At 7 a.m., Ta Hien Street businesses were closed in Hanoi’s Old Quarter but some pedestrians were welcoming the new year by wearing ao dai and taking photos.
The quarter in Hoan Kiem District, beside the eponymous lake, is a popular destination for Hanoians for every festive occasion, especially the Lunar New Year.
"Our group had planned since before Tet to wear ao dai and take photos in the Old Quarter," said Vu Minh Thuy (R), who lives in the capital city’s Ba Dinh District.
Many people choose the historical site of O Quan Chuong to capture their first images of the new year.
Quan Chuong Gate is located on the east side of the Thang Long Citadel in central Hanoi. It was built in 1749 and rebuilt in 1817. It’s the imperial citadel’s only remaining gate.
Occasionally, people can be seen jogging on Gach Street, enjoying the fresh air on the first day of the new lunar year.
Cau Dat Street is adorned with vibrant red decorations from the Vietnamese national flag and the Communist Party flag for Tet.
A man cycles along Hang Duong Street, which was empty on the first morning of the Year of the Dragon.
People ride bicycles and jog freely through the intersection of Trang Tien and Hang Bai streets, typically one of the busiest spots in the capital.
Nguyen Thu Ly (5th, L) in Ba Dinh District meets friends at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
At the city’s famous landmarks – including Ben Thanh Market and the Notre-Dame Cathedral – many people visited in ao dai and took photos.
Cars with honking horns had deserted the streets, creating a friendly atmosphere for all to enjoy.
Renting a cyclo for VND50,000 to take commemorative photos in front of the market, Thuy said she came from Da Lat City to HCMC for Tet holiday.
"On the morning of the first day of Tet, I took photos and then went to the temple to pray for peace," she said.
Duong Quoc Thai, 46, spent two hours decorating his motorbike in yellow flowers and then rushed to Ben Thanh Market to take photos.
"I attached fake ochna flowers to my bike to bring joy to everyone," he said.
