A day of changing weather.

Two-thirds of the winter in Northern Vietnam is a continuous series of cold, dry winds blowing down from the Russian Far East – a type of weather that often leads to chapped lips and cracked skin. You know winter is drawing to a close when this chapped state suddenly turns slightly damp.

It is at that moment, when all human senses are enjoying the pleasant warmth under thick coats, amidst the gentle chill, that tiny raindrops suddenly touch the skin. Drizzle, formed when the last cold air mass of the season weakens and deviates towards the sea, carrying moisture inland, has become a hallmark of the transition period between winter and spring.

For most people, this kind of weather is quite annoying; the cold combined with the rain makes it even colder, so they wonder whether to wear a raincoat or not, when the clothes will dry, and when the floor will be completely dry after mopping... But, rain combined with early morning fog also bestows a magical beauty upon the landscape.

Watching the cars slow down in the rain, and people strolling leisurely along the glistening sidewalks, life suddenly seems so poetic. At this point, the writer involuntarily thinks of some verses about love by Nguyen Binh:

That day, the spring rain was falling gently.

The apricot blossoms fall in layers, filling the air.

The Dang village's traditional opera troupe passed by the alley.

My mother said that the people of Đoài village will be singing tonight…

Recently, an annoying intruder called "fine dust" has appeared, ruining the enjoyment. But what does it matter? Surely, one day we will make the dust disappear, leaving only mist and rain, coming and going according to the laws of nature.

Lunar New Year colors

Silent yet powerful, the Terminalia catappa tree can be considered the most visual illustration of the changing seasons. Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) is the time when we can witness three forms of the Terminalia catappa tree simultaneously. If in one corner there are still some "late bloom" trees ablaze with a vibrant red, in another corner there are several trees that have shed all their leaves, leaving bare, spindly branches, and in yet another corner, from those bare branches, young green Terminalia catappa shoots continuously sprout.

Each tender green sprout

Each raindrop sparkles as it falls.

Spring

The vibrant green of sprouts and grass, moistened by the drizzle, truly inspires people with its image of overflowing vitality and blossoming love.

By your side, we are immersed in happiness.

Your lips, I thought they were peach blossoms.

Emerging from the silvery backdrop of swirling mist, the peach blossoms, in their various shades of pink and red, warm the senses like flames. They lead a whole host of colorful flowers and foliage spreading throughout the streets and villages.

In Hanoi, the most popular color of peach blossom is the deep red. Just walk along the Red River or a little further to the suburban districts like Tay Ho, Thanh Tri, and Nam Tu Liem, and you can immediately find peach orchards. From the high mountains, wild peach blossoms and pale pink peach blossoms also come down to join the festivities. To meet all needs, peach blossoms are sold in all shapes and sizes, from large to small, from branches to whole trees, from gracefully leaning to rounded and curved.

According to folk beliefs, the peach tree is the essence of the Five Elements, possessing the power to ward off evil spirits and demons; after enduring a harsh winter, it immediately sprouts and blossoms as soon as spring arrives. The peach branches dotted with buds alongside kumquat trees laden with fruit symbolize vigorous growth and fertility.

The rich red color of peach blossoms seems to have become a common theme in Tet decorations in Northern Vietnam. The most traditional items include couplets and Tet paintings.

Every year the peach blossoms bloom

I see the old scholar again.

Arrange the ink on red paper.

On a busy street

Couplets or calligraphic inscriptions written in Chinese ink on red paper are hung/pasted inside the house and outside the gate with the hope of wishing for good fortune, peace, a happy and prosperous new year, and success in business.

Red paper is also a characteristic material of Kim Hoang folk paintings, along with many other painting styles such as Hang Trong and Dong Ho... often featuring cheerful colors and conveying messages of good wishes to the homeowner according to each theme.

With the country integrating into the global community and cultures intermingling, Tet decorations now feature more ostentatious shades of red and gold. There was a time when traditional couplets and Tet paintings were almost forgotten. Fortunately, however, many efforts by organizations and individuals in recent years have somewhat brought their image back to the Tet holiday.

Thick smoke from incense

The raindrops fall so gently on the streets.

What a truly fragrant scent carried on the breeze…

A faint scent of incense burning somewhere, wafting through our senses on any cool day, is just the right switch to evoke images of Tet (Vietnamese New Year).

Incense, also known as joss sticks, is an indispensable item in the spiritual life of people in East Asia. And Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) is the occasion when we can be most frequently and intensely exposed to the scent of incense.

Fragrance lingers on the hands of those visiting graves on the last day of the year.

The scent of incense lingered around the ancestral altar from New Year's Eve.

The fragrant incense smoke enhances the ancient charm of the communal houses, temples, and shrines – places where people entrust their New Year's wishes, and where traditional festivals begin, embodying the good intentions of the people of this rice-growing land…

Fragrance permeates everywhere, even into our subconscious, becoming a bridge connecting us in the present with our past, connecting our descendants to our ancestors, and linking us to the cultural and historical flow of our country and nation.

Along with incense, the smell of burning votive paper, freshly burned peach tree stumps, firewood for cooking banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), and the aroma of Tet dishes taking shape in the kitchens are all closely associated with the scene of family reunion.

The aroma of freshly boiled chicken, the scent of freshly steamed glutinous rice, the rich smell of spring rolls sizzling in the pan, the pungent, earthy scent of a jar of pickled onions just opened… all become sacred thanks to Tet. After a busy year, Tet is the opportunity for people to dedicate their utmost care and effort to cooking.

Blend into the culinary scene.

For Vietnamese people, Tet (Lunar New Year) is associated with the verb "to eat." In the past, life was hard, and only during Tet did people dare to spend the money they had saved all year to indulge their taste buds.

The culinary journey of Tet (Lunar New Year) probably begins on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, the day families prepare offerings to bid farewell to the Kitchen God as he ascends to the Jade Emperor's court, followed a few days later by year-end and New Year's feasts.

To cater to this lavish feast, in addition to freshly cooked dishes, special dishes prepared in advance and kept in reserve are also essential.

Fatty meat, pickled onions, red couplets

New Year's pole, firecrackers, green sticky rice cake.

Banh chung (Vietnamese sticky rice cake) is a traditional dish. When bundles of vibrant green dong leaves arrive at the markets, it signals the arrival of the banh chung-making festival. Using dong leaves gives the most beautiful color, and choosing young, tender leaves is the easiest to work with. The cakes don't necessarily have to be square; many regions traditionally make banh chung in a long shape, sometimes called banh tay. The pork fat and mung beans are also carefully selected to ensure the cakes are firm and chewy, with a rich, savory filling that melts in your mouth.

One day at the market, I noticed that next to the usual long, slender scallions, there were stacks of plump, bulbous onions. I knew then that the pickling season for onions had begun. These are the star in the field of "combating food fatigue," although their smell isn't exactly "friendly" to many people.

Jellied meat is also very popular, a dish that perfectly captures the chill of Tet (Vietnamese New Year). It's usually made from pork trotters, pork meat, and pork skin, but can also be made with duck or goose meat, along with spices like wood ear mushrooms and pepper. It's simmered, then left to cool, allowing the weather to complete the final step – solidifying (of course, nowadays things are more flexible with the help of refrigerators). The sweetness of the meat broth is preserved intact in the solidified jelly and melts, blending with hot rice – simply delightful.

These days, it's rare to see any household making pork floss or pounded pork sausage. Those two dishes are incredibly popular during this time of year. Pork floss, chicken floss, pork sausage, beef sausage, pork sausage with meat, pork head sausage... they're all incredibly delicious when eaten with sticky rice.

The Tet feast takes many forms. There are 4 bowls and 4 plates, 6 bowls and 6 plates, 6 bowls and 8 plates, 8 bowls and 8 plates... depending on the customs and living standards of each family. The most common hot dishes are sticky rice, boiled chicken, fried spring rolls, stir-fried vermicelli, bamboo shoot soup... When Tet is cold, the taste is amplified, making you savor every bite. Indeed, not long ago, there was a period of several consecutive years when Tet was quite hot, and the enjoyment of eating was somewhat diminished. This year, Tet has returned to traditional temperatures, with the entire North shrouded in cold weather and drizzle.

"Listen to the arrival of spring"

Amidst the New Year's greetings and toasts over glasses of wine and feasts, music acts as a spice, enhancing people's emotions.

There are many songs with Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) themes, with new arrangements and compositions constantly appearing every year. But the songs that most deeply capture the spirit of spring and the Tet season in Northern Vietnam are perhaps those associated with My Linh's voice. There was a time when she was often referred to as the "Queen of Spring Music".

Listen to the distant sound of birds singing joyfully.

The peach blossom petals suddenly seemed to smile.

Announcing the arrival of spring.

From very early in her illustrious career, My Linh released recordings of spring songs composed by Duong Thu, Anh Quan, Huy Tuan, and others. From "Whispering Spring," "Spring Flowers and Grass," "Spring Afternoon" to "Listening to Spring's Arrival," "Breath of Spring," "Seasonal Transition," "Silent New Year's Eve Moment"... My Linh's spring music is always passionate in its sense of seasonal change, with plants sprouting, rain falling abundantly, and melancholic, ethereal melodies that are both captivating with fresh emotions and evoke feelings of nostalgia and longing.

Silently, winter is like the last song.

What has passed will remain within us.

Silently, spring begins like a song.

From the moment of midnight on New Year's Eve, countless wishes are whispered...

There was also a song, not in Vietnamese but in English, that came to Vietnam at a turning point in history. That song was ABBA's Happy New Year.

ABBA is a band from Sweden, the first Western country to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam. Since 1969, Swedes have provided aid and assistance to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in building many infrastructure projects. This context paved the way for the introduction of several Swedish cultural products, including songs with New Year's greetings.

Although the lyrics have a slightly gloomy and melancholic feel, its melody has accompanied the Vietnamese people from difficult times to the present day. Through countless Tet holidays, the song has unintentionally become intertwined with beautiful memories and has become an indispensable part of the traditional Tet celebration.

And so, the spring of Northern Vietnam has touched our skin, then reached our eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Spring is always there, faithful and gentle, waiting for people to embrace and cherish it.