Tours

Vietnamese Tet 2026: A Street Festival Celebrating Hanoi’s Timeless Spring Traditions

19 January, 2026

THE HANOI TIMES — As the Lunar New Year approaches, Hanoi’s Old Quarter transforms into a vibrant tapestry of spring colors and age-old traditions, setting the stage for Vietnamese Tet – Street Tet 2026. This immersive celebration invites locals and visitors alike to experience the living heritage of Vietnam’s capital through its narrow, historic streets.

*Reviving Tradition: The New Year’s pole-raising ceremony at Kim Ngan Communal House. Photo: Huy Pham/ The Hanoi Times*

From January 17 to February 11, the Old Quarter becomes an open-air cultural hub, celebrating the rituals, artistry, and communal spirit of Tet. Organized by the Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter Management Board alongside the Hoan Kiem Ward People’s Committee, this event bridges the past and present, making heritage accessible to modern audiences.

The festivities kick off at 9 AM on January 17 at the Cultural and Arts Center, 22 Hang Buom Street—a historic thoroughfare synonymous with trade, craftsmanship, and celebration. From here, the spirit of Tet radiates through the surrounding streets, reconnecting urban life with the rhythms of Vietnamese spring.

More than a seasonal event, Vietnamese Tet – Street Tet 2026 offers a deep dive into the traditions that define Hanoi’s identity. Through shared rituals, familiar streets, and the enduring continuity of cultural practices, participants witness Tet as it has been celebrated for generations.

*Symbol of Prosperity: Narcissus flowers on display for Tet. Photo: VnEconomy*

The emotional pinnacle of the celebration unfolds at O Quan Chuong Gate and Kim Ngan Temple, where a traditional procession and the ceremonial raising of the New Year’s pole take center stage. Accompanied by horse performances from the Vietnam Equestrian and Archery Club, these rituals symbolically welcome spring while weaving historical memory into contemporary cultural expression.

Through Vietnamese Tet – Street Tet 2026, Hanoi reinforces its role as a guardian of both tangible and intangible heritage. The event positions Tet as a catalyst for cultural tourism and creative economy, introducing younger generations to living traditions while portraying Hanoi as a city where heritage and modernity converge at the dawn of spring.

*Timeless Elegance: Bach Hoa Bo Hanh traditional costume parade. Photo: Huy Pham/The Hanoi Times*

Vietnamese Tet – Street Tet 2026 Highlights

Center for Cultural Exchange (No.22 Hang Buom Street)

January 17 to February 20: Immerse in Northern Delta Tet customs and explore the Vietnamese Spring Market featuring handicrafts, traditional village products, and Tet specialties.

February 8, 8 PM – 10 PM: Spring poetry performance.

February 12, 9 AM – 12 PM: Banh chung wrapping workshop; 12 PM – 10 PM: Banh chung cooking demonstration; 2 PM – 4:30 PM: Discussion on traditional and contemporary Tet practices, followed by a heritage walk in traditional attire from 22 Hang Buom Street to the Old Quarter Spring Flower Market on Hang Luoc Street; 8 PM – 10 PM: Ca tru singing performance.

Vietnamese Heritage House (No.87 Ma May Street)

January 17 to February 20: Step into a traditional Hanoi family’s Tet celebration, featuring the intricate art of carving and shaping narcissus flowers.

Dong Lac Temple (No.38 Hang Dao Street)

January 20 – March 1: Lacquer painting exhibition “The Colors of Hanoi in the Year of the Horse.”

Phuc Kien Assembly Hall (No.40 Lan Ong Street)

January 17 to February 20: Savor traditional Tet herbal tea.

Ho Guom Cultural Center (No.2 Le Thai To Street)

January 17 – February 11: Art exhibition and Tet-themed decorative space; 8 PM, January 24: “Nhac Ta Nha Pho” (Folk Performance at the Street House).

Old Quarter Centre for Cultural Exchange, Quan Chuong Gate, and Kim Ngan Temple

6:45 AM – 11 AM, February 8: Bach Hoa Bo Hanh traditional costume parade; “Opening of Quan Chuong Gate” procession; cavalry performance, and New Year’s pole-raising ceremony.