Vietnam’s Lunar New Year stamps carry cultural message beyond Tet
Vietnam has released the 2026 Year of the Horse commemorative stamp set, using the annual Tet as a platform to project cultural identity and support its creative industries.
THE HANOI TIMES — As Tet (the Lunar New Year) is traditionally associated with renewal, family gatherings and expectations of good fortune for the year ahead, the Ministry of Science and Technology has issued the stamp collection, titled Ngua Chin Hong Mao (Nine-Maned Horse) drawing on Vietnamese folklore, depicting a mythical horse revered as a symbol of loyalty, endurance and prosperity.
Contemporary interpretations of traditional Vietnamese horse imagery on Tet stamps.
The set includes two stamps and one souvenir block, and blends traditional imagery with a contemporary folk-art style aimed at both domestic and international collectors.
The design features a pair of horses in white and red, arranged in a yin-yang formation and carrying a ceremonial drum ensemble. Drumming is a common element of Tet celebrations and village festivals, signaling the arrival of spring and communal harmony. Meanwhile, the imagery links cultural renewal with broader themes of stability and optimism as the new year begins.
Detail from the minisheets in this year’s stamp collection.
The souvenir block expands on this narrative with eight horses galloping in unison, an image associated with reunion and collective strength. Such symbolism aligns with official messaging that emphasizes social cohesion and continuity as Vietnam navigates rapid economic growth and global integration.
The stamp set is issued in denominations of VND4,000 (15 US cents), 15,000, and 19,000, and is accompanied by a range of collectible formats, including first-day covers, maxicards, booklets, minisheets and commemorative covers aimed at engaging collectors both domestically and overseas.
Designed by artist Nguyen Quang Vinh, the collection illustrates how government-backed cultural products are increasingly positioned not only as commemorative items but as tools of soft power, translating local tradition into a globally recognizable visual language.
The stamp collection’s first-day cover released in Ho Chi Minh City.
Souvenir block of the Nine-Maned Horse commemorative stamp set.
