Ho Chi Minh City welcomes international visitors with lucky money, calligraphy for Tet

The visitors, from Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Thailand, attended a cordial gathering at the group’s headquarters in the city as some of the destination’s first international arrivals during the Tet holiday.

The event opened with a warm reception, where guests were pleasantly surprised to receive traditional Vietnamese gifts, including ‘khan ran’ (black-and-white checkered scarves), ‘non la’ (conical hats), small calligraphy paintings, and ‘li xi’ (lucky money), a traditional Tet custom in Vietnam.

They also enjoyed refined dishes served by Saigontourist Group, along with classic Tet specialties such as ‘banh chung’ (square sticky rice cakes), ‘banh tet’ (cylindrical glutinous rice cakes), and a variety of candied treats.

They later visited Nguyen Hue Flower Street, a signature cultural attraction during the annual Tet celebrations.

Guides from Saigontourist Travel Service Co., Ltd., part of Saigontourist Group, introduced visitors to the traditions and meaning of the Lunar New Year as they explored elaborate floral displays, artistic installations, and vibrant seasonal decorations at the flower street.

A highlight of the program was a spring reception ceremony featuring the traditional cutting of a red watermelon, a symbol of luck and prosperity in Vietnamese culture.

The ritual was attended by Nguyen Phuoc Loc, deputy secretary of the municipal Party Committee, leaders of Saigontourist Group, and representatives of the 50 international visitors.

The festive mood grew even more joyful when Ryan Tracy Robin, an Australian tourist, revealed that the celebration coincided with her birthday.

She said marking her birthday in Vietnam during Tet with her family made the trip especially meaningful and unforgettable, and she hopes to return soon.

Meanwhile, a group of 26 Norwegian visitors arriving from the city’s Cu Chi Commune joined the celebration and expressed delight at receiving New Year greetings from city leaders and tourism representatives.

Lucas Vandervoss, a member of the group, described his Vietnam trip in one word: ‘wonderful.’

After experiencing Vietnam’s traditional Tet celebrations, Vandervoss and his companions said the journey was truly unforgettable.

Adrian and his wife Judith, from Manchester in the United Kingdom, said they felt fortunate to visit Vietnam during the Tet holiday as part of their Southeast Asia travel plan.

During their stay at Majestic Saigon Hotel, the couple received lucky money and were impressed by the warm hospitality throughout the celebrations.

They plan to continue their trip to Cambodia and Singapore after three nights in the city, saying they will definitely return to Vietnam because of its welcoming people and rich culture.

Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, chairwoman of Saigontourist Group, said the initiative to welcome international visitors at the start of the year was proposed by city leaders.

She said the annual activity reflects the city’s commitment to welcoming visitors and serves as a strategic effort to strengthen tourism’s contribution to economic growth while enhancing its global appeal.

The presence of international tourists in the first days of spring, she added, is both an honor for the tourism group and clear evidence of the destination’s strong appeal on the global tourism map.