Vietnamese all over the world are preparing for their most important and popular day of the year – Tet, or the Lunar New Year. Tet is celebrated on the same day as the Chinese New Year, but does not start at the same time. There is a one-hour time difference between Hanoi and Beijing. The holiday celebrates the arrival of spring. There are a lot of traditional customs that people practise during Tet. These include remembering ancestors, sending people New Year's greetings, and giving lucky money to children. It is a time to forget the troubles of the past year and hope for better things in the coming year. It is also a good excuse for people to have big family reunions.

People in villages across Vietnam are working overtime to prepare food and crafts in time for the holiday. In Ho Chi Minh City up 68 flower markets opened on February 3 to start selling different kinds of blooms and decorative trees. Thousands of boats bring flowers from all over the country down the Mekong River to Ho Chi Minh's floating markets. Food is also big business during Tet. Villagers in Dong Thap province are working day and night to make sure they have enough pork rolls to sell – these are in big demand during the festival. Tourism is also booming because of the holiday. Vietnamese travel agents say domestic bookings are 15 per cent higher than last year, and the number of foreign tourists will rise by 46 per cent.