In the final days before Lunar New Year (Tet) 2026, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter and traditional flower markets across Hanoi are awash in spring colors, drawing large numbers of residents and visitors out for strolls and photographs.

Many visitors seek out cafés overlooking the streets, sitting quietly as they watch the steady flow of people passing by.

As Tet draws near, every road and street corner in Hanoi seems to shimmer with a joyful, expectant energy, as the city prepares to welcome the new spring.

Hang Ma Street and the Hang Luoc flower market blaze with color, bustling with shoppers and sightseers. For years, these two locations have become part of the capital’s cultural fabric, preserving traditions and memories for generations of Hanoians.

Beyond fresh flowers, artificial flower shops are also enjoying brisk sales. This year, plastic rice stalk arrangements have attracted particular interest, priced at around VND100,000 per bundle of 10 stems (approximately US$4).

As always, the Hoan Kiem Lake area has become the capital’s most crowded leisure destination. Images were recorded on the morning of the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, the first day of the Tet holiday for Lunar New Year Binh Ngo 2026.

One corner of Hoan Kiem Lake glows with dozens of peach trees in full bloom, drawing crowds eager to stroll and capture photos.

Young women in stylized ao dai patiently wait for quieter moments to frame their most beautiful shots.

Flowers bask in the gentle sunlight, becoming an ideal backdrop for spring photographs.

An elderly couple, dressed in formal attire and carrying a small peach blossom branch as a prop, come to Hoan Kiem Lake to take commemorative photos.

In the romantic setting by the lake, a young couple records a sweet moment together.

The spring flower space at Ly Thai To Flower Garden also attracts large numbers of visitors, including families and groups of young friends enjoying the first day of the Tet break.

Bao Kien-Nam Khanh