LIFESTYLE

President Nguyen Minh Triet presided over a ritual to pay homage to Vietnam's ancestors at Thang Long Royal Citadel in Hanoi.

As Tet nears, not only are the streets of the capital becoming more busy, but also decorated with flowers and bonsai trees.

During the lead up to Tet, many people go to the Temple of Literature in search of calligraphy scrolls with blessings for New Year.

Hanoi merchants are selling a wide variety of ornamental fish for the celebration of the Kitchen God.

Vietnam held a ceremony to receive UNESCO certification for St. Giong Festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Spending billions of VND on luxurious, decorative stones and ornate sculptures for Tet is gaining in popularity.

Handicraft villages in Thua Thien, in the central province of Hue, are racing to make their traditional products for the holiday.

Bat Trang is putting the finishing touches onto a number of giant - and expensive - pottery products just in time for Tet.

To pursue his schooling a disabled student in central Thanh Hoa Province has had to crawl to school using his hands.

Two farmers in southern Vietnam have become famous for their ability to grow specially shaped fruits.

O Quy Ho, the highest mountain pass in Vietnam, was covered with ice and snow after two chilly days.

72 year-old farmer Nguyen Hoang Oanh has become a man famous for his ability to grow giant crops.

A young disabled man from Quang Binh strives to overcome his physical disability so he can fulfill his dream of becoming a famous sculptor.

Ca Pass is a high and winding mountain pass with dangerous roads which offers a serene view of Vietnam’s landscapes.

Hanoi’s legendary city gates have whithered away over time but the last remaining gate was successfully restored.

Villages outside the ancient city of Hue are full of blossoming flowers and lush gardens; a welcome sight for visitors and clear reminder that Tet is coming.

A high school student has created a robot that is turning heads with its ability to spray pesticides, pick fruit and water plants.

Romantic Dalat City in the central highlands boasts unique characteristics that lure visitors at night: quiet, balmy, yet vivid.

As Vietnam develops and its expat population grows, Tet has also come to hold a special meaning with foreigners.