(VOVworld) - Various activities have been held inside and outside Vietnam to celebrate the Lunar New Year, Tet.

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan presents Tet gifts to workers of Hanoi Urban Environment Company (Photo: Trong Duc/VNA)

On Friday, Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan visited and extended New Year’s greetings to staff of Hanoi Urban Environment Company. She called on the company to do the utmost to make the capital city cleaner and more beautiful, especially during this Tet holiday.

Lion dance to welcome in 2013 New Year in France

On Friday, the Paris City Hall and Vietnamese Embassy in France jointly held a meeting to mark Vietnam’s traditional Tet signaling the start of a series of activities for the 2013 Vietnam – France Exchange Year. Addressing the function, Vietnamese Ambassador Duong Chi Dung said that 2013 is a fundamental year to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the diplomatic ties toward strategic partnership. Ambassador Dung said ‘This event aims to honor contributions of the Vietnamese community in France to the host country’s development. I’m proud of the presence of the Paris Mayor along with the Mayor of District 4 and some Parliamentarians at the meeting to honor the Vietnamese people’s best traditions and Tet festival’

Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe said Paris is proud of the Vietnamese community who have a distinctive culture and organized many activities to help Paris citizens better understand of the Vietnamese culture. The Mayor noted: ‘I’m happy and hope that the Vietnamese people who are living in Paris will feel like they are at home. The values of the Vietnamese community in Paris have been enriching our city. We hope that you will maintain them while sharing them with the locals because Paris’ wealth is the cultural diversification. We wish you a happy new year.’

In Russia, a get-together to welcome 2013 New Year was held. Ambassador Pham Xuan Son called on the Vietnamese community this year to exert more effort to overcome any difficulties to have a better life in the host country. A similar meeting was also organized by the Vietnamese Embassy in India.

On Saturday, various activities have taken place across the country. In Hanoi, there are art performances in praise of the party, President Ho Chi Minh, the nation, and the capital city’s growth. Fireworks displays brightens the city's sky on New Year’s Eve in 29 different places within 15 minutes.

In the central province of Nghe An, a New Year’s Eve Gala takes place in Ho Chi Minh Square in Vinh city. Pham Tien Dung, Deputy Director of the provincial Culture, Sports, and Tourism Department, had this to say: ‘In public places, cultural activities including exhibitions and boat races have been arranged earlier than previous years. We have asked grassroots authorities to implement cultural and sports programs early so that those in rural and remote areas can enjoy a happy Tet.’

Firework display are held in seven venues in Ho Chi Minh City. A part from concerts in the inner city, public entertainment programs take place in industrial zones.