The lunar New Year festival is the most significant festival in the cultural and spiritual life of Vietnamese people since it is the transitional time between the old and the New Year, a time for everyone to review their previous year and to pay gratitude for their ancestors.

Photo: An elderly visitor invited to taste a quid of betel and areca, which is a long-standing tradition of Vietnamese people.

For that reason, ahead of the Lunar New Year, families redecorate their altar and prepare a five-fruit tray to dedicate to their ancestors.

‘Banh chung’ (square glutinous rice cake) is an indispensable dish for Vietnamese people during Tet, and making ‘banh chung’ on the eve of Tet was an indispensable activity of every Vietnamese household in the past. A corner of the exhibition is dedicated to the steps to make the dish.

A video is being screened of villagers in Tranh Khuc, Duyen Ha commune, Thanh Tri district in Hanoi, which is famous for making ‘banh chung’

Purchasing a new folk painting ahead of the Lunar New Year was a hobby of Vietnam people. With a range of colours, an abundance of themes and unique traits, folk paintings not only made the houses more beautiful but also presented Vietnamese cultural and aesthetic values.

A Confucian scholar performing calligraphy at the event. On the first days of the New Year, people often go to temples or pagodas asking for ‘good words’ from Confucian scholars.

Growing narcissus and waiting for it to bloom right at Lunar New Year’s Eve was once a hobby of Hanoians. It is believed that if the bulbs bloom at the right moment, the entire family will be blessed with good luck in the New Year.

Nguyen Phu Cuong from Thanh Cong Street in Hanoi sharing his experiences in growing and taking care of paper-white narcissus bulbs. “I’m happy that many young people like to study and plant narcissus. Like a child, narcissus is obedient and very headstrong too. So, the hobby of growing this plant helps calm people,” he said.

Chu Van Thang from Phu Xuyen handicraft village, which is famous for To He (toy figurine) making, said that he often watches TV and cartoons in order to create characters of children’s liking and to make his products more interesting, thus helping revive the To He making craft.

Mrs Thanh (first from left) from Hang Bo street and her friend buying To He for their nephews. “Today, preparations and celebrations for Tet are more basic compared to the old days,” Thanh said, adding that this exhibition has provided her with memories of the old days.

Aizawa Sumiko, a visitor from Japan who happened to catch the exhibition right on its opening day, said that she was happy to attend the event, which helped her learn about the most important festival for Vietnamese people.

Baskets and cyclos full of flowers are set up outside the exhibition house to decorate the event

A bonsai and flower exhibition is also being held at the outdoor space in front of Doan Mon (Southern Gate), providing a green ambiance for visitors to the Citadel.

More than 700 trees and flowers on display were designed in various shapes by artisans from Thang Long Bonsai Association.

For young people who are vague about how people prepared for Tet and want to explore traditional practices, as well as the elders who are nostalgic for the past, the exhibition is a good place to see Tet in the old days.

The exhibition, jointly held by the Hanoi Municipal People’s Committee and the Thang Long Hanoi Heritage Preservation Centre, is open for visitors every day from 8:30 to 11:30 and from 14:00 to 17:00 until February 29 at Thang Long Royal Citadel, 9 Hoang Dieu Street, Ba Dinh District.