Tet arrives in the city

With Tet just weeks away, Saigon is already glowing with the lively spirit and vibrant colors of spring, signaling the city's transformation during this festive time.

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Walking through the heart of Saigon these days, I see the city transforming. Tet (Lunar New Year) stalls are starting to appear everywhere. From traditional markets to street corners, everywhere is ablaze with the vibrant red and yellow colors of the Vietnamese flag, couplets, lanterns, and lucky money envelopes.

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It's unclear when these Tet stalls first appeared, but I was unexpectedly captivated by their vibrant colors one morning. It seems that, besides the changing weather, Saigon is also signaling the approach of Tet by adorning itself with these very "spring-like" hues.

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Besides stalls selling Tet holiday goods, onions, shallots, and other ingredients for traditional Tet dishes are also being brought to the market by women to sell.

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Whether in traditional markets or modern supermarkets, shoppers are always bustling about. Everyone is carrying bags, and their eyes light up as if joy has arrived even before the Lunar New Year.

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Tet Holiday arrives in every flowing ao dai

But all those colorful images and bustling sounds would not fully capture the unique character of Saigon during Tet without the image of the traditional ao dai.

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As Tet (Vietnamese New Year) approaches, people wear the traditional ao dai dress not for sightseeing, but for taking photos. In recent years, taking photos in ao dai during Tet has become a trend. Even in the last months of 2025, many locations in Saigon were crowded with people taking Tet photos. And as Tet draws closer, images of women, young girls, and children in ao dai dresses appear even more frequently.

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The ao dai dresses, in all their styles and colors, adorn the city like flowers, contributing to a vibrant picture and transforming Saigon into a place where, "Even though Tet hasn't officially arrived, the festive atmosphere is already present in every moment".

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Having lived and worked in Saigon for years, I find the city becomes especially charming as Tet approaches.

In Saigon, Tet is a holiday, but the time leading up to it is a fascinating experience that the city offers its people, especially travelers like me who are often far from home.

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Conclusion

Tet hasn't officially arrived yet, but the festive atmosphere is already everywhere in Saigon. From the brightly lit stalls and bustling streets to the laughter and chatter of people, everything is a sign that Tet is just around the corner.

And if you're in Saigon these days, why not try strolling around the stalls displaying Tet decorations, or put on an ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress), go out into the streets and... take pictures to capture memories of a truly different city as Tet approaches?

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