The Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi will host the annual Happy Tet festival from February 6 to 10. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage location with over 1,000 years of history.
The Hanoi Tourism Department announced the event on January 21. Deputy Director Nguyen Tran Quang said the festival will help people experience the true spirit of traditional Vietnamese Tet.
The event is open to local residents, domestic tourists, and visitors from other countries. Foreign guests, international students, and expatriate communities in Hanoi are also invited to join.
The festival area will cover more than 7,000 square metres. It will be decorated to show traditional Tet scenes from Hanoi and other parts of Vietnam. Visitors will see old-style homes, festive markets, and cultural displays.
On February 6 evening, the festival will kick off with traditional shows, rituals, and guided walks through Tet celebration areas. Spring Market will be the highlight as it is creating a wave on the web. This area will recreate the feeling of Tet shopping days, with peach blossoms, kumquat trees, handmade gifts, and products from traditional craft villages.
There will also be a food area where visitors can taste Tet dishes from Hanoi and other regions. Guests can learn how to make banh chung, arrange traditional food trays, and receive New Year calligraphy.
Another space will showcase Hanoi’s famous heritage sites and festivals. People can witness traditional crafts such as pottery, lacquer work, bamboo weaving, horn comb making, and folk figurines in this festival.
Many folk games and group activities will take place here. These include tug of war, swings, human chess, and traditional toy making. Modern technology will be part of the event too. Visitors can enjoy live streams, digital check-ins, 360-degree virtual tours, and AI-guided experiences about Tet and Hanoi’s culture.
A traditional ceremony to raise the “neu” pole will be held in cooperation with the Thang Long Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre. This ritual is an important symbol of the Tet holiday.
Workshops will allow visitors to try making candied fruits, preparing traditional dishes, practicing calligraphy, and learning about family Tet customs.
The Happy Tet 2026 festival is supported by many businesses, artisans, and tourism groups. The event aims to preserve Vietnamese culture and attract more visitors to Hanoi in a sustainable way.
