an expression of sincerity from the physical world to the sacred realm.

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee organised the opening ceremony of Nguyen Hue Flower Street for the Lunar New Year (Tet) of the Horse 2026 on the evening of February 15.

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee held the opening ceremony of the Lunar New Year (Tet) Book Street Festival 2026 on the afternoon of February 15 (the 28th day of the Lunar New Year’s final month).

With an enduring presence on screen walls, in court architecture, and within sacred spaces, the dragon horse reflects the aesthetic depth, philosophical thinking, and feng shui beliefs of the Hue people. This symbol has quietly persisted through time, like a sedimentary layer in the collective memory of the former imperial capital.

As Tet arrives and spring comes, every corner of the country is filled with the excitement of the New Year and the anticipation of colourful festivals. After a year of industrious work, communities use this moment to reconnect with their roots, immerse themselves in the festive spirit of traditional rituals, and enjoy meaningful cultural life.

In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year (Tet) of 2026, inside a newly built, spacious house in Thanh Tien Village, Phu Mau Commune, Hue City, each paper petal is neatly laid out on a large wooden table.

Ha Noi boasts hundreds of Tet markets. Spring flower markets line almost every street. Yet the Hang Luoc flower market in Hoan Kiem ward continues to stir nostalgia among those tied to the capital. It is a “market of memories”, a once-a-year fair that has endured for more than a century.

As Tet draws near each year, Vietnamese enterprises in Cambodia hold spring get-togethers with shared activities such as wrapping banh chung and cooking the flavours of home, bringing Vietnamese culture to the community and closer to Cambodian friends.

Returning to Mo Rai, I sense a fresh vitality, as revival has turned into a powerful resurgence. The towering Rong house of Le Village rises against the blue sky of the Central Highlands, affirming the confident and proud presence of the Ro Mam people, an ethnic group that stood on the brink of extinction many years ago.

A delegation from the Department of Publishing, Printing, and Distribution under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Viet Nam, together with representatives of the Executive Committee of the Viet Nam Writers’ Association, paid a working visit to the headquarters of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC) in Havana on February 12.

In the new era — the era of the nation’s rise — cultural diplomacy is no longer merely a bridge of friendship but has become a sharp “soft power” tool and a key pillar of comprehensive modern diplomacy.

Currently, artisans from ethnic groups are directly introducing their customs to welcome Tet (Lunar New Year) through daily activities, rituals, and traditional experiences at the Viet Nam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, contributing to preserving distinctive cultural values and enhancing the appeal of tourism.

The 2026 Spring Calligraphy Festival at the Temple of Literature is held under the theme “National Learning”, marking the 950th anniversary of Quoc Tu Giam, the first national university of Dai Viet. The event features 35 calligraphy tents, with scholars selected through a rigorous process to ensure quality and credibility.

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee held the opening ceremony of the 46th Ho Chi Minh City Spring Flower Festival at Tao Dan Park on February 12. Under the theme “Spring Convergence – Rising Steadfastly”, the festival runs until February 22, serving as a pure artistic space for floral appreciation and symbolising the city’s breakthrough spirit and aspiration to rise in a new era.

The Binh Ngo Tet 2026 Book Street Festival marks a new milestone in scale, expanding across three locations: Sai Gon Ward, Binh Duong Ward, and Vung Tau Ward. The festival has been meticulously designed with numerous highlights aimed at connecting traditional heritage with the aspiration of Ho Chi Minh City to rise further.

With the motto “Leaving no one behind,” in the days leading up to the Lunar New Year of Binh Ngo, medical examination and treatment facilities across Ha Noi have set aside spaces to display apricot blossoms, peach blossoms, red couplets, lanterns and other decorations, with the hope of bringing the colours of spring to patients.

Amid the joyful and festive atmosphere of welcoming Tet and celebrating Spring among the people of the Capital, the art exhibition space “Colours of Tradition” has just been inaugurated at Quan De Temple (28 Hang Buom Street, Ha Noi). This activity contributes to spreading national cultural values through art education to the younger generation in the spirit of continuity, inheritance, and development.

A photo and video contest themed “Happy Tet” has been launched as part of the “Happy Viet Nam” programme, delivering a message of a peaceful, warm and humane Viet Nam through meaningful Lunar New Year moments.

The Spring Calligraphy Festival 2026 opened at Van Lake within Ha Noi’s historic Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) on February 11, marking the start of a series of cultural and art events leading into the Lunar New Year celebrations.