People in the Old Quarter celebrate Tet.

Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) in the century-old house of a wealthy businessman from the early 20th century.

On Hang Be Street, at number 44, stands a spacious villa spanning over 800 square meters, built in 1926 by the renowned wealthy construction contractor couple Truong Trong Vong and Nguyen Thi Suu, a couple famous in the early 20th century. Over time, a portion of the villa has been preserved almost in its original state by their granddaughter, Le Thanh Thuy, and her descendants.

Mrs. Thuy is now 71 years old, and for all those years, she has lived in her extended family's villa. She recalls that on ordinary days, her maternal grandparents were very careful in their daily routines and household arrangements, but during Tet (Lunar New Year), the preparations became even more elaborate and meticulous. The ancestral altar was always adorned with chrysanthemums, peach blossoms, fresh fruit, sweets, sticky rice cakes, and a feast prepared fresh daily throughout the Tet holiday. The feast was cooked in just the right quantities, following traditional recipes with dishes like bamboo shoot soup, meatball soup, braised bird, pork sausage, and, of course, braised black carp... In the courtyard, two large clusters of chrysanthemums were displayed. Inside, vases of violets, carnations, and daffodils were arranged. Her maternal grandfather also enjoyed tending to and watching daffodils bloom precisely on New Year's Eve.

*In the old villa on Hang Be Street, Ms. Le Thanh Thuy's parents celebrated Tet (Lunar New Year) more than 70 years ago.*

Having grown up celebrating Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) through her grandparents' generation, Mrs. Thuy still maintains that tradition. Living on Hang Be Street, food and drinks are readily available; a few minutes' walk to the market is enough to buy a complete Tet feast, from sticky rice cakes, soup, stir-fries, boiled chicken, etc. However, Mrs. Thuy still personally cooks the main dishes to respectfully offer to her ancestors. The most elaborate dish is braised fish. Every year, starting from the 23rd of Tet, she braises three large pots of black carp. The carp is braised only with shallots to avoid any mixed flavors, and pork ribs are added to enhance the richness and fattiness. Each day, she only braises a little at a time and lets the fish rest. After almost a week, the three pots of braised fish are ready. She shares a few pieces of fish with friends and relatives to eat with sticky rice cakes during Tet.

She recounted that, in the past, when her maternal grandparents were still alive, there were always about 10 maids in the house. Therefore, even at the age of 40, she never had to cook; she would only find out what dishes the maids had prepared when she sat down at the table. Yet, when she took over the business, she quickly taught herself and mastered the traditional cooking techniques. For decades, her family's Tet (Lunar New Year) feast has never included any modern variations of the traditional dishes.

*As Tet approaches, Mrs. Le Thanh Thuy carefully cleans and prepares the ancestral altar.*

As Tet approaches, Mrs. Thuy meticulously cleans, prepares, and tends to the ancestral altar, just as it was passed down from her grandparents and parents. Throughout the Tet holidays, the altar is always warmly incense-lit. She also presides over the outdoor New Year's Eve ceremony, praying for harmony and peace for the family in the new year.

For a long time, the villa at 44 Hang Be Street, belonging to this large family originally from Hanoi, has been a must-visit destination for many domestic and international tourists. However, during Tet (Lunar New Year), Mrs. Thuy respectfully declines to welcome guests in order to preserve the holiday for her family. For Mrs. Thuy, Tet is not just a long holiday, but a meaningful occasion for previous generations to pass on customs and cultural traditions to their descendants.

*Ms. Le Thanh Thuy introduces traditional Tet customs to young people at her 100-year-old villa, which her family has preserved in its original state.*

The warmth of human kindness in the old town.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Bich, former Vice President of the Women's Union of Hang Bac Ward, Hoan Kiem District, is now the head of Hang Bac 5 residential group, which comprises over 200 households and nearly 1,000 residents spread across parts of Hang Bac, Hang Be, and Gia Ngu streets. Ms. Bich herself has celebrated 69 Tet holidays in her house in alley 33, Hang Bac. She recounts that the most enjoyable part of Tet in the past was the preparation. This was partly because life was difficult back then, so people had to wait until Tet to have banh chung (traditional rice cakes), candies, and other delicious foods. Once, when she was still a young woman, on the 27th day of the lunar month, Ms. Bich rode her Phuong Hoang bicycle from Hang Bac all the way to Vinh Yen, where her father worked, to bring back pork for her mother to make banh chung and braised pork for Tet. She cycled tirelessly, not noticing the distance, thanks to her excitement for Tet approaching. Now, at nearly 70 years old, when Tet (Lunar New Year) comes around, Mrs. Bich still enjoys the leisurely feeling of walking to Hang Luoc flower market to buy peach blossoms, turning to Hang Ma street to buy decorations, then circling to Hang Ngang and Hang Dao streets to look at new clothes, and finally venturing a few more steps to Dong Xuan market to choose groceries.

*Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Bich's family gathers to celebrate Tet.*

What she also really likes about the Old Quarter is its strong sense of community. As the head of the neighborhood committee, Ms. Bich remembers every alley, the characteristics, and the circumstances of many households. Some alleys in the area, such as numbers 17, 21, 32, 34, 50 Hang Bac, number 44 Hang Be, number 5 Gia Ngu... have many households, but everyone lives harmoniously, helping each other use shared spaces and avoiding conflicts. During Tet (Lunar New Year), many Old Quarter residents often give each other freshly made banh chung (traditional rice cakes), freshly made Tet jam, share dried bamboo shoots, lend each other cooking utensils, and give New Year's greetings to children. Closer families visit each other's homes for a New Year's meal. During Tet, it's convenient to stop by a neighbor's house for a cup of green tea without any hesitation or inconvenience. When the New Year arrives, many women invite each other to wear ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) to go out and celebrate the Spring Festival, attending art programs in the Old Quarter...

*Women from the Old Quarter get together to celebrate the Lunar New Year.*

Especially during Tet (Lunar New Year), the Women's Union, the Red Cross, the Youth Union, etc., often organize the making of banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) to donate to the poor. Everyone gathers at Kim Ngan communal house; some donate dozens of kilograms of rice, the pork seller donates meat, the sticky rice seller helps with mung beans, and others contribute their labor washing rice, wrapping, and boiling the cakes. The result is that hundreds of delicious banh chung are then sent to needy families in the area. Everyone feels warm-hearted, realizing that Tet remains meaningful amidst the modern pace of life.

Mrs. Trinh Thi Bich Phuong, 80 years old, currently lives at house number 6, Gia Ngu Street. Her sons are all grown up and live separately. Even so, she still maintains the tradition of meticulously preparing for Tet (Lunar New Year).

She recounted that, in the past, when her husband was still alive, her family would start making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) from the 26th day of the Lunar New Year. Besides the traditional savory banh chung, she also made sweet banh chung with brown sugar, lotus seeds, coconut jam, and candied winter melon... The cakes were then boiled over a wood fire overnight in the front yard. Now, she agrees to order banh chung from restaurants, but she still cooks other dishes like sticky rice, bamboo shoot soup, and meatball soup herself. She cooks not only for herself but also for her children so that every family can enjoy traditional dishes during Tet.

*Ms. Trinh Thi Bich Phuong in her old house on Gia Ngu Street on the 27th day of the Lunar New Year, Year of the Horse (2016).*

She also said that the most precious thing about living in the Old Quarter is the human connection. Previously, there were many of her classmates along Gia Ngu Street; now, some are still alive, some have passed away, and some have moved away. She herself is weaker and rarely goes out as before, but everyone in the street, from the elderly to the young, from the old residents to the newcomers, knows her. People in the Old Quarter greet each other, readily help each other when needed, and share whatever delicious food they have. During Tet (Lunar New Year), the care, interaction, and visits become even more frequent. Living among this "big family" of neighbors, friends, and relatives in the Old Quarter, she always feels warm and secure.