At the beginning of the year, we cycled around town, the whole family went to the temple and asked for calligraphy.

Hanoi : Spring flag-raising ceremony at Ba Dinh Square

Flag-raising ceremony on the first day of the Lunar New Year - Photo: DUONG LIEU

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, at the historic Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, the flag-raising ceremony took place at exactly 6:30.

Performing the flag-raising ceremony, the parade started from behind the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. The group walked around to the front to the music of the song "Marching under the military flag" to the foot of the flagpole.

Many people were present early, burning incense in the grounds of President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, praying for peace.

People get up early to attend the flag-raising ceremony at the beginning of the year - Photo: DUONG LIEU

Ho Chi Minh City: People go on spring outings and go to temples early in the chilly weather

This morning, the weather in Ho Chi Minh City is cold, the temperature is about 19 degrees on measuring applications - Photo: GIA TIEN

The Southern Hydrometeorological Station said that cold air has currently affected the weather in Ho Chi Minh City and the South.

Therefore, the weather is changeable, sunny during the day, no rain, night and morning temperatures tend to decrease, chilly. In the North East, some places are below 19 degrees Celsius.

According to Tuoi Tre Online , on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year 2025, the weather in Ho Chi Minh City was cold. At 6am, the streets were deserted and airy, and people could feel the cold wind.

Mr. Minh Quan in Tan Binh District said that this weather is quite strange compared to other years, because the first day of Tet in Ho Chi Minh City is usually sunny. This year the weather is a bit cold so it feels comfortable, and Tet will be more fun. He hopes that the weather will be mild all year round so that people will be healthy and their business and studies will go smoothly.

From early morning, many people dressed politely and solemnly to go to church and pagoda.

The first mass of the year at Tan Dinh Church in District 3 at 7am was packed with people. Most of the women and girls wore colorful ao dai and solemnly attended the mass. At the beginning of the mass, the priest wished all the parishioners a Happy New Year with a round of applause welcoming the Year of the Snake.

At Vinh Nghiem Pagoda , the fragrant incense smoke in the early morning sun makes everyone feel relaxed and at ease. In the temple yard, children wearing long dresses and warm clothes play with the flock of pigeons that are walking around leisurely and peacefully.

The streets were deserted, keeping temperatures low until 7am. Weather apps showed temperatures in Ho Chi Minh City this morning reaching 19 degrees Celsius.

A peaceful first morning under the bright red flags on Chien Thang Street (Phu Nhuan District) - Photo: THANH HIEP

Weather in Ho Chi Minh City and the South will increase in temperature from tomorrow

Due to the weakening of cold air, the subtropical high pressure gradually becomes stronger. From tomorrow, the temperature in the Southern provinces will gradually increase.

Empty streets keep temperatures cool until 7-8am - Photo: GIA TIEN

People attend mass at Tan Dinh parish - Photo: GIA TIEN

A child goes to Vinh Nghiem pagoda with his family - Photo: GIA TIEN

Mr. Phuong (in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City) and his family visited Vinh Nghiem Pagoda on the first day of Tet like every year. After ringing the bell three times, Mr. Phuong said that only on Tet does the pagoda allow people to ring the bell to pray for peace, a sign of erasing the worries and sadness of the old year, so that everyone can start the new year with good luck and peace! In the photo, people line up to ring the bell three times on the morning of the first day of Tet At Ty at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda - Photo: TTD

A new year with cool and pleasant weather, people expect to be successful and lucky - Photo: GIA TIEN

Ms. Pham Thi Ngoc Ha (living in Binh Thanh District) wore a Tet-inspired outfit and shared that this morning the weather was chilly and the streets were cool. She also wanted to join everyone in welcoming spring on the first day of the year, so she decided to wear this "unique" outfit and ride a bike around the city - Photo: THANH HIEP

According to Tuoi Tre Online , in the central area of Ho Chi Minh City, many locals and tourists went out to celebrate the first day of the new year. Families chose locations with a Tet backdrop to capture beautiful moments together.

Mr. Steven (American tourist, blue ao dai) said that he felt very excited when Vietnamese people celebrate the traditional New Year. Everywhere is filled with colors - Photo: THANH HIEP

He also loves wearing Ao Dai after a Vietnamese friend gave him a traditional Vietnamese Ao Dai. Photo taken at Ben Thanh Market - Photo: THANH HIEP

Experience the first metro line of Ho Chi Minh City with your loved ones

Mr. Le Trung Nghia (blue shirt) and his uncle Nam went to experience the metro on the first morning of Tet - Photo: PHUONG NHI

Since early morning on January 29 (the first day of Tet), many people in Ho Chi Minh City have been present at Ben Thanh station waiting to take the metro. According to Tuoi Tre Online , more than 20 passengers gathered at this station from 7am, bought tickets and then went down to the train waiting area.

Mr. Le Trung Nghia (57 years old, living in District 11) said that this morning he woke up at 6am to take his uncle Nam to experience the first metro line of Ho Chi Minh City.

"I took advantage of the quiet morning of the first day of the month to take my uncle on the metro to see for himself. After the ride, I will visit my relatives," said Mr. Nghia.

At the Opera House station, there were also many people gathered early waiting to board the train. Most of the people taking the metro on the first morning of Tet were families with the elderly and children.

Arriving here at 7:30 am, the family of Ms. Phuong Linh (45 years old, living in Binh Thanh district) eagerly waited for the train. Ms. Linh said this was her first time taking the metro. This morning, her family of nearly 10 people took a ride-hailing car from Binh Thanh to District 1 to visit the pagoda, then took the metro home by getting off at Tan Cang station.

According to Ms. Linh, there are many activities for the family to participate in on New Year's Day, but she still chose to take her whole family on the metro in the morning because she wanted to experience this modern train.

Admire the road dyed yellow with nearly 4,000 marigold pots in Can Tho

Local residents carefully take care of their ornamental plants to welcome the new year - Photo: LAN NGOC

Displaying marigolds in front of houses and on both sides of the road of people in Thanh Hung 1 Hamlet, Trung Hung Commune, Co Do District, Can Tho City is an annual activity that has been maintained for more than seven years here.

Every year around December 22, local households here are busy displaying pots of marigolds in front of their porches, along both sides of the sidewalks in front of their houses, and along the corridors on both sides of bridges.

This Tet, it is estimated that there are nearly 4,000 pots of marigolds, some households grow them themselves and display them, some households buy them to display. Just like that, thousands of pots of marigolds "line up" close together to create a unique marigold spring road in Can Tho, adding more color and brilliance to the rural spring picture.

This Tet flower display activity lasts until the 10th of At Ty. During the flower display period, people will take care of, water and sweep the flowers to create a green - clean - beautiful spring space to welcome Tet.

It is known that after Tet, these marigold pots will be collected and sent to the local free traditional medicine charity group.

Lost in Can Tho eco-tourism village, transform into a farmer, row a boat, and catch fish

Young tourists excitedly rowing sampans is a typical feature of life in the Mekong Delta - Photo: LAN NGOC

Ong De Eco-tourism Village (Phong Dien District, Can Tho City) opens to serve domestic and international tourists during Tet.

With a large campus including organic vegetable garden, teambuilding game area, bungalow, Ong De Garden...

Coming here, visitors can experience rowing a sampan, catching fish, enjoying and making traditional cakes such as banh xeo, banh khot, banh bo...

In particular, the beds of green vegetables, cabbage, squash vines... are grown using organic methods completely free of pesticides and are ready to serve meals here such as pancakes, grilled snakehead fish, crab hotpot...

This place is considered a rare tourist destination that grows its own clean vegetables to bring visitors meals with the rich flavors of the Mekong Delta and food safety.

In addition, Ong De Garden area was constructed and completed nearly 3 months ago and has just been put into service for tourists with miniatures of Tet countryside, Tet in the West, colorful flower gardens... ready to serve the tastes of visitors who like to visit, take photos and check-in as souvenirs.

International visitors are fascinated by the atmosphere of Vietnamese Tet and Phu Quoc island

International visitors come to experience and enjoy the Vietnamese Tet atmosphere in Phu Quoc - Photo: CHI CONG

On the morning of January 29 (the first day of the Lunar New Year of At Ty 2025), Mr. Tran Van Chung - owner of the basket boat tour in Cua Can commune (Phu Quoc city) - said that on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year of At Ty 2025, there were 6 groups of Chinese and Taiwanese tourists coming to the basket boat tour. The tourists experienced the sights of the countryside Tet atmosphere, the floating market corner, and sat on the basket boat to explore the beauty of Cua Can river and the life of Phu Quoc people.

"This Tet, international visitors flock to Phu Quoc. His basket boat and basket dance experience spot welcomes about 100-200 international visitors per day, an increase of about 30% compared to before. International visitors come and enjoy the atmosphere of the countryside Tet, eating watermelon seeds and sitting on the corner of the floating market, listening to traditional music...", Mr. Chung happily said.

"The 4-island tour to Phu Quoc during Tet is very attractive to international visitors. Visitors mainly stop by the Nautilus yacht to take photos, dive to see corals and play games on the sea...

On the first day of Tet, my unit welcomed about 12 international groups (more than 200 guests). This is a happy and exciting signal for those working in tourism in Phu Quoc," said Mr. Nguyen Ha Trieu - representative of Nautilus yacht in An Thoi ward.

The basket boat tour in Cua Can commune is bustling with visitors coming to have fun and experience - Photo: CHI CONG

Phu Quoc International Airport said that during the Lunar New Year 2025, Phu Quoc will have more than 100 flights bringing and receiving international and domestic visitors to the island for fun.

More than 30 ferries and speedboats from Rach Gia City and Ha Tien City also run to take visitors to Phu Quoc. Therefore, many Phu Quoc tourism businesses predict that there will be thousands of international visitors from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, etc. and domestic visitors to famous entertainment spots in Phu Quoc (Kien Giang) such as Hoang Hon town, An Thoi cable car (An Thoi ward) and Grand World Phu Quoc, Safari Phu Quoc and experience the Nautilus Phu Quoc cruise and the special tour of basket boats in Cua Can commune.

Hanoi people go to pagodas, ask for the first words of the year, Quan Thanh temple does not sell tickets

People go to the temple at Quan Thanh Temple, Hanoi - Photo: DUONG LIEU

Early in the morning of the first day of Tet at Quan Thanh Temple (Tran Bac Thang Long), many people in the capital went to the pagoda to pray for the first words of the year and for a peaceful new year. In a bright red ao dai, the family of Mrs. Mai from Hanoi entered the temple. As soon as she arrived at the door, the security force at the temple warmly said that today was Tet so the temple was open for everyone to visit without having to buy tickets like every day.

Mrs. Mai guides the children in the house to light incense sticks, showing her sincerity. She shared that she was born and raised in Hanoi, and is over 80 years old this year, but despite the cold weather, she still maintains the tradition of going to the pagoda at the beginning of the year that her father left her.

After the temple ceremony, many families went to the teacher in the campus to ask for calligraphy.

Asking for calligraphy is also a long-standing cultural feature of the Vietnamese people. Children ask for calligraphy to study, behave, and be obedient; the elderly ask for calligraphy to say "Happiness", "Longevity". Business people ask for "Wealth", "Prosperity", etc.