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Ho Chi Minh City welcomes Tet and the Year of the Cat

A cat presides over street decorations for Tet in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (Arisu Babakhani/YJI)
It’s the Year of the Cat in Vietnam. (Arisu Babakhani/YJI)
Ho Chi Minh City celebrates Lunar New Year. (Arisu Babakhani/YJI)
Crowds gather in front of the Municipal Opera House to watch a rehearsal. (Arisu Babakhani/YJI)

Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM – Today marked the last day of Tet celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City.

Tet – otherwise known as Lunar New Year – is Vietnam’s most widely celebrated and long-lasting holiday. This year it lasted from January 21 to 26.

Though in most places 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit, Vietnam celebrated 2023 as the Year of the Cat.

Ho Chi Minh City’s Tet decorations are on display each year on the Main Street in front of City Hall in District 1, as seen in these photos.

Throughout the holiday, pedestrians walked and marveled at the collections of lucky yellow flowers, took photos with cats of varying sizes, and enjoyed the family time that Tet represents.

Arisu Babakhani is a Junior Reporter with Youth Journalism International.

Decorative cats overhead against the backdrop of Ho Chi Minh’s iconic Bitexco Tower. (Arisu Babakhani/YJI)
Yellow flowers symbolize good luck, wealth and happiness for the new year. (Arisu Babakhani/YJI)
Families gather along the Saigon River in front of iconic Landmark 81 to celebrate Tet. (Arisu Babakhani/YJI)
A sign reads, “Chúc mừng năm mới,” which is Vietnamese for “Happy new year.” (Arisu Babakhani/YJI)

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