Happy Vietnam

In these busy days leading up to the Lunar New Year, Thanh Ha pottery village in Hoi An is in full swing, with craftsmen working tirelessly to create the Year of the Horse zodiac figurines for Tet 2026.

As Vietnam prepares to welcome the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 following the successful conclusion of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Vietnamese representative missions abroad have organised early Tet gatherings, bringing the festive spirit to international friends and overseas Vietnamese communities.

With the motto “Understanding the people, devoted service,”over recent years the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) in An GiangProvince has coordinated with mass organizations to channel preferential loansto the right beneficiaries, including poor and near-poor households and otherpolicy beneficiaries. Policy credit has helped borrowers invest in productionand business, shift crops and livestock, preserve and develop traditionalcrafts, thereby contributing to sustainable poverty reduction, job creation andsocial stability in the locality. Photo: Tran Viet – VNA

The Gau Tao Festival of the Mong ethnic group in Pa Co Commune, Phu Tho Province, was recently held at the Xa Linh hamlet stadium. This traditional cultural event marks the beginning of the spring festival season for the Mong people in highland areas and contributes to preserving and promoting ethnic cultural identity in connection with community-based tourism. Photo: Trong Dat – VNA

In the first quarter of 2026, Ho Chi Minh City is expected to allow enterprises to install battery-swapping cabinets for electric motorbikes on sidewalks of selected suitable streets. So far, the Department of Construction has licensed 91 sidewalk locations on streets such as Hai Ba Trung, Huyen Tran Cong Chua, Le Lai, Le Thanh Ton, Ly Tu Trong, Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Nguyen Thai Hoc and Le Quy Don. Photo: Tien Luc – VNA

Van Duc Agricultural Production, Trading and Service Cooperative, located in Bat Trang commune, Hanoi, is one of the largest VietGAP-compliant safe vegetable production areas in the capital, with more than 1,200 households farming over 200 hectares. Currently, the cooperative supplies 70–75 tonnes of vegetables of various kinds each day to supermarkets and wholesale markets in Hanoi’s inner city. Photo: Vu Sinh – VNA

Situated in the lower reaches of the Hau River, Cu Lao Dung is a fertile land surrounded by major river mouths. Thanks to its favourable location and natural advantages, the area holds strong potential for ecological agricultural tourism and is expected to emerge as a new growth driver for Can Tho’s tourism sector.

Following its merger with Kien Giang province, the newly expanded An Giang — home to the legendary “Land of Seven Mountains” as well as stunning seas and largely untouched islands — has emerged as a leading destination on Vietnam’s tourism map and is increasingly gaining international recognition.

Lunar New Year, also known as the traditional New Year of the Muong ethnic group, has long been a distinctive cultural custom imbued with strong humanistic values, preserved and passed down through generations of the Muong community in Phu Tho province. For the Muong people, this is the biggest and most important festival of the year, a sacred moment for descendants to pay tribute to their ancestors and heaven and earth, and to pray for peace and prosperity in the year ahead.

The Party Central Committee’s Political Bureau and Secretariat opened a national conference in Hanoi on February 7 morning to disseminate and implement the Resolution of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The hybrid event, with the main venue at the Dien Hong Hall of the National Assembly building, is connected with 31,097 sites of central agencies, provincial and commune-level localities, and Party organisations of the armed forces and businesses nationwide via videoconferencing, with more than 1.9 million participants. It is also broadcast live by Vietnam Television and Radio the Voice of Vietnam, as well as on digital platforms. Photo: VNA

Amid heightened requirements for air surveillance and airspace protection in the new situation, the Ham Rong Observation Station (Gia Lai province) serves as a key forward observation post of the 234th Air Defense Artillery Brigade (Corps 34). Situated atop Ham Rong peak, more than 1,000 meters above sea level, amid year-round mist and mountain winds, officers and soldiers of the station remain steadfast day and night, quietly carrying out the mission of safeguarding the nation’s skies. Photo: Hoai Nam – VNA

Implementing Directive No. 50-CT/TW of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat on further renewing and improving the quality of Party cell activities in the new period, Ninh Binh province has synchronously rolled out solutions tailored to grassroots realities, with the approach of considering Party cells as the foundation and Party cell meetings as the core of Party building work. Party committees at all levels have focused on innovating meeting contents and formats, linking Party cell activities with political tasks and the resolution of practical local issues. As a result, the role of Party cells and the responsibility of Party committees and Party members have been enhanced, contributing to building increasingly clean and strong grassroots Party organizations. Photo: Hai Yen – VNA

In the days leading up to Lunar New Year 2026, Hue city decorated more than 50,000 flower pots arranged into a giant lotus flower at the Ham Nghi courtyard – Thuong Tu Gate area (Phu Xuan Ward). Set against the tranquil heritage space of the former imperial capital, the blooming flowers have attracted large numbers of residents and visitors for sightseeing and photo-taking. Photo: Van Dung – VNA

The Rice Trader (TRT), organizer of the World Rice Conference and the World’s Best Rice Award, presented the “World’s Best Rice 2025” trophy to ST25 rice developed by Labor Hero Ho Quang Cua on February 2, 2026, in Can Tho city. This marks the third time ST25 rice has claimed the top honor, following its victories in 2019 and 2023. Photo: Nguyen Van Viet – VNA

The Spring Fair 2026 is taking place from February 2 to 13 at the Vietnam Exhibition Centre in Dong Anh commune, Hanoi. Running for 12 peak Tet shopping days and welcoming tens of thousands of visitors daily, the large-scale event has drawn strong interest from residents and tourists alike.

The first Spring Fair at the Vietnam Exhibition Center in Hanoi features more than 3,000 booths from 2,500 enterprises. The event showcases a wide range of agricultural goods, consumer products and fashion items to meet people’s Tet shopping needs. The fair runs from February 2 to 13, 2026.

Party General Secretary To Lam attended a ceremony in Hanoi on February 3 evening to honour outstanding grassroots Party cell secretaries and present the 10th National Press Awards on Party building, known as the Golden Sickle and Hammer Awards. The event, co-hosted by the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission, the Communist Review, the Nhan dan (People) newspaper, Vietnam Television, and the Vietnam Journalists’ Association, coincided with the 96th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3). Photo: VNA

In recent years, the development of Party members in schools has received strong attention from localities and the education sector of Thanh Hoa province, and has been implemented in a systematic manner. By integrating education on revolutionary ideals and the Party’s traditions into teaching activities and Youth Union movements, schools proactively identify and nurture outstanding students with proper motivation. This approach not only creates a reserve force for the Party but also helps students develop early and sound awareness of ideals, civic responsibility and a spirit of dedication to society while still at school. Photo: Khieu Tu – VNA

The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on February 3 officially launched a website on the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly (NA) and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026 – 2031 term, https://baucuquochoi.vn, on the occasion of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)’s 96th founding anniversary (February 3, 1930 – 2026). The launch ceremony, held at the VNA headquarters, was attended by NA Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh, along with leaders of central ministries, agencies and organisations. Photo: Minh Duc – VNA

A delegation of outstanding grassroots Party cell secretaries nationwide reported achievements and paid tribute at President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi on February 3, 2026. Photo: Phuong Hoa – VNA