By 3 a.m., Le Thi Thu Trang’s bakery is already blazing. Batch after batch of traditional cakes and preserves from My Loi Village (Vinh Loc Commune) emerge from the oven, their rich aroma filling the air in time for the Tet (Lunar New Year) market.

In the days leading up to the Tet holiday, as the breath of spring gently weaves through every street, Dong Ba market becomes bustling and radiant. Beyond its role as the city’s largest commercial hub, this century-old market has become a familiar destination for residents and visitors to pose for commemorative photos, capturing spring moments imbued with the distinctive character of Hue.

While the morning mist still lingers over the streets, Hue’s flower market is already awake before dawn. At the market along Ngo Kha Street in Phu Xuan Ward, near the wholesale market, warm yellow lights spill over bundles of flowers still in bud. The sharp revving of motorbikes, vendors calling out to one another, and brisk bargaining create a unique rhythm of the final days of the lunar year.

In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year of the Horse, when streets are awash in the golden hues of apricot blossoms, young people once again eagerly enter the season of photo hunting. From the Imperial Citadel, ancient pagodas, and Dong Ba Market to cafes decorated in spring colors, every street corner and every space become a backdrop for capturing beautiful moments. Tet photos not only mark the transition between the old year and the new, but also reflect the vibrant, youthful rhythm of life in the heart of the Ancient Capital.

​ On the occasion of the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, on February 8th, the Trade Union of Thuan Hoa Ward organized the program “Tet Reunion - Spring in Gratitude to the Party”, featuring many practical activities to support union members and workers so they can welcome the traditional Tet holiday in joy and warmth. Hue Central Hospital also organized the program “Spring Tet Market” for disadvantaged patients currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

On the morning of February 1, at Co.opmart Hue supermarket, Hue City Young Entrepreneurs Association, in collaboration with Hue City Cooperative Alliance and Saigon Co.op, held the opening ceremony for a Tet Fair themed “Stop by for Tet and you’ll like it - Step in and you’ll love it - Co.opmart Hue: Available on the shelf, ready to buy”.

On the morning of January 24, the City’s Red Cross Society, in coordination with the local authorities of Chan May - Lang Co Commune and the main sponsor, Heineken Brewery Vietnam Co., Ltd., held the opening ceremony of the “Humanitarian Tet Market - Spring of Binh Ngo 2026” and presented 300 Tet gift packages to disadvantaged residents in the commune.

In an era marked by shopping malls, mini supermarkets, and the pervasive influence of digital utilities, the process of preparing for Tet has become incredibly convenient for families. However, the Tet market remains an irresistibly charming space for those who cherish nostalgia - individuals who fondly recall the old Tets, deeply connected to their mothers, grandmothers, and the years of hardship.

To sell and serve the customers for the 2024 Lunar New Year of the Dragon, flowers from the South, the North, and even from the suburban flower-growing areas of Hue are being transferred to Hue central area by traders.

Hue is an area with many regional specialties. The end of the year is an opportunity for these products to be more widely known in the market. Many stores selling agricultural and local specialties recently have also displayed products and specialties of the region for the Tet holiday.