A woman poses a shop selling decoration items in Hàng Mã Street, Hà Nội. VNS Photos Vân Nguyễn

As a Lunar New Year approaches, residents are rushing to prepare for the biggest holiday of the year, an occasion for family and friends to meet up and review the good and bad of the past 12 months. Our reporters take to the street to ask residents about 2022, what Tết means to them and how they are preparing for it.  

Nguyễn Văn Chiến, 75, retiree

My wife and I are old now, so my son and daughter-in-law will prepare everything for Tết. Parents like us only help them with the preparation. Our Tết celebration depends on the financial situation of the family. The last two years were difficult due to COVID-19 so we have to tighten our budget a little bit. I have two sons and live with my older son and his family. For me, the Lunar New Year is a time for my whole family to gather and spend time with each other.

During the holiday, I will also travel to my hometown in Đông Anh District to visit my relatives there. It’s family time with my children, grandchildren and siblings, and relatives. The whole big family visits each other during this time of the year. On the third day of the new year, I visit my teachers, who are now in their 90s, with my friends. My eldest teacher is 112 years old now. Now that COVID-19 has been put under control, I hope that we will have peaceful moments in life and people will have a joyous time preparing for Tết. At this age, I just want to keep myself healthy.

Chiến will visit his teacher during the Tết holiday.

Lê Thị Ngọc Cẩm, 23, florist

I felt that the economy has slowed down, but it is fortunate that my job is still okay. I haven’t prepared much for the new year, just decorating my house a bit, saving money, and buying some food and fruit for the home. It was like last year.

I am from the central province of Quảng Ngãi. I got married earlier this year, so it will be the first time I celebrated Tết in Hà Nội. On the second day of the lunar new year, my husband and I will travel to my hometown to visit my parents. I hope that the economy will be more upbeat this year so people can have a more comfortable life. I am working for a flower shop in Hà Nội, and I hope to accumulate experience with flowers so I can soon launch a flower business of my own. The demand for the flower is stable, and it is also my great hobby and passion, so I hope to have a business of my own.

This year will be the first time Cẩm celebrates Tết in Hà Nội.

Nguyễn Viết Thạch, 27, bartender

For me, 2022 was a year full of new experiences. I worked as a bartender after finishing my business degree in Japan. I planned to open a business but had to postpone due to COVID-19. I am working as a bartender for a bar in the Old Quarter. My shift normally runs from 3pm to 2am the next day. I find it an interesting job, allowing me to talk to customers and serve them alcoholic beverages behind the bar. I have done this job for nearly a year now. Things haven’t been up to my expectations, but I have learned a lot from it, having the chance to talk to many people and building relationships. I think it will help me greatly with my plan to open a small business later. For 2023, I plan to continue to gain experience to prepare for my long-term plan.

Thạch says he wants to accumulate experience in 2023 to prepare for his long-term goal of opening a business.

Phạm Minh Nguyệt, 18, a university student

(Before Tết) I visited the Old Quarter, took photos and bought some goods to decorate our house. I am quite satisfied with 2022; I would give it 8 out of 10. There was something that I should have tried harder. 2022 was a meaningful year for me as I transited from high school to university. Last year was the first time I lived far from home, so it gave me a special feeling when returning home for Tết.

Nguyệt says 2022 was a meaningful year for her as she transited from high school to university.

During the Tết holiday, I will return to my hometown and spend time with my family and maybe travel to some neighbouring provinces with my friends on the fourth day of the new year onwards. I hope to find a part-time job and study hard in 2023. VNS