Whether street vendor or office worker in Saigon, Tết traditions, such as gathering with family, praying to the kitchen gods, giving crisp banknotes as lì xì and washing down bánh chưng with beer (lots of beer) are perquisites for celebrating the Lunar New Year.
While most of these happen behind closed doors, the holiday is also characterized by more public traditions, including dragon dances and strolls down streets adorned with floral arrangements (read: crowds).
These old photos show the continuity of such traditions and how little some have changed over the years.
