The streets are bustling with activity as people prepare for Tet.

As Tet approaches, Ho Chi Minh City seems to awaken after a year of significant changes. The spring atmosphere permeates the streets, bringing with it the unique vibrancy of the country's most dynamic metropolis. Never before has the Tet atmosphere been as joyful as it is now.

Radiant everywhere

On the morning of January 31st, on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, workers were busy completing the final touches of the Spring Flower Street. The first miniature landscapes gradually emerged in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, signaling that the Year of the Horse (Binh Ngo) is fast approaching.

This year, Nguyen Hue Flower Street celebrates its 23rd anniversary and is expected to make a new mark by implementing two versions – daytime and nighttime – for the first time, extending the time for people and tourists to enjoy themselves and visit. Over the years, the flower street has become a familiar meeting place every Lunar New Year, attracting thousands of people on opening night and remaining bustling throughout the following days.

For the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, the image of the horse as the mascot, with its powerful and majestic form, evokes the spirit of movement, breakthrough, and aspiration for progress. In the context of Ho Chi Minh City and the entire country entering a new phase of development, this year's spring decorations are expected to be not only aesthetically pleasing but also profound in their ideas, reflecting the mindset of a dynamic and confident city.

Many streets in Ho Chi Minh City are sporting a new look in preparation for the Lunar New Year of the Horse.

PHOTO: LE NAM

The spring atmosphere isn't limited to Nguyen Hue pedestrian street; it's spreading to many other areas of the city. In Tan Son Hoa ward, the local government, in collaboration with businesses, organized a spring flower street for the community, lasting throughout and after Tet (Lunar New Year). Flower displays and miniature landscapes were arranged right at the entrance to Tan Son Nhat airport, creating a scenic highlight for this already bustling area. With symbolic arrangements, this year's flower streets aim to recreate Vietnamese cultural identity, from images of rural villages and regional heritage to familiar symbols of Tet.

The Ho Chi Minh City Youth Cultural Center continues to be an indispensable gathering place every Tet holiday. Although not officially inaugurated yet, images of the bustling construction work on the apricot blossom street and the Vietnamese Tet Festival have already attracted significant public attention. In particular, the image of the horse mascot "flying" out from the giant apricot blossoms quickly spread on social media, sparking lively discussions due to its bold and symbolic concept. According to the organizers, each Tet season, the mascot is created with a unique message, aiming to generate positive energy and bring joy to the community.

Children playing happily at Phan Dinh Phung Stadium Park, Xuan Hoa Ward.

PHOTO: DINH SON

"Every day on my way home from work, I feel excited passing by. I just hope the road will be completed soon so I can wear my ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) and take photos; it feels like Tet (Vietnamese New Year) is very close," shared Ngoc Chi (25 years old, office worker in Ban Co Ward).

Besides the festival activities, many central areas of Ho Chi Minh City are also being renovated and refreshed. From the end of 2025, streets such as Le Loi, the Ben Thanh Market area, Ho Con Rua (Turtle Lake), Ham Nghi, etc., will have their facades repainted, landscapes improved, and lighting systems and landscaping added. These changes contribute to creating a more modern and harmonious appearance, making the city even more vibrant in the early days of spring.

The roads have been given a new look.

PHOTO: LE NAM

The abandoned prime land has "blossomed".

The most noticeable highlight is that many prime land plots, previously fenced off and left vacant for years, causing waste and detracting from urban aesthetics, have now been renovated into flower gardens, parks, and exercise areas, open to serve residents and tourists. These unexpected green spaces in the heart of the bustling city not only alleviate the southern heat but also become community spaces where people can stroll, take photos, and enjoy the approaching Tet holiday. Among the nine land plots that the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has allowed to be "removed" for temporary parks and flower gardens to serve the people during the 2026 Tet holiday, the Phan Dinh Phung Gymnasium site (Xuan Hoa Ward) stands out as the fastest to be completed, opening two weeks earlier than planned.

In the pleasant weather, the place is filled with the cheerful laughter of children, while the elderly sing together while doing vigorous exercises. Not only locals, but also foreign tourists are captivated by the vibrant atmosphere, a public space brimming with life.

The baby enjoys playing with the robot dog.

PHOTO: LE NAM

This plot of land, spanning over 14,000 square meters, was fully invested in and developed by Phat Dat Company under the theme "Ecological Forest in the Heart of the City," creating a green, ecological space and a spiritual experience for the city's residents. The project also features many symbolic and emotionally evocative landscape zones, with themed squares such as "Strong Vietnam," "The Era of Striving," "Happy Family," and "Youth." Decorative works, art installations, and graffiti are arranged accordingly, creating an overall space that is both modern and highly interactive, attracting a large number of residents and tourists to enjoy and admire. The appearance of this temporary but well-organized green space is particularly significant, especially with the upcoming Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse).

Mr. Nguyen Hung Hau, Chairman of the People's Committee of Xuan Hoa Ward, recalled that not long ago, the land was a barren wasteland enclosed by corrugated iron fences for many years, overgrown with weeds, causing many passersby to feel regret. But today, it has become a park, a vibrant public space. This is the revival of a "prime land" area, a testament to the innovative and creative spirit in urban management of Ho Chi Minh City.

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc visits Phan Dinh Phung Stadium Park, Xuan Hoa Ward.

PHOTO: DINH SON

Besides the aforementioned plot of land, the plot at 2-4-6 Hai Ba Trung Street, Saigon Ward, which had been enclosed by a corrugated iron fence for many years, has also been removed and replaced with the spacious Ran Bien seafood restaurant. A large portion of the land has also been planted with impressive flowers and ornamental plants by the sponsor. This is one of the new must-visit check-in spots for young people this Tet holiday. The remaining 7 plots of land, including 135 Nguyen Hue, 33 Nguyen Du, 34-36 and 42 Chu Manh Trinh, 8-12 Le Duan (Saigon Ward); 87 Cong Quynh, 74 Ho Hao Hon - 289 Tran Hung Dao (Cau Ong Lanh Ward); and 152 Tran Phu (Cho Quan Ward, bordering Cau Ong Lanh Ward), are also being worked on day and night by the city to complete the final items in time for February 10th to serve the people during Tet, as directed by the city.

Notably, the nine plots of land, totaling approximately 90,000 square meters, all belonged to long-delayed investment projects and are now being vigorously "revived" into green spaces, flower gardens, and public recreational areas to serve the community during the Lunar New Year. This is considered a positive initiative by the city's leaders to address the long-standing waste of land resources and has been well-received by the people. More than just a temporary renovation project, it demonstrates the city's determination to effectively utilize land, transforming previously vacant areas into parks, flower gardens, exercise areas, walking paths, and benches; creating a healthy living environment and improving the quality of life for residents. The renovation has changed the appearance of the central area, contributing to building the image of a civilized and modern city while preserving its traditional identity.

Children playing happily in the park near Phan Dinh Phung Stadium.

PHOTO: DINH SON

The aspiration for advancement of a leading city.

Many experts believe that Ho Chi Minh City's new look in the early days of spring has significance that goes beyond urban landscape. As architect Khuong Van Muoi, former Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Architects Association, stated, the city's priority on public spaces, green areas, and cultural activities serving the people reflects a people-centered development mindset. As the city becomes more civilized, green, clean, and beautiful, social trust is strengthened, creating a sense of excitement and optimism among the people. "From the changes in each street and corner, people clearly feel the aspirations of the leading city to rise, contributing to the nation's entry into a new era of development – ​​modern, sustainable, and rich in identity," architect Khuong Van Muoi remarked.

From a cultural perspective, Southern Vietnamese cultural researcher Nham Hung believes that Ho Chi Minh City's investment in decorating and renovating its landscape during Tet (Lunar New Year) has a positive impact on the spiritual life of its people. After a year of many changes, the city is given a new look in the early days of spring, helping people feel the changing seasons and creating a joyful and optimistic mindset for the new year. The renovated Tet spaces are not only for viewing but also encourage people to go out more, meet each other more, and rekindle the community spirit that is so characteristic of Vietnamese Tet.

Children playing happily in the park near Phan Dinh Phung Stadium.

Photo by Dinh Son

"When the city pays attention to the landscape and the festive atmosphere, it shows that people are placed at the center of development. Tet is not just a time for rest, but also a time for society to slow down, for each person to have the opportunity to connect with memories, with family and with the community around them," said Mr. Nham Hung.

According to a researcher of Southern Vietnamese culture, in the context of Ho Chi Minh City entering a new phase of development, beautifying the urban space during Tet (Lunar New Year) signifies an affirmation of the city's identity and self-confidence. Decorating for Tet is not simply about making things look nice, but about the city telling its story – one that is both modern and dynamic, while still respecting traditional values. If done with restraint and depth, these changes to the landscape during Tet will become beautiful memories, deeply imprinted in the minds of residents and tourists alike. However, Mr. Hung also noted that Tet decorations need to be just right, avoiding visual overload. Too much or too flashy will be counterproductive. Tet should be warm and gentle, not overwhelming.

Locals and tourists relax amidst the approaching spring season.

PHOTO: DINH SON

From a tourism management perspective, Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, believes that the spring flower streets in Ho Chi Minh City are not only seasonal decorative spaces, but also places that help people and tourists relive familiar images and memories of traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) in the context of a modern city. Especially for Ho Chi Minh City's tourism industry, the spring flower streets are increasingly seen as a tourism product during the New Year, particularly when organized in very special locations, such as the gateway area of ​​Tan Son Nhat Airport, which welcomes a large number of domestic and international tourists as soon as they arrive in the city.

From revitalized prime real estate to streets adorned with vibrant flags and flowers, Ho Chi Minh City is transforming itself, becoming greener, more beautiful, and more welcoming to its people. The festive atmosphere is not only evident in the scenery but also permeates the joyful and optimistic spirit of each individual, ushering the city into the new year with many positive expectations.

Ho Chi Minh City to hold fireworks displays at 17 locations to celebrate the Lunar New Year 2026 (Year of the Horse).

On January 31st, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee announced that fireworks displays will be held at 17 locations during the Lunar New Year of the Horse, including 4 high-altitude and 13 low-altitude locations. The 4 high-altitude fireworks display locations are: the area at the entrance to the Saigon River tunnel (An Khanh Ward), the new city center (Binh Duong Ward ), Tam Thang Square (Vung Tau Ward), and Ba Ria Park Square (Ba Ria Ward). The list of 13 low-altitude fireworks display locations is spread across various wards, communes, and special zones for convenient viewing by residents, such as Dam Sen Cultural Park (Binh Thoi Ward), the Cu Chi Tunnels historical site (An Nhon Tay Commune), the 914 Pier historical site (Con Dao Special Zone), and the Rung Sac Hero and Martyr Memorial Temple (Can Gio Commune)...

The fireworks display will last 15 minutes, from 0:00 to 0:15 on February 17th.

Sy Dong

Traditional Tet culture in the heart of the capital city.

The atmosphere of the Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse) has permeated the streets of Hanoi these days. The streets are decorated with red lanterns, peach blossoms, lucky charms, couplets, and lucky money envelopes, creating a characteristic picture of a Northern Vietnamese spring in the heart of the capital.

The initiative to recreate the "Hang Luoc flower market" on many streets, combined with over 80 bamboo stalls, an art stage, and flower display shelves, contributes to preserving the cultural values ​​of the traditional Tet holiday right in the heart of the city. People not only shop but also immerse themselves in cultural activities, capturing the moments of the new year amidst the streets filled with the colors of spring.

Tay Do (Can Tho) is bustling with the colors of spring.

The festive atmosphere of the Year of the Horse 2026 is spreading throughout Can Tho as an art flower street, over 310 meters long, is being urgently constructed along the Vo Van Tan - Nguyen Thai Hoc axis (Ninh Kieu district). Expected to open from February 14th to 21st (the 27th day of the 12th lunar month to the 5th day of the Lunar New Year), the flower street promises to become a vibrant spring outing and photo-taking destination for locals and tourists in the early days of the new year.

With the theme "Tet Reunion," the flower street recreates the springtime atmosphere of the Mekong Delta through three emotionally rich segments. It begins with "The Nation Enters Spring," featuring a traditional apricot blossom garden and the image of three galloping horses, symbolizing a prosperous beginning. Next, the segment "Can Tho Past and Present" portrays the rich and diverse culture of the Kinh, Khmer, and Hoa communities, before concluding with "Can Tho Rising," showcasing modern models and interactive technology applications, reflecting the new rhythm of life in this central city of the Western region.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/pho-xa-ron-rang-don-tet-1852601312220101.htm