One weekend afternoon in December, with Lunar New Year still more than a month away, the pedestrian area around Hoan Kiem Lake began to exude a spring atmosphere. Along the streets surrounding the lake, more and more people were seen wearing ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dresses) in various colors and styles, along with traditional accessories.

The atmosphere around Hoan Kiem Lake ( Hanoi ) is bustling with photography activity on weekends.

From early afternoon, many people were scattered along the lake's edge, stopping to take photos. Not only young people, but also many families and middle-aged individuals chose to wear traditional Vietnamese ao dai dresses, capturing moments considered the "beginning" of the new year.

The steps leading to the water's edge, the trees casting shadows over the lake, the flower vendors along the roadside, and the area in front of the Hanoi Moi Newspaper office have become familiar stopping points for many photography groups. Every little corner quickly becomes crowded with people posing, adjusting their traditional ao dai dresses, and taking turns capturing every moment amidst the passing crowds. These familiar locations are now "refreshed" with the colors of traditional clothing and the lively atmosphere of early Tet photo shoots.

The area in front of the Hanoi Moi Newspaper office is one of the places many young people come to take photos.

Ms. LT Vy (21 years old, Dong Da District, Hanoi), a local resident taking photos in the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian area, said that the closer it gets to Tet (Lunar New Year), the more people flock there, so she usually chooses to take photos early to manage her time effectively. “During Tet, there will be a lot of people taking photos, so I have to go early, but even then it's still crowded. Last year, I also took photos about two months in advance, and it felt fun, lively, and Tet felt much closer and more joyful,” she shared.

Ms. LT Vy (on the left) and her friend wear traditional Vietnamese ao dai dresses for a Tet (Lunar New Year) photoshoot.

In addition, the activity of taking photos during Tet (Lunar New Year) has made the pedestrian area even more lively with the appearance of many freelance photographers. Mr. BV Ton (28 years old, Tay Ho, Hanoi), a photographer taking instant photos in the Hoan Kiem Lake area, also noticed a clear trend of people celebrating Tet earlier this year.

He shared: "This year, many people took advantage of the early hours to take photos, especially in the afternoon, when the light is softer. Even before Tet (Lunar New Year), the atmosphere was already very joyful and lively, every little corner was full of color, each person had their own pose, making the lakeside much more beautiful."

Reporter Ton is working around the Hoan Kiem Lake area.

Instead of waiting until the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), many people have chosen to "celebrate spring early" with photos in traditional ao dai (Vietnamese long dress). This trend is becoming increasingly popular, not only helping to preserve traditional beauty but also adding a vibrant atmosphere to the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian street, or as if bringing spring closer to the capital city.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/pho-di-bo-len-mau-tet-som-1017188