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Fireworks explode over Sword Lake in Hanoi. Photo by Giang Huy |
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A dance of fire and light between over Sword Lake with the lit up Turtle Tower. Photo by Giang Huy |
Firworks over Hanoi's West Lake. Photo by Ngoc Thanh
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The Dragon Bridge in Da Nang under exploding fireworks. Photo by Nguyen Dong |
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Fireworks light up the sky in Saigon after midnight. Photo by Thanh Tung |
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Fireworks explode over the intersection of the Hau and the Can Tho rivers in Can Tho. Photo by Huy Phong |
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Fireworks in the southernmost Ca Mau. Photo by An Binh |
State President Vo Van Thuong extended his best wishes to Vietnamese people and foreign friends, as the Lunar New Year – the Year of the Dragon - arrives.
"At the fine and sacred turning moment of the nature, we respectfully express gratitude to our ancestors and generations of predecessors for their building of this beautiful country; of spring of independence; of the free, prosperous, and happy life of the People; and of the country’s fortune, potential, position, and prestige today," Thuong said.
"In the convergence of the atmosphere of the spring of the nature and of the people, let’s together welcome the new sources of energy, give one another sincere and fine wishes, and wish the nation eternity, the country further prosperity and civilisation, and the people’s life further prosperity and happiness."
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Drones form the image of the Ho Guom Opera. |
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Drones form the image of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. |
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Drones form the image of Long Bien Bridge. |
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Drones form the image of the One-Pillar Pagoda. |
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Drones form the image of the Tran Quoc Pagoda. Photos by Ngoc Thanh |
The streets around the Van Cao-Thuy Khue intersection banned vehicles for the drone performance. Tens of thousands of people gathered at the Van Cao intersection, forming lines spanning hundreds of meters in anticipation of the show. People also gathered on the Hoang Hoa Tham overpass to observe the performance.
The show began at 11:30 p.m. to the applause of the people.
Drones form the image of the One-Pillar Pagoda. Video by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh
Drones form the image of the Tran Quoc Pagoda. Video by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh
The Bach Dang Wharf Park along Ton Duc Thang Street and a section of the street where vehicles have been banned are packed with people waiting to watch the city's fireworks that will blow up in less than two hours.
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People wait for fireworks show on Ton Duc Thang Street. Photo by Quynh Tran |
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People wait for fireworks show at the Bach Dang Wharf Park along Ton Duc Thang Street. Photo by Quynh Tran |
For the first time, the Ba Dinh District People's Committee has organized a musical fountain performance at the Van Xuan garden in Quan Thanh Ward. The performance would last from 9 p.m. Friday to midnight.
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A musical fountain show is seen at the Van Xuan garden in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District. Photos by Anh Dung |
Thousands of people flock to Van Cao Street in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District to watch a light show to be put together by 2,024 drones. Video by Loc Chung
By the banks of the Saigon River, on the Thu Thiem side, a surprise drone performance was spotted, with images of dragons and messages wishing for a happy Tet being etched in the sky.
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Drones form an image of a dragon in the sky over Saigon. Photos by Thanh Tung |
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Drones form the message "Happy and warm spring." |
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Drones form the message "Welcome a Tet full of love." |
Noel, a French man, and his Vietnamese friend Tran Van Chien prepared a Lunar New Year meal on Friday, an activity that Noel greatly enjoys.
"I have come to Vietnam to celebrate Tet with my friends for 14 years. I love the Tet atmosphere and the dishes here. I wish everyone a happy new year," he said.
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Noel (L) says he enjoys the Tet celebrations in Vietnam. Photo by Le Tan |
In the southern beach town Vung Tau, Sergey Velentinovich, a Russian man, and his family came out on the streets to observe Tet decorations and take commemorative photos on the last day of the lunar new year. They bought a small pot of flower, jam and a Vietnamese sticky rice cake.
Sergey works for Vietsopetro and has spent over 12 years living in Vung Tau. He said Tet is a beautiful holiday, and everyone, especially his Vietnamese colleagues, are excited to see it arrive. He has been invited by coworkers to Tet parties, and received gifts of traditional Tet food. In return, he and his wife also provided signature Russian food and invited people over to enjoy. Sergey has also prepared "lucky money" envelopes to gift his guests on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
"I hope that in the Year of the Dragon, everyone in Vietnam would be happier and luckier. So is my family."
Russian experts have come to Vung Tau to work in petrochemicals over the last 40 years. They mostly live in a five-story apartment complex on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, a place often called by locals as a "Russian village", with over 900 people living there.
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Sergey Velentinovich, a Russian man working in Vung Tau, poses with an ornamental pomelo tree in the beach town, Feb. 9, 2024. Photo by Truong Ha |
