(VOVworld) – The lunar new year, called Tet in Vietnamese, is coming in 2 days. Hanoi residents are busy preparing to welcome the year of the Monkey. VOV reports on the festive atmosphere in Hanoi.
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| Hang Luoc flower market |
The Tet atmosphere has spread across the capital city. People rush to finish their business before the year ends, to stock up food for their Tet parties, and to buy decorations for their house. Bui Thi Hoa lives in Hang Hom street in Hanoi’s old quarter: “We’re joyful to prepare for the new year celebration. The streets are crowded with shoppers. Beautiful flowers and peach blossoms announce Tet’s arrival.”
The streets have been beautifully decorated with flowers and colored lights. Tet markets are packed with shoppers and sight-seers. In Hanoi’s old quarter, shops open early and stay open later at night to sell clothes and Tet decorations. People browse among the merchandise and soal up the festive atmosphere. Foreign tourists are excited to be in Vietnam at this special time of the year. Canadian tourist Clayton says: “It’s pleasant to be here to watch the city. It’s interesting. We love it very much.”
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| Yellow apricot flower are imported to Hanoi from Ho Chi Minh city |
Shoppers and sellers exemplify the expression “as happy as Tet”. Nguyen Huy Trung sells flowers in Hang Luoc street: “The flower market is open from the 25th day to the last day of the 12th lunar month every year. It’s always crowded. When I sell out my peach blossoms, I’ll close my shop.”
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| Peach blossoms, a symbol of Tet in northern Vietnam |
Traditional flower markets in Hanoi like Hoang Hoa Tham, Nghi Tam, and Quang Ba have many varieties of locally grown and imported flowers. Nguyen Thi Huyen works at the Quang Ba flower market. “The market is open around the clock from Kitchen Gods’ Day until New Year’s Eve. There are Nhat Tan peach blossoms, Tu Lien kumquat trees, Nhat Tan chrysanthemums, yellow apricot flowers from Ho Chi Minh city, and orchids from Da Lat.”
Hanoi in the final days of the year is very busy. Foreign tourists often choose to visit Hanoi at this time to experience the culture and lifestyle of the city’s lunar new year celebration.