In the first days of the year, thousands gathered around the lake in Hoan Kiem Ward to stroll, take photos and soak up the festive atmosphere.
Streets including Dinh Tien Hoang, Hang Bai, Hai Ba Trung, Trang Tien and Cua Go were crowded, with pedestrians lining pavements and cafés and shops reporting a steady flow of customers.
Hundreds of peach blossom trees in full bloom drew onlookers who paused to admire and photograph the pink displays near the Ly Thai To Monument, adding to the lively spring mood.
Le Viet Anh, 79, a local resident, said he and his wife have maintained a decades-long tradition of walking around the lake each New Year. “We come here for exercise and to feel the Tet spirit spreading through the city,” he said.
Children in festive clothes accompanied their families, while long queues formed at The Huc Bridge as visitors entered Ngoc Son Temple to offer incense and pray for peace and prosperity.
Many women wore the traditional long dress (ao dai), posing for photos along the lakefront. Others took cyclo rides through the Old Quarter, while foreign tourists captured the festivities from open-top double-decker buses.
The cyclo service around Hoan Kiem Lake
On Trang Tien Street, a shopfront decorated with horse imagery, marking the Lunar New Year, attracted crowds of young people.
Meanwhile, the popular train street coffee area saw a surge in visitors, particularly foreigners, with cafés operating throughout Tet and tables frequently full, forcing some customers to wait for seats.
