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As the year draws to a close and Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches, a vibrant atmosphere fills Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street. Shops here begin preparing early to display a wide variety of decorative items for the upcoming Tet holiday. This area is not only a shopping destination but also an ideal location for supplying and distributing wholesale goods to small businesses in districts and counties throughout the city, as well as some neighboring areas.
Considered the "capital" of Tet decorations, the Tet market on Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street is the biggest and most anticipated destination for people in Saigon.
The hustle and bustle of this street begins early in the morning and lasts until late at night. Besides shopping, numerous tourists and locals also flock here to sightsee, take photos, and enjoy the special atmosphere on Saigon's earliest street celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year).
This year's Lunar New Year decorations are diverse in both design and material.
Thousands of handcrafted decorative items are sold here at incredibly affordable prices, from tiny red envelopes and hanging ornaments costing just a few thousand dong, to other goods ranging in price from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands depending on size and intricacy.
Besides traditional decorations such as string lights, couplets, decorative bamboo and rattan items, and red envelopes, many modern and innovative designs are also popular.
Le Minh (35 years old, District 5) shared: "Every year I come here to buy a few items to decorate for Tet. Although the economy is more difficult this year, decorating the house is essential. Having the Tet atmosphere in the house makes the new year feel joyful."
The dragon, the mascot of 2024, is available in many attractive designs.
Walking past a few shops, Ms. Ha (27 years old, District 3) said: "In Saigon, you can feel the Tet atmosphere just by walking down this street. I usually browse the shops first before deciding which one to buy from. This year, there aren't as many items as in previous years, but the variety of designs is greater and the prices are more reasonable."
The shops were always bustling with buyers and sellers.
These days, many tourists also choose to stroll around Cholon Market, visiting the bustling streets brightly colored with the colors of Tet to fully enjoy the atmosphere of a traditional Tet market of the Chinese community - a distinctive cultural feature of Saigon.
Uncle Hung - a calligrapher with over 20 years of experience on Hai Thuong Lan Ong street.
The decorative items here come in every style imaginable.
A corner of Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street.
