Lunar New Year celebrations in Hanoi offer a rich array of cultural experiences

Hanoi's vibrant cultural activities promise to offer a unique blend of tradition, entertainment and community involvement, according to the Tourism Department of Hanoi.

The drone performance to welcome the traditional Vietnamese Lunar New Year

One of the centerpieces is the "Spring in the Village" program, which immerses guests in the vibrant atmosphere of traditional Tet celebrations in Vietnam's ethnic minority villages. The program, which runs through January 31, features Tet-themed activities, folk games and local cuisine.

In addition, the photo exhibition "The Colors of Spring 2025" with exhibits depicting traditional Tet scenes will be held at the Ho Guom Cultural Information Center at 2 Le Thai To Street, Hoan Kiem District. Meanwhile, Phung Hung Mural Street in Hanoi's Old Quarter will come alive with the "Vietnamese Tet - Tet Street 2025" event, featuring Tet decorations, calligraphy booths, art performances and folk games.

The Thang Long Imperial Citadel Heritage Site will  host the “Traditional Tet Space” exhibition until February 2, offering an immersive experience of the capital's rich cultural heritage. Water puppet shows will be held at 9:30 am, 10:30 am, 11:30 am and from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

A display of Duyen Thai lacquerware in the Phung Hung Mural Street area. Photo: Kinh Te & Do Thi

On New Year's Eve, January 28, a series of special performances will be held at Ngoc Son Temple on the shore of Hoan Kiem Lake, the Monument to the Willing to Brave Death for the Survival of the Fatherland on Hang Dau Street, the Lac Long Quan Flower on Lac Long Quan Street in Tay Ho District, Hoa Binh Park in Bac Tu Liem District, Van Quan Lake in Ha Dong District, and other landmarks in Hanoi.

The highlight of the evening will be the "Brilliant Thang Long 2025" program, which will take place at My Dinh Stadium and the F1 race track from 8pm on January 28 to 2am on January 29.

Moreover, Hanoi will celebrate the New Year by kicking off a series of traditional festivals, including the Huong Pagoda Festival in My Duc Commune on the outskirts of Hanoi on February 2. The Saint Giong Festival at Soc Temple, Co Loa Festival, Dong Da Festival, Hai Ba Trung Temple Festival and Tan Vien Son Thanh Festival will also be carefully organized.

Tet Holiday Decoration at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel. Photo courtesy of the hotel

The department will cooperate with the Hai Ba Trung District People's Committee to hold the "Hanoi Tourism Program to Welcome the Lunar New Year of 2025" at Hai Ba Trung Temple, and with the City's Union of Friendship Organizations to hold the 2025 Friendship Spring Tour in Me Linh District.

Many hotels in Hanoi have introduced exclusive offers, including Tet holiday packages that include accommodation with breakfast, dining services, spas, swimming pools, and experiential activities. They have already decorated their premises with creative Lunar New Year themes to attract tourists and encourage longer stays. Promotional campaigns will be launched through media, social networking platforms and the website.

A calligraphy art booth on Phung Hung Mural Street. Photo: Kinh Te & Do Thi

Director of the Tourism Department of Hanoi Dang Huong Giang, emphasized that they have issued guidelines to improve the quality of tourism products and services across the city, including developing new experiences tailored to the preferences of both local and international visitors, while ensuring their safety.

Giang also highlighted that this year's Lunar New Year will see many exciting events celebrating Hanoi's rich cultural heritage. "Our goal is to showcase Hanoi as a 'Safe - Friendly - Quality - Attractive' destination, while harnessing cultural tourism as an engine for economic growth," she said.

This Tet, Hanoi's tourism sector is hoping to create new momentum with a wide range of activities to reaffirm the city's position as the country's leading cultural and tourism destination in the ASEAN region.