Photographer Leon Busy captured a house in the Old Quarter, its entrance adorned with Tet paintings.

Among over 1,000 photographs of Vietnam from the early 20th century, Leon Busy (1874-1951) dedicated several to documenting Tet in Hanoi. His works are frequently shared on forums about old photographs, drawing considerable interest.

A living room during Tet in a well-off Hanoi home.

The table displayed flower vases, a mother-of-pearl inlaid wooden tray for tea drinks, and a water pipe.

In 1909, Albert Kahn (1860-1940), a French banker and philanthropist, sought to establish the "Archives of the Planet." This collection aimed to document 50 nations using the most advanced color photography techniques of the time. He hired a series of photographers to travel to various countries, including Leon Busy, who came to Vietnam.

Over four years, from 1914 to 1921, the photographer traveled through many Vietnamese provinces, cities, and villages. He produced 1,372 photographs, including numerous works taken in northern Vietnam, which are now part of the Albert Kahn Museum's collection in France.

The French photographer captured a Tet altar at the home of the Governor of Ha Dong province. The altar was centrally placed in the space, adorned with two peach blossom vases above and various plants and flowers below, symbolizing prosperity.

A huong chuc (a village official during feudal and colonial times) stood before an ancestral altar, captured by the photographer.

A Tet firecracker shop run by ethnic Chinese in Hanoi's Old Quarter over 100 years ago.

A scene of a calligrapher selling chu (calligraphy) for people to buy and decorate for the New Year.

The tradition of xin chu (asking for calligraphy) is a long-standing cultural practice among Vietnamese people, closely associated with Tet. People purchase calligraphy hoping for a prosperous year, good health and peace for their families and themselves, and smooth progress in their work.

Phuong Linh

Photos: Albert Kahn Museum