Young people across Hanoi are indulging in the mild weather and tender sunshine prior to Tet, gravitating to colorful backdrops for photoshoots at the capital city's 100-year-old flower market. 

With the 2022 Lunar New Year festival less than a week away, holiday decorations have appeared along the stores at Hang Luoc's long-standing market.

People crowd Hang Luoc Street to shop for Lunar New Year decorations in Hanoi, January 23, 2022. Photo: Ha Quan / Tuoi Tre

Overtaken by the Tet spirit, the young congregated at the famed market last weekend to seek the nostalgia of ancient Hanoi while buying Tet items and taking photos.

Hang Luoc Market is actually a street stretching from Hang Luoc, Hang Chai, and Hang Ruoi to both Hang Ma and Hang Dong Streets in Hoan Kiem District.

Locals choose artificial plants at Hang Luoc Market in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Photo: Ha Quan / Tuoi Tre

The market gathering only takes place once a year, with this year’s session lasting from January 22 to January 31, or the last day of the Year of the Ox.

A man takes photos of a store decorated with Tet ornaments in Hang Luoc Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Photo: Ha Quan / Tuoi Tre

Minh Hang, a 23-year-old from Yen Bai Province, said this was her first visit and she enjoyed the bustling atmosphere of the traditional market so much.

"I have a free weekend so my friends and I go to Hang Luoc and take some photos," Hang shared.

"The atmosphere is utterly cozy at the end of the lunar year while the scenery is gorgeous.

"Because this is our first visit, we went around and then found a great background for nice pictures, which was the Hang Ruoi-Hang Luoc crossroads or in front of the decor stores.

"We snapped a lot of pictures to get some memories because there is no big, bustling street like this in my hometown."

People choose artificial plants at Hang Luoc Market in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Photo: Ha Quan / Tuoi Tre

During the Le Dynasty (1428–1788), Hang Luoc was an area belonging to Phu Tu and Vinh Tru Villages in the ancient Tho Xuong District and specialized in comb making.

In 1912, Hang Luoc became a famous spring flower market with innumerable varieties ranging from Ngoc Ha chrysanthemum, Quang Ba, and Nhat Tan peach blossoms to new flowers in the Hanoi Botanical Garden.

A young woman wearing the traditional Vietnamese 'ao dai’ poses for a photo at Hang Luoc market in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Photo: Ha Quan / Tuoi Tre

Hang Luoc Street, which is 264 meters long and connects Hang Cot Street with Cha Ca Street, is now part of Hang Ma Ward in Hoan Kiem District.

Except for the Tet holiday in 1947, when Hanoi was a battleground, there have been no years without a flower market at Hang Luoc.

People crowd Hang Luoc Street to take photos with Tet backgrounds in Hanoi, January 23, 2022. Photo: Ha Quan / Tuoi Tre

A man and his child pose for a photo with Tet backgrounds at Hang Luoc Market in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Photo: Ha Quan / Tuoi Tre

Red envelopes with tiger designs, to contain lucky money, are sold at Hang Luoc Market in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Photo: Ha Quan / Tuoi Tre

A couple walk hand in hand among the crowd at Hang Luoc Market in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Photo: Ha Quan / Tuoi Tre

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