Features

In the current of modern Vietnamese art, the horse is not only a familiar creature in daily life but also a figure rich in inspiration. From wartime canvases to contemporary works, horses appear as witnesses to history, embodying displacement and the yearning for freedom, leaving a distinctive imprint on generations of Vietnamese artists.

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).

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.

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.

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.

As tradition goes, ahead of the 2026 Lunar New Year (Tet) of Horse, the G4 Ambassadors to Viet Nam (New Zealand, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland) have once again joined hands to produce a short video clip, sending New Year wishes to the Vietnamese people.

As the Year of the Horse draws near, bringing high hopes for the nation’s journey into a new era of strong development, localities nationwide are gearing up for New Year’s Eve fireworks displays, serving residents and visitors alike while sending wishes for prosperity and success.

In the final days of the lunar year, as life gently slows to make space for the familiar longing for Tet (Lunar New Year festival), the Spring Fair 2026 emerges as a meeting place between cherished memories and the present moment.

On the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2026, the Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake and Ha Noi Old Quarter, in coordination with organisations and individuals, organised a programme titled “Vietnamese Tet – Tet in Old Quarter”, aiming to recreate, preserve and spread the cultural values of the traditional Tet within the unique heritage spaces of Hoan Kiem Lake and Ha Noi Old Quarter.

In the afternoon, sunlight pours golden over the corn hills of in Nghia Dong Commune, western Nghe An. Amid the stillness of the mountainous commune, children’s voices rise in song. Not lively pop music, but the rustic melodies of Vi and Giam. In the small courtyard of the home of Tran Thuy Nga, dozens of children sit around Meritorious Artisan Ngo Minh, attentively following each rhythm of the singing.

Drawing on personal experience and memories of the former imperial capital, Vo Ca Dao has sought to distil them into 100 things worth trying when visiting Hue. These are not only suggestions for first-time visitors, but also a way of telling the story of Hue through everyday life.

While Viet Nam’s professional classical Vietnamese opera (Tuong) is facing mounting challenges, the enduring presence of amateur Tuong through community-run clubs organised and operated by local residents has created inspiring “playgrounds” and helped extend the art form’s vitality.

A festival featuring a wide range of cultural and tourism experiences reflecting the character of the thousand-year-old capital, title “Binh Ngo Spring Festival 2026”, will be held from February 7 to 14, (the 20th to 27th days of the twelfth lunar month) at the F1 racetrack area in Tu Liem Ward, Ha Noi.

Da Nang City has issued a plan to hold artistic fireworks displays at six locations at the moment of Lunar New Year Eve (Binh Ngo – The year of horse) 2026, expanding the New Year celebration space from the urban centre to outlying areas and heritage-linked zones.

Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the development of Vietnamese culture is being hailed by experts and the artistic community as a “blueprint” of historic significance. This latest aspiration to revitalise culture has been translated into a system of clear and stringent quantitative targets. It marks an important milestone, signalling a fundamental shift towards an action-oriented mindset and strategic investment for sustainable development.

The Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Ha Noi is hosting a wide range of cultural, ceremonial and experiential activities to celebrate the Lunar New Year (Tet) 2026, aiming to preserve and promote traditional cultural values while meeting the growing interest of the public and visitors.

On the occasion of the Lunar New Year — the Year of the Horse, the Ha Noi Museum is presenting a thematic exhibition entitled “Long Ma Khai Van” (opening new auspicious prospects), highlighting the distinctive features of the long ma (literally dragon horse — a winged horse with dragon scales) motif in traditional art as well as in contemporary fine and applied arts.

UNESCO highly welcomes the vision reflected in the Politburo’s Resolution 80-NQ/TW, stated UNESCO Representative to Viet Nam Jonathan Wallace Baker, stressing that by positioning culture as a core resource and a pillar for development, Viet Nam is clearly placing people, values, and identity at the heart of its long-term national strategy.

In the early days of the New Year, streams of visitors flock to the ancient town of Hoi An to admire its scenery and to explore layers of culture that continue to live alongside contemporary life.