Ms. Thanh Mai, residing in Ward 22, Duc Nhuan Commune, Ho Chi Minh City, helped decorate a miniature Tet (Lunar New Year) scene for the neighborhood. Residents in the neighborhood contributed nearly 30 million VND to create the scene to welcome the Year of the Horse - Photo: QUANG DINH
Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Loc (Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City)According to Tuoi Tre newspaper, this year in many wards and communes of Ho Chi Minh City, Tet-themed corners have appeared more frequently. Sometimes it's just a blank wall covered with a bamboo screen, a few pots of chrysanthemums, colorful lanterns, and a pair of red couplets, but it's enough to make the whole alley feel warmer.
Uniquely, some alleyways choose to recreate the atmosphere of Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) in the old days with bamboo trays, rice baskets, banh tet (traditional rice cakes), tea tables, etc. Others combine modern lighting, calligraphy boards, and miniature landscapes for photos. Although each place has its own style, the common point is moderation, without ostentation or chasing after superficiality.
People passing by would stop to admire, ask questions, and offer suggestions; children and women would dress up in their finest clothes to take photos. Tet arrived in a very simple way, spreading from home to the street and becoming a spring festival.
Officially launched last year by the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the "Spring of Solidarity - Tet of Compassion" program, with its numerous activities, has now become a tradition in many residential areas.
No longer a purely collaborative effort, this year most neighborhoods discussed and carried out the entire process themselves, from brainstorming to construction. Funding was limited, primarily coming from voluntary contributions from residents. Some contributed money, others labor, and some donated readily available household items.
Recreating the "Tuổi Thơ" grocery store and Cô Ba Bến Thành tailor shop at the Tết corner of Đồng Khởi Secondary School, Bến Thành ward - Photo: TTD
The People's Committee of Nha Be commune transformed the previously dirty area under the Ba Chiem bridge into decorative miniature landscapes for the Lunar New Year of the Horse (Binh Ngo) - Photo: TU TRUNG
The Trade Union of Nguyen Viet Xuan Primary School, in collaboration with Van Lang Saigon College, created a Tet (Lunar New Year) corner at the corner of Nguyen Van Luong Street (An Nhon Ward) - Photo: BE HIEU
It's easy to see that since the creation of these Tet corners, community bonds have become stronger, serving as meeting points that bring people closer together, allowing them to share stories of joy and sorrow, eat the last meal of the year together, sing songs to each other, and exchange New Year's lucky money gifts – something that was previously very difficult in an increasingly crowded city like Ho Chi Minh City.
Ms. Tuyet Dung (56 years old, a resident of Tan Hung ward) expressed her delight at participating in the Tet activities organized by the neighborhood and ward. "We work hard all year, and we rarely get to see each other. Now, taking advantage of these few days to socialize and have fun together is wonderful," she confided.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung (Vice Chairperson of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Chairperson of the Women's Union of Ben Thanh Ward) said that the Tet decorations in Ben Thanh Ward are the result of the collective efforts of the staff and people, creating a sense of unity and harmony in the shared joy of the spring festival.
Without having to travel far, just stepping out of their homes, people in Ho Chi Minh City can feel the spring season right in their familiar surroundings. And from Tet (Lunar New Year) in the alleyways, Tet lingers longer, quiet but warm enough.
Khải Nguyên and his colleagues take photos at a Tet (Lunar New Year) themed corner in neighborhood 29, Cầu Ông Lãnh ward - Photo: TTD
Many households in alley 28, Cách Mạng Tháng Tám Street, Nhiêu Lộc Ward, are decorating with flags, flowers, and miniature landscapes for Tet (Lunar New Year) to beautify their homes and the neighborhood - Photo: QUANG ĐỊNH
Residents of Tan Binh ward also decorate the alleys with miniature Tet scenes - Photo: KY PHONG
Horse mascot decorations in Phu An ward (formerly Binh Duong province ) - Photo: Tuan Duy
Packages of banh chung and banh tet (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) donated to the poor at HAGL Gold House apartment complex (Nha Be commune) - Photo: TU TRUNG
5.9 trillion VND for social welfare activities.
According to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, during the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, the city will implement many social welfare activities with a total budget of over 5,900 billion VND, focusing on supporting disadvantaged people, migrant workers, and vulnerable groups.
The highlight of the "Spring of Unity - Tet of Compassion" festival is at Dam Sen Cultural Park, with many cultural activities and Tet-related events such as a "Zero-Cost Mini Supermarket," a "Tet Street Corner," experiences in making banh chung and banh tet (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), folk games, and cultural exchanges.
Alongside these are programs to support the construction and repair of solidarity houses; the distribution of Tet gifts; and the organization of transportation, train tickets, and plane tickets to help workers return home for Tet.
Along with the city, this program will also be organized in 168 communes, wards, special zones, and even in residential areas so that people can celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Tet holiday for soldiers and civilians in Thanh An island commune.
In Thanh An island commune, people decorate for Tet, wrap cakes, and arrange trays of five fruits to celebrate the spring - Photo: KY PHONG
On February 7th, the Ho Chi Minh City Command, in coordination with Thanh An commune, organized the "Military-Civilian Tet" program for the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Ho Hong Thanh Tinh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Thanh An commune, said that the locality always considers caring for the poor, families entitled to preferential policies, and vulnerable groups as its most important responsibility.
"Every time there's a holiday, the entire political system of the island commune always strives to mobilize and connect social resources and coordinate the organization of care programs to provide timely support and share the affection of agencies and units with the people," he expressed.
The program includes many practical activities such as a competition for displaying and decorating banh chung and banh tet (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), eye examinations and treatment, a free pho stall, a free spring market, free haircuts, folk competitions, etc.
This year's Tet celebration includes the inauguration of a cultural and sports facility donated to the people of Thanh An commune by the Ho Chi Minh City Command.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tet-da-ve-trong-tung-hem-nho-20260208083257885.htm
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